SalonLife’07 presenter Amanda Gore gives an inspired presentation of critical information that can improve your performance - and that of those around you. SalonLife attendees have raved about Amanda’s program two years running. Here’s your chance to learn from this entertaining yet insightful life coach.
If you cannot see the above video, click here to view it.
To leave your comments, click here and then click on the comments link below this post.
The longer we Blog here at NCA, the more we learn about the tools available to bloggers - and how they can benefit our valued members. Today, we launch the first in a series of video clips from NCA’s latest SalonLife event.
To help gets things started, we’ll share SalonLife emcee Ann Mincey’s kick off followed by guest speaker Amanda Gore on the importance of life balance. We’ll also post these clips on our SalonLife homepage as we continue to release them over time.
Although video doesn’t begin to do justice to the inspiration of the live event, we hope that you’ll find value in the information being provided. To comment, click here and then click on the comments link below this post.
Iconic record producer Phil Spector’s ongoing trial for murder is in the news – but we’re sorry to say that all we can think is “who does his hair?”
On the other end of “extremes,” we have our girl Brittany and her own bout with demons – and the infamous clippers!
What is interesting in both situations is the use of “personal image” and changes to same in the face of big challenges in life. This alone speaks volumes about the power of fashion and self image and the role it plays in the lives of us all.
We found both these photos on “Google images.” Between this and Youtube, there is no shortage of examples of “bad hair.” Have your own favorites? Help us all to have a little fun and share yours by simply clicking here, and then click on the comments link below this post. Be sure to paste in your favorite link to the worst of the worst of online hair.
The latest entry into the growing spa market is a Whole Foods Store in Dallas, Texas -click here to read about it.
Outfitted with 7 treatment rooms and a fully stocked spa retail center, the spa is run by the store (and is not a leased operation to an existing spa company) with the same attention to detail and quality standards that Whole Foods has become known for as the country’s leading organic grocer. The Spa by Whole Foods offers a combination of quick services (such as mini manicures and 25 minutes Swedish massages) along with a variety of full service spa services in body work, skin and nail care. To top it all off, they offer the option of personal shoppers who can gather a customers groceries while the client relaxes in the Spa. If the Dallas test Spa takes off, watch for more locations to open soon as this innovative grocer rolls the concept out nationwide.
What does this mean for independent spas, dayspas and spa professionals? To leave your comments, click here, and then click on the comments link below this post.
Ask any group of salon pros for a list of desired association benefits and “affordable health insurance” will almost always top the list. And while NCA searches continuously for solutions to what is clearly an industry wide challenge, the hard reality is no such options exist today for most professionals. For those who qualify for insurance, costs continue to rise each year – while the list of those excluded from mainstream options continues to grow.
An interesting take on the matter of healthcare in America is offered by the new film “Sicko” from controversial director Michael Moore. Moore’s primary message is that the world’s richest nation has too many uninsured and under insured – the consequences of which are too often tragic.
NCA has a diverse membership – including political affiliations that mirror the overall country. We have no political position as an association and so am posting this information not to make a political statement but instead to pose some questions to readers:
What is your take on the state of healthcare in America as it relates to our profession?
How do we attract and retain young talent in our industry without the ability to provide comprehensive healthcare benefits?
What message would you offer to the politicians that ultimately regulate the insurance industry nationally?
To read a review of Sicko from Time Magazine, click here.
SalonLife’07 was a big success thanks to the 600+ attendees on hand to celebrate their shared value of creating good health, wealth and happiness as a foundation for career success. Rather then go on
(Oprah’s Dr. Oz on the SalonLife stage)
about all that happened over the course of those two days, we’ll simply share a few of the adjectives we read in the event evaluations - and hope that others in attendance will add their thoughts on the experience.
“WOW”
“Outstanding!!!”
“No other show does what SalonLIfe does - it’s all about helping us – not selling us!”
“Loved it!!”
“I can’t wait for next year!”
