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<title>www.salonservicesnw.com  Blogs</title>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/FeaturedArtist.html">
<title><![CDATA[Featured Artist: Kathy Barker]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/FeaturedArtist.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[ Artist, Colorist, Stylist, Educator, Event Coordinator&hellip;. Kathy Barker does it all! We took a few minutes to sit down with Kathy Barker, Salon Services&rsquo; newest Education Specialist. You are currently employed with Salon Services as our Education Specialist, can you explain what this involves? As the Education Specialist, I am a full-time educator for all of the lines we carry and I also work to manage the educators for each of our lines that do not have Brand Managers.  I also help coordinate them between consultants and salon owners when a Class Request is submitted, make travel arrangements, and plan/coordinate events!Wow!  That is quite the job description.  How do you keep all of the different lines, vendors, processes and techniques straight?I like to call them my &ldquo;silos of knowledge.&rdquo;  At first it was kind of difficult, but I have found as I learn each line better, I am able to compartmentalize the information and focus on what it is that I am teaching at the time.  I have also found that it has been great to be able to compare and contrast products and color lines for salons that carry one or more of our lines.   What line do you enjoy educating for the most?  Why?I can&rsquo;t say that I have a favorite.  There will always be a special place in my heart for Brocato because that is the line that I began educating for at Salon Services before I became the Education Specialist, but one of the great things about Salon Services is the caliber of products that we carry.  I am a very transparent person and if I don&rsquo;t believe in something, you will know.  I feel fortunate to work for a company that takes careful consideration in what we carry and enables me to present, with confidence, products that will do what we say they will do.What is your favorite product and why? (We&rsquo;ll let you get away with naming your top 3)1)     Brocato Cloud 9 Mousse.  It is really a leave-in conditioner in mousse form.  It has SPF protection, soy and wheat protein for strength, as well as lemon and chamomile for shine.  It has a consistency more like shaving cream than a traditional mousse, which can turn watery, and that consistency is reflective of how luxurious it makes the hair feel.  It also works great as a cutting lotion for razor cutting.2)      Davines Relaxing Fluid.  What makes Relaxing Fluid unique is that it is a smoothing, anti-humectant product, but the first ingredient is water.  This product doesn&rsquo;t weigh the hair down, but it still creates soft, shiny, smooth hair.  It is my go-to product for silky smooth blowouts. 3)      Moroccan Oil Intense Curl Crème.  I use this product in my own hair almost every day.  It intensifies natural curl without making it stiff or sticky while it controls frizz.  Living in Seattle, especially in the rainy months, this product has been a lifesaver for my curly hair. What inspired you to get into the beauty industry?             That is an interesting story, actually.  I always knew I wanted to do hair, but my father told me that hair dressers don&rsquo;t make money, so I went to college as a Math Major.  While I was in college, I worked as a swim and water aerobics instructor, which I had done since I was 17, and a calculus tutor.  I realized after a few years that there wasn&rsquo;t much besides teaching that I could do with a math degree, and I knew I didn&rsquo;t want to be a teacher, so I quit and went to beauty school.  Now here I am, educating for a living.  I have come to realize I love to teach, it just has to be for something I am passionate about.  It was my mother who had the intuition to see that passion and encourage me to go to beauty school, which I appreciate more and more every day.  My dad, by the way, is now fully supportive of my career choice. Who are your mentors, or whose career have you found inspirational?             I have had some amazing opportunities to work with amazingly talented people, and there are 3 people that instantly come to mind with this question.  The first is Jessee Skittrall.  I apprenticed under him for the first 6 months of my career and was inspired by the passion he has for his craft.  He has a wealth of color knowledge that he shared with me, which has been the foundation of the path I have followed in this industry.  Second would definitely be Sonna Brado.  I worked at Jaazz Salon in Spokane for two-and-a-half years and had more education in that time than I had ever had in my career up until that point.  Sonna has a way of not only making hairdressing look effortless, but also is able to coach her stylists to reflect her ability.  I refer back to her teaching techniques a lot when I am educating.  The third person is Sam Brocato.  Not only is Sam an amazingly talented hairdresser, but he is also a phenomenal business person.  I find his ability to balance creativity and business management extremely inspiring.  Having been a leaser and knowing the difficulty of it, it makes the magnitude of what he has accomplished that much more impressive to me.   You are very involved throughout the stylist community.  What other events, shows, or educational seminars do you participate in?             Like I said, I have had the opportunity to work with amazing people and though that I have been able to participate in outside events that not only exercise the skills that I have, but help develop new ones.  Some of my favorite work has been with Seattle Photography Associates (SPA) Studio.  I got to work my first fashion show with them at the EMP in downtown Seattle.  It was fun to learn how different hairdressing is for an event like that than in a salon or on a photo shoot, which I&rsquo;ve also been able to do with SPA.  Just a few weekends ago I got to do hair for a photography workshop with Joe Edelman for photographers learning how to do commercial photography with models.  The energy that comes from events like these is very motivating to keep building yourself as a stylist. What would people be surprised to learn about you?            I am an absolute karaoke junkie.  I go karaoke about 2-3 times a week and I love it!  It&rsquo;s kind of like becoming a different person for a moment and living out that dream of being a rockstar.   ]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-09-07T13:38:47-05:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/MelbourneFashion.html">
<title><![CDATA[Kevin Murphy at Melbourne Fashion Week]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/MelbourneFashion.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Melbourne Spring Fashion Week with Kevin Murphy  Named Hair Director of Melbourne Spring Fashion week for the seventh consecutive year, Kevin Murphy shares Melbourne&rsquo;s unique fashion culture and designer inspirations that led him to create his runway looks for Fashion Week 2010! Murphy and his team of stylists were responsible for the creation and execution of runways looks for the prestigious Designer Series shows for the week of August 30th-Sept 5th. The week of fashion featured the latest collections from Australia&rsquo;s most esteemed designers including Arthur Galan AG, Aurelio Costarella, Akira, Collette Dinnigan, Bettina Liano, Gorman, Alice McCall and YeoJin Bae.As Hair Director, Murphy&rsquo;s role at the festival also extended to hosting a series of &ldquo;Session Secrets&rdquo; workshops at the KEVIN.MURPHY Fashion Week Salon at City Square. Anti.Gravity, Session.Spray, and Night.Rider were rockin&rsquo; the workshops and the runways with Murphy&rsquo;s modern versions of 1970&rsquo;s retro glamour. Soft waves and smooth, sleek, swept back shapes were this year&rsquo;s signature style.For more fashion week details watch footage featuring Kevin at: http://www.kevinmurphy.com.au/extraEvents/fashion-week.php ]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-09-03T18:22:48-05:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/BeautyU.html">
<title><![CDATA[pba: Beauty U]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/BeautyU.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[  The Professional Beauty Association is pleased to offer a variety of online educational opportunities including webinars, teleconferences and course content.Beauty U is a source for 24-7 education &ndash; from live webinars to course content &ndash;  that our members can access day or night. Beauty U provides educational opportunities for all PBA Members; Manufacturers, Distributors, Salon/Spa Owners, Licensed Professionals and Students.Visit their website to find a list of webinars, class descriptions and educator bios: http://s23.a2zinc.net/clients/pba/beautyu/Public/enter.aspx]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-08-31T13:33:58-05:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/ElectronicMirrors.html">
<title><![CDATA[Electronic Mirrors Sell Lipstick and a Make-over?]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/ElectronicMirrors.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Sydney Berry, Salon Services & Supplies President/Owner, shares her thoughts on the Wall Street Journal&#39;s: Electronic Mirrors sell Lipstick and a Makeover. What happened? Did technology just take over human interaction?  Daily, I see and use the opportunities that exist with the digital age- but I am saddened by the continual erosion of moments of connections that are being shortchanged as an interruption to our lives, versus the reason for our existence- especially as &ldquo;service providers&rdquo; or &ldquo;Daymakers,&rdquo; as David Wagner so aptly designated our professional moments of connections.  It is in these moments that we will exchange our knowledge and give solutions to the problems/challenges that exist for our clients. The very thought of standing before an electronic mirror as &ldquo;it&rdquo; determines my best options of makeup, is appalling at the very least! How can the mirror ask the array of questions that would determine our makeup application appropriateness? Because if we knew as the client, wouldn&rsquo;t we just purchase it? How would the one dimensional electronic mirror understand what kind of look I would wish to convey? What are the features I would wish to minimize or highlight? What amount of time do I set aside for my makeup application?  While I adore Facebook, it has become the new singular connector for friendship. While we used to connect with a friend via a call or in correspondence, we now tell the world how we are feeling by sharing, whether anyone truly wants to know! Remember a birthday when we were besieged by friendly phone calls or even better, a physical card?  The human touch and contact is a very important aspect to our needs as a person. The moment that exists when someone shows empathy, concern and care of another is magic! It is transformational and it is real!   Please read the article and share your thoughts as to how we, in the professional industry, can transcend and build upon a time in our existence that allows us the gift of connection&hellip; via humans!  http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB40001424052748703700904575391213196820750-lMyQjA0MTAwMDMwMDEzNDAyWj.html# ]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-08-31T12:17:36-05:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/RoyPeters.html">
<title><![CDATA[Industry Icon: Roy Peters in Renton and Portland!]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/RoyPeters.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Learn from industry icon Roy Peters about how to turn the experience of color formulation and application into a successful salon business. Froma retouch, to a highlight or corrective color, to the bottom line&mdash;take charge!]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-08-26T17:11:19-05:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/Lynnwood.html">
<title><![CDATA[Have you visited our NEW Lynnwood Showroom yet?]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/Lynnwood.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[We appreciate the opportunity to be a continued resource to you and your business. Stop by our Lynnwood location today for special savings and brand new product lines!Lynnwood Showroom20101 44th Ave W, Suite HLynnwood, WA 98036425.977.2767]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-08-25T18:43:50-05:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/SiBoom.html">
<title><![CDATA[SiBoom:Building your business with salon software]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/SiBoom.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[  SiBoom: Building your business with salon software just got easier! SiBOOM salon software is designed for salons that are serious about realizing the full potential of their business. Built upon years of feedback from successful salon owners, SiBOOM&#39;s salon software enhances current business activities and enables seamless management across all points of the business and client experience. Suitable for any size salon, the SiBOOM point of sales software meets the needs of small single-terminal salons, large multi-terminal day spas, salon chains, and those that offer booth rentals.The intuitive, user-friendly interface of the salon software will be familiar to staff, making day-to-day tasks like appointments, transactions and inventory easy. Managers and owners will enjoy the robust payroll and reporting capabilities, advertising and direct mail management, and customer relationship building tools.Set up is simple. The average salon is up and running SiBOOM&#39;s point of sale salon software in under 3 hours, with no previous computer experience. Our training guide will walk you through every step of configuring and operating SiBOOM. The result is an all encompassing solution for salon owners and staff.Salon Services is excited to partner with SiBoom and bring you the best Salon Software System on the Market. For more information, contact your sales consultant or:Attend a free seminar in our Portland Showroom on Saturday, September 20th from 10am-12pm]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-08-20T12:16:08-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/CustomerApp913.html">
<title><![CDATA[Customer Appreciation 9/13/2010]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/CustomerApp913.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[ Join us for our Customer Appreciation Savings Event!ONE DAY ONLYMonday, September 13th, 2010]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-08-16T17:02:40-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/BambooLiLash.html">
<title><![CDATA[Want Longer, Thicker, Fuller Lashes?]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/BambooLiLash.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[ Want Longer, Thicker, Fuller Lashes? Yes! Yes! Who doesn&rsquo;t? Whether you want a fast acting powerful eyelash stimulator, or an all natural chemical free alternative, Salon Services has the product for you!  Salon Services is proud to represent: LiLash and LiBrowBrought to you by the creators of Renew Lash & Brow, LiLash & LiBrow is the latest innovation in cosmetic science and has quickly become the hottest lash and brow enhancement formulation on the market. The world&rsquo;s fastest-acting and most powerful cosmeceutical eyelash stimulator, and named Most Innovative Product of the year by Elle Magazine, LiLash will give you thicker, fuller, come-hither lashes within weeks of application. The nonirritating, salt free and paraben free conditioning formula works to condition, strengthen, and enhance your natural lashes while regulating hormone balance, reactivating hair&rsquo;s mircrocirculation and stimulating cell metabolism. Get twice the amount of lashes in half the time with LiLash and LiBrow&rsquo;s &ldquo;Magic Juice!&rdquo; Bamboo Lash/Brow/Hair For those of you seeking a natural alternative to the chemical based stimulators on the market, Bamboo is the product for you. All Bamboo products are created from natural plant ingredients which have been scientifically proven to stimulate and enhance hair growth. The organic formulation supports natural hair growth with hair restoring peptides, biofermentation actives, cellular metabolism boosters and botanical ingredients. Bamboo features growth enhancement treatments for lashes, brows and now hair! Combat those brittle lashes, sparse over tweezed brows, or thinning hair with Bamboo&rsquo;s all natural formulations proven to strengthen, condition and revitalize hair growth.Start lengthening your lashes today! Contact your consultant or visit a showroom near you to learn more. Open stock and intro packages available now.   ]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-08-09T12:40:44-05:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/MikeKowallis.html">
<title><![CDATA[Featured Artist: Mike Kowallis]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/MikeKowallis.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[ Kristy Evans, our Salon Services Kadus and Brocato Brand Manager took a few minutes to sit down with our newest Featured Artist: Brocato Design Team Member, Mike Kowallis. What salon are you with? Metropolitan Salon in Provo and American Fork UTWhat inspired you to get into the beauty industry? I was honestly being a smarta** and just kind of fell into it, and then eventually fell in love with it.  Where did you go to school? Dallas Roberts Academy What brand do you educate for?  Brocato and KadusWhat is your favorite haircare brand? What do you love about it? Brocato, Sam Brocato, the man behind the product, makes all the difference.  Knowing that a real passionate hairdresser stands behind the brand and is doing everything he can to make a high quality product is inspiring.  Also the product works!!!! That&rsquo;s all that needs to be said.  What&rsquo;s your favorite product and why?  Brocato Actives --- say hello to the crack of hair products.... I&#39;m addicted.What is your philosophy toward retailing products?  "Philosophy" makes me sound so smart.  I just know that the products I recommend will truly make a difference to my clients and I hope they see the value in it.  The decision is theirs, I just help guide them.Who are your mentors, or whose career have you found inspirational?  Sam Brocato, Martin Parsons, Geno Stampera and of course Tanya Foster of the salon Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.  They are all amazing at what they do.  What do you do to keep yourself inspired?  I always look at hair and things that relate to hair.  If I ever find myself wondering how to do something I will try my hardest to figure out how I can do it.  What would people be surprised to learn about you?  I got rhythm and can actually dance to the beat pretty well.  Dance off anyone?Don&rsquo;t miss Mike&rsquo;s upcoming educational events at Salon Services. Creative Haircutting, $75                       Renton, WA                August 23, 2010Curl Interrupted and Color Demo, $75  Portland, OR               September 13, 2010Curl Interrupted and Color Demo, $75  Salt Lake City, UT      September 27, 2010Razor Cut and Color Workshop, $175  Renton, WA                October 24-25, 2010  For more information and class descriptions visit our website at www.salonservicesnw.com and download our Hair Education calendar.]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-08-09T12:19:03-05:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/lakewood.html">
<title><![CDATA[Meet Our Team: Celia Hacker and Aja Pound, Lakewood Showroom Coordinator]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/lakewood.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[ Celia is the Senior Showroom Coordinator in LakewoodHow long have you been in the beauty industry? 15 years. I started in 1995 as the delivery driver!What did you do before this? Many different positions always in customer service related positions.How does your past experience benefit your clients? I started working in a family-owned business at the age of 11. Customer service was the first and most important thing we were taught. I believe that our clients know this from the minute they walk into the Lakewood showroom.What is your favorite thing about your job? The relationship that I have with our customers -  I have worked with many of them for 15 years!If you weren&#39;t doing this, what would you be doing? If I were not doing this it would be something dealing with music or landscaping, two of my favorite things!What&#39;s your favorite product and why? Brocato Swell Volume Gel Mousse. When blow drying with a round brush it is the best product for adding volume to my fine limp hair. Finish with Tri&#39;s Covert Control Hairspray!What would people be surprised to learn about you?  How absolutely terrified I am to get up in front of people and present or talk or sing or anything!When you come to our Lakewood Showroom, it is always a warm, safe, friendly & happy place to be! Aja is the secondary Showroom Coordinator in LakewoodHow long have you been in the beauty industry? About 7 years. I have an AAS in Esthetic Sciences from Clover Park TechWhat did you do before this? I managed a laser clinic in downtown Seattle.  How does your past experience benefit your clients? I have worked in the industry as a medical esthetician, so I have a clinical background to help clients understand the physiology behind skincare, and how the products effect and benefit the skin.What is your favorite thing about your job? Getting the meet all the lovely people!If you weren&#39;t doing this, what would you be doing?   Probably something in marketing or promotionsWhat&#39;s your favorite product and why? LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Eufora Beautifying Serum! It&#39;s like Windex for Greek people! Not only is it great for your hair - you can use it for any kind of scratch, pimple, eczema or cut. The healing power of Aloe Vera is amazing! What would people be surprised to learn about you?  I&#39;m totally a Battle Star Galatica fan!]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-07-21T11:44:31-05:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/bellevue.html">
<title><![CDATA[Meet Our Team: Cari Capelouto, Bellevue Showroom Coordinator]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/bellevue.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[How long have you been in the beauty industry?I have been in the industry for 17 years. What did you do before this? Before this I was selling skincare and hair products to medical spas, plastic surgeons, and hospitals. And prior to that I was with Nordstrom, as a Beauty Director and trainer.    How does your past experience benefit your clients? My past experience comes into play because of my strong customer service background. I love the fact they we have exclusive products which makes us have a point of difference. I am knowledgeable in haircare, color application and skincare.  What is your favorite thing about your job?My favorite thing about this job is meeting new people everyday, and hoping they tell someone else about our great products and customer service. If you weren&#39;t doing this, what would you be doing? I would still be in the cosmetic industry that is my passion.  What&#39;s your favorite product and why? My favorite product is the Moroccanoil Shine Spray. It smells fantastic and everyone I show it to sees the added shine that they get! It works!What would people be surprised to learn about you?I have a passion for sports - I play a lot of tennis. I also enjoy cooking and entertaining.  When you visit the Belleuve Showroom, you will always find a friendly welcoming environment, well stocked with great merchandise!]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-07-21T11:32:23-05:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/spokane_londa.html">
<title><![CDATA[Meet Our Team: Londa Vaughn, Spokane Showroom Coordinator]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/spokane_londa.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[How long have you been in the beauty industry? Did you go to beauty school? Although my 3 and a half years with Salon Services is technically my first time in the beauty industry, my last career as the buyer/manager of a cancer boutique was also as much about beauty as it was about health.  At "The Essential Woman Boutique." I spent my days laughing and crying with courageous women of all ages. I realized the power of outside beauty towards healing inside and out. Wigs, breast prosthesis, hair growth products, special skin care products to help with the chemo side effects, all contributed to a woman&#39;s recovery. Look good, feel better!  It was so rewarding to be a part of that.What did you do before this? Before the cancer boutique, I was first a Housewares buyer (it is possible to be a successful buyer of cookware and small appliances without ever actually cooking anything in my life, a record I still proudly hold)! Then a Store Manager for one of the classiest and oldest department stores in Spokane - The Crescent.How does your past experience benefit your clients? For over 100 years The Crescent believed that their customers deserved the best of everything - the best product and the best customer service. In the late 1800&#39;s most of Spokane burned to the ground in a horrible fire, just as the spared Crescent Department store was about to open it&#39;s doors.  They opened on schedule, but took very little money. Most everyone was given merchandise, so the town could heal and rebuild. Now that is customer service!  That is what the Spokane Salon Services team offers - the very best of customer service!What is your favorite thing about your job? I LOVE my job! It is so much fun to build relationships with such creative and eclectic people. I feel our customers really appreciate Salon Services, our products, and our "above and beyond approach" to customer service. I love to learn from our stylists, they teach me something everyday. The owners and the team at Corporate are always finding "NEW" lines and fun items, things that really set us apart of other supply houses.  If you weren&#39;t doing this, what would you be doing?  I am so fortunate to be able to earn a living by going to a job that I love every day. For me there is no daily grind, no boredom.  Lots of challenges that keep me busy and use my creative side. I work for a company that respects and appreciates the contribution I make.  I am very happy here...tho&#39; wintering in Mexico sounds good also. I&#39;m a big fan of the Margarita! What&#39;s your favorite product and why?  Youngblood and Dermalogica for sure! Bamboo Lash! For my hair, I love Kevin.Murphy&#39;s Born.Again system, Moroccanoil shampoo and conditioner are awesome, Tri&#39;s Brite Lites spray shine and Eufora&#39;s Elevate Hairspray!What would people be surprised to learn about you?That I&#39;m a scooting Reverend! I ride with a gang of scooter people called the Minions. I also am a wedding officiant and love to do weddings, commitment ceremonies and vow renewals!We know that time is money to our customers. We offer our stylists the luxury of calling, faxing, or emailing their order to us. We fill it, ring it up, and meet them at the door with it. It saves them so much time. We take pride that our showroom does not have the warehouse look of most beauty supply houses.  We try to create a shopping experience that goes beyond just the basics.]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-07-19T19:36:39-05:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/renton.html">
