LISTEN TO YOUR HAIR AND SCALP

When the salon started to be curly hair focused 15 odd years ago, the salon was  educated according to one persons book, and opinion.  Since then we realized that although the book was useful and correct in it's own right - others have come out with their own opinions - all of which is correct depending on the persons hair texture, density, curl type, and what you want to achieve. 

 Have you ever watched a YouTube video and the influencer had gorgeous hair, then you tried it and it didn't work?  That is because your hair wasn't like the influencer.  People need to be educated, but you also need to know what kind of hair you have and what works for you... so I do encourage you to experiment, and if it doesn't work move on, but at the same time don't do experiments that do harm to the integrity of your hair or scalp.  If you don't want to do the experiments go to a professional that will take your hairs texture, density,  porosity, and curl type into consideration.

Listening to clients is crucial whether you're a Doctor, psychologist, or a stylist.  An example of this is when Deva had a class action lawsuit because people were reacting to their products.  I started seeing client with really bad scalp issues.  Clients were also coming in and saying that they were losing hair.  

At first I was making excused like....are you stressed, or maybe your going through hormonal changes.  Never in my wildest dreams did I associate it with the product until a client told me that she was having extreme hair loss.  She started eliminating products and soon realized that the Deva products were responsible.   When she told me this I said "mmm really"?.   She said look up the threads -and so I did.  What I found out was that hundreds of people were complaining about various reactions to the product.  I then decided to take the product off the shelf because I started looking at the the ingredients.  What I found is that 1. it had a huge amount of proteins.  Proteins in itself isn't bad, but when you get a too much protein it can become dry and brittle.  The same goes with Moisture.  If you get too much moisture your hair can become dry because the hair shaft becomes so swollen that it pushes the cuticle open which in turn causes the moisture to escape.  Looking further down the ingredient list I found that the preservative used was a formaldehyde releaser.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR ON THE LABEL: Formaldehyde, quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, polyoxymethylene urea, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (bromopol) and glyoxal.

This ingredient (if people have senstivities to it) can cause a number of different side effects such as dermatitis, headaches, watery eyes, runny nose, hair loss, and hives.  Sensitivity may develop over time from repeated low-level exposures.

REGULATIONS: Banned from use in cosmetics and toiletries in Japan and Sweden; in the EU, restricted in personal care products, and labeling is required in products that do contain these chemicals; concentration restrictions in Canada.  The EU allows the use of Quaternium-15 up to 0.2% as a preservative in cosmetic products.  These ingredients are a cheaper form of preservatives and is not banned in the US.

Deducing there is some pattern is important to figuring out if something is working or not working.  Do not be susceptible to influencers and marketing ads.  Really listen to your hair and scalp.  

Color Services and 2020 Spring and Summer trends

As we stated in our previous blog (Color Series, the consultation) it is so important that as a new client to the salon or a newbie to the world of color that you set up a hair color consultation.  The consultation will be extremely helpful in selecting the right color service, the right color formulation, the amount time needed for the service, and letting you know the cost of the service beforehand.  The consultations are free and we can do online video consultation or in salon consultation. 

Every new season is a reason to make a change in your look and summer is coming towards with all its vibrancy. Below are some of the spring and summer trends for 2020.

Bronde Hair Color

Bronde hair color is the perfect shade in between the blonde and the brunette giving you a very natural flattering sun-kissed color result. This means you are no longer forced to choose between the two.  There are endless bronde hair color ideas such as bronde balayage, light bronde or ashy bronde. 

Lilac Hair Color

Looking for a huge transformation?  The bolder the hair color of this season is lilac.  Lilac hair color is insanely adorable which gives you a completely unique and fairytale vibe.  Plus the best part, it can be dyed in many variations like lilac ends with dark roots, metallic lilac or lilac ombre.

Inky Black Hair

There is no rule that the darker colors are only used in cooler season.  Inky black contains just a hint of blue which actually provides the gloss your hair needs to get in this spring/summer list.

Blonde

Of course, blonde will never go out of style.  There are a hundred ways to wear blonde hair color.  Therefore you need a consultation… because of all the different shades of blonde we can choose the right shade for you.

When you come it is always helpful to bring in photo examples of what you want.

Color Series: The Consultation

"Why is consultation so important"? you ask.  Consultation can identify problems, assist in decision making that can protect the client and stylist.  This means that we can then schedule the right time and formula.

3 Step Color Consultation

Every new customer needs to have a full color consultation, whether they are looking for a different hair color or not!