(Attendees having a “ta da” moment with guest speaker Amanda Gore)
To leave a comment about SalonLife’07, click here, and then click on the comments link below this post.
Acclaimed Documentary Filmmaker Mark Lewis (”The Natural History of the Chicken”) follows the United States Hair Styling Team in His Latest Special for PBS.
HAIRWORLD: THE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE follows the National Cosmetology Association’s (NCA) Team USA as its members clip, comb and spray their way to the 31st HairWorld Championships in Moscow, Russia, where 800 stylists from 50 countries compete for gold, silver and bronze medals in timed tests of styling skill. The program airs Wednesday, July 25, 2007, 8:00-9:00 p.m. ET on PBS (check local listings as air times vary by market).
Often described as the “Olympics” of hairdressing, HAIRWORLD captures the vivid sculptures of hair, the daring couture, the stunning models and the cheers of the crowd as high fashion meets fierce international rivalry in this battle of the bouffant. “Just imagine the sporting Olympics with all the different countries represented and all of the noise and all of the pride and the cheering,” explains NCA competitor Dale Dees. “That is how our Olympic event is. It’s the same energy. It’s the same power. It’s the same camaraderie. Even though you can’t understand each other, you know that hair looks pretty darn amazing, and so you understand that.”
Although the competition in the main categories can last less than an hour, preparation takes many months. HAIRWORLD follows the three NCA team trainers, Ron Hawkins in North Carolina, Andrea Turrisi in Connecticut and Michael Della Penna in Florida, as they embark on rigorous training with their teams. Each competitor works with his or her trainer to create the perfect look, balancing originality and complexity with the constraints of the competition. For months before competition, they practice their prescribed hairstyles time after time, day after day. “There’s no days off,” insists competitor Danny DiLeo. “There’s no ‘let’s go to the movies’; there’s none of that. It’s absolutely train, train, and train, and then … train.”
Viewers meet some of the members of the NCA’s Team USA as they prepare for what may be the most important day of their careers. Dale Dees from Orlando, Florida, discovered his passion for hairstyling while singing and dancing in a traveling theatre group. Dees left the theatre and joined cosmetology school, but it wasn’t long before he found himself in the spotlight again - this time on the competition floor. “It consumes your life to be a stylist; it really does. It has to be something that is in your blood. It has to be something you eat, drink, sleep and breathe.” Although each character is diverse in background, each expresses the same love, passion and fierce ambition for competitive hairstyling. “The focus is the creativity and having the love,” says team trainer Ron Hawkins. “I think that plays an important factor, is having the love of being able to do it and being involved in it. You’ve got to love it.”
As HairWorld draws closer, Team USA fights to overcome dramatic setbacks - a devastating flood and a shocking wrist injury - until their creative visions finally unfold strand by strand on the competition floor.
THE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE, a series of four one-hour films, celebrates the ambition, determination and passion of those who pursue distinction in slightly unconventional fields. Each film showcases the training and preparation required to be competitive and reveals the surprising, and sometimes heartbreaking, results of that dedication. The featured characters, diverse in background, are endearing and sympathetic, people consumed by their individual quests for excellence. Other programs in the series include SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMING (7/11), FERRETS (7/18) and LORDS OF THE GOURD (fall 2007).
Filmmaker Mark Lewis’ THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE CHICKEN was screened in competition at Sundance and was named by The New York Times one of the top 10 television programs for 2001. Lewis won two Emmys for the film: Outstanding Science Program and Outstanding Direction.
OMC HairWorld 2008 Rules Are Now Available!
Known as the “Olympics of Hair,” the 2008 OMC HairWorld Championships of Beauty will draw more than 1,200 competitors and teams representing 50 plus countries. The OMC HairWorld Championship Arena will be the setting of the thrilling three-day competitions, which will include contests in hair, nails and makeup, many of which offer separate awards for “seniors” (licensed professionals) and juniors (professionals and students under the age of 25).