<title><![CDATA[Meet Our Team: Brandi Masters, Renton Showroom Coordinator]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/renton.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[How long have you been in the beauty industry? Did you go to beauty school? If so, where?I Graduated from Cascade Beauty School in Nov 2009. I also went to NW Esthetics Inst. In Bellevue and received a license in Esthetics and Nails in 1996.What did you do before this?I have been in beverage sales and account management for the last 13 or so years, starting at Coca- Cola, then Budweiser, lastly selling wine in chain grocery stores. I also have been a Bartender for 10 years off and on, fun job with great tips. How does your past experience benefit your clients?I have been through extensive training all different categories. This makes me kind of a chameleon when it comes to handling situations and a diverse set of personalities. I can work with just about anyone. What is your favorite thing about your job?Working with customers all day. I&#39;m a big people person and if there isn&#39;t  anyone in here to talk to, you will probably find me talking to myself! (I&#39;m serious I do it all the time)  If you weren&#39;t doing this, what would you be doing?  I would be in sales with some other company and doing hair on side.What&#39;s your favorite product?  Elevate Hairspray by EuforaWhat would people be surprised to learn about you?  I AM 35!! Have a son who is 6 (Jaden) and I play the drums been playing for 13 years.Come down and see me at the Renton showroom and we can sniff products together and play in the makeup. Cheers!!]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-07-19T19:25:35-05:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/boise.html">
<title><![CDATA[Meet Our Team: Sandy Pentzer, Boise Showroom Coordinator ]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/boise.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[How long have you been in the beauty industry? Did you go to beauty school? If so, where?Many members of my family are in the beauty industry. My mom is retired, but I remember sitting in my mom&#39;s shop as a little girl in Oakley, CA watching her put rollers in, teasing, teasing and teasing! My sister does hair in NC and my step brother does hair in GA. He was also a contestant on a reality show. So although I did not go to beauty school, it is in my blood. For the record, I went to BSU -  go Broncos!What did you do before this? Medical Research, Retail Sales, Office AdministrationHow does your past experience benefit your clients? I take ownership in my position! So many people look at their job as just a "job", but when you have ownership, you can provide so much more to your clients. Positivity, honesty, reliability, and top notch customer service equal happy customers!What is your favorite thing about your job? My customers and the chance to use lots of awesome products!If you weren&#39;t doing this, what would you be doing?  Something sales related, something with the public - making a difference in the world!What&#39;s your favorite product and why?  Wow, really only one?  KM Hydrate.Me.Wash & Rinse - because it makes my hair feel so good!What would people be surprised to learn about you?  That I hate bugs. I have a fear of them.Once a customer comes in to our showroom for the first time, they will back! Our showroom rocks!]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-07-19T19:17:37-05:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/PDX.html">
<title><![CDATA[Meet Our Team: Stacy Peterson and Tia Rawe, Portland Showroom Coordinators ]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/PDX.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[ Stacy Peterson is one of our Senior Showroom Coordinators and she manages the Portland Showroom. How long have you been in the beauty industry? Did you go to beauty school? If so, where?I have been in the industry for 20 years. I am licensed in skin and nails. I went to beauty school 17 days after I graduated from High School. What did you do before this? I managed a beautiful salon - Studio A on Whidbey Island How does your past experience benefit your clients? I have been in all sides of our industry. Independent contractor, education, manager and worked for manufacturers and distributors. This helps me communicate with our customers and they value my opinion.What is your favorite thing about your job? I see myself as a personal shopper. I love customizing my guests&#39; experience and educating them on the latest technology in our industry.If you weren&#39;t doing this, what would you be doing? Foot reflexology at a resort.What&#39;s your favorite product and why?  Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics. They are life changing and you can see the difference immediately. What would people be surprised to learn about you?  I am learning to play the Celtic harp and I like TattoosWe are an amazing team down in Portland and we can&#39;t wait to see you!  Tia Rawe is the secondary Showroom Coordinator in Portland and works with Stacy to ensure you get the best service when you visit our Portland location! How long have you been in the beauty industry? Did you go to beauty school? If so, where?I have been in the beauty industry since 1995. I attended Mt. Hood Community College, School of Hair Design in Gresham, Oregon. I am a fully licensed cosmetologist with an AA Degree in Arts and Sciences. What did you do before this?Before enrolling at Mt. Hood Community College, I was a pretty aggressive snowboarder. Working and riding year round at all of the ski resorts. I had been riding daily and just started to condition with some of the women snowboarders downhill racing with gates. I was about 3 weeks into it and tore a ligament in my knee. To say the least, it was the end of my dreams of ever becoming a professional snowboarder.  Snowboarding was my past before beauty school, but my experience from beauty school until now, has many benefits considering I have been doing hair, nails, skin from behind the chair for 14 years. It is nice to be able to work for the hairdresser to build their business, and bring them new technology and edgy new upcoming events that are held at our Portland Showroom in the back classroom. As an independent contractor/stylist, I treat my fellow stylist with the same respect I feel I deserve. Doesn&#39;t matter what side of the "counter" I am on. What is your favorite thing about your job?I relate to the clients/stylist/estheticians and understand their demands/needs and concerns. I worked for myself the last 8 years before working for Salon Services. I enjoy going above and beyond in customer service. I truly value our customers.If you weren&#39;t doing this, what would you be doing?If I wasn&#39;t in the beauty industry, I would be working in criminal law or forensics.  What&#39;s your favorite product and why?   My favorite product is tricky. If I&#39;m a blonde, it has got to be Pearatin Fortifying Repairative Serum. It smoothes those frizzy ends. As a brunette, it&#39;s got to be the new Davines Melu.  What would people be surprised to learn about you?  People would be surprised to know about me that I would take any given opportunity to jump into a dirty towel bin to get next to Robert Cromeans, the legendary platform artist and industry icon. He truly inspires me.  ]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-07-19T19:06:57-05:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/beaverton.html">
<title><![CDATA[Meet Our Team: Christa Sherman, Beaverton Showroom Coordinator]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/beaverton.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[How long have you been in the beauty industry? Did you go to beauty school? If so, where? For as long as I can remember I have been doing hair and makeup, as a child and through High School I was doing hair for friends and family. I have been working for Salon Services for over a year and I love the industry. I would love to go to beauty school some day, but for now I enjoy working for Salon Services. What did you do before this?Before I joined the team at Salon Services, I worked at a day care. I have 3 children and wanted to be home with them. As they are getting older, I decided to get into the hair industry. I am so blessed to be here learning more and more about hair, skin and makeup - and growing my showroom.How does your past experience benefit your clients? Running your own daycare requires you to have patience. I have been given a wonderful gift of patience. I love to serve my customers with a smile and a positive attitude. What is your favorite thing about your job?  The amazing products that I believe in and I love being able to share with our customers. If you weren&#39;t doing this, what would you be doing?  I can&#39;t imagine not doing what I am doing, I love my job!What&#39;s your favorite product and why?Moroccanoil!!! Love it! This amazing product has given my hair life, I love to change my hair from blonde to brown, (hopefully back to blonde soon) and using Moroccanoil  protects my hair and makes it possible. It conditions and repairs the damage caused by me wanting a new look every now and then.The Beaverton Showroom is working hard to give you the best in customer service!  ]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-07-19T12:25:22-05:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/jeremy.html">
<title><![CDATA[Featured Artist: Jeremy Scheifflee]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/jeremy.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[ What salon are you at? Sam Brocato Salon, SoHo, NYCWhat inspired you to get into the beauty industry? When I was 15 I asked my mom if I could get a mohawk. She said, "not until your 16!" Figuring by that time I might forget about it. But, to her surprise on the morning of my 16th birthday I went into the bathroom and gave myself the sweetest mohawk! (I even used Elmer&#39;s Glue and egg whites to hold it up). I had so much fun; I truly believe a spark was lit at that moment! It didn&#39;t take long before my friends started asking me to cut and color their hair. Paper and fabric scissors, Manic Panic and a garden hose - it didn&#39;t matter - I would use whatever we could come up with. Then one day I was cutting a friend&#39;s hair and she said, "You&#39;re kinda good!" She asked me if I had ever thought about going to school for hair. Her words followed me for days after. My search began to find the best education I could get! &#8232;&#8232; Where did you go to school? The Aveda Institute in Minneapolis &#8232;&#8232; What brand do you educate for? BROCATO! Jeremy will be joining us for some education events in the coming months. Watch our education calendar to learn more! What is your favorite haircare brand? What do you love about it? Brocato. I love it because it is a salon-only line created by a hairstylist, and there is true passion put into every bottle. It works! Whatever it says on the front of the bottle it does. Can&#39;t beat that! &#8232;&#8232; What is your philosophy toward retailing products? Every hair type, texture and style has specific needs. When products are used to nourish or fulfill that need, the use of that product is explained clearly and confidently at the time of use -  the client understands that I am there to help them take care of their hair and or maintain their style - not just sell them something. When I am behind the chair I talk about hair! That&#39;s what the client came to me for. When you have a strong, clear, understanding of what a product does and you use it for its desired result, there is no "selling" involved. There is trust built between the two of you and they will come back and buy products from you religiously. &#8232;&#8232;Who are your mentors, or whose career have you found inspirational? Sam Brocato. He is a truly genuine human being and a genuine hairstylist. His passion for education, not only for himself, but for others is unending. He stays involved on every level and is available to everyone. He is a real person, who has been through it all and wants to help others grow. He is an absolutely amazing hair cutter, colorist, texturist, teacher, designer, business owner - he lives and breathes this industry and I believe he loves it more now than he ever has! I also keep an eye on people like Robert Cromeans, Takashi and DJ Muldoon. They all capture and hold a stage like no one else. Their constant creativity, ability and drive for education and sharing are always an inspiration to me. &#8232;&#8232;What do you do to keep yourself inspired? I have been paying a lot of attention to people in other professions that are very passionate and love what they do. I recently talked with someone who builds fuel injection systems in high performance cars. His tools and intricate knowledge of details were amazing. I looked at how the right tool was used to complete each part of the job, how the shop was organized and how each thing was done with care and thought. I then tried to see how I could use some of his knowledge in hair cutting and color. Like the use of the right tool for a particular section of a cut or color, or how keeping a clean and organized work station not only looks professional - but makes the work efficient and clean.  What would people be surprised to learn about you? I&#39;m a hard-core metal head! I grew up playing and listening to metal music, and it&#39;s something that I have always kept up with. True metal has always stayed underground and there is a great brotherhood amongst the people who listen to it and go see the shows. People say I&#39;m a pretty mellow and calm person - so I guess it&#39;s the yin to my yang!]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-07-13T13:08:13-05:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/saltlake_cutitout.html">
<title><![CDATA[Hairdressers in Salt Lake City Unite Against Domestic Violence]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/saltlake_cutitout.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Recently, Salon Services&#39; Consultant Kenna Wareham decided she wanted to do something to give back to her community and help victims of domestic violence.  Approximately a third of women in US experience abuse by a partner during their lifetime and domestic violence is the single largest cause of injury - more common than injuries from car accidents, muggings and rape combined. (Source: www.cutitout.org).Kenna attended a seminar put on by Cut it Out, which is an amazing organization of passionate salon professionals that work to create awareness about domestic violence. They organize seminars to empower professionals to recognize, respond and refer, as well as what to look for - and how to help - women that may think they have no way out of a dangerous domestic situation. "Women often tell their stylists things they don&#39;t tell anyone else, including their families. Most people don&#39;t know how to react when someone says they are being emotionally abused or physically hurt. We want to teach salon professionals how to help their clients find resources to get help. Domestic violence is an epidemic, and the Cut it Out program makes a difference," says Kenna.  Kenna decided she wanted to do more than just create awareness, but to also create an event to bring the community together to raise money. She came up with the idea of a fashion/hair show, where artists could have fun and create looks to showcase their work, and gather an audience of 500+ to help spread the word about Cut it Out and how to get involved.The Summer Solstice fashion and hair show was held at Club Habits in Salt Lake City on Sunday, June 27, 2010 and had a packed house of 508 attendees. The event raised $2241 and awareness in the community of close-knit hairdressers. Three charities benefited from the event; proceeds went to Cut it Out, The South Valley Sanctuary and the YWCA. The staff at Salon Services was thrilled to sponsor an event like this and hope to work to grow with the community in Utah and keep spreading the word about organizations like Cut it Out.  Participating Salons and Stylists: Ariane Borg @ Studio SalonButterfly Jac SalonCameo College of Essential BeautyEchelon Edge AcademyFlor d LisI&#39;m Beautiful Mane Attraction9 Salon & SpaSalon BleuSalon RZSara More @ VisageSwitch SalonTaylor Andrew AcademyUnity Salon & Spa Josh ParkinChrystofer BensonChad Seale @ Switch Salon Want to help? Donations are gladly accepted at these organizations:South Valley Sanctuaryhttp://www.southvalleysanctuary.com/Cut it Outhttp://cutitout.orgYWCA of Salt Lake Cityhttp://www.ywca.org/site/pp.asp?c=glLUJgP9H&b=67256Not in the Salt Lake City area? Contact your Salon Services&#39; Consultant at 800-251-4247 to find out more about Cut it Out and how you can set up a training seminar for your staff. ]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-07-12T17:29:33-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/saltlake.html">
<title><![CDATA[Salon Services Expands with a New Showroom Location in Salt Lake City]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/saltlake.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[ Salon Services Expands with a New Showroom Location in Salt Lake City, Utah - Open Now! Salon Services has recently expanded with a new showroom location for licensed hair and skin professionals in Salt Lake City, Utah. This is the first showroom location in the state of Utah.Salon Services has been serving licensed salon and spa professionals since 1980, with numerous showrooms located throughout Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Showrooms offer stylists a boutique professional environment with top-notch service for quick and easy product and supply shopping trips. The Salt Lake City location features 1,900 square feet of shopping and educational event space, easy freeway access, ample parking and a spacious classroom area. Clients can also call in orders in advance and have them ready for pick up when it&#39;s convenient for their schedule. "We are excited to be expanding our showrooms by adding this new location in Utah", says Sydney Berry, owner of Salon Services & Supplies. "We have been operating through our sales team in Utah for the past two years, and our clients have told us they want a physical location - which we are excited to deliver with this beautiful new location".Stop by and visit the new location today:1850 S 300 West, Suite ESalt Lake City, UT 84115801-486-4178saltlake@salonservicesnw.com]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-06-22T14:43:51-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/3day3.html">
<title><![CDATA[Stacy Kurtz's 3-Day 2010]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/3day3.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[ Our very own Stacy Kurtz is at it again this year. Donating her feet, pocketbook and spirit to the Susan G. Komen 3-Day. "I have walked for the past two years and I can&#39;t stop walking! Last year it became even more apparent that I needed to continue with my quest to help raise awareness and money towards breast cancer when my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer for the third time in 18 years," says Stacy. Stacy continues, "Last year my mom and I were training for the 3 Day Walk when we received news that she had been diagnosed for the third time. The news hit us all hard, but my mom&#39;s a fighter, and she somehow found the strength and courage to endure her third mastectomy, radiation, and after only a month of recovery find the strength to walk side by side with me for the 3 Day. She is my inspiration and the reason I HAVE TO WALK! I cannot stand on the sidelines; I must help to make a difference towards this terrible disease that affects so many. It&#39;s the best feeling in the world to know that I am not only helping my mother, but also helping a stranger who may not even be aware they have breast cancer yet. Witnessing the generosity and pure human spirit while participating in this walk fills me up!"Stacy&#39;s inspiration may stem from her Mother&#39;s courageous battle, but she also finds inspiration in her ability to help make a difference in the lives of others, "A woman who will get to live another day because of early detection, meet her husband, have a child, get the chance to see them graduate, get married, and maybe even get the chance to meet her grandchild." These are the moments in life that inspire Stacy to walk, because thanks to breast cancer research and the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Stacy and her mom were able to experience these precious moments, and are looking forward to many more. Stacy has raised over $30,000 for Susan G. Komen and was one of the top ten individual fundraisers in the Seattle area in 2008. This year her goal is $10,000 and she is walking with the Valley Girls and Guys  who plan to raise a collective $300,000. WOW! Visit Stacy&#39;s personal page to learn more about her commitment to this cause. Stacy&#39;s fundraising plans this year include:Cuts for the Cure with the Lisa Power Salon in Seattle: July 31st 8:30am-5:30pmThis July, Lisa Power Salon will be donating a full day of their services and retail sales at the Cuts for the Cure event to benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation and Stacy&#39;s 3 Day Walk. This will be the third year that Lisa Power Salon has donated a day of services to help raise money for breast cancer research. "The Cuts for the Cure event is amazing and the amount that Lisa Power Salon raises grows each year. Their clients look forward to supporting Cuts for the Cure, as they know they can help to make a difference", says Stacy. This year&#39;s Cuts for the Cure benefit at Lisa Power Salon will be held on Saturday, July 31, 2010 from 8:30am-5:30pm. "Breast cancer is something that has affected each one of us individually within the salon, and when I found out Stacy was doing the 3-Day, I knew I wanted to get involved, says Lisa Power. "In the past two years we have been able to raise over $10,000 for the 3-Day, and this year we hope to raise even more". Clients can book haircuts, color services, makeup and brow shaping appointments for July 31, 2010 by calling the Lisa Power Salon at 206-216-2900. All proceeds will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, as well as all retail purchase dollars - you help by just buying a bottle of your favorite shampoo!Vendor Gift Basket Raffles: July 31 at the Lisa Power eventBeautiful gift baskets from Moroccanoil, Davines and Japonesque will be raffled off and all proceeds will go towards Stacy&#39;s teamAre you interested in participating with a Cuts for the Cure event or donating raffle gifts? Email Stacy at skurtz@salonservicesnw.com. If you want to make a donation to Stacy&#39;s team or learn more about how you can help, visit her Susan G.Komen page.]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-06-20T12:42:39-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/mandyz.html">
<title><![CDATA[Well Said, Mandy! ]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/mandyz.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[QUALITY KICKS QUANTITIES ASS.  I WAS TAUGHT FROM MY WEE LITTLE BRAT YEARS, THAT MAINTAINING A CERTAIN PRESENCE, FROM THE MOMENT YOU WALK OUT YOUR FRONT DOOR, IS THE JOB OF A LADY. Growing up our family constantly had a cash flow problem, but my mother taught my sister and I that whether you shop at Goodwill or Barney&#39;s, looking well groomed would keep people from knowing any different. I think this may be where my obsession for nail painting came to fruition. Anyhow, somehow we ended up in private school, a bit humiliated as we arrived every day in the rusty &#39;green machine&#39; &#39;73 Nova, but my friends for some reason thought I lived in a huge mansion by the way I dressed. (I never got around to letting them come over, as they would then find out the truth, and now I had a rep to uphold.)The same rule applies today. A true lady would never step a foot out her door without a swipe of gloss, well manicured nails, and her hair combed. It distresses me when I see a smartly dressed women with a claw comb to keep her hair back. You are doing a disservice to your wardrobe. Even a pony can look sleek if done right.Your hair is the perfect accessory to any wardrobe, whatever that may be - get a good cut. Personally, my haircuts grow out extremely well (see older blog, "why I love my haircuts.") They can last for months, making the investment much greater. If you spend less money in between my cuts to save money you will just end up back in my chair, dissatisfied by another stylists lack of training. Sure, they mean well, but I know what I am doing. You can let your hair grow out for up to a year, you can come back every 6 weeks, whatever suits you. BUT, either way, you wear your hair everyday, and personally, I don&#39;t want to have to wake up and &#39;deal&#39; with my hair. I want my hair to complement my clothes, I want my hair to look good even when I feel like shit. I want my hair to be a fake representation of class when I may be sporting a wife beater under my coat because I ran to the store. I even tend to believe I have to have the perfect &#39;Jeep Wrangler&#39; hair - you can&#39;t drive one and not look the part, I would again be doing a disservice to my car. (OK, I think I may place a little more importance on my &#39;items&#39; then I should.) But you work hard for them, treat them right. That, and I really think my hair makes my ten dollar shades look like a million bucks. See, good hair adds value to everything!Mandy Zelinka, hairstylist,  Ginger Hair Salon  WWW.MANDYZELINKA.COM]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-06-17T12:39:58-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/beautysecrets.html">