Things that we would be looking at would be your  lifestyle and personality.  the colors we wear should enhance our natural features and coloring.

The characteristics of the hair, eyes and skin determine color type; this is based on color direction and color level.

Color direction is divided into three categories:

• Warm, Neutral, Cool

Color level is also divided into three categories:

• Light, Medium, Dark

For example, a client may have a light color level but have an underlying warm tone, or conversely a dark color level with a cool tone.

Personal Color Consultation in Three Steps

Step 1: Color Analysis

• Analyze Hair color
• Analyze Eye color
• Analyze Skin color

Step 2: Determine Natural Color Type

We would look to see whether you are warm golden, medium, or cool ash tone.

Hair is medium and neutral, eyes are neutral and the skin is cool. The major direction here is a neutral tone with medium depth, this means that the client’s ideal color world type is 5.

If results vary then the predominant factor will be the deciding one, for example:

Hair and eyes are of type 1 (light depth and warm tone), but skin color is of type 2 (light depth and warm/cool tone). In this case, type 1 is the predominant factor and is therefore the type selected.

Step 3: Color ConsultationFollowing a thorough analysis of hair, skin and eye color, now is the time to sit down and discuss a range of possible color treatments and styling solutions based on the results. This can be an exciting and creative process.

Covid 19

I own a salon in Minneapolis called Twisted Hare Salon.  It is an Alice In Wonderland themed salon that is curly hair focused.  I love what I do, and I never thought in all the years I have been in business that it would be considered non-essential or that we would ever have to close due to a pandemic. 

When I first became aware of Covid 19 in early March, I thought " what's all the panic"? “It’s a cold for God sake!”. Then the executive order came a month later to shut down all non-essential businesses, and a wave panic struck me so hard that it paralyzed me for a little bit.  "How am I going to survive with no income coming in"?  Then I went into a mode of denial and tried to see the humor in it; looking for all the funny memes and posts on Facebook so that I could laugh, laugh because I needed to not cry.  Then the calm set it and I started to look around…… I saw the people that haven't been able to collect unemployment and has been without an income for 8 weeks desperately wanting to go back to work so that they could have a income, I see another who has suffered the loss of a loved ones, I hear about the ones who have recovered from the disease that say this is the worst thing they’ve ever experienced and my heart goes out to them.    

I applied for unemployement and was denied because I am a business owner.  I then applied for SBA loan and got it. I got it because I have a good relationship with my bank and I have exellent credit. I am not bragging, I so realize that I was one of the lucky ones.  I am sad: so many people applying online didn't get this loan because they didn't have a good enough credit score or the SBA ran out of funds. I realize that this is serious, things may never be the same again.  I am not laughing anymore.

I have been trying to keep updated with the news, reading information so that I can make smart decisions when we open.  The problem with searching for information is that it is all so confusing.  You will find all sorts of opinion pieces; each opinion piece may or may not support each other but each one has some very valid points.  So now I must rely on my common sense, and my own concluded opinions.  As governors are trying to figure out how to ease back in to a new normal, please remember: This is not an easy decision. Be kind. 

We may or may not be open by May 4^th..   We have not received any rules as to how and what to do to make our salon safe, but there are guidelines - some of them valid some them ridiculous…I wonder who makes these rules?  One of the suggested rules was to have color clients process outside or in their car.  I will not be doing this for a number of reasons.  It was after all a suggestion.

The environmentalist has been saying how the environment has improved since the stay at home and social distancing have been in place.  My concern as the salons start to open, is how the environment will suffer when some will have disposable mask, aprons, wipes and such.  I am not condemning the fact that salons will have these things (as we will have to change our face mask, aprons, wipe down everything after each client) and some do not have access to a washing machine in their suites.  Oh, how I cringe when I think of what we will do to the environment after all of us are back to work.

I am listening to a song this evening called “Strange World” By Haley Reinhart.  Even though it is a love song the words just kept going through my brain over and over “strange world, strange world, what strange world we live in.  I feel that I have gone down the rabbit hole into the twilight zone of a totally new way in which our lives will be forever changed.  As Alice would say “It’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then” …There will be changes, a new norm, and it just might get curiouser and curiouser.  The one thing that will always stay the same for Twisted Hare;  we will always be curl focused. The coming changes may keep us on the edge of madness as we try to adjust, but stay calm WE WILL get through this because we have to.