If you are interested in competing at HairWorld 2008, click here to download the rules and registration information.
To attend the HairWorld 2008 Championships, simply register at www.AmericasBeautyShow.com. Your America ’s Beauty Show ticket will include general admission to the competition arena and the trade show floor! And don’t forget, ALL NCA MEMBERS RECEIVE FREE ADMISSION when they pre-register with the show!!!!
NCA recently received a letter from a young salon pro in Nevada. The issues raised are not unlike those we hear regularly from concerned young professionals. The following has been edited only for space and clarity. The sentiment is reflective of the writer’s letter:
“I am currently licensed in the state of Neveda…and graduated… in 2003 with 1800 hours for my cosmetology license. …When I graduated, I began doing hair in a (nationally recognized chain salon). I earned $7 per hour. After a year of working… I decided to leave and become a manicurist “booth renter”… (she is now looking to return to a position doing hair while her husband serves in the military).
I have learned that it doesn’t matter how much money one puts out… for schooling and continuing education…, cosmetologists are not protected. (Chain salons) have become a monopoly owning many brands. …We are paid $7 per hour unless we become independent contractors…
…A union should be established to protect (us) from companies that are franchising and paying minimum wage and forcing them to do work (not related to the their license). Most of the (professionals) are mothers who are paying out of their own pockets (for insurance).
I am proud to be a cosmetologist and enjoy the work that I do. It is sad that I …get paid and treated like a fast food employee with no experience. …Please let me know what can be done and if my fight is worth fighting…”
It should be noted that Nevada, similar to many western states is predominantly a booth renter state. The number of commissioned salons is quite low and so options for working as commissioned or salaried employees are few for most. The trend towards rental is creeping across the country. Based on US census data, we estimate that the number of booth renters nationally now exceeds the numbers of commissioned employees – and is growing annually.
Importantly, the growth of rental is especially hard on new professionals. Please share your thoughts by clicking here, and then click on the comments link below this post.
Consolidation of brands as well as distributors and salons continues – with the latest big news coming from our friends at L’Oreal and PureOlogy. The following is excerpted/paraphrased from a recent press release from L’Oreal:
L’Oréal USA announced the acquisition of PureOlogy, one of the industry’s most recent success stories. Based in Irvine, California, the company was founded by Jim Markham, who developed what is considered to be a luxury brand of high performance haircare products uniquely developed for hair colorists to use and recommend to their clients. The company is one of the fastest growing haircare brands in the US. “It has been a great adventure to bring to market a truly unique brand that has captured the hearts and minds of many thousands of hairdressers,” said Jim Markham, founder and CEO of PureOlogy. “It is now our privilege to be passing this brand on to the world’s biggest and best beauty company, where we are sure that it will continue to grow and flourish.” PureOlogy will be joining the international brands of L’Oréal Professional Products Division: L’Oréal Professionnel, Kérastase, Matrix, Redken and Mizani.
As with most things in life, there are two sides to the proverbial coin. The ability of large organizations to leverage their strengths and take acquired brands to new heights while driving out expenses (through consolidation of administrative functions) is the core strategy behind consoliations. On the other hand, some find that consolidation leads to a loss of brand culture. Importantly, each of these “events” brings with it unique opportunities and challenges – to the acquiring organizations, brands and their customers. So what does all this mean to you? Leave your thoughts on this posting by cllicking here, and then click on the comments link below this post.
Don’t miss SalonLife’07, July 16-17, Las Vegas. Register today and get a bonus free year of NCA membership!
Thinking about a last minute trip to Vegas to attend SalonLife but want to get the best possible travel deal? Or are you simply looking to de-stress big time and sneak away to some place relaxing and fabulous sometime soon but the budget is tight? Don’t miss out on the many online services that can help you save big!
At NCA, we are often called to participate in last minute meeting that require travel. We recently had to book a last minute Chicago to Washington DC trip (with less then a weeks notice). Although it was the height of tourist season, priceline.com and kayak.com together found us a top rated hotel at just $75 (plus tax vs. the regular price of $275) and airfare for under $200. Compared to the going rates through the regular channels, we save hundred of dollars – and spent barely 20 minutes finding our deal.
Check out some of these websites (and do share your favorites as well) for the chance to save big on your upcoming travels:
www.kayak.com or www.sidestep.com - Both are excellent google-like travel search engines. Unlike Orbitz and some of the other more poular sites, these two don’t add service fees to tickets. They also search through many of the regional and discount carreiers that the big boys ignore.
www.priceline.com - We recommend the “set your own price” option as you’ll be amazed at how you can sometimes save. The more “last minute,” the higher the potential for savings as hotels, airlines and car rental companies look to unload excess inventories. Start low and work your way up!
www.hotels.com - Always the place we start to get a feel for what’s happening in the city we’re traveling to. If we see lots of deals, we know to hop on priceline and bid really low!
To leave a comment on this posting, click here, and then click on the comments link below this post.
Don’t miss SalonLife’07, July 16-17, Las Vegas. Register today and get a bonus free year of NCA membership!
Iconic record producer 
On the other end of “extremes,” we have our girl 
Outfitted with 7 treatment rooms and a fully stocked spa retail center, the spa is run by the store (and is not a leased operation to an existing spa company) with the same attention to detail and quality standards that Whole Foods has become known for as the country’s leading organic grocer. The Spa by Whole Foods offers a combination of quick services (such as mini manicures and 25 
minutes Swedish massages) along with a variety of full service spa services in body work, skin and nail care. To top it all off, they offer the option of personal shoppers who can gather a customers groceries while the client relaxes in the Spa. If the Dallas test Spa takes off, watch for more locations to open soon as this innovative grocer rolls the concept out nationwide.
Ask any group of salon pros for a list of desired association benefits and “affordable health insurance” will almost always top the list. And while 
An interesting take on the matter of healthcare in America is offered by the new film “Sicko” from controversial director Michael Moore. Moore’s primary message is that the world’s richest nation has too many uninsured and under insured – the consequences of which are too often tragic. 
“WOW”
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Although the competition in the main categories can last less than an hour, preparation takes many months. HAIRWORLD follows the three NCA team trainers, Ron Hawkins in North Carolina, Andrea Turrisi in Connecticut and Michael Della Penna in Florida, as they embark on rigorous training with their teams. Each competitor works with his or her trainer to create the perfect look, balancing originality and complexity with the constraints of the competition. For months before competition, they practice their prescribed hairstyles time after time, day after day. “There’s no days off,” insists competitor Danny DiLeo. “There’s no ‘let’s go to the movies’; there’s none of that. It’s absolutely train, train, and train, and then … train.”
As HairWorld draws closer, Team USA fights to overcome dramatic setbacks - a devastating flood and a shocking wrist injury - until their creative visions finally unfold strand by strand on the competition floor.
NCA recently received a letter from a young salon pro in Nevada. The issues raised are not unlike those we hear regularly from concerned young professionals. The following has been edited only for space and clarity. The sentiment is reflective of the writer’s letter:
I have learned that it doesn’t matter how much money one puts out… for schooling and continuing education…, cosmetologists are not protected. (Chain salons) have become a monopoly owning many brands. …We are paid $7 per hour unless we become independent contractors… 
Consolidation of brands as well as distributors and salons continues – with the latest big news coming from our friends at 
Thinking about a last minute trip to Vegas to attend 
At NCA, we are often called to participate in last minute meeting that require travel. We recently had to book a last minute Chicago to Washington DC trip (with less then a weeks notice). Although it was the height of tourist season, priceline.com and kayak.com together found us a top rated hotel at just $75 (plus tax vs. the regular price of $275) and airfare for under $200. Compared to the going rates through the regular channels, we save hundred of dollars – and spent barely 20 minutes finding our deal. 