<title><![CDATA[Beauty Secrets from Around the World]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/beautysecrets.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[When it comes to beauty routines, the grass is always greener. Japanese women have it made with their long, glossy hair and Greek women&#39;s olive-toned complexions are always luminous. But how do they do it? Put down your passport-you won&#39;t need to go anywhere to find out. We got insider beauty information from experts on how women across the globe stay gorgeous.Read excerpts below from the article, Beauty Secrets from Around the World to find out their secrets. Learn how you can recreate these at home remedies and learn which Salon Services products contain these all natural, worldly ingredients. AustraliaAustralian makeup artist Napoleon Perdis says yarrow extract is used by Australian Aboriginal women to prevent stretch marks, thanks to its moisturizing and hydrating properties. Yarrow root is also an anti-inflammatory, which soothes the skin. Calm your skin after shaving with: Dermalogica Soothing Shave Cream- a calming, anti-inflammatory shave cream which conditions the skin, reducing irritation and redness associated with shaving. Containing skin-smoothing vitamin E, sambucus (elder tree) and achillea (yarrow) extract, it reinforces the skins natural protective barrier and fights off skin-ageing free radicals.ChileChilean women credit the antioxidant powers of red grapes for their luminous skin. "It wakes up the appearance of tired and fatigued skin to give you an amazing glow," says Shalini Vadhera, author of Passport to Beauty. Quench your skin with antioxidants and use:Youngblood Minerals in the Mist- refresh, restore, and recharge your skin with three unique blends of pure essential oils, minerals, and vitamins that work to lock in long lasting hydration, rejuvenate skin tissue, and protect against environmental stress and pollutants.  IsraelCygalle Dias, owner of New York City&#39;s Cygalle Healing Spa, was born in Israel and believes in the healing powers of sea salt. "When you swim in the Dead Sea, all of the salt helps your body rid itself of toxins, and it has also been known to help cure skin diseases."Empower your skin with:Dermalogica Hydra-Active Mineral Salts- gently soften and polish the skin with mineral rich sea salts and natural exfoliating kelp enzymes. ItalyHow do Italian women maintain their glossy locks? According to Fabio Scalia, Italian hairstylist and owner of Fabio Scalia salon in Brooklyn, New York, the answer is right in your kitchen. Italian women keep their hair shiny by combining yogurt and olive oil and using the mixture as a conditioner. The protein in the yogurt gently nourishes and conditions.  Glossify your locks with:Davines Well-Being Yogurt Shampoo and Conditioner- Moisturize, nourish, and protect hair against affects of atmospheric agents and frequent washing.Davines Momo Shampoo and Conditioner- A moisture-rich formula that works to restore the depleted elements dry hair  with Olive Ampho Acetate- derived from olive oil- for its natural ability to gently and effectively cleanse the hair, leaving it softy and silky.Click here to read the full article.]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-06-11T17:33:34-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/steven.html">
<title><![CDATA[Featured Artist: Steven Lightfoot]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/steven.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[ Meet an Artist: Steven Lightfoot - Portland, OR & Seattle, WAWhat salon are you at?I currently have two chairs, one in Portland, at Arabella Salon, and one in Seattle, at Salon 2602. Portland and Seattle are vastly different cities, and I love them both. I have also had split time between two chairs in Spokane WA, and Portland Or. Instead of settling myself in one or the other, I decided to take a gamble on keeping two chairs, one in each city - and I&#39;m glad I did! It&#39;s madness, but at this point, I need them both. Which just goes to show how good "crazy" can sometimes be. What inspired you to get into the beauty industry?It&#39;s funny how often clients casually ask this question. The answer is: there are too many answers. But if I had to pick one, my father. My father was a painter, who became inspired to paint most likely after seeing his first Picasso in person; not surprisingly, he raised me to appreciate the arts, and to understand the need all people have to interact with art in their day-to-day lives. There&#39;s a good reason why the works of the great masters are kept in the care of museums, but an unfortunate side-effect of this situation is a common feeling that "art" is something that you have to buy a ticket for, and then stand behind velvet ropes and look at, but not touch. That doesn&#39;t have to be true. Haircutting can be - and should be - an art, too. Hair cutting, for me, is a way to be creative every day, and help other people express themselves. This is especially true of precision cutting and coloring. If I did nothing but hair and practiced my craft with my friends for the rest of my life, I&#39;d die a happy man.Where did you go to school?I attended the awesome Glen Dow Academy, in Spokane, WA. Everything I didn&#39;t learn there, I learned from life. And I&#39;m still learning. I hope I never stop.What brand do you educate for?I work currently work with Marcia Teixeira, for Salon Services. Remaining true to the craft and staying behind the chair for the most part. Mostly I learn from my clients and peers and we educate each other. What is your favorite haircare brand? What do you love about it?If Davines hair color were a woman, I&#39;d marry her. It&#39;s that simple. My girlfriend knows, and she&#39;s okay with it - in fact, she said she&#39;d be happy to conduct the ceremony. But I don&#39;t limit myself; the clients needs come first, and I&#39;ve had success with everything from Kadus to Keune, to Pravana, to Wella. But Davines color is definitely the hair color I use for the majority of my work. There is no one I wouldn&#39;t recommend it to, clients and stylists alike. The vibrancy and constancy of its tones - the recent Infinite Variety Collection was inspired by Andy Warhol&#39;s (in)famous print of Marylin Monroe - is unmatched in the industry. What&#39;s your favorite product and why?I&#39;m all about the basics, myself. My personal favorite product is... shampoo. Yep. I don&#39;t use conditioner, and stay away from styling products, because they aren&#39;t what my hair needs, and it wouldn&#39;t benefit from them. Every head of hair is different, and mine, luckily, is a minimalist. For which I am forever thankful, because it gives me just that much more time to spend on other peoples&#39; hair, which is what I love most anyway.What is your philosophy toward retailing products?I don&#39;t feel that retailing is a philosophy, but a science. I take my client, whom we&#39;ll call A, and match her or him with the best product available for their individual situation, which we&#39;ll call B. A + B = happy client. If at any time A + B does not = happy client, then a miscalculation was made. Press clear and start again. The bottom line is that there are no one-size-fits-all products, and any good stylist will consider his clients&#39; needs before his quotas. Who are your mentors, or whose career have you found inspirational?This is a tough question; there are many, many people who&#39;ve inspired me over the years. I know I&#39;ve already mentioned him, but it bears repeating: my father. Not to mention the rest of my family, especially my brother, and my girlfriend Shannon, and my friends, and my clients, and... it&#39;s a long list. When it comes to doing hair specifically, though, I have to acknowledge my current peers. The people I actually work with every day. To Emmett Henley and Stuart Calef, I am deeply indebted for all they&#39;ve taught me, by their skill, by their dedication, and by their example. Amanda Williams, the owner of Arabella in Portland OR, is amazing, and I can&#39;t thank her enough. Sarah Bandy. The Arabella/Studio 2602 crew&#39;s respectively.What do you do to keep yourself inspired?I&#39;m constantly challenging myself to improve my methods. Currently, I&#39;m honing cutting techniques I&#39;ve developed the last few years, and looking forward to putting them into action, when the time is right, in my own salon. The more I do hair, the more I want to do hair. Outside the salon world, I spend time with my loved ones when I can, and train hard at Berdugo Martial Arts. What would people be surprised to learn about you?A gentleman never divulges ALL his secrets. Neither, incidentally, do I.]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-06-10T12:55:11-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/pbadiscount.html">
<title><![CDATA[Save $100 on Your Symposium Ticket!]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/pbadiscount.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[  Salon Services is offering you $100 off your Symposium Ticket!BE IN the know with the industry&#39;s most sought-after business education event of the year! PBA Symposium is held annually during PBA Beauty Week, the most inclusive beauty event in the nation. This three-day educational summit will inspire and educate salon owners and licensed professionals to take their businesses and careers, as well as the entire industry, to the next level. PBA SymposiumJuly 17-20, 2010Las Vegas, NVYour ticket includes:    * Access to all PBA Symposium events    * Free 3-day pass to Cosmoprof North America    * Access to the Get Together Party    * Opportunity to purchase a discounted NAHA ticketRegister online and enter the code SS%100 and you will get $100 off your ticket price!The Salon Services Code is: SS%100 to get your PBA Member tickets at $299 and non-member tickets at $449.Register here: http://www.probeauty.org/symposium/Schedule of Events: http://www.probeauty.org/symposium/event-details/We will see you there!]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-05-26T12:41:46-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/moil_NYT.html">
<title><![CDATA[Moroccanoil Light: As Seen in the New York Times]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/moil_NYT.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Vitamin E-rich argan oil is a hero ingredient in many skin and hair products, said to do everything from fade stretch marks to cure acne to restore hair&#39;s health. It has perhaps had the most commercial success for the latter use: A pricey nourishing treatment with a delightful, musky scent,  Moroccanoil has been in the "Gossip Girl" trailers, the hairstylist Peter Butler&#39;s kit when prepping Claire Danes for this year&#39;s Met Ball and, while we&#39;re naming names, the medicine cabinets of Natalie Portman, Rachel Weisz and Ashley Olsen, according to the hairstylist Mark Townsend. The formula has spawned spin-off products including a shampoo, curl cream and a restorative hair mask, but none have addressed the fact that Moroccanoil tends to weigh down fine hair.Moroccanoil Light is less greasy than the original, allowing those with thin hair to reap the antioxidant and shine benefits while retaining volume. Curiously, Light is billed for fair hair, yet the oil itself is the same honey-tinted shade. My blonde locks were certainly a bit bouncier with Light, but the same color with both products. Regardless, it&#39;s a good thing, and maybe next season I&#39;ll be proven wrong when it&#39;s revealed that Rufus Humphrey is actually a silver fox.Read the full piece here: http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/25/vain-glorious-moroccanoil-light/]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-05-26T11:31:08-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/dale.html">
<title><![CDATA[Featured Artist: Dale Tu]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/dale.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[ Meet an Artist: Dale Tu, Boise, IDWhat salon are you at?Salon 117 in Boise, IDWhat inspired you to get into the beauty industry?I have always known I had a knack for doing hair. I did my friends hair for dances in high school. But, I didn&#39;t go to beauty school right away, I waited until the ripe old age of 23. I have been in love with the industry ever since!Where did you go to school?Headmasters in BoiseWhat brand do you educate for?Kevin.Murphy and Marcia Teixeira Keratin TreatmentWhat is your favorite haircare brand? What do you love about it?Kevin.Murphy is my favorite, as something was so unique about it. I got started with it because I told my Salon Services&#39; Consultant, Scott, about how bored I was with what I was using. I was looking for that killer next big thing. He told me about this new line that had super cool packaging, performance and was ultra stylish.I love the simplicity of the line and thinking about hair as an extension of the skin and using skincare ingredients to nourish the hair. It does what it says on the bottle!I also knew I wanted to become an educator, as I love teaching about hair and haircare products. My first class was a Learn.Me class with Felicity Davis, West Coast Education Director for Kevin.Murphy. I instantly fell in love with Felicity, the education program and the Kevin.Murphy line.What&#39;s your favorite product and why?I don&#39;t have a favorite, as it all depends on what my mood is for that day and what texture I am looking to create. Recently though I have been using a lot of Easy.Rider, Hair.Resort and Motion.Lotion. And the Kevin.Murphy Smoothing.Brush is amazing. I love it - a boar bristle brush with no static!What is your philosophy toward retailing products?I treat every client like they are my only client. Every one of my clients gets the full Kevin.Murphy.Experience (KMX) as if I was teaching a class. I have my clients try, smell and play with all of the different products.  A lot of my clients leave with eight different products as they fall in love with the brand, too!  I like to make sure they are fully educated so they can recreate the look at home. Sometimes I even type out step-by-step instructions for clients and give them a link to the KM podcasts at kevinmurphy.com.au so they can watch the video to go with a particular style.Are you entering the Underground Superstar Competition? YES! I am working on my podcast already!  Who are your mentors, or whose career have you found inspirational?Kevin Murphy - he&#39;s so down to earth, scientific and creative.My Mom- Mom has always challenged me to be best I can be.  She has always taught me to always be humble and grounded.  I know what I&#39;m capable of, but I never brag about or shove my achievements in anyone&#39;s face. Britney Spears - I have loved her since day one. She doesn&#39;t care what anyone thinks about her, she just does her own thing.What do you do to keep yourself inspired?I love to watch Chinese movies. I am so inspired by period dramas with elaborate hair, twists, ornaments and updos. I am fascinated by traditional Asian hairstyling, and like to put my own modern twist and play with styles from Chinese period movies. One of the first competitions I competed in during beauty school was inspired by those old hairstyles.What would people be surprised to learn about you?That I speak fluent Cantonese, as I have no accent when speaking English, and the Chinese find it interesting that I speak Cantonese clear without an English accent.  ]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-05-16T22:15:49-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/cutitout.html">
<title><![CDATA[Beautiful Hair for a Great Cause! ]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/cutitout.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Salon Services & Supplies Consultant and Utah native, Kenna Wareham, has taken an active stance against domestic violence abuse in her local community. She has teamed together with neighboring Salt Lake City salons and stylists to produce a private fashion show featuring more than 100 models styled by Salt Lake City salon industry leaders. All proceeds will benefit CUT IT OUT and other local programs that aid victims of domestic violence. According to Kenna, who is also a domestic violence trainer, "Women often tell their stylists things they don&#39;t tell anyone else - including their families. Most people don&#39;t know how to react when someone says they are being emotionally abused or physically hurt. We want to teach salon professionals how to help their clients find resources to get help. Domestic violence is an epidemic, and the CUT IT OUT program makes a difference." Founded in 2003, CUT IT OUT is a program sponsored by Salon Services & Supplies, the National Cosmetology Association (NCA), and Southern Living At HOME. For more information, call Kenna at 801-503-2353 or visit www.cutitout.org.  The Domestic Violence Hotline number is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).You can help AND see a great show at the same time! Summer Solstice Fashion ShowA Runway Showcase of Models by Salt Lake City StylistsSunday June 27, 2010 Show4pm-6pmAfter Party 6pm-8pmClub Habits832 E. 3900 So. SLC, UT 84107Admission PricesTickets are available now until June 1st at Unity Salon 215 So. 400 E. SLC, UT 84111. You can also email Kenna at kwareham@salonservicesnw.com to learn more about this amazing event. $7 In Advance, with Cosmetology Student ID$10 In advance$15 At the door$50 Stylists registration- Admits Stylist, 2 Models in showcase, 2 guests(Must be 21 years or older-ID required) SponsorsSLC, UT area StylistsSalon Services & SuppliesClub HabitsUnity Salon ]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-05-14T20:32:11-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/promhair.html">
<title><![CDATA[Prom ]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/promhair.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Prom night. It&#39;s the night every father dreads and every mother wishes she could relive. It&#39;s the night hundreds of dollars are spent on limousines, photographers, tuxedos, princess dresses and rhinestone handbags.  The night high school girls spend hours getting ready for, months shopping for, and years dreaming about.  Prom night is coming. Make prom day, YOURS. Check out our suggestions for 2010&#39;s hottest prom hairstyles:Braided Beauties:  Whether it&#39;s at the beach, the runway, or even the Oscars, braids are without a doubt 2010&#39;s hottest hair trend. Add a funky twist to the classic updo with a braided wrap- around bun, or get Jennifer Aniston&#39;s hippy chic look by adding a single braid to a head of tousled waves.  Hair Accessories: Who said accessories had to be limited to earrings and bracelets? Dazzle up your client&#39;s dress with a funky headband like Emily Blunt, or add a touch of glamour with rhinestone barrettes like our blond bombshell to the left.    The New Updo: The waste-an-entire-can-of-hairspray-and-500-bobby-pin days are over. Messy, romantic updos and softly swept up hair reflect the natural glamour your clients will be seeking this year. Don&#39;t forget:You are the expert when it comes to your client and their hair. A few tips:Make sure to ask for a description of their dress before you begin your masterpiece. Nothing is worse than the wrong hair with the wrong dress.Ask about the neckline, is it strapless? Halter? Suggest she wears her hair up for a dress with a higher neckline or busy print. Hair down around the shoulders is more flattering for a strapless dress.Make sure to understand the "look" your client is going for. Hollywood Glamour? Natural Beauty? Sexy Seductress? The hair should complement the dress, not distract from it.And lastly...we all remember what really happens at prom....Help your client not to look like a drowned rat after a few minutes on the dance floor. Suggest a travel size TRI Aerogel hairspray, or Youngblood&#39;s new Guava lipgloss for touchups on the road. Contact your local consultant for more prom retailing ideas, and start pre-booking now!]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-05-14T19:02:44-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/spokane.html">
<title><![CDATA[The Fabulous New Spokane Showroom! ]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/spokane.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[We have recently relocated and expanded our Spokane showroom to a shiny new 3,600 square foot space at 611 E. 2nd Avenue, Suite A, in Spokane. We have had a location in the downtown Spokane area since 1989. Spokane Showroom Supervisor Londa Vaughn says, "We are excited to have expanded our showroom to a great new location that is more convenient and accessible to our clients. We are looking forward to being a continued resource for Eastern Washington salon professionals".The Grand Opening/Customer Appreciation Event is scheduled for June 14, from 8am-5pm. More details on this event and offers are coming soon!Stop by today and say hi to Londa and her team at their easy to find new location! 611 E. 2nd Avenue, Suite ASpokane, WA 99202509-455-6368spokane@salonservicesnw.com]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-05-12T16:02:56-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/elements_promo.html">
<title><![CDATA[Loyalty Promotions ]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/elements_promo.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Having a hard time getting those color clients to pre-book their appointments? It&#39;s been a very common thing among salons all over the country. Clients are spreading out their appointments, not showing up or cancelling at the last minute. Whatever the case, there are a lot of reasons and excuses as to why our appointments books just don&#39;t look as stacked as they used to.Elements Salon, out of Wenatchee, Washington, decided to confront this problem, take a stand, risk a little, and change a lot. They created a program to create loyalty and retention at its finest, during a time when they feared that business as they once knew it would never be the same.To them, it&#39;s about loyalty, and undoing this widespread theory that home color is the best way to go. We all know it is not! When people think about home color, they think cheap and easy. They don&#39;t think experience and quality. How about offering the deal with best service they can get? That&#39;s exactly what Elements did. They took matters into their own hands and decided to fight the Oprah home color theory!The salon ran a six-month program targeting the challenged economy and attacked it with an aggressive approach. It&#39;s a brilliant theory providing the salon a little more security and increased productivity! It&#39;s a loyalty program where if a client pre-books three appointments, and secures them with a credit card payment, they receive 50%-yes 50% off-their color service of choice, with a haircut. That being said, get creative! The client then has opportunity to branch out of their comfort zone to go for color services they may not have dared to attempt before. For example, we all have a few of those 10 foil clients... well why not go for a full weave and get them used to that look! Or maybe go from your regular bleach highlight to multi-dimensional color. This allows them the freedom to get their best service without being afraid to hear the total at the end! There are rules however. The appointments can&#39;t be spread out more than six weeks. The card is still charged if the client misses appointments or doesn&#39;t show and they lose the promotion discount. So if the client wants to receive their discount, they must remain loyal to you, and get back in the habit of getting their touch-ups and trims when they should be! It&#39;s a win/win!  Right now the big trend is 20% off! Every sale you see is 20% off. Offering a special half off deal will not only excite the clients you have but certainly reel in new business. Since Elements Salon has incorporated this program into their salon the phones have been ringing off the hook and those empty appointments pages are filling up quickly! This is a great time of year to be running such a dramatic promotion. With summer right around the corner, clients will be getting highlighted, trimmed, and texturized. This could also convince those clients that are unsure about trying something new to get in and just do it! Elements Salon is going to continue to run the promotion, but as a loyalty program with a 20% with three appointments pre-booked, versus the 50%. A big congrats to Elements Salon for their current success and creative genius! Spring has sprung and so has the salon business! Let this be an example of how a big risk can accumulate great success!   Kristy EvansBrocato/Kadus Brand Manager]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-05-11T15:48:00-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/boilingfrog.html">
<title><![CDATA[From Salons & Spas, Into Stores]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/boilingfrog.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Boiling Frog Syndrome: They say that if you put a frog into a pot of boiling water, it will leap out right away to escape the danger. But, if you put a frog in a kettle that is filled with water that is cool and pleasant, and then you gradually heat the kettle until it starts boiling, the frog will not become aware of the threat until it is too late. The frog&#39;s survival instincts are geared towards detecting but sudden changes. This story is often used as a metaphor for the inability of people to react to significant changes that occur gradually. This parable is often used to illustrate how humans have to be careful to watch slow changing trends in the environment, not just the immediate changes. It&#39;s also a warning to keep us paying attention not just to the obvious threats, but to more subtle developing ones. In other words, if people become acclimated to a certain state of change over a sufficient period of time, they gradually come to accept the state of affairs as normal. This principle is one of gradualism, or what might be called diluting focus/function and capability. On the other hand, most people will instinctively resist any abrupt or revolutionary change. The trend in our industry has allowed us to slowly erode our ability to see the obvious significant shift, i.e. mergers and acquisitions / diversion / changes in product distribution / lack of infrastructure and financial capability to inventory properly/ merchandise or train staff on benefits of at-home products / lack of direction in how we wish to have the consumer experience our level of services and retail for their home maintenance.  So as I read WWD Beauty Biz magazine, I was horrified by the tagline "Hairstyling, self-tanning, brow shaping, bikini waxes. Such services and many more are becoming ROUTINE RETAIL OFFERINGS. Here, our intrepid beauty reporters go undercover to report back on whether such services have successfully migrated FROM SALONS AND SPAS INTO STORES." The article continues: Hairstyling, self-tanning, brow shaping, bikini waxes. Such services and many more are becoming ROUTINE RETAIL OFFERINGS. Here, our intrepid beauty reporters go undercover to report back on whether such services have successfully migrated FROM SALONS AND SPAS INTO STORES.I was having a particularly flat, blah hair day. With a beauty event that evening, I decided to see if Bumble and bumble&#39;s much-buzzed-about no-wash Styling Bar at Bloomingdale&#39;s 59th Street could transform it. I arrived late on a Tuesday afternoon, and told the woman manning the register I was interested in learning how to wield a curling iron to create Sarah Jessica Parker-inspired waves. A young stylist with cat-eye eyeliner came bounding over. I asked for "natural-looking" waves and confessed I had used a straightening iron on my hair that morning. She led me to a salon chair facing a mirror, but in clear view of the bustling beauty floor, and carefully inspected my hair, asking what styling products I had used. For a textured look, like the one I wanted, she advised avoiding creamy or milky styling lotions-or anything with silicone. She began the 20-minute service by working Bb. Thickening spray into my dry hair, noting that at home, this product should be applied to wet hair. Zeroing in on the pesky cowlick near my natural part, she soaked the area with Bb. Prep, then started to tame the unruly locks using a blow-dryer. She then liberally sprayed sections of my hair with Spray de Mode to prep it for the curling iron. With the barrel of the iron facing toward the floor, she wrapped small sections around it, set them for a few moments and then tugged on the end of each curl to loosen it, setting it with more spray. One shopper leaned against a nearby counter, staring at the process. A beauty consultant frequently looked over, too. I felt a bit exposed. In a salon, I would have been happily chatting with the stylist or had my nose in a magazine. But in this case, I felt obligated to pay close attention. As the stylist efficiently worked her way around my hair, I asked her if the styling bar attracts a lot of interest from passersby. "Definitely. On Saturdays are usually four stylists, and if it happens to be slow, we&#39;ll do each other&#39;s hair" to spark interest. Still curling, she said, "Ask me any questions you want." I asked about her background and she offered she&#39;s employed by Bumble and bumble and takes classes at the salon, and that she was over the moon to work New York Fashion Week in February. She suggested next time I arrive with damp hair to get several days out of the style. After she rang me up for the $35 service and Spray de Mode (I couldn&#39;t resist), she cheerfully said, "Good luck styling your hair." My hair looked transformed. The next time I&#39;m in need of ultra speedy styling, I&#39;ll trade an hour-long, $60 salon blow-dry for this service at half the price and half there the time. Even if a few people stare.So what does this mean to us as an industry? I see it as an opportunity, if and only IF, we take advantage of the situation. The situation is this: first to create the mission/vision of the salon and how you convey your message to your team and your clients; secondly, how you initially train, monitor and manage what you want to occur for your salon experience; thirdly, partner with the distributor/manufacturer that best aligns with your vision and your needs. And, who will support you continuously in the manifestation and implementation of your vision with your salon/staff? As you determine the plan of action, create the plan and timeline the necessary components of expectations of all the parties. Fourthly, create the physical environment with inventory, merchandising, signage, and imagery within your salon with all the various client touch points to appeal to their issues with the available solutions. Fifthly, train, and re-train your staff with the knowledge that supports the confidence and competence of your people to prescribe the appropriate solutions for your clients. Lastly, train and measure, train again, and measure again, and then celebrate the success of your plan! At Salon Services, we want to be your partner and we do have these solutions to support you in the development of your plan! Let us begin to create the success you wish to have for your salon, your staff and your clients! The choice is available to you, to jump...NOT LEAP, out of the boiling water to create your future!  It will be work, but worth the effort as our industry is at a TIPPING POINT of opportunity! The consumer is waiting for us to assertively and confidently invite them to connect with our and your professional guidance. Are you ready to have a fresh beginning for your and your clients future??  Let us know, we want to help you to succeed!! Sydney BerryOwner, Salon Services & Supplies      ]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-05-11T12:00:55-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/moroccanoil.html">
<title><![CDATA[Celebs and Stylists Love Moroccanoil! ]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/moroccanoil.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[ The originator and industry leader of luxury, professional argan oil-infused styling, finishing and conditioning products for the hair, the Moroccanoil brand is world-renowned for its lightweight, instantly-absorbed formulas designed to give hair a silky, lustrous shine, a frizz and static-free finish, as well as revitalizing the hair while speeding drying time. Moroccanoil products maintain a cult following among editorial, fashion, celebrity, film, music and television stylists as well as for award shows including the Oscars, Golden Globes, Grammys, Independent Spirit Awards and MTV Awards.Who&#39;s been using Moroccanoil?Salma Hayek Carrie Underwood  Taylor Swift Rosario DawsonRachel Zoe  January Jones  Jennifer LopezMiley Cyrus  Lady Gaga  Adam Lambert Jordin Sparks  Pink Lea MicheleAnd many, many more!  AdvertisingMoroccanoil is running a major advertising campaign and is strongly committed to driving retail sales into professional salons. Full-page, full-color ads can be found in the recent issues of Vogue, InStyle, People en Espanol, Harper&#39;s Bazaar and Elle! The Products: The Original Moroccanoil Hair Treatment o Ultra-Light Formula o Restores Shine o Strengthens and Conditions o Reduces Drying Time Login to our newest Viewpoint magazine for a great deal on the Moroccanoil Treatment!  NEW! Moroccanoil Light o Features a lighter consistency and color - perfect for those with light- colored and fine hairo Leaves hair with a luxurious shine o Fortifies hair from root to tipo Heals and relieves weak and brittle hairMoroccanoil Glimmer Shine Spray o Invisible Veil of Shine o Enhances Highlights o Prevents Frizz o Protects Against the Elements Moroccanoil Restorative Hair Mask o Restores and Repairs o Rebuilds Elasticity o Keratin Enriched o Treats in 7-10 Minutes Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask o Hydrates o Restores Shine o Revitalizes o Treats in 5-7 Minutes Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Conditioner o Color Safe o Restores Moisture o Keratin Enriched o Sulfate, Phosphate and Paraben Free Moroccanoil Intense Curl Cream o Defines Curls o Hydrates o Provides Natural Hold o Enhances Shine o Leaves no Residue Moroccanoil Hydrating Styling Cream o Provides Soft Hold o Adds Definition and Shine o Eliminates Frizz o Hydrates Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Shampoo o Color Safe o Restores Moisture o Keratin Enriched o Sulfate, Phosphate and Paraben Free   NEW! Moroccanoil Luminous Hairsprayo Holds any style in place all day longo Won&#39;t cause sticky residue or buildupo Leaves hair weightless with a beautiful shineo Leaves hair manageableAlso available: Moroccanoil Brushes!Ready to learn more? Call your consultant or our Customer Care Team at 800-251-4247 today!Login to our newest Viewpoint magazine to see our special Mom&#39;s Day Tote and a Moroccanoil Treatment deal!  ]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-05-07T14:07:26-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/mom2010.html">
<title><![CDATA[Mother's Day Gift Ideas for Your Salon]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/mom2010.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[ Last Minute Mother&#39;s Day Gift Ideas!Want to do something more for Mom this Mother&#39;s Day besides the usual flowers and a card? Let Salon Services help you and your clients find the perfect gift for her special day!Here are our top 3 gift ideas (login to download Viewpoint with pricing): Moroccanoil Mother&#39;s Day Tote One each limited edition 500ml Moisture Repair Shampoo and Conditioner, one 25ml Treatment and Paddle Brush in a beach bag featuring the Breast Cancer Research Foundation Logo. Help Moroccanoil to donate more than $15,000 to the Breast Cancer Research foundation with purchase of this tote! Youngblood Mother&#39;s Day Clutch Includes a Déjà vu Lipgloss, Passion Eye Liner Pencil and a Vintage Pressed Mineral Eyeshadow Quad in a sophisticated plum cosmetics bag.    Brocato Celebrating Women Bag Comes with a limited edition gold shimmer lip gloss and Cloud 9 perfume wand with a 1.7oz Cloud 9 Body Butter in a flashy silver cosmetic travel bag.    Call your Consultant or Customer Care at 800-251-4247 to find out more or to learn about other great gift ideas for any occasion! ]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-05-06T13:54:32-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/ultracalming.html">
<title><![CDATA[UltraCalming—Coming Soon! ]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/ultracalming.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Coming Soon - The Dermalogica UltraCalming LineSensitivity comes in many forms...the solution comes in one. Itching, burning, stinging and redness are the tell-tale signs of sensitized skin. Your clients express ever-increasing frustration with this condition, and it&#39;s no surprise that the American Academy of Dermatology reports up to 50% of the U.S. population is suffering from some form of sensitivity. The skin health experts at Dermalogica have done it again! They&#39;ve taken the latest findings in scientific research to create a breakthrough in ingredient technology for the most advanced sensitized skin system on the market. Join us as we reveal UltraCalming, the first system clinically proven to control the inflammatory pathways that lead to sensitized skin, helping to dramatically reduce redness and while soothing irritation for lasting skin relief.Attend one of our live, interactive UltraCalming launch events to meet the products and receive an exclusive gift! Get savings deals, touch the products changing sensitized skin relief and take the quiz that reveals how sensitized your skin really is.Renton, WASalon Services & Supplies740 SW 34th St. Renton, WA 98057May 24, 20106-8pmPortland, ORHawthorn Farm Athletic Club4800 NE Belknap CourtHillsboro, OR 97124May 26, 20106-8pm Spaces are limited-call 800-251-4247 x226 to reserve your spot and gift for this free event!]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-04-29T13:16:36-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/springmakeup.html">
<title><![CDATA[Spring 2010 Makeup Trends]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/springmakeup.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Spring 2010 Makeup TrendsPretty PuckersPastel colors always say spring, and this year is no different - with one exception: the red lip. Just because the sun is shining and the birds are singing, that doesn&#39;t mean you have to give up your vibrant red pout - just brighten it up a bit. The spring red lip is all about gloss and glimmer, so keep it dewy, as opposed to the more matte reds that were popular in the fall and winter. Get the look by sweeping a Promiscuous Gloss over red lipstick. Our favorite is Youngblood&#39;s Crimson.  If you feel like bright red is too intense for your spring look, another popular lip color this season is coral. For a bright pop of color try Coral Beach lipstick topped with Devotion Lip Gloss. For a sheer, shimmery coral try the newest lip gloss color, Coy. Enviable EyesNothing evokes the feeling of spring like the movie Bambi, when the newborn animals take their first steps into the flowering meadows. And what better way to capture that spirit than with your own big, beautiful doe eyes? Get the look by highlight the brow bone with a light iridescent shadow, like Moonstone or Alabaster. Next smudge any darker color into the crease, concentrating color down toward the outside corner of the lash line. Line eyes with black eyeliner, curl lashes and finish the look with two coats of Mineral Lengthening Mascara. Another big thing (literally) is the enhanced lash. Women all over the country are discovering eyelash growth stimulators, and getting amazing results. Salon Services offers Bamboo Lash, which is a natural alternative to other chemical-based lash enhancers. Plus you can play up the drama of your enhanced lashes by filling in brows and holding them in place with a Brow Artiste palette, containing two colors and a tinted wax to keep brows in line. Want to learn more about makeup trends and/or Youngblood Cosmetics? Enroll in one our our upcoming makeup classes or call your Consultant or our Customer Care team at 800-251-4247. ]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-04-29T12:44:11-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/melu.html">
<title><![CDATA[Davines Melu - Here and Ready to Ship!]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/melu.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Davines Melu Now in StockInspired by the word "mellow," the Melu product line is designed to do just that: mellow out the often over-processed strands of your long haired clients. Long hair is hard to maintain, taking years and years of dedication to grow to great lengths; And during those years hair may be subjected to dozens of chemical treatments, daily blow-drying, heat styling and other tortures, leaving it brittle. Fear not, though. Melu is here to save the day. There are four products in the line: Shampoo, Conditioner, Serum and Thermal Protecting Shield spray. Melu Anti-Breakage Lustrous ShampooA rich formulation of botanical ingredients combine to fight breakage and strengthen each strand. Spinach extract infuses the hair with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Coconut oil acts as a natural conditioning agent to soften. Melu Anti-Breakage Lustrous ConditionerRich in vitamin-packed apricot butter, this deep conditioner softens, speeds dry time, improves wet & dry combability and actually protects hair from heat damage.Melu Split Ends Repairing Sealing SerumThis non-greasy serum has the power to seal split ends with the filler-like action of natural keratin fibers obtained and provide optimum hydration with natural cherry oil & vitamin E.Melu Thermal Protecting ShieldFormulated to protect hair during heat styling and damage caused by brushing. Rosemary extract closes the hair cuticle, leaving the hair shiny and protected. But Don&#39;t Take Our Word For it....Crisitano Cora, of the famed Cristiano Cora Studio in NYC, and his staff gave their in-depth reviews of the line after trying it out in the studio. Read the entire Cristiano Cora staff review Hold the Presses!Did you know that Melu has already gotten coverage in some of the world&#39;s most high fashion magazines? Check out Melu Shampoo in this month&#39;s Harper&#39;s Bazaar and Melu Serum in W.Melu is Ready for You!Due to the popularity of Melu when it first came out it was hard to keep our warehouse stocked! But fear not, we now have all four Melu products ready to ship, so call and place your order today- 800-251-4247. ]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-04-09T16:38:56-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/davines_ecosalon_contest.html">
<title><![CDATA[Green is the Color of Victory]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/davines_ecosalon_contest.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Davines Presents the 1st Annual Premier Eco-Salon Contest To help promote their philosophy of &ldquo;sustainable beauty,&rdquo; Davines is scouring the world for the greenest, most eco-friendly salon. Here is your chance to show off your eco efforts and perhaps win a trip to the World Wide Hair Tour in Berlin! The good people at Davines have made the entry process surprisingly easy. Just follow the link below, fill out the questionnaire, upload a few photos and that&rsquo;s it! Good luck! http://www.davines.com/ecosalon ]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-03-25T18:54:22-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/hydrateme.html">
<title><![CDATA[New Kevin.Murphy Hydrate.Me]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/hydrateme.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Hydration for Thirsty HairKevin.Murphy has added a brand new shampoo and rinse to their collection. This newest addition is Hydrate.Me and is great for dry or continuously processed hair. It is sure to become a favorite for your clients with thick, coarse hair or those who habitually color or heat style their hair. The Hydrate.Me PhilosophyHydrate.Me is inspired by the ingredients of skincare products designed to minimize fine lines and wrinkles. By using some of the same key ingredients, Kevin.Murphy has discovered an effective way to seal up the cracks (fine lines) of the hair cuticle to produce healthy, shiny results. The Science Behind ItHydrate.Me serves two purposes: Repair and hydration. The ingredients are specially formulated to moisturize, while the high anti-oxidant properties repair each strand and help to seal in moisture.Key Ingredients:Kakadu Plum - Native to Australia, this fruit has the highest concentration of natural Vitamin C of any known plant. Vitamin C, a natural antioxidant, stimulates production of Elastin & Collagen to maintain the hair&#39;s elasticity.Vitamin B7 - Beneficial for hair growth and overall hair/scalp health. Strengthens hair follicles and the hair shaft. Also protects against hair loss.Evening Primrose Oil - Softens and hydrates the hair with Omega 6 fatty acids. Such phospholipids as Omega 6 attract moisture and hold onto it, keeping the hair moisturized.Sunflower Oil - A natural sunscreen for hair, Sunflower Oil contains Tocopherals, which act as a natural UV barrier and free radicals that can damage the hair.Shea Butter - Delivers moisture to dry or damaged hair from the roots to the very tips, repairing and protecting against damage, dryness and brittleness. It helps restore luster to damaged hair. Micro Algae - Makes the hair more radiant and adds luminosity. It stimulates the energy of the cells deep into the cortex and basal layers of the scalp, improving the overall appearance and health of the hair, allowing it to hold onto the moisture. For a limited time: Buy a Smoothing.Brush and get Hydrate.Me.Wash & RinseTo enhance the Hydration Line, Kevin has developed an incredible new tool, the Smoothing.Brush, handcrafted by a small company in Spain. The handle is Mahogany hardwood, imported from non-deforestation woods in Central Africa. This type of wood is very strong and lightweight, making it the perfect handle for professional use. The oval cushion pad is made using two different rubber sheets, giving a great fit for the bristles and providing resistance to water and heat. The bristles are made from pure natural wild boar hair to ensure that there is no damage to the hair structure. Login to our client promotions page with your client ID to download the March/April Viewpoint with pricing on this great deal! Not a current customer? Call us at 800-251-4247 and we can tell you all about it!  ]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-03-25T18:27:00-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/stellarocks.html">
<title><![CDATA[Rockstar Stella Cut-a-Thon was a Rockin' Success! ]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/stellarocks.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[When Julie Howes of Salon Services, a local beauty distributor, first heard that her good friend and one of her top clients Dayna Cakebread&#39;s young daughter, Stella, had recently been diagnosed with leukemia she was saddened, shocked... and determined to help. Dayna is the owner of Portland&#39;s Belle Epoque Salon, and is well known and respected in the salon community. As a small business owner Dayna and her family are rightfully concerned about how to cover the mounting medical bills that will surely accompany the diagnosis.When Julie heard the news of Stella&#39;s illness she says she was, "shocked to say the least, and as a mother myself, even more so." It didn&#39;t take long for Julie to get involved, "After learning the news," Julie went on to say, "a very close friend of Dayna&#39;s, Amanda Williams jumped into action: immediately orchestrating support for Dayna. Amanda and I both agreed that we needed the salon community&#39;s help and support."Thus was hatched the plan to host a "Cut-a-Thon," a fundraiser among salons where stylists donate the entire proceeds from their day&#39;s services to a worthy cause, in this case helping Stella&#39;s family pay her medical expenses. We raised $17,885 through the AMAZING hairdressing community in Portland. 20 salons and 61 individual stylists, donated their time to raise funds and lend support to Dayna, Stella and their family. Check out event photos on our Facebook page Thank you! To our stylists and salons that participated:1. Belle Epoque Salon 3713 North Mississippi AvenuePortland, OR 97227-1158503-286-2070http://www.besalonpdx.com/Dayna CakebreadMaggie GreenerKrista MillerBrandie Mannon2. Arabella Salon 2637 NE Martin Luther King Jr BoulevardPortland, OR 97212503-249-6558http://arabellasalon.com/Amanda WilliamsSarah BandyTrish AlemdaLibby BeamanSteven LightfootPiper DickensonMisty Bennet3. the parlour st. john&#39;s 7327 North Charleston AvenuePortland, OR 97203503-289-0830http://www.theparlourstjohns.com/Heather MayerNikolos RiceElyse MazantiJamie EllisJason Stewart4. A List Hair Studio 1306 Northwest Hoyt Street, Suite 305Portland, OR 97209-2731971-222-0330http://www.alisthairstudio.com/Andrea HarrisNadine Stanton5. Swoon Salon2210 N Rosa Parks WayPortland, OR 503-327-4180Denice McMullinLucynda Thompson6. Unsprung Salon833 Southeast Main StreetPortland, OR 97214503-708-7509http://www.unsprung.net/Alysia ReadSky Jaynes7. Green. Hair PDX 935 Northeast Couch StreetPortland, OR 97232503-946-8335http://www.greenhairpdx.comPatti GreenElys TremblayJenna Straus8. The National Beauty 815 Southwest Alder StreetPortland, OR 97205503-546-9795http://thenationalbeauty.com/Heidi Cuthbert9. Tribe Hair Studio 1346 Northwest 19th AvenuePortland, OR 97209503-224-2556http://tribehairstudio.com/Wendy FarjamiDaniel DespainTadimdia BridgesJeff DavidsonLalenia DolanHeather Simon10. Cupcake Salon2328 NW Westover RdPortland, OR 97210503-953-6730Heather SchochKai Wetzel11. Blu, A Salon1437 SE 40th Ave.Portland, OR 97214503-230-7155http://www.bluasalon.com/Peggy PottsAshley BennicosaSasha KrevtzJill GottTrisha Snedden12. Gossamer Salon2636 Northwest Thurman StreetPortland, OR 97210503-227-6377Kim Diener13. Evolution Salon909 SW 16th AvenuePortland, OR 97205503-222-5928http://evolutionhairdesign.com/home.htmlPatty PuttnamMicah ClarkStarr Leavey14. Modish Salon406 Northwest 12th AvenuePortland, OR 97209503-222-5333http://www.modishsalon.net/Dorthy LnnoxColleen DriscolLyndsay RichardsonCandice White Courtney Parque Christy Stanley15. Transformations Salon4613 Southeast Woodstock BoulevardPortland, OR 97206503-774-6398http://www.transformationssalon.biz/Julie Christensen Marina CornejoChristy LandersElli Cooper Megan Montero Rhonda Collen16. Entrust Hair Studio1111 E Burnside St.Portland, OR 97214503-234-4100http://www.entrusthair.com/Lincoln SnyderChristina Hiatt17. J. Michael Salon1700 Broadway Street, Suite 102Vancouver, WA 98663360-993-1177http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vancouver-WA/J-Michael-Salon/314260438736Jeff MichaelsKaren JohnsonSheila LaceyKaty Rauch18. Nurture Inspired Salon7311 SW Milwaukie Ave.Portland, OR 97202503-224-4150Natalie MandaranoAlan MandaranoSarah PrenticeJennifer Ashcraft19. Salon Capelli2655 NW Vaughn StreetPortland, OR 97210503-227-2169Kira PinskiTerese Pitney20. Strut Salon1909 NE Martin Luther King Blvd.Portland, OR 97212503-866-0830Tamra SternLauren PyneMelissa AndriottiMatt CarterTHANK YOU! Participating Stylists:1. Marie Larkin MeRae&#39;s on 42nd 5852 Northeast 42nd AvenuePortland, OR 97218503-287-5258http://meraes.com/default.cfm2. Eileen Coffey Cypress Day Spa 1611 Southeast Bybee Boulevard Portland, OR 97202 503-236-4654http://www.cypresswellbeing.com/3. Marisa Martin Tiger Tiger Salon 1808 Northeast Alberta Street Portland, OR 97211 503-282-1115http://www.tigertigersalon.com/4. Kristenlee MortonStudio Thirty 5424 NE 30th Ave Portland, OR 97211 503-281-0605 5. Jody Steagall 220 Salon 213 SW Ash, Ste 211 Portland, OR 97204 503-295-0726THANK YOU! To our vendors that generously donated backbar product to salons, raffle gift baskets and lent their support to our event:DavinesKevin.MurphyMoroccanoilJaponesqueBamboo Lash & BrowDermalogicaFrommHempzTHANK YOU! To the local businesses that donated food and beverages for our salons:Sparky&#39;s Pizza Laughing Planet CaféPor Que NoThe winners of our stylist contest - a raffle that was held for the participating stylists:Jeff StocktonJ Michael Salon Salon Tech 3200 DryerPatty PutnamEvolution Salon  Salon Tech Titanium 450 Flat IronAlan MandaranoNuture Inspired Salon   Jay2 #1.1 5.75" shearsLet&#39;s keep it going!Bethematch.orgThousands of patients hope for a bone marrow donor who can make their life-saving transplant possible. They depend on people like you. You have the power to save a life.  Rockstarstella.comKeep up to date on Stella&#39;s progress, post a note of encouragement or make a donation.News and media surrounding the event:Oregonian:http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/03/with_every_snip_and_curl_portl.htmlhttp://blog.oregonlive.com/themombeat/2010/03/young_leukemia_patient_stella.htmlKOIN6:http://www.koinlocal6.com/news/local/story/Daughter-of-local-salon-owner-fights-cancer/ba2DZqqphkCr2k7RgebWUg.cspxKATU:http://www.katu.com/news/specialreports/88709592.html?tab=videoPortland Picks:http://www.portlandpicks.com/NW Stylist:http://www.nwstylist.com/regional/2010/0310_regional/0310_rock_star_stella.html ]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-03-23T14:46:01-05:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/cristiano_cora_melu_review.html">
<title><![CDATA[Cristiano Cora Reviews Davines' Melu Line]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/cristiano_cora_melu_review.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Crisitano Cora, of the famed Cristiano Cora Studio in NYC gives his review after he, his staff and clients test drove the new Melu Line from Davines.As a hair professional, it&rsquo;s important to analyze both scalp and hair to choose the right shampoo, conditioner, and styling products to ensure that every cut and color looks great both in the salon and at home. Through this process it&rsquo;s truly amazing to see what a difference the right products make on improving the health and appearance of one&rsquo;s hair. So when I heard that we were getting in a new product I jumped at the chance to learn all about it and start using it.The latest product line is called MELU by Davines. It was designed for weak and long hair to help prevent breakage, repair split ends, and protect the hair from thermal styling.After a week of trying MELU, we were all very impressed at the salon and clients have loved the products. Over-processed hair that often tangles was easy to comb at the shampoo bowl and the finish stylists were able to achieve from the styling products was shiny and smooth despite the fragile hair.Click here to read the entire review.]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-03-17T12:13:05-05:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/davinesworldstylecontest.html">
<title><![CDATA[Davines 2010 World Style Contest]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/davinesworldstylecontest.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Davines World Style Contest &ndash; Submission Date 4/15/10 Salon Services is proud to offer you the opportunity to participate in the 7th Annual Davines WORLD STYLE CONTEST. The object of the competition is to create a fashion forward vision that is still real world wearable.            There are three rounds in the competition &ndash; a local photographic contest, an international photographic contest and a final on-stage showdown at the World Wide Hair Tour in Berlin.  All looks must be created exclusively with Davines colors and styling products. For more information contact Davines Brand Manager Kristal Baker at 425-870-8677 or kbaker@salonservicesnw.com. ]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-03-11T17:01:59-06:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/stella_locations.html">
<title><![CDATA[Cuts for a Cause]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/stella_locations.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[ A worthy cause that&#39;ll leave you glam AND feeling warm and fuzzy:On March 21 from 9am-5pm, 17 Portland area salons will host a cut-a-thons to raise money to help support the medical bills of a fellow stylist.Dayna Cakebread, owner of the chic and green Belle Epoque salon, recently learned her daughter Stella is battling leukemia.To help with the upcoming treatment costs, fellow stylists have banded together by offering all proceeds from a full day of client services - and donating every cent collected to the cause. Meet Stella and learn more about her battle at: rockstarstella.com       To find out more, contact a participating salon or stylist near you:                                                 PORTLAND, OR:1. Belle Epoque Salon                   3713 North Mississippi AvenuePortland, OR 97227-1158503-286-2070http://www.besalonpdx.com/ 2. Arabella Salon                         2637 NE Martin Luther King Jr BoulevardPortland, OR 97212503-249-6558http://arabellasalon.com/3. the parlour st. john&#39;s                7327 North Charleston AvenuePortland, OR 97203503-289-0830http://www.theparlourstjohns.com/ 4. A List Hair Studio        1306 Northwest Hoyt Street, Suite 305Portland, OR 97209-2731971-222-0330http://www.alisthairstudio.com/ 5. Swoon Salon2210 N Rosa Parks WayPortland, OR 503-327-4180 6. Unsprung Salon833 Southeast Main StreetPortland, OR 97214503-708-7509http://www.unsprung.net/ 7. Green. Hair PDX     935 Northeast Couch StreetPortland, OR 97232503-946-8335http://www.greenhairpdx.com/8. The National Beauty                     815 Southwest Alder StreetPortland, OR 97205503-546-9795http://thenationalbeauty.com/ 9. Tribe Hair Studio                                                 1346 Northwest 19th AvenuePortland, OR 97209503-224-2556http://tribehairstudio.com/ 10. Cupcake Salon2328 NW Westover RdPortland, OR 97210503-953-673011. Blu, A Salon1437 SE 40th Ave.Portland, OR 97214503-230-7155http://www.bluasalon.com/12. Gossamer Salon2636 Northwest Thurman StreetPortland, OR 97210503-227-637713. Evolution Salon909 SW 16th AvenuePortland, OR 97205503-222-5928http://evolutionhairdesign.com/home.html14. Modish Salon406 Northwest 12th AvenuePortland, OR 97209503-222-5333http://www.modishsalon.net/15. Transformations Salon4613 Southeast Woodstock BoulevardPortland, OR 97206503-774-6398http://www.transformationssalon.biz/ 16. Epicenter for Hair (Entrust)1111 E Burnside St.Portland, OR 97214503-234-4100http://www.entrusthair.com/ 17. J. Michael Salon1700 Broadway Street, Suite 102Vancouver, WA 98663360-993-1177http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vancouver-WA/J-Michael-Salon/31426043873618. Nurture Inspired Salon7311 SW Milwaukie Ave.Portland, OR 97202503-224-415019. Salon Capelli2655 NW Vaughn StreetPortland, OR 97210503-227-216920. Strut Salon1909 NE Martin Luther King Blvd.Portland, OR 97212503-866-0830  Participating Stylists: Portland, OR-   1. Marie Larkin  MeRae&#39;s on 42nd  5852 Northeast 42nd AvenuePortland, OR 97218503-287-5258http://meraes.com/default.cfm2. Eileen Coffey Cypress Day Spa  1611 Southeast Bybee Boulevard Portland, OR 97202 503-236-4654http://www.cypresswellbeing.com/3.Marisa Martin  Tiger Tiger Salon  1808 Northeast Alberta Street Portland, OR 97211 503-282-1115http://www.tigertigersalon.com/4. Kristenlee Morton  Studio Thirty  5424 NE 30th Ave Portland, OR 97211 503-281-06055. Jody Steagall 220 Salon 213 SW Ash, Ste 211 Portland, OR 97204 503-295-0726 ]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-03-11T14:34:22-06:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/viridis_fashionshow.html">
<title><![CDATA[Fashion Show at Viridis Salon]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/viridis_fashionshow.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Fashion Show @ Viridis Salon April 1 Looking for something fashionably fun to do on a Thursday night? Head to Viridis Salon in Kirkland on April 1 for a full scale fashion show! The Viridis style team will be working with about fifteen models to create high fashion looks to go with each of the show&rsquo;s four themes: Professional, casual, evening and fantasy.   Fashions for the show will be provided by local retailers Seduce Boutique, Promesse and Surreal bridal.  Come early to make sure you get a good seat for the show and enjoy a nice glass of wine while mingling with other guests. Happy hour is from 6pm-7pm and the show/post-show mingle will be from 7pm-9pm.   Salon Services&rsquo; Kevin.Murphy Brand Manager Joy Sebo will be there helping out with the show, so be sure to say &ldquo;hi&rdquo; to this familiar face.  Hope to see you there!]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-03-09T16:13:32-06:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/colors_of_communication.html">
<title><![CDATA[Colors of Communication]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/colors_of_communication.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Learn How To Communicate with Clients, Staff, Everyone! Colors of Communication is a fun, fast-paced session on recognizing four different communication styles. Learn which style you use, how to recognize the styles of others and get tips on the best methods of interaction with each type of communicator. The knowledge learned in this seminar will improve communication not only in the salon, but in all aspects of your life!This session is taught by Matthew Fairfax, principle of both James Alan Salon and Northern Torch Consulting. For over 20 years, Matthew has been involved in all areas of Human Resources, including: compensation, benefits administration, organizational development, labor relations and group facilitation & training. Monday, March 8, 20101pm-5pmSalon Services & Supplies740 SW 34th StreetRenton, WA 98057$50 (Cost includes Colors of Communication book, a $25 value)To Register, Call: 800-251-4247, x226]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-03-03T16:41:29-06:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/customer_appreciation.html">
<title><![CDATA[We Appreciate Your Business!]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/customer_appreciation.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Customer Appreciation Day is March 8th - Come Save Big!One day only! This is our largest professional savings event of the year, and our way of saying &ldquo;thank you&rdquo; for being our loyal clients. Join us for some seriously deep discounts on products you use every day: All Kadus color on sale, 20% off select sundries, 80% off Brocato brushes and much more! There will also be demonstrations, product knowledge experts on hand to answer your questions and much more. Hope to see you there!]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-02-26T10:41:24-06:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/stella_monteverde_cakebread.html">
<title><![CDATA[Cut-A-Thon to Help Stella!]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/stella_monteverde_cakebread.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Stylists, Band Together &ndash; Join the Help Stella Cut-A-Thon A great friend of Salon Services, Dayna Cakebread is a both a dedicated (uber-eco-friendly) salon owner (Belle Epoque) and a devoted mother to her two children, which is why we were saddened to learn that one of her daughters, Stella Monteverde-Cakebread has been recently diagnosed with AML Leukemia.      Fear not, though, for Stella&rsquo;s prognosis is terrific and she&rsquo;s is receiving superb medical treatments at the Doernbecher Children&rsquo;s Hospital in Portland, OR. Over the next two years Stella will receive an aggressive course of treatments that will include chemotherapy and several extended hospital stays. And as we all know, medical care does not come cheap these days, which is why we&rsquo;re asking for your help!   We&rsquo;re looking for salons in and around the Portland area (or anywhere, really!) to lend a hand to a fellow stylist by hosting a Cut-A-Thon event to help Dayna and her family with the quickly growing medical bills.   Here are some quick details:]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-02-11T18:21:24-06:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/curlinterrupted.html">
<title><![CDATA[Brocato CurlInterrupted Smoothing Gel Treatment]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/curlinterrupted.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Brocato Introduces CurlInterrupted semi- and demi-permanent smoothing treatments! With the increasing popularity of smoothing treatments and relaxers, it&rsquo;s clear that sleek, straight hair is a look that many of your clients desire. But some of those clients won&rsquo;t be interested in having their curls smoothed out for an extended period of time. This choice between staying curly and going straight either permanently or for a very long time has left a gap in the market &ndash; and this is where Brocato&rsquo;s new CurlInterrupted Smoothing System comes in.         In addition to the line of CurlInterrupted shampoo, treatment and balms the you and your clients have come to love,  Brocato now offers  you a smoothing system to let your clients go straight for 7-10 shampoos, or 10-12 weeks. ]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-02-11T11:49:25-06:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/marion_cotillard.html">
<title><![CDATA[Moroccanoil Creates Glam Red Carpet Style]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/marion_cotillard.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Marion Cotillard&rsquo;s Red Carpet Hair, Courtesy of Moroccanoil  At this year&rsquo;s Golden Globe awards, French actress and nominee Marion Cotillard hit the red carpet looking like a glamorous movie star of years gone by, and stylists everywhere took notice of her amazingly sophisticated hairstyle.  Her hair was styled by celeb stylist Robert Vetica who Moroccanoil Treatment to give moisturize the hair before styling. As he created the look he used Moroccanoil Hydrating Styling cream while styling and finished the look off with Moroccanoil Glimmer Shine Spray. ]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-02-09T12:55:12-06:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/dermskin.html">
<title><![CDATA[Dermalogica's Wurwand Says Teen Spending Up in Downturn]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/dermskin.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Jane Wurwand, founder and chief executive officer of Dermalogica, talks with Bloomberg about her skin-care company&#39;s products, strategy and performance during the economic downturn. ]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-02-05T12:40:01-06:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/accessories_catalog.html">
<title><![CDATA[Introducing: SSS Accessories Catalog]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/accessories_catalog.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Introducing: The First Ever Salon Services Accessories Catalog! We love to make life easier for you, which is why we are proud to offer you our brand-spankin-new Accessories Catalog.  This should make reordering your small supplies and sundries a cinch! With full-color pictures, pricing and item numbers, it&rsquo;s never been easier to order and reorder your supplies.    We&rsquo;ve squeezed in as many items as we can &ndash; hot tools, disposables, brushes & combs, makeup brushes and much, much more! Log in with your Customer ID to download a digital copy: http://www.salonservicesnw.com/promotions_currentclients.php, or contact your Sales Consultant for more information. ]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-02-04T16:10:34-06:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/social_media_pictures.html">
<title><![CDATA[Makeup Promo Idea: Social Media Makeovers]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/social_media_pictures.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Help Your Clients with Social Media Profile Pic Makeovers!  With the internet and social networking sites connecting our lives in ways we never imagined &ndash; job searches! friendship! dating! &ndash; but there&rsquo;s one important element that many people overlook: a good, professional looking photo to go along with your profile.   Studies have proven that people who are considered attractive are more successful in their careers, which is probably especially true in this industry, and the importance of looking good in your profile on a dating site goes without saying. As adults, though, it&rsquo;s not like we have school picture day where we look our best and have our image captured by a professional photographer.              Good Profile Pic! Pretty & Professional!         Bad Profile Pic: Amatuer & Unprofessional]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-02-04T11:23:35-06:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/three_minute_rule.html">
<title><![CDATA[The 3 Minute Rule]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/three_minute_rule.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[This is an interesting concept, more for end user than salon pro &ndash; from an article in the Harvard business review&hellip;  While there are obvious ways to gain significant customer understanding, such as surveys and focus groups, some of the most interesting insights come from less direct analyses. Take our three-minute rule as an example. You can learn a great deal about customers by studying the broader context in which they use your product or service. To do this, ask what your customer is doing three minutes immediately before and three minutes after he uses your product or service&hellip; The three-minute rule helps highlight unique cross-selling opportunities. Many years ago, I remember doing some ethnographic research on female drug-store shoppers. One fascinating pattern we saw was that a significant number of women picked up a disposable camera after putting newborn diapers into their shopping carts. Follow-up interviews confirmed that snap-happy moms were often new moms. Placing disposable diapers close to inexpensive disposable cameras furthered this purchase pattern and would not have otherwise been an intuitive merchandising or cross-selling strategy.  (To learn more, visit http://blogs.hbr.org/tjan/2010/01/the-threeminute-rule.html)  ]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-02-02T12:09:12-06:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/waxing_class.html">
<title><![CDATA[Waxing Class: Coming Soon to YOUR Area]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/waxing_class.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Waxing Class w/Demo & Practice Waxing services are in high demand, and offering them to your clients can bring in a lot of money for a very small up-front investment.  Did you know that a single can of wax can yield up to $900* in professional service revenue? Sounding good? Well, first you&rsquo;ve gotta know what you&rsquo;re doing. Whether you&rsquo;ve already added waxing to your services menu or are just considering it as the next logical step, join Jessica Campbell**, 12-year waxing veteran and owner of Spa Scotta, as she gives you tips and tricks to get you started in waxing or enhance your existing expertise. The class opens with a discussion of waxing techniques and methods for making waxing treatments lucrative for your salon, followed by a hands-on application practice session and ending with a Brazilian waxing demonstration.  Participants should come to the class with at least 3 weeks of hair growth and will serve as models for each other. No nudity is required of students participating in this class. Upcoming Dates/Locations: Salt Lake City &ndash; March 8, 10am-2pmSpokane &ndash; March 22, 10am-2pmPortland &ndash; May 24, 10am-2pmSeattle &ndash; June 7, 10am-2pmMedford &ndash; July 19, 10am-2pm Ask your Sales Consultant for more information, or call 800-251-4247, x226 to register.* http://www.skininc.com/treatments/hairremoval/19217529.html    ** Learn more about Jessica Campbell & Spa Scotta http://www.salonservicesnw.com/blogs/SpaScotta.html ]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-01-29T14:09:15-06:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/moroccanoil_light_luminous_hairspray.html">
<title><![CDATA[Moroccanoil Unveils Two New Products]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/moroccanoil_light_luminous_hairspray.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[New Moroccanoil Products Coming Soon &ndash; Very Soon!  Moroccanoil has expanded their line again with two much needed and often requested products: Moroccanoil Luminous Hairspray and Moroccanoil Light. Both will be available by mid-March. Moroccanoil Luminous Hairspray Won&rsquo;t leave hair looking brittle or dried out, but instead will maintain shape and style while adding a burst of shine! This Luminous Hairspray leaves hair manageable, not sticky residue and holds your do all day long. Did we mention it gives your hair serious high-wattage shine? This is a must-try product for both new and die-hard MO fans.                       Moroccanoil Light Moroccanoil&rsquo;s signature oil treatment has lightened up! This new formulation gives the same shiny, smooth and miraculous results as the original formula, but in a lighter consistency that is perfect for fine, fair and chemically treated hair. All the same benefits, with the same Argan oil as the signature ingredient. The perfect complement to the original formula, now you&rsquo;ll be able to offer a Moroccanoil treatment product to all your clients!]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-01-28T16:06:58-06:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/davines_texture_code.html">
<title><![CDATA[Davines Texture Code]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/davines_texture_code.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Quickly Approaching Class: Davines Texture Code + / -Learn to create the textures your clients with they&rsquo;d been born with. Davines perms and relaxers are respectful to hair while delivering soft, sculptural waves and curls, or smooth and shiny locks. Leave this class with improved technical skills and an advanced understanding of the ingredients and how they work together to achieve the desired results. Texture Code + 9am-12pm: Add texture, volume and dimension in this interactive Davines perm demonstration.Texture Code - 1pm-5pm: Subtract unwanted curls and frizz, during an enriching Davines relaxer demonstration. Monday, February 1, 2010Salon Services & Supplies740 SW 34th StreetRenton, WA 98057$40 Per Session, $60 for BothSpaces still available! To Register: Call our registration line: 800-251-4247, x226Contact your Sales ConsultantEmail us at education@salonservicesnw.comVisit your local showroom]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-01-26T12:55:24-06:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/valentines_day.html">
<title><![CDATA[Get Ready For Valentine's Day]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/valentines_day.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Do You Heart Valentine&#39;s Day? You may not like it, or even consider it to be a real holiday, but let&#39;s face it -- Valentine&#39;s Day is a great time to sell gift cards! Now that you&#39;ve given the general public some time to get over the exhaustion of the winter holidays, consider bringing out Valentine&rsquo;s décor. Winter can get a bit drab and boring, a little color is a much needed pick-me-up. Valentine&rsquo;s Day also gives you a great opportunity to keep the retail train rolling after the holiday season. You can even bring any leftover non-holiday-specific gift packages back to the shelves. Kevin.Murphy, Brocato and Dermalogica all came in holiday-neutral packaging this season, so they should be able to sell as Valentine&rsquo;s gifts for all those special someones. ]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-01-19T18:17:47-06:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/Davines_NYC_Academy.html">
<title><![CDATA[Davines: Luxury Hair Technology NYC]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/Davines_NYC_Academy.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Davines Presents  Luxury Hair Technology: Advanced Cutting Session in NYC: This intense session is taught at Cristiano&rsquo;s gorgeous studio salon at Union Square in the heart of Manhattan. Cristiano and his colorist will reference Davines collections as well as key architecture, design and fashion images. These one or two day comprehensive, hands-on classes balances cutting techniques with color to help you envision and create the complete image in your own hair design.             About Cristiano Cora: Christian trained and worked at famed Vidal Sassoon for 20 years: first in London, then Los Angeles and finally New York, eventually being named Vidal Sassoon Creative Director. To learn more about Cristiano, visit http://www.cristianocora.com/home.html   Dates: February: 7 & 8March: Sold outApril: 11 & 12May: 16 & 17June: 27 & 28July: 19Cost: $260/Day  For more information and registration please contact: Becca McHugh at 212-924-2470, x11 or rmchugh@davines.us.   Have more questions? Please feel free to contact Kristal Baker, your friendly Davines Brand manager at 425-870-8677 or kbaker@salonservicesnw.com. ]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-01-14T15:36:03-06:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/urbanna.html">
<title><![CDATA[January Featured Salon]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/urbanna.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[ January&rsquo;s Featured Salon: Urbanna Natural Spa & Salon  Staying focused on the environment, sustainable resources and using/retailing natural, earth-conscious brands, Urbanna Natural Spa & Salon has become the first Davines MultiSpace salon in the Spokane area. This month we spoke to Urbanna owner, Linda Biel, about opening her first salon and her desire to keep it green.  What makes Urbanna unique? For us, because we&rsquo;re a salon and spa, there really isn&rsquo;t anything else like us in the area. Except for the one at the Davenport &ndash; and that&rsquo;s really something entirely different. [Davenport is a historic hotel with a conservative salon/spa in the lobby.]   Since we&rsquo;re a little more on the total side, you can have multiple things taken care of here, so it&rsquo;s really convenient. You can get your hair, manicure, pedicure and facial without running all over town. You guys JUST opened. How has it been going? It&rsquo;s been hectic that we opened right before the holidays, so there was a lot of crazy running around, decorating! It was really super fun, but now that it&rsquo;s January I wish we could have Christmas back!  How are you getting the word out about your salon?We just partnered with Starbucks (we haven&rsquo;t worked out all the details) so we might be selling some of their teas and helping each other. We do a lot of grassroots marketing, passing out cards, promos. We&rsquo;re up on Facebook and Twitter.  You&rsquo;re the first Davines MultiSpace salon in Spokane; did you know you wanted to go with Davines when you started? Or did it just come along at the right time? It&rsquo;s actually kind of interesting, because most of my staff comes from Aveda, but I wanted something different. I wanted to find something that was aromatic, eco friendly and that had a lot of different options in the shampoos, conditioners, and the styling aids. Plus simple, nice packaging. I love it.   During my search for the perfect product line, Christy Hawkins [SSS Downtown Spokane Sales Consultant] showed up and was amazing! She hit every single thing that I was looking for! Several others approached me but nothing hit my expectation like Davines. ]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-01-12T17:10:01-06:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/brocato_taylor_swift.html">
<title><![CDATA[Swift Gone Straight]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/brocato_taylor_swift.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Sam Brocato Gives Tips on How to Get Taylor&#39;s Straight New DoCheck out http://www.hollywoodlife.com/2009/12/10/momentous-makeover-taylor-lautner-do-you-recognize-this-woman/ for Sam&#39;s advice on how to acheive this perfect shape and style. ]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-01-06T17:58:02-06:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/thank_you.html">
<title><![CDATA[We Love You Too]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/thank_you.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Nothing warms our hearts quite like knowing how we positively effect our dear clients&#39; lives. So we&#39;re thrilled when we receive the occasional "thank you," like this one from our good friend Mandy Zelinka. Thanks right back, Mandy, we love you too!]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-01-06T12:33:02-06:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/bamboo.html">
<title><![CDATA[Introducing Bamboo Lash & Brow!]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/bamboo.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Bamboo Lash & Brow products are a new, natural alternative to the current chemical-based lash/brow enhancement products on the market.  Both Bamboo Brow & Lash are created from natural plant ingredients, which have been scientifically proven to stimulate and enhance hair growth.Some of the main benefits of Bamboo products include:&bull; Lengthens, as well as volumizes lashes&bull; Natural ingredients do not irritate skin/eyes&bull; Can be used with lash extensions &bull; Safe for use on both upper & lower lashes &bull; Botanical ingredients gradually tint lashes/brows&bull; Double Applicator, both wand and liner, increases coverage & penetration &bull; Can be worn under makeup, just allow to dry before applying cosmetics &bull; Used correctly in just 4-6 weeks your results are truly amazing! ]]></description>
<dc:date>2010-01-04T11:34:29-06:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/kaur_lounge_holiday_contest.html">
<title><![CDATA[Winner of Our Holiday Contest]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/kaur_lounge_holiday_contest.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Kaur Lounge in Bellingham Tops our List as the Festivest!We&rsquo;ve said it before: &lsquo;Tis the season to be retailing &ndash; and nothing helps draw attention to potential holiday gifts like attractive merchandising. We asked you to submit pics of your finest, most festive holiday displays, and we are now proud to announce the winner: Kaur Lounge of Bellingham, WA!    The Kaur team took their decorating seriously and developed a salon-wide décor motif that was both festive and tasteful, which can be hard to do! We loved the way their décor looked luxe, but could be replicated fairly inexpensively. Throughout the salon, Kaur featured big, nicely wrapped gift boxes that looked like they&rsquo;d been turned out by the pros at Nordstrom. Their shelf décor was even designed to draw their guests&#39; attention to the retailing area, complete with suggestions, like, &ldquo;perfect stocking stuffer!&rdquo;          Click on for more pics!]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-12-24T11:17:23-06:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/diversion.html">
<title><![CDATA[Diversion Article SalonToday]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/diversion.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Great Article on Diversion from Salon Today&ldquo;Yes, diversion is an annoyance; I stress the word annoyance,&rdquo; Ducoff says. &ldquo;The primary reason consumers buy professional products in non-salon outlets is convenience. Given this, I am dumbfounded at the number of salons that surrender retail sales to convenience outlets. They fail to use what convenience outlets can never compete with&mdash;the professional recommendation. &ldquo;Salon technicians have their client&rsquo;s undivided attention for extended periods of time. The advantage is clearly in the salon&rsquo;s favor&mdash;but only if salons capitalize. Sadly, salons surrender retail sales to convenience outlets because they just don&rsquo;t build the systems and skills to play the professional retail game to win. Those who do have little reason to waste energy on diversion.&rdquo;http://www.salontoday.com/ArticleLanding/tabid/130/Default.aspx?tid=1&ContentID=837251]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-12-15T15:12:06-06:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/free_keratin_demo.html">
<title><![CDATA[Free Marcia BKT Demo]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/free_keratin_demo.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Salon Services Presents: Marcia Teixeira Brazilian Keratin Smoothing Treatment &ndash; FREE Demonstration  Introduced in 2006, Marcia Teixeira Keratin Treatment is a revolutionary process that completely smoothes frizzy or excessively curly hair, while repairing damage and leaving hair soft, smooth and shiny for up to four months.   If you don&rsquo;t already have a Smoothing Treatment available in your salon this is your opportunity to be introduced to a potential new revenue stream, as Keratin Smoothing Treatments generally start at $250 per treatment and generally takes about two hours.   If you do already offer a Keratin Smoothing Treatment, it will be worth your time to come see the process and amazing results of Marcia Teixeira Keratin Treatment, as instructor Emmett Henley takes you through the entire process, answers all your questions and discusses why Marcia Teixeira is simply the best smoothing treatment on the market.  Monday, December 14, 2009 Salon Services740 34th Street SWRenton, WA 9805710am-1pm OR 2pm-5pm  Monday, January 11, 2010 Salon Services303 E 2nd Street, #2Spokane, WA 9920210am-1pm OR 2pm-5pm Monday, January 18, 2010 Salon Services5059 NE 122nd AvenuePortland, OR 9723010am-1pm OR 2pm-5pm FREE! ($50 Value)  To register, please call: 800-251-4247, x226 or contact your Sales Consultant.   ADDITIONAL DEMONSTRATIONS COMING SOON TO: SALT LAKE CITY, BOISE, MEDFORD AND ALBANY/CORVALIS AREAS. ]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-12-09T13:19:31-06:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/friends_and_family_tomorrow.html">
<title><![CDATA[Friends & Family Sale Tomorrow!]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/friends_and_family_tomorrow.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Our Friends & Family Sale is Tomorrow!  Tomorrow, Saturday and Monday are the big days! Visit any of our 8 showrooms for our biggest prices cuts of the year, and the only time of the year our unlicensed Friends & Family can take advantage of wholesale (and below!) pricing.  ·         40% off Japonesque Makeup Brushes·         Up to 50% off Fusion & Hot Tools Items·         30% off select Brocato Travel Size Items·         25% off select Earthly Body products·         70% off all Jessica Simpson Hairdo Clip-on Extensions·         Up to 30% off AG favorites                                                                                                                     ]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-12-03T17:01:39-06:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/merchanding_contest.html">
<title><![CDATA[Holiday Merchandising/Decor Contest]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/merchanding_contest.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Holiday Merchandising/Decor Contest! Win a $120 Display Case! For fashion lovers and holiday lovers alike, one of the best parts of the holidays is the gorgeous, often outlandish window displays showcased by high end boutiques and department stores. Holiday merchandising has risen to a high art in its own right. We&rsquo;d like to see you get in on that! How does your salon or spa decorate for the holiday? Chic? Crazy? Avant Garde? To inspire you to pump it up this holiday Salon Services has decided to host a merchandising/decor contest. With an actual prize! All you have to do is send us a photo of your very best holiday merchandising display or salon décor and Salon Services&#39; dedicated staff will pick the TWO very best entries.The prize is a white Davines metal Apothecary Cabinet that can be utilized to merchandise any line, not just Davines.  The value of this prize if $120! Below are the nitty gritty details:How to enter:  Send a pic of your best merchandising display &ndash; of any Salon Services product line to, kkinney@salonservicesnw.com.  Include your name and salon.Prize: Davines Apothecary Cabinet, $120 valueDeadline:  Monday, December 21, 2009Winner announced: Thursday, December 24, 2009Contest open to all Salon Services client. Multiple entries are encouraged. Check out the display we created at our Renton Showroom, featuring the Davines Apothecary Cabinet &ndash; which is the actual prize!  ]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-12-03T12:06:09-06:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/marcia.html">
<title><![CDATA[Introducing Marcia Teixeria Keratin Smoothing Treatment]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/marcia.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Salon Services Introduces: Marcia Teixeira Brazilian Keratin Smoothing Treatment Salon Services is proud to announce we are now carrying a different brand of keratin smoothing treatment, Marcia Teixeira Keratin Treatment. Keratin treatments provide you with an opportunity to integrate a new revenue stream into your salon, and offer your clients a highly requested service. Salon Services chose to distribute Marcia Teixeira Keratin Treatment because of its spectacular results, low fume levels and affordability.  The History of Marcia Teixeira Brazilian Keratin Treatment]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-12-03T11:09:00-06:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/dermalogica_online_sales.html">
<title><![CDATA[Dermalogica to Retail Online]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/dermalogica_online_sales.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Dermalogica to Sell Products Online with Web-Partnering Program  As some of you may have heard, Dermalogica is now going to make their products available online. However, their commitment to professional skincare businesses remains unwavering. Although you may hear rumors to the contrary, Dermalogica will not be selling their products at wholesale prices and professional products will not be made available to the general public.  Dermalogica views this as a way for their existing clients, primarily spas and skincare clinics, to further their retail reach. Many skincare businesses sell Dermalogica products through their websites anyway, so this is a natural extension of that process. Dermalogica wants to stress that this is a web-partnering program; it is absolutely not about undercutting your business.  The Dermalogica Web-Partnering Program can work in two ways:]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-11-25T18:35:20-06:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/EuforaFoundations.html">
<title><![CDATA[Eufora Foundations I]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/EuforaFoundations.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[EXCITING, INSPIRATIONAL CUTTING WORKSHOP: COMING SOON! Eufora Foundations I: This three day workshop that focuses on classic, horizontal perimeter shapes, blunt and graduated. WHO: This class is perfect for seasoned stylists as well as recent beauty school graduates.WHAT:  Students will learn that excellence in this core haircutting system is a critical component of success behind the chair. Course includes theory, demonstration, hands-on instruction and business building strategy. WHEN:  January 10-12, 2009]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-11-25T17:36:39-06:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/BeingSpoiled.html">
<title><![CDATA[December's Featured Salon]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/BeingSpoiled.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[December&rsquo;s Featured Salon: Being Spoiled  This month&rsquo;s featured salon came to our attention through our consultant, Lisa Watkins, who has had an amazing experience out in the field, working one-on-one with this salon owner, creating results that have been both tremendous and inspirational for both parties.   The salon is called Being Spoiled Salon & Spa, in Medford, OR, owned and operated by Kathy Tannahill. Kathy has built a beautiful salon and therapy center in her home and had had a hard time building her business. Kathy did not have a mission statement or a written course of action on how she was going to build that business but she had a few goals.   In one of their monthly get-togethers in August Kathy set a goal of gaining 50 new clients, which was in line with her new goals and mission statement. As of this November Kathy has gained 25! ]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-11-25T11:53:34-06:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/deedee_sample_bags.html">
<title><![CDATA[Dee Dee's Friends & Family Sample Bags]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/deedee_sample_bags.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Special Deals in Renton Showroom  Our first guests in the Renton Showroom that meet a certain purchase level will be rewarded with the chance to get gift bags filled with samples of our hottest products.  THE FIRST FIVE CLIENTS who purchase $100 or more will receive Dee Dee&rsquo;s Deluxe Sample Bag, containing: ]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-11-24T13:52:54-06:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/friends_family_sales.html">
<title><![CDATA[MORE Friends & Family Deals]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/friends_family_sales.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[More Friends & Family Deals Revealed!  Don&rsquo;t let your pals down &ndash; they&rsquo;ll wanna know about these savings! 18% off Renewlash Up to 57% off Fusion & Hot Tools Items Save $2 on 100ml Moroccanoil Treatment Save 32% on 4.25oz Pearatin Serum      .]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-11-23T19:10:08-06:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/phagans_charity_komen.html">
<title><![CDATA[Doing Good]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/phagans_charity_komen.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[A Good Time to Do Good  The end of the year is a great time to raise money for a good cause, since many people are in a giving mood anyway.  Below is a story that inspired us, and hopefully will inspire you to do some good for a cause that means a lot to you.  This tale of success comes from Phagans&rsquo; Cosmetology College&rsquo;s Vice President  & CFO, Kristie Davis:   ]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-11-23T18:25:13-06:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/jane_wurwand_voiceamerica.html">
<title><![CDATA[Jane Wurwand Talks Business]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/jane_wurwand_voiceamerica.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Dermalogica&rsquo;s Founder on Business & the Entrepreneurial SpiritHere is a great, inspirational read (and listen) issued as a press release from Dermalogica and picked distributed by PR Newswire.  If you have time, we would HIGHLY recommend you listen to the original broadcast, which can be accessed by the link below.  Calling Weary Entrepreneurs: Dermalogica Founder and Owner Jane Wurwand on VoiceAmerica&#39;s Stars of PRLOS ANGELES, Nov. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- If you want to be woken up when the recession&#39;s over, kindly reconsider. According to Dermalogica founder and owner Jane Wurwand, now is the time for entrepreneurs to sow the seeds of optimism, resilience and innovation. With the mantra that "life comes in unexpected waves," Wurwand expounded her inspired wake-up call of positive thinking on the November 12th episode of VoiceAmerica internet radio network&#39;s Stars of PR, a show about the public relations, marketing and branding business.]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-11-19T18:28:54-06:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/moroccanoil_Interview_sweepstakes.html">
<title><![CDATA[Morrocan Oil Interview & Sweepstakes]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/moroccanoil_Interview_sweepstakes.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Interview w/Moroccanoil&#39;s Carmen Tal & Amazing Moroccanoil Sweepstakes!Moroccanoil co-owner, and Executive Vice President of Marketing & Product Development, Carmen Tal, was featured in this month&#39;s Las Vegas Spa Association newsletter. Carmen is considered to be one of the most influential women in the beauty industry, who has been on the forefront of the company&#39;s meteoric rise.]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-11-18T11:30:12-06:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/savings.html">
<title><![CDATA[Friends and Family Specifics]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/savings.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Tell Your Friends, Family, Neighbors, Enemies, Everyone!  With just 12 days to go until Friends & Family, our purchasing department has finally unveiled the list of specific savings you&rsquo;ll be seeing in our showrooms December 4, 5 and 7&hellip;                 ]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-11-17T18:40:38-06:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/therapearl_intro.html">
<title><![CDATA[Introducing TheraPearl]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/therapearl_intro.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Pain in the Neck? Pain in the Spa? New Solution.  Forgive us as sounding all salesy, but we&rsquo;ve got to let you know about our latest line of products that are unlike anything Salon Services has ever carried, and that we think will fill a gap that might be lacking in your salon or spa environment. Not everything that happens in a spa is relaxing and blissful. Sometimes a therapeutic deep tissue massage can leave a client in pain, and in need of hot or cold therapy. A new solution for your salon or spa is TheraPearl.  TheraPearl was developed by a leading doctor as a superior alternative to leaky ice packs or dripping hot towels. TheraPearl packs are designed to conform to the skin&rsquo;s contours to provide consistent hot or cold therapy for the desired areas. TheraPearl packs are 100% reusable and doctor-recommended.]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-11-16T18:45:49-06:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/holiday_hair_makeup_trends.html">
<title><![CDATA[Holiday 2009 Hair and Makeup Trends]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/holiday_hair_makeup_trends.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Holiday Beauty Trends 2009  You are your client&rsquo;s greatest resource when it comes to beauty, and as the holiday season approaches, your industry knowledge and fashion expertise will be essential in preparing your client for their holiday festivities. Familiarize yourselves with this season&rsquo;s latest trends, and remind them that their most valuable fashion accessory isn&rsquo;t that elegant evening handbag, or diamond studded tennis bracelet, it&rsquo;s THEM!  Check out our holiday beauty forecast, and help your client to create the perfect look for any occasion. ]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-11-12T16:20:54-06:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/walmart_style_marketing.html">
<title><![CDATA[WWWD: What Would Walmart Do?]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/walmart_style_marketing.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[WWWD? So it&rsquo;s not really an age-old question, but a good thing to examine as we approach the holiday retail season:  What would Walmart do?   While there are various schools of thought on the mega-retailer (evil-overlord, inventory management genius, small business killer, etc), the fact of the matter is that Walmart is the world&rsquo;s best-in-class retailer. So why not follow their lead in developing sound strategies that are aligned with today&rsquo;s economic climate?One Price for Several Items...]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-11-10T14:10:54-06:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/Babak_Teals.html">
<title><![CDATA[Photography & Hair Seminar]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/Babak_Teals.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Babak & Teals Photo/Fashion/Hair  Salon Services has learned about a rock &lsquo;n roll, totally inspirational opportunity coming your way this February.  Here to train aspiring NW photographers for the first time is Babak &ndash; a rock star photographer (who&rsquo;s actually shot tons of rock stars), who also happens to help win NAHA awards for most contestants who use him to photograph their entry work.  Babak is internationally recognized for his ability to capture and convey the sheer craftsmanship and artistry of great hair design. While most photographers only shoot the hair or the model Babak understands the importance of the whole.  Joining Babak are stylists DeAnnalyn and Ryan Teal who will provide hands-on styling that will work in conjunction with Babak&rsquo;s photography instruction... ]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-11-09T17:45:26-06:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/Cheap_Holiday_Decor.html">
<title><![CDATA[Decorating On The Cheap]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/Cheap_Holiday_Decor.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Decorating on the Cheap! Pulling together a holiday look for your salon that is both purchase-inducing and good cheer-generating doesn&rsquo;t have to break the bank &ndash; it doesn&rsquo;t even have to break the piggy bank!  A consumer survey from 2006 estimated that Americans spend a total of $16 billion (yes, 16 BILLION) on holiday decorations each year; roughly a quarter of which were spent on the winter holidays. These outrageously high outputs of cash mean one thing, though: there&#39;s plenty of good holiday décor to be had on a second hand basis...  ]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-11-09T12:33:24-06:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/Youngblood_Valerie_Hernandez.html">
<title><![CDATA[Youngblood Holiday Looks]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/Youngblood_Valerie_Hernandez.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[The Essence of Elegance by Youngblood&#39;s Valerie P. HernandezWe&#39;re in the middle of a beautiful Fall season. As we head toward the holidays and Winter, I would like to share with you some of my favorite products to recreate a classic, yet elegant look.  First and foremost I want to remind you all just how important appropriate skin care is, especially as the temperatures get colder and the air gets drier. These months can be a little harsh on our skin. Always begin with a good moisturizer. After your favorite skin care regime, start all makeup applications with our exceptionally lightweight Mineral Primer . Not only is it a great antioxidant, but it also feels amazing on the skin. It helps control shine, diffuse the appearance of fine lines and large pores AND enhances the performance of your makeup, creating a smooth pre-foundation surface.]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-11-06T13:50:44-06:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/32_days.html">
<title><![CDATA[Friends and Family]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/32_days.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[12 DAYS &#39;TIL FRIENDS & FAMILY!!!!HUGE SAVINGS!!!TELL YOUR FRIENDS!!!TELL YOUR FAMILY!!!WE CAN&#39;T WAIT TO SEE YOU!!! SAVE UP TO 70%!!!]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-11-02T13:44:36-06:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/Movember.html">
<title><![CDATA[Mo Moustache, Mo Money]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/Movember.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Mo Moustache, Mo Money = Movember We may be headed for winter, but that doesn&rsquo;t mean nothing&rsquo;s growing. We have just entered the magical month of MOVEMBER. Movember is a month-long fund-raising event that continues throughout the entire month of November wherein men fundraise and collect sponsorships to grow long, glorious moustaches to raise funds for prostate and testicular cancer research.How does it work? Mo Bro&rsquo;s (growers) and Mo Sista&rsquo;s (mustache lovers/supporters) start by going to www.movember.com to register and join teams. Or they can go it alone if they want, although the site suggests a Mo Bro should find a Mo Sista for support and vice versa. Once registered &ndash; let the fundraising begin! The website offers a variety of ways for Bro&rsquo;s and Sista&rsquo;s to fundraise during the month (and growing period) and the culmination of the month of fundraising is to be a Gala Parte where the Bro(s) shave off their magnificent &lsquo;staches. ]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-10-30T19:19:24-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/Drugstore_Haircolor_Oprah.html">
<title><![CDATA[Drugstore Color and O Magazine]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/Drugstore_Haircolor_Oprah.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Drugstores, Oprah and the Battle of THE BOXA rainbow of glitzy, perfectly aligned packages, gorgeous models beaming at you with blinding white smiles and perfectly coiffed and colored hair, expertly designed boxes screaming out to you about &ldquo;gray coverage!&rdquo;, &ldquo;perfect highlights!&rdquo; and &ldquo;multi-dimensional color!&rdquo; Welcome, friends, to the drugstore hair color aisle. Even the most loyal salon clients stray from time to time, and these indiscretions often start right here in the drugstore. A trip down this aisle may have your client thinking, &ldquo;$12 to get that perfect color on the box? And I can do it all by myself?&rdquo;, &ldquo;Look at that model; I&rsquo;ll look just like that!&rdquo;, &ldquo;Why on Earth would I go back to my stylist and pay $50-$200 for the same look?&rdquo; and even &ldquo;Heck, I bet I can make it look better!&rdquo;Salons have always competed with &ldquo;The Box,&rdquo; but this month The Box is being backed by an improbably powerful ally &ndash; Oprah Winfrey, Queen of the World. Almost anything Oprah mentions on her show or in her magazine has potential to become &ldquo;the next big thing.&rdquo; Her power over American spending is simply staggering. So we were dismayed to see the article &ldquo;How to Get A+ Haircare at Home&rdquo; featured in a large spread in November&rsquo;s O magazine. The article proposes that you can easily get salon quality results from The Box if you simply know all the tricks. We found very misleading since the tips and tricks listed were a bit advanced for the average at-home user (mixing two colors together, using one level of bleach on the mid-lengths and another at the ends). READ MORE]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-10-29T11:25:56-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/SpaScotta.html">
<title><![CDATA[Featured Salon November Spa Scotta]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/SpaScotta.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Spa Scotta: November&rsquo;s Featured Spa Spa Scotta is an amazing skincare destination, recognized  for their excellence by Seattle Metropolitan, Seattle, American Spa, New Beauty and was TWICE named in the Allure yearly A-List.  Salon Services has been lucky enough to have a wonderful working relationship/friendship with Spa Scotta. In fact, owner Jessica Campbell has recently taught a few Brazilian waxing classes at our Renton, WA headquarters. This month we served Jessica up a barrage of rapid-fire questions to gain some insight into her successful and much-acclaimed business.  What did you do before you go into the business?I worked for a health insurance company looking at doctors&rsquo; credentials to see if they were good enough to be on the plan or not.  How did you get into the business?When I was a kid I always wanted to be a hairdresser.  But going to college was the thing to do in my family. So I moved out to Seattle, but the economy kind of sucked so a friend said &ldquo;why don&rsquo;t you go to beauty school?&rdquo; I started at Joico and finished up at Greenwood. Then decided I wanted to go back and get my cosmetology license.  Why did you choose skin over being a hairdresser?It just resonated with me more. Quite frankly I wasn&rsquo;t a good hairdresser, but I was a really good esthetician. READ ON!]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-10-28T17:17:54-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/AMNW.html">
<title><![CDATA[Kevin Murphy on AM NW in Portland]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/AMNW.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Last week Salon Services had the pleasure of hosting Mr. Kevin Murphy in Portland, where he demonstrated his latest tips and tricks to more than 100 adoring fans and the Salon Services team.  What some of you might not know is that we were lucky enough to get Kevin an appearance on Portland&rsquo;s local morning show AM Northwest. Click here to see the show clip!]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-10-27T20:29:54-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/pageants.html">
<title><![CDATA[Beauty Pageants Get Ugly]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/pageants.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Making Beauty More Beautiful Beyond those sparkly dresses, blinding smiles and beautifully bronzed bodies we see on stage, is an alternate universe of beauty insanity that has ignited international debate and media controversy. We&rsquo;re not talking about another drug scandal, discovery of nude photographs or another politically incorrect war of words. Making headlines most recently is the country of Venezuela and their willingness to push beauty to the extreme. Venezuelan women have won more international pageant titles than any other country.How do you ask? Well, to start with: The MissVenezuela School. Think military-beauty-boot camp, or maybe an Olympic training facility for gorgeous pageant hopefuls who undergo months of intensive training &ndash; bring on the rigorous make-up, modeling and etiquette drills!  ]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-10-21T19:27:03-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/Friends_and_Family.html">
<title><![CDATA[Countdown!]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/Friends_and_Family.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[45 Days...until our Friends & Family Sale!!!!!!!!!Get ready to save up to 75%...]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-10-20T19:20:36-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/AskKevin.html">
<title><![CDATA[Questions for Mr. Murphy]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/AskKevin.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Kevin Murphy in PortlandHave a burning question for Kevin Murphy? Well now&#39;s your chance! We&#39;ll be interviewing Kevin THIS THURSDAY and would love your input on what questions you&#39;d like us to ask him.What would YOU like to know?Holiday hair questions? The direction hair fashion is turning? What the newest looks are going to be? How runway hair will translate to real life hair? Please let us know! We&#39;d love to be the voice for you!]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-10-20T11:20:49-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/GoodHair.html">
<title><![CDATA[Good Hair Movie Explores Black Hair Culture]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/GoodHair.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Chris Rock Examines the Practices, Processes and Attitudes of Black Hair In limited release this October, Chris Rock will bring us a thought-provoking (and sometimes hillarious) look at the culture of black hair, in his new film Good Hair. We&#39;re thinking this is going to be a must-see movie for stylists and artists of all races. Click on to read the full description and review of this breakout documentary, which debuted at the Sundance Film Festival. ]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-10-18T11:34:44-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/hair_religion_dryers.html">
<title><![CDATA[Hot New Dryers]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/hair_religion_dryers.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Have Faith in Hair Religion  Are you ready to be blown away by Hair Religion&rsquo;s latest must-have styling accessory?! Get ready to impress your clients and be the envy of your salon with the new designer collection of hair dryers by Hair Religion. Made in Italy, these styling tools feature tourmaline and ionic functions that work to produce negative ions, encouraging the hair to dry faster while preventing static and frizz. The AC energy-saving motor has 1750 watts of power, multiple heat and fan settings, a removable lint filter, and a one year warrantee. The designer collection is lightweight, ergonomically crafted, and currently available in Koi and Dragon designs.Dedicated to bringing the most beautiful and professional grade hair products to the industry, co founder Tomi Ilic explains that &ldquo;Hair Religion believes in the beauty of hair and knows that all stylists require the creative vision that makes hair beautiful. Our products are designed to help make that just a little bit easier.&rdquo;Set to arrive in the next few weeks, these designer dryers are sure to go fast. Contact your Sales Consultant today to find out how you can get your hands on the latest beauty accessory of the season!]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-10-12T19:30:16-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/vibrastrait_flat_iron_brocato.html">
<title><![CDATA[Vibrastrait_flat_iron]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/vibrastrait_flat_iron_brocato.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Brocato Introduces New VibraSTRAIT Flat Irons, World&rsquo;s First Vibrating Sraighteners! You might think a vibrating flat iron is just a gimmick, a fad that couldn&rsquo;t possibly have any actual benefit. But these vibrating irons offer far more than that. VibraSTRAIT&rsquo;s vibrations, or (oscillations) help separate the hair so the heat diffuses through it more effectively, allowing you to smooth the hair in fewer passes. Plus, say goodbye to snagging, tugging and pulling! Some of the bells and whistles include:]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-10-08T17:35:35-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/Real_Beauty.html">
<title><![CDATA[Makeover Site]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/Real_Beauty.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Must-See Makeover Site! Ever stare at yourself in the mirror and have a brief, yet courageous moment in which you vow to chop off your hair, channel Rihanna&rsquo;s rocker chic do&rsquo; and embrace that alter ego of yours? Maybe feel discouraged by the recent string of bad dates you&rsquo;ve encountered, and just wish for a moment that maybe Katie Holmes&rsquo; innocent page boy bob could bring you closer to finding your Prince-Charming-Tom-Cruise-Dream-Man? How about those lips, ever wonder what they would look like with just a pump of collagen and a hint of that bold red lip stick you&rsquo;ve been eyeing? With www.RealBeauty.com &rsquo;s new virtual make-over application you can! That face lift, brow wax, and dye job are just a click away. Hearst Magazines Digital Media and ModiFace Inc, joined forces last week to launch a technologically enhanced beauty make-over tool that allows users to upload photographs and instantly see how they would look with new hairstyles, colors, and cosmetics. Not only does this tool include familiar branded cosmetics, but the automatic face calibration technology instantaneously detects the regions of the face on which to apply make-up, making this product the only one of its kind in the market place. In future phases, the enhanced facial scanning will allow users to visualize anti-aging and simulate weight-loss!READ MORE & SEE PICS!]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-10-07T12:36:25-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/Davines_Radio.html">
<title><![CDATA[Natural Ingredients]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/Davines_Radio.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[How to Read & Understand Your Beauty ProductsFinding the right beauty products to use on your hair and skin is a real challenge for consumers. How do you know if the beauty companies are honest with their ingredients? For example, did you know that the FDA allows beauty products to claim they are &ldquo;all natural&rdquo; with as little as 5% total natural ingredients? Below is a link to a radio broadcast with special guest speaker, and SSS Davines Brand Manager, Ms. Kristal Baker. Her knowledge of natural ingredients and modern product science will help you understand how to choose your next products, and spot some empty promises. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LifeStyle-Beauty ]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-10-06T19:20:52-05:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/Education_Request.html">
<title><![CDATA[Pipe up for Education]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/Education_Request.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[What do YOU want to learn? Hello Salon Services Clients & Friends,We are about to begin the process of setting up our Education Calendar for the first 1/2 of 2010. Can you believe how fast 2009 went by? Anyway, we need your help to ensure that YOU get the level and type of education YOU want/need in YOUR area. Some potential classes would include:Cutting:Modern, classic, long hair, short hair, barbering, razor cutting, texturizing, etc. Color:Corrective, introduction, speed-foiling, foiling, etc. Styling:Updos, longhair dressing, blowouts, etc. Makeup:Introduction, Special occasion (prom/wedding), makeup for photography, eye makeup, different skin tones/nationalities, etc.  Communications:Colors of communication, Think Tank, culture building, etc Business:Increasing retail, human resources, financial management, etc. Other:Waxing, anything else. Please let us know if any of these interest you, or shoot us any other suggestions: kkinney@salonservicesnw.com. ]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-10-06T19:07:59-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/Kevin_Murphy_Holiday_Gifts.html">
<title><![CDATA[Kevin Murphy Holiday]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/Kevin_Murphy_Holiday_Gifts.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Have a Very Murphy HolidayThis season the awesome design team at Kevin.Murphy has come up with some absolutely gorgeous holiday gift packs that will look stunning on your shelf and entice your clients.The best thing about the Kevin.Murphy holiday gifts? The packaging isn&rsquo;t overtly holiday or wintery, so they&rsquo;ll sell just as well for Valentine&rsquo;s gifts, Mother&rsquo;s day, etc., so you don&rsquo;t have to worry about putting them on clearance as the holiday season comes to a close. Angels Bearing Gifts of Hold features an Angel Wash & Rinse, as well as the much-acclaimed Sessions Spray.High Roller lets your clients pump up the volume with Anti.Gravity, Sessions Spray and the hotly anticipated Kevin.Murphy curlers &ndash; recently featured in Lucky magazine.         Celebrate Straight comes in a gorgeous minimalist packaging, filled with the new Protection Wash & Leave-In Protection, accompanied by Straight.Defence heat protecting balm.See More! ]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-10-06T13:10:40-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/Holiday_Contest.html">
<title><![CDATA[Merchandising Contest]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/Holiday_Contest.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[A  Fight to the Festivest! For fashion lovers and holiday lovers alike, one of the best parts of the holidays is the gorgeous, often outlandish window displays showcased by high end boutiques and department stores. Holiday merchandising has risen to a high art in its own right. We&rsquo;d like to see you get in on that! How does your salon or spa decorate for the holiday? Chic? Crazy? Avant Garde? To inspire you to pump it up this holiday Salon Services has decided to host a merchandising contest &ndash; a Fight to the Festivest, if you will. With an actual prize! All you have to do is send us a photo of your very best holiday merchandising display or salon décor and Salon Services dedicated staff will pick the TWO very best entries.The prize is a white Davines metal Apothecary Cabinet that can be utilized to merchandise any line, not just Davines.  The value of this prize if $120! Below are the nitty gritty details:ENTER OUR CONTEST TO WIN YOUR OWN METAL APOTHECARY CABINET. How to enter:  Send a pic of your best merchandising display &ndash; of any Salon Services product line to, kkinney@salonservicesnw.com.  Include your name and salon.Prize: Davines Apothecary Cabinet, $120 valueDeadline:  Monday, December 14, 2009Winner announced: Friday, December 18, 2009Prize delivered on or before:  Thursday, December 24, 2009Contest open to all Salon Services client. Multiple entries are encouraged. Check out the display we created at our Renton Showroom, featuring the Davines Apothecary Cabinet &ndash; which is the actual prize! READ ON!]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-10-02T19:47:22-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/YoungbloodStarterKit.html">
<title><![CDATA[NEW Youngblood Starter Kit]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/YoungbloodStarterKit.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Youngblood Introduces NEW Starter Kit! Just in time for the holiday merchandising/retailing rush, Youngblood has come to the rescue with a starter kit package to appeal to every woman who enters your salon. The kit includes everything you client needs to get started with Youngblood. They come in Light, Medium and Dark. Each pack contains:·         Two Loose Mineral Foundations·         Crushed  Mineral Blush·         Mineral Rice Setting Powder·         Kabuki Blending Brush·         "Try me&rdquo; size Hi-Def Mineral Perfecting Powder These are packaged very similarly to Bare Minerals starter packages and make a great alternative for people who have already tried (and not been satisfied) with those products.  They&#39;re just the right size &ndash; and price point &ndash; for almost any client. The entire pack retails for just $45 &ndash; a retail value of $150. This is a great opportunity to introduce your clients to this wonderful and skin-healthy line.  These will be available to ship around the second week of October! Make room on your shelf!]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-10-01T16:20:20-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/EuforaOwnersThinkTank.html">
<title><![CDATA[Eufora Owners' Think Tank w/Don Bewley]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/EuforaOwnersThinkTank.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[ The Ultimate Salon Business Management Experience, with Eufora CEO, Don Bewley Eufora&rsquo;s Don Bewley leads the discussion as salon/spa owners and managers come together to learn valuable, proven business methods that help create successful, profitable salon teams. In this relaxed, open format, owners and managers are encouraged to share success stories and brainstorm solutions for common problems.Ten reasons to attend the Salon Owners&rsquo; Think Tank:1. Become a stronger leader in your salon.2. Learn how to conduct powerful & meaningful meetings.3. Create a compelling vision for your staff.4. Prioritize both yours and your staff&rsquo;s goals & dreams.5. Get results with Eufora&rsquo;s Eight Essential Steps to Financial Success.6. Discover strategies to attract & retain new clientsClick here to read more!]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-10-01T15:55:46-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/James_Alan_Matthew_Fairfax.html">
<title><![CDATA[Featured Salon October]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/James_Alan_Matthew_Fairfax.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[October&rsquo;s Featured Salon: A Peek inside James Alan Some salon owners rise through the ranks of stylist before transforming their talents into salon ownership. Not so for Matthew Farifax, owner of James Alan Salon. He took a much more roundabout way of getting there. With Matthew&rsquo;s background in human resources, communication and consulting, we wondered how he came to own a large, successful salon. &ldquo;I married into it,&rdquo; says Matthew, &ldquo;My ex was a stylist and co-owner of James Alan Salon when I met him in 1987. 12 years later, we bought the salon and finally I bought him out in 2007.&rdquo; This week we sat down with Matthew to learn more about the success and methods employed at James Alan. You&rsquo;re not a stylist yourself, how do you mesh well into the salon world?Firstly I love the creative, fashion and style aspect of the industry. Plus, my background is all about people and so is the salon and spa industry. What is the best thing about James Alan Salon?Definitely our team and our connection with the community.Why did you name the salon James Alan? The former owner&rsquo;s middle name was James, and my former partner&rsquo;s middle name was Alan. They put them together to form James Alan, so there really is no James Alan and that makes it easier if we sell the salon someday. Plus it&rsquo;s a great name. Do you have a philosophy or design aesthetic you ascribe to? Personally my look is minimalist, clean. I&rsquo;m all about the set up of things allowing the energy to flow. Right now our dispensary doesn&rsquo;t flow right. In creating workable spaces that flow I like to have things that move easily, which is why our mirrors/station dividers are on casters. What product lines do you carry? (This doesn&rsquo;t have to be limited to Salon Services lines.) We carry AG, Loma, Pearitin, Brocato, Dermalogica, Pre de Provance Soaps, IM hair accessories, Youngblood and Moroccanoil.  We just recently found out about Moroccanoil&rsquo;s full line. Once we got it in we did $1,000 sales of it in one week!  And we carry Towel Dry, a new men&rsquo;s line that we actually helped  to formulate. How do you choose your lines? First of all we look for things that are carried by Salon Services, and I&rsquo;m not just saying that. We think Salon Services offers the best lines, and we have a great relationship with them. It&rsquo;s all about relationship. Also, A) the products have to perform, B) have great education to support them, and C) look great on the shelf.  Shelf appeal is very important.  Click on to read more! ]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-10-01T12:27:22-05:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/ag_news.html">
<title><![CDATA[AG Hair Cosmetics – Didja Know?]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/ag_news.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[AG Hair Cosmetics &ndash; Didja Know?AG Hair Cosmetics may be a mature brand, going into its 21st year in operation next year, but didja know they&rsquo;re still making waves?Didja know that &ndash; ·         AG Ultradynamics was recently named the Top Hairspray from Elle magazine?·         AG is entirely paraben-free?·         AG&rsquo;s newest product fastFWD dry shampoo is safe to use on extensions?·         AG is the only professional hair products featured in the Emmy gift bags?·         AG will be in the Oscar® gift bags for the 2nd year?·         AG&rsquo;s Action Green initiative to reduce they&rsquo;re eco-footprint resulted in 56,000 gallons of wastewater saved, 91.7 million BTUs of energy conserved and 132 trees saved by printing their Style Guides  on 55% recycled paper?Keep an eye on AG as they continue to evolve and prove they&rsquo;re still a forward-looking, innovative brand. Learn more about AG here.    ]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-09-24T13:32:50-05:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/homecoming_dance.html">
<title><![CDATA[Go! Fight! Win! Homecoming!]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/homecoming_dance.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Ahh, to be young again. Remember the excitement, that rush of energy that accompanied the first few months of the new school year? Even if you weren&rsquo;t one of the jocks or &ldquo;cool kids&rdquo; who were interested in Homecoming Dances, Winter Balls and things of that nature, chances are you were at the very least secretly interested in seeing what everyone would wear and how they&rsquo;d style their hair. However you felt about it back then &ndash; right now teens are abuzz over Homecoming and preparing to drop plenty of their own and their parents&rsquo; money on things like hairstyling, makeup, manicures and more. If you play your cards right, you might even be able to get them to come to your salon in groups. This gives them a friendly, fun atmosphere to feel beautiful and pampered, and can help you fill your books for the day.So how do you drive these high school beauties into your salons? ]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-09-23T17:42:09-05:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/makeup_2009.html">
<title><![CDATA[2009 Holiday Makeup Trends]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/makeup_2009.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Here are the six makeup trends for Fall 2009 that you won&#39;t want to miss:One:When it comes to foundation makeup for Fall 2009, it&#39;s all about sheer color that allows natural skin to shine through: A natural, glowing appearance without a lot of time spent in front of the mirror. Check out the new Youngblood Hi-Def makeup for lightweight, oil-free formulas that perfect the skin but still look soft and natural. Or, you can learn how to make your own tinted moisturizer using your favorite moisturizer and loose foundation. Youngblood picks:Hi-DefYB PrimerTwo:When it comes to eye makeup trends for Fall 2009, go for rich earth tones that appear to have come straight from the forest. Think deep moss greens, luxurious golds and rusty metallics, plus smoky browns and warm greys. Look for dark colorsthat are matte and velvety in texture, with a touch of shimmer coming from those metallics.Youngblood picks:Pressed:Zen, Gilded, Czar and Storm Loose:Haze and CashmereThree:The cat-eye makeup that was popular in Fall 2008 is going to be modified for Fall 2009. Instead of following the retro-inspired swoop up of the days gone by, the cat-eye for 2009 is about making a horizontal line, without the upswing at the tail. Youngblood picks:Minerals in the Mist Eyebrow Brush Raven Loose Eyeshadow TIP: Spray your Eyebrow Brush with Minerals in the Mist and press into your Loose Eyeshadow to create an instant liquid liner!]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-09-23T14:35:47-05:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/nostril_waxing.html">
<title><![CDATA[Nose Waxing]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/nostril_waxing.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Nostril Waxing, Anyone? Salon Services has recently heard a lot about the practice of NOSE HAIR WAXING, and as with any new(ish) beauty treatment, we wanted to learn more about it, and thought you might like to as well.When thinking about this treatment, several questions spring to mind:#1 &ndash; Ouch! How bad does that hurt?#2 &ndash; Won&rsquo;t I get sick without nose hair to filter out bacteria and other contagions? #3 &ndash; How exactly is this done?#4 &ndash; How much are clients willing to pay for this treatment? ....]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-09-21T19:34:58-05:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/cool_aprons.html">
<title><![CDATA[Cool New Aprons]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/cool_aprons.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[ SUPER FUN HAPPY APRONS!Coming soon to Salon Services: Adorable aprons to keep you looking good, while you make your clients look good. We won&#39;t give away all 9 patterns we&#39;ll be getting in stock in the next month or so, but here is a sneak peek:Be sure to check in with our showrooms soon to see all of the patterns once they&#39;re in stock!]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-09-21T18:38:34-05:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/salon_services_friends_and_family_2009.html">
<title><![CDATA[Friends and Family 2009]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/salon_services_friends_and_family_2009.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[OMG &ndash; Massive Savings For Our Friends & Family!December 4, 5 and 7 all eight Salon Services showrooms will open to the general public for a once-yearly savings extravaganza.   Get ready for product demonstrations galore and savings of up to 75%. This is a great opportunity to pick up all sorts of goodies for holiday gift-giving, stocking up and self-pampering J  Extended hours allow for maximum flexibility &ndash; the sale will be held from 9am-7pm, giving you an extra two hours to shop. You might want to try to get here early though, as quantities of some items are limited, and sure to go quickly.   Stay tuned &ndash; we&rsquo;ll update you on specific deals as the sale draws closer!]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-09-21T14:12:34-05:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/wwd_dermalogica_diversion.html">
<title><![CDATA[Derm on Diversion]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/wwd_dermalogica_diversion.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Dermalogica on DiversionThe September 14th issue of Women&rsquo;s Wear Daily featured an article on the issue of skincare product diversion Dermalogica to mass market retailers. The article gives details on how the so-called &ldquo;gray market&rdquo; of diversion happens, and backs it up with some startling facts about diverted products. WWD sites independent lab tests which have found that diverted products are often: ExpiredExposed to unsanitary conditionsBeen opened or tampered withUndergone numerous ownership transfers, increasing quality risks &ldquo;That means consumers everywhere are putting something that&rsquo;s potentially harmful, unsafe and definitely less effective on their skin,&rdquo; WWD quotes Dermalogica founder Jane Wurwand as saying. &ldquo;The availability of product that&rsquo;s lacking integrity concerns me not only as a manufacturer but as a consumer.&rdquo;We can&rsquo;t show you the full article, since WWD is a subscription based online source, but thought you&rsquo;d enjoy knowing Dermalogica&rsquo;s commendable stance on the issue. ]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-09-18T19:15:53-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/felicity_davis_JBUsalon.html">
<title><![CDATA[Hands-on with KM's Felicity Davis]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/felicity_davis_JBUsalon.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Get your hands dirty with Kevin Murphy&#39;s righthand woman, Felicity Davis. ]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-09-11T13:39:54-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/eufora_global_connection.html">
<title><![CDATA[Eufora Global Connection]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/eufora_global_connection.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Calling all Eufora Devotees! Eufora&#39;s annual business, technical and team-building extravaganze, Global Connection is coming soon! To be held in sunny San Diego on November 8 & 9, this life-changing event will recharge your passion for your business and your craft. Breakout sessions for the event include:The Success StrategyTaking on the Competition & WinningYour Super Star StaffRaving Razor CutsWay Short/Way CoolProgressive ArtistryThe Contemporary Maleand many more!Further information and instructions on how to register can be found at, http://www.euforaglobal.com/mm5/merchant.mvcEufora Elite Team Members & Regional Educators receive special pricing!Want more Eufora education in the meantime? Salon Services has the following classes coming up:Eufora Classic Coiffures - Elegant UpdosRenton, September 28, 10am-12pm or 1pm-3pmEufora Owner&#39;s Think Tank w/Don BewleyRenton, October 18, 9am-4pmSpokane, October 19, 9am-4pmEufora Advanced CuttingMedford, OR, November 2, 10am-3pmFor more information, or to register call 800-251-4247, x226 or email education@salonservicesnw.com. ]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-09-10T18:08:07-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/Kevin_Murph_Portland.html">
<title><![CDATA[Meet Kevin Murphy!]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/Kevin_Murph_Portland.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Mr. Murphy Goes to Portland!We can only assume that if you&#39;re reading this that you&#39;re already in love with Kevin.Murphy products - the building blocks of true style. If this is true, then we also have some great news for you: We have an opportunity for you to meet and learn from the master himself.Kevin Murphy will be in Portland on Thursday, October 22nd at the stylish Ace Hotel to demonstrate looks he developed for Melbourne Fashion Week, at which he has served as the Creative Hair Director for the past six years.Kevin will be working on...]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-09-10T12:40:36-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/elle_davines_momo.html">
<title><![CDATA[Elle Mag Gives Shout out to Davines Momo]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/elle_davines_momo.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Got clients that want to grow their hair long? Elle Magazine suggests Davines Momo Shampoo & Conditioner. But don&#39;t take our word for it: http://fashion.elle.com/blog/2009/09/the-perfect-products-for-growing-out-hair.html. ]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-09-04T18:27:13-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/Davines_Dinner_Seattle.html">
<title><![CDATA[The Five Senses of Davines - Seattle]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/Davines_Dinner_Seattle.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Stylists Experience the Five Senses with Davines This Monday, Salon Services was lucky enough to play host to an incredibly unique event from the dynamic minds at Davines.  Both Davines devotees and those seeking to learn more came together for a sensory experience in a chic studio space. Guests sipped Italian wine (naturally) and chatted among themselves in posh dresses and shoes to die for (Patricia at Embellish, we&#39;re talking to you). "It was really nice to see people dressed up for the event," commented Kristal Baker, friendly local Davines Brand Manager, "you don&#39;t see that much in Seattle. It really speaks to the elegance level the Davines brand has going for it."A five-star meal was expertly prepared by Chef Alvin Yu to illustrate the way the same ingredients that nourish the hair with the Davines Finest Pigments line can also be used to nourish the body. Saffron curry pasta showed off flavors from blonde nuances, while walnut ravioli demonstrated the flavors that make up the rich browns. Many stylists commented on how the experience was "so Davines," from the beauty of the venue, to the gracious service from Salon Service staff members, to the celebration of hairstylists as true artists, "The link [Chef Alvin Yu] made between being a cook or a chef, and a &lsquo;haircutter&#39; or a stylist. That was very powerful," remarked Becky....]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-09-03T17:55:01-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/ag_stylist_with_substance_contest.html">
<title><![CDATA[AG Stylist with Substance Contest]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/ag_stylist_with_substance_contest.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[ Contest Alert!This year AG Hair Cosmetics introduces their first annual hair contest - the Stylist with Substance competition. Enter your street-wearable styles created with AG products for a chance to be featured in AG&#39;s annual Style Guide which is distributed to more than 17,000 salons in the US, Canada & beyond. Check out AG&#39;s creative director Jami Symons as he explains all the details. Good luck!]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-09-02T17:36:53-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/frontdesk.html">
<title><![CDATA[Fabulous Front Desk]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/frontdesk.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Life at the Front Desk: Going the Extra Mile  A helpful, attentive and knowledgeable front desk staff can be the make or break factor for a client&rsquo;s satisfaction with your salon. Ideally front desk team members will be the first person to welcome a client to the salon, and the last to wish them well on their way. But make no mistake: The role of front desk coordinator is not a simple meet-and-greet position, it is a non-stop whirlwind of customer service, scheduling, retailing, inventory management and making sure they go the extra mile to make every single client feels special and well-attended to.   We recently spoke to a few of these masters of multitasking, Jake Pinon from Steven Barrett Salon and Nichole Heu with Stylus to get their insider perspective on managing this chaotic and important position. Both of these busy professionals are known for their impeccable customer services skills and development of client relationships.  How long have you been with your salon? Jake: I&rsquo;ve been here since just before we opened, around middle of May &ndash; we actually opened on June 9. Before this I was assistant manager at Marco&rsquo;s Two Union Square. Nichole: I have been with Stylus since we opened, which was April of 2008. Do you think there any preconceptions about front desk staff? Jake: It depends on who you ask, but there are two extremes: One is that we&rsquo;re below &ldquo;the help&rdquo; and get treated as such. Or people really appreciate...]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-08-31T12:32:17-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/BodyTherapies.html">
<title><![CDATA[Dermalogica Body Therapies]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/BodyTherapies.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[ Thermal Body Therapy Treatments by Dermalogica® From the Roman Thermaes, to the Turkish Baths to the present day luxurious day spas, heated water has always been the cornerstone of body treatments.  The word &ldquo;spa&rdquo; originally meant &ldquo;health through water,&rdquo; and today is synonymous with luxury and pampering.  However, with the increased focus on luxury, the importance of the skin&rsquo;s heath is frequently lost in the body therapy experience.   Dermalogica believes that today&rsquo;s body therapy experience should be a collective homage to ancient traditions and modern technological wonders, designed to benefit both the emotional state and the body&rsquo;s health.     Join Salon Services&rsquo; own in-house Dermalogica educator, Colleen Flynn, for two dynamic days of hands-on... ]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-08-27T16:05:46-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/lowlights.html">
<title><![CDATA[Long Lasting Lowlights]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/lowlights.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Tips for creating Long Lasting Lowlights - from Kadus Guy, Jesse SkittrallArggh! It is that time of year again! If you are anything like me (and I think you are) your guests have gone from blond to blonder over the summer, then went outside in the heat and sun, and their hair is now "Blonderexic." As the summer comes to a close and we move into fall and the lovely tan fades, our guests learn that their new faded skin tone blends with their hair color, often leaving them washed out. This will undoubtedly leave them wanting more contrast without going completely back to their natural tone. The answer? Lowlights!Here are some great tips to create lowlights that last:]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-08-24T18:21:15-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/helmethead.html">
<title><![CDATA[Featured Salon]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/helmethead.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[September&#39;s Featured Salon - Helmet Head, Seattle, WA Our featured salon this month is the only salon to be found in Seattle&rsquo;s up-and-coming Georgetown neighborhood &ndash; Helmet Head. We chatted with Helmet Head co-owner Heather Tubbs about her life in the biz, her salon&rsquo;s personality and how they&rsquo;re getting ready for the upcoming holiday rush season.  What did you do before Helmet Head?I worked at one other salon before we opened Helmet Head, which was where I met (co-owner) Sammie. It was a shi-shi, foo-foo place downtown, so I got really good exposure to some very high end clients.  So you must have learned a lot there? It was a good start and taught me a lot about how to NOT run a business. Seeing the mistakes made in that salon taught me to spend within my means and grow at the right pace.  What made you choose the name Helmet Head? It was Sammie&rsquo;s idea. This area is kind of&hellip; well it used to be&hellip; so, there&rsquo;s lots of motorcycles and scooters here, lots of dudes, we didn&rsquo;t want to be scary to men and still appealing for women.  How has Helmet Head grown over the years? ]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-08-21T14:34:06-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/davines.html">
<title><![CDATA[Davines Dinner]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/davines.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[The Five Senses of  Davines"If the senses are the pathway to each woman&rsquo;s soul, it&rsquo;s fundamental that they be stimulated with the maximum care and total respect." Breathe in the aroma. Taste the natural flavors. Feel the raw ingredients. Watch as they come together, and get to know every dimension of Davines.Join us for this this interactive sensory experience lets you participate in the creation of a feast of dishes inspired by the natural ingredients of Davines&#39; products. Walnut, tomato, milk, safron, ginger and more come together to feed hair, body, soul. Five-course menu includes walnut/butternut squash ravioli, pickled ginger shrimp and safron curry penne pasta to name just a few.Join us from 6pm-8pm, August 31, 2009NW Work Lofts3131 Western Avenue, Suite 424Seattle, WA 98121$25 per GuestCall 800-251-4247 x226 to reserve your place at the table. Small Davines product kits will be available for purchase at the event so you can take the Davines experience home with you.This feast of the senses will also be in Portland, November 9,and Salt Lake City, November 11]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-08-19T18:24:16-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/LifeStyleAward.html">
<title><![CDATA[2009 Best Hair Treatment]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/LifeStyleAward.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[ All Hail Moroccanoil! Morrocanoil has been named the 2009 Best Hair Treatment Award from Life & Style Weekly Magazine. The panel of voters for these awards included Kim Kardashian, Lara Spencer of The Insider and Life & Style&rsquo;s beauty, style and chief editors.  The award winning products will be prominently featured with a 10-page spread in the Beauty Issue, on newsstands on August 19. Consider picking up a copy or two for your salon, to give your clients a chance to see how highly regarded Moroccanoil really is. More About Moroccanoil:Moroccanoil contains a unique blend of ultra light Argan oil, which has been used by the women of Morocco for centuries to treat their hair, nails and skin. Instantly absorbed into the hair, Moroccanoil eliminates frizz, speeds up styling time by up to 40% and provides long-term conditioning to all hair types.Massage a few drops of Moroccanoil into the hair and it looks shinier and healthier after just one application. With multiple applications hair continues to improve, alleviating split ends and breakage without any oily residue! Ten Words to Describe Moroccanoil:Luxurious            Unique                 Versatile        Exotic      Rich                    Aromatic              Heavenly        Smooth        Sleek                  NourishingUse Moroccanoil Treatment to: Moisturize & Add ShineSpeed dry timeProtect hair during color servicesTame frizzFamous Fans: Salma HayekCarrie Underwood...]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-08-18T12:27:51-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/Hairmats.html">
<title><![CDATA[Matter Of Trust]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/Hairmats.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Help Clean the Planet &ndash; Recycle Hair Clippings In 1989, Alabama hair stylist, Phil McCrory watched CNN coverage of the Exxon Valdez oils spill and noticed something: the incredible way the fur of Alaskan otters soaked up oil. With this in mind, McCrory began experimenting with the oil absorption properties of hair clippings from his salon, eventually inventing the &ldquo;hairmat.&rdquo; Hairmats are made by with a machine that pounds the hair into mats, which look and feel like thick felt. The mats can be used to soak up oil spills, then detoxified and remediated as compost material.  Plus, hair clippings are kept out of landfills. Photo courtesy of Matter of TrustTaking the hairmat concept and running with it, Matter of Trust, a San Francisco nonprofit established a network of salons across the country, from which they collect hair clippings. Hairmats generated from the project are used to clean up oil spills all over the world. Recently, however, Matter of Trust has been unable to have the hair processed into mats due to economic and other issues &ndash; leaving them with 18,000 pound of unprocessed clippings in storage! This plight was featured in a recent front-page Wall Street Journal article, which will hopefully draw attention and funding for the Oil Spill Hairmat project. To contribute financially, visit http://www.matteroftrust.org/contribute.html.  You can also begin to help by collecting hair from your salon to donate.  While Matter of Trust works to secure facilities, consider setting aside a box or bin in your salon to start collecting hair clippings to eventually donate. Donations of hair should be kept pending resources for storage and processing. For more information on the project, please visit www.MatterOfTrust.org.]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-08-12T13:09:35-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/BeautyBiz.html">
<title><![CDATA[Business of Beauty, Part II: Education & Training]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/BeautyBiz.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[This is part two of a three part series of information and insight form the PBA Symposium. Read part one HERE.   Education and TrainingBennie Pollard from Bennie and Friends/BennieFactor products spoke to this point eloquently as he has utilized these systems in his salon plus trains the industry with his successful implementation. He has developed his training around scripting to achieve consistency in the delivery of the information for the clients.While many stylists are concerned with the robotic language that such a technique would instigate, he showcases how musicians frequently do cover songs, which sounds different with everyone&#39;s specific spin of personality. He does video training so the stylist can witness their own message of delivery. He initially develops an image profile of the desired look wished to be achieved by the client. He then will start his recommendation of color cut and retail take away products to recreate the looks at home. In "asking you shall receive" mentality, he educates the clients so they will understand the "how to" capability. The measurement is established for the accountability of the stylist in accomplishing this action with each and every client. It is paramount to overcome the fear and has to be the responsibility of everyone in the salon the high performance caliber intended to succeed with the culture and behavior of the salon staff.]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-08-11T12:12:16-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/BBA.html">
<title><![CDATA[Beautiful Business Academy]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/BBA.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Boost Your Beauty Biz.Style, cutting edge looks and creativity are among the first things that come to mind when thinking about the beauty industry. What doesn&#39;t immediately spring to mind is the less glamorous side of the beauty business: The business side.Running a successful salon business is hard work, and requires extreme precision to keep things running smoothly. Cash flow, budgeting, inventory management and staffing are probably not what you dreamed of in school, but they&#39;re equally - if not more - important than the actual services you provide. That&#39;s where the Brocato Beautiful Business Academy (BBA) comes in.The BBA is designed to share business building tools and programs that have been developed in real salons. The goal is to help you develop systems in your salon that will lead to growth and the realization of financial and business goals, while encouraging implementation and risk taking. In this two-day program you&#39;ll learn about:]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-08-07T13:13:58-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/PBASymposium.html">
<title><![CDATA[Insight, Advice]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/PBASymposium.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Insight, Advice From The PBA Symposium Sydney & George just returned from the PBA Symposium, which was jam packed with ideas and solutions to multiple issues confronting the industry. The theme of the Symposium this year revolved around the "The Business of Beauty and How to Maximize Your Profitability by Defining the Future of Beauty Retailing," a landmark study from McMillan and Doolittle based on input from consumers, salon owners, distributors, manufactures and stylists.The ultimate conclusion of the study was that customers desire stylist advice and product recommendations, viewing their stylists as product experts. However, the study goes on to report, only 71% of customers polled were never offered a recommendation! Thus, salons are missing tremendous sales opportunities!The wisdom of this is that every salon can sell more retail product, raise profitability, improve clients&#39; experience and increase client loyalty.So how do you comfortably integrate a retailing system to enhance the customer experience and build retail dollars?There are eight basic components, and we&#39;d like to expand upon one for you each week.1) Commitment, Philosophy and Culture2) Education and Training3) Recommending4) Merchandising5) Strategic Selections6) Creative Promotions7) IncentivesComponent 1: Commitment, Philosophy and Culture, requires a clear commitment from your salon to determine what you clients&#39; retail needs are and how to address them, in every aspect of their salon experience. Visually illustrate your commitment to products by creating appealing product displays and utilization of products at stylist stations and backbar. Education on proper use of products should be provided to the guest via an exceptionally knowledgeable staff. ]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-08-03T16:51:23-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/featured0809.html">
<title><![CDATA[Featured Salon for August 2009]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/featured0809.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[ Do you compulsively Tivo Split Ends? Find yourself suckered into watching marathons of Shear Genius? It&#39;s only natural as an artist to wonder what others - friends, coworkers, competition - are up to. Thus, Salon Services has decided to give you a voyeuristic glimpse into one featured salon a month.ONE STYLIST, TEN QUESTIONSThis month we spoke to Alberto Ruiz, owner and creative director of Switch salon in Salt Lake City. Alberto began his career in 1980 as a makeup artist in his native Puerto Rico, at the tender age of 16. He became licensed in 1982 and began his professional beauty career. Here Alberto gives his thoughts on the industry, his salon and keeping things fresh. 1. What inspired you to get into the beauty industry?I love my job. I LLLLOOOVVVVEEE what I do. I&#39;m like a therapist. I help people express what&#39;s happening on the interior and help bring it out through their appearance. 2. Why do you call your salon Switch?Because we change everything. Our concept is about changing style, changing attitude, changing perception. Creating a total transformation, a total switch.3. What is the average Switch customer like?Open-minded, forward-thinking people who are ready for change - they have to be because we&#39;re brutally honest. 4. How do people typically hear about Switch?Mostly referrals. People like that I offer a holistic experience that encompasses everything about their life and appearance.5. Has Switch been affected by the economic downturn?Nada. Not at all. We&#39;re thriving. We&#39;re in the business of making people feel good and they need that right now. People would rather do something to feel beautiful than splurge on the latest Marc Jacobs bag. Speaking of which, those have actually gotten pretty cheap... ]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-07-22T13:29:19-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/SoleSistas.html">
<title><![CDATA[Help us Raise Awareness and Find a Cure for Breast Cancer!]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/SoleSistas.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[ From now until October 2009, for every bottle of Loma&#39;s top-selling Pearatin Fortifying Repairative Serum that you buy with the pink bow, $1 goes towards the Susan G. Komen Foundation and breast cancer research. Salon Services&#39; Purchasing Manager Stacy Kurtz, along with Owner and two-time survivor Sydney Berry, are taking part in the Susan G. Komen 3-day this September-for the second time! All proceeds raised from the sales of the Peratin pink bow Serum will go towards their "Sole Sistas" team and the Susan G. Komen Foundation. To find out more about the Sole Sista team or donate directly, go to: http://www.the3day.org/goto/solesistasThanks to your support, we have raised over $8000 for the Cure through sales of the pink bow Peratin Repairative Serum! To order, email us at customercare@salonservicesnw.com, contact your Sales Consultant, stop by your nearest showroom or call 800-251-4247 to order your Pearatin today! ]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-07-17T11:13:55-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/emarketing.html">
<title><![CDATA[Dont Be Scared! Email Marketing, Surