Featured
Salon
Sugar Editorial Picks
Have You Ever Asked For a Hair Redo?
Have you ever left the salon feeling not-so-fabulous about your cut or color? Maybe the blond was a little too yellow for your liking, or there was an obvious bleed mark in your fringe. Or perhaps it was just that your new cut wasn't cooperating with the texture of your hair, leaving you with a string of bad hair days.
How Do You Spend Salon Time?
A "quick trip" to the salon can take what feels like an eternity, especially if your stylist sees clients back-to-back or is double booked. Patience isn't exactly my best virtue, but salon time can be a great opportunity to sit back and not worry about all the things I could or should be doing. Even with the fun magazines I don't get at home, I'd be lying if I said I've never blogged while under the dryer.
Take Copious Notes From Your Stylist
You say honey, I say honey, but what color comes out on your hair? People have different interpretations of hair color descriptions, so just as it's smart to take pictures of what you like and don't like, to the salon, it's wise to keep track of your color.
My favorite stylist keeps index cards on all her clients with their colors, conditioning treatments, cuts, etc., which proved very handy when I relocated.
Do You Book Standing Appointments?
Having regular scheduled blowout and manicure appointments always seems like the most ladies-who-lunch cosmopolitan dream to me, but I recently discovered a friend of mine — who, um, serves lunch — has a regular Wednesday afternoon date with her manicurist and a standing monthly eyebrow appointment. Do you schedule your appointments months in advance, or are you an impulse salon visitor?
Source
Do You Book Standing Appointments?
What's Really Going On at the Spa
Set aside a few minutes to read this excellent article from New York magazine. It's a thorough, unblinking look into the reality of the spa and salon business, from the amount of money that workers make to the what they really think while they're waxing off your hair.
For instance, the writer interviews her facialist, Francesca Kim, who reveals the pay structure at her employer, a Manhattan spa:
In her current gig, she began at an hourly rate of $10 to $12 — the industry maximum, she tells me — plus commission for each treatment she does for a client.
Oh Man: Guys Are Being Groomed for Barber Lounges
The term "metrosexual" was just a blip on the cultural radar, but the business of men's grooming is far from a fad. Some guys will always opt for a trip to the simple, no-fuss barber. My dad, for instance, pays a whopping $7 to have his "ears lowered," as he puts it.
Quick Quiz: Should You Tip The Owner of A Salon?
I get lots of emails asking about tipping etiquette for hair, nails, and other general salon and spa treatments, so I thought it was time to address the issue. Growing up, my mother always told me that it is not standard practice to tip the owner of a salon.
This unspoken rule stems from the idea that the entire cost of your treatment goes to the house.
Other Search Results
How Much Does Your Salon's Appearance Affect You?
Lately I've been seeing descriptions of new salons that emphasize their design elements over the services offered; you'll find out who the architect is before you'll ever know whether they offer manicures. I'm not quite sure why this is happening — maybe with the economy down, salons are looking for ways to distinguish themselves — but it got me thinking: Are you willing to pay extra for a blow-out in that Frank Gehry-designed atrium or to sit in an Eames chair? I like a beautifully curated environment as much as the next person, but if a stylist is good, I'd be happy to get my hair cut in a back alley.
Tabatha's Salon Takeover Is Back!
Looking for a dramatic, conflict-ridden show to add to your must-watch TV lineup? Might I recommend Tabatha's Salon Takeover? The reality program, which made its debut on Bravo last year, is set to make its second season premiere on Nov.
Bella Poll: Have You Been Watching Tabatha's Salon Takeover?
Warning — Tabatha's Salon Takeover is rather addictive. The premise of the show is as follows: Tabatha, a former contestant on Bravo's Sheer Genius, goes into salons, ruffles some feathers, and leaves knowing that she did her best to turn ailing salons into thriving businesses.
Psychologists often say that it's human nature to be compelled to watch disasters, and we've seen quite a few already on this show: A salon owner who licks his clients, a styling chair bolstered into place by cement bricks, and a salon staff member who loses it after too much "friendly" advice from the master stylist, Tabatha herself.
More on BellaSugar
Fall Award Season
Top Brands
Preen
Red Herring
APC