Be sure to visit us online at:  www.thetwistedhare.com

Much Love Twisted Hare

Curls Are The New Black

Here at Twisted Hair Salon we appreciate you curls, and hope that you do too. According to L’Oreal Paris, there are a lot of women (and men) out there hiding their curls, and it’s no surprise that the curly vs. straight hair debate has been one of the longest-standing of the hair industry.

In 2013, L’Oreal Paris commissioned an online ‘Curly Girl’ interactive survey via Harris Interactive on over 2,000 adults in the United States and here are some of their stats:

• 74% of women with wavy/curly hair say their curls get compliments
• This means be proud of your mane! The world loves your curls and so should you!
• Nearly 50% of men and over 50% of women say that they perceive curly-haired girls as more fun
• Nearly 80% of women would wake up with curly hair if given the option to choose their natural hairstyle
• That frizz atop your beautiful head? yeah, a hot commodity!
• 35% of women with curly hair say their curls make them feel unique
• In the times where straight hair is all the rage, your natural bounce makes you even more unique
• 47% of women with curly hair leave their hair ‘au natural’ every day
• 43% of women with curly hair feel free with their curls, 25% feel girly and 22% feel young
• No shame in any of those feels!
• 54% of women reach for the curling iron when they want to glam it up

By Tess Dutton

Curly Hair Problems

CURLY HAIR PROBLEMS?

This is an ongoing problem that comes with having curly hair.  Finding a hairstylist that has the patience to work on your curls can be challenging.  Curly hair and its spring pattern can be mis-interpreted if the hair is being cut wet. Resulting in, this curly hair problem.

Most hair salons and hairstylists claim that cutting curly hair is the same as cutting straight hair.  That is just NOT the case.  If all hair types are different, then why would cutting all hair be the same?  

Here at Twisted Hare Salon and Spa, we specialize in cutting curls the RIGHT way.  Our Deva inspired stylists understand that curls require extra attention, and whole different way of cutting. 

The Deva cutting technique is a revolutionary method for cutting curly hair whereas most traditional hair cutting techniques were created for straight hair.  The curls are cut dry, when in its most natural state.  The stylist works with each individual curl, sculpting your style to work with your individual curl pattern.  

Check out some of our BEFORE and AFTER photos, from Twisted Hare Salon and Spa!

Wondering if a Dry/Deva Cut is right for you?  Of course it is!  If you have curly hair, you must try a Deva Cut!  It will change everything you know about styling your hair! 

The Movement

The Movement

Perms, Relaxers, and Brazilian Blowouts!  

What do these three things have in common? 

CHEMICALS. 

With the amount of chemicals, and side effects that come with having your hair chemically relaxed, it has encouraged thousands of naturally curly women, to be just that.  Natural. Some say it's a "just a trend."  However, with the expected 45% decrease in revenue, by 2019, for these services, it is far from just a trend. Natural hair has become a MOVEMENT. 

We have transitioned into a world where we have more options for "socially acceptable," hairstyles. 

More and more African-American women are saving hundreds of dollars a month, by going natural. 

The Affects of Chemical Relaxers: 

Respiratory infections, nosebleeds, coughing, hair breakage, and scalp irritation/burns, are just a FEW of the side affects of the chemicals used to relax curly hair. There are chemicals, such as, Lye (Sodium Hydroxide), used on women everyday. Sodium Hydroxide is the strongest type of principal chemical used in some chemical relaxers because it provides the most long lasting and dramatic effects.  This is a chemical found in most drain cleaners, as well as used in the plastic industry.  Lye is commonly used to give plastic more flexibility.  

Not exactly something you want to be coming into close contact with. 

Before going for it:

If chemical relaxers, or Brazilian blowouts is something you want to give a go:

SEE A PROFESSIONAL:  It may be much more expensive, but it is definitely worth it.  A professional should do a strand test before starting, to really see how your hair will react to the chemicals. 

DO YOUR RESEARCH:  You can't always believe what you read on the internet. Most products will read "lye free," however, most of the time that is false advertisement. Find out what products your salon uses before scheduling an appointment. Research those products, and all of the affects associated. There are many personal stories out there that you can read, both positive and negative, before making your decision. 

Check out our future blogs!  We'll be talking about going natural, and curly hair hacks!

Written by: ssamanthaxmariee

1. If you're looking to embrace your fabulous curls, and try the natural way of things, come visit us at Twisted Hare Salon and Spa.  Let our natural believers teach you, enlighten you, and turn that inconvenience into confidence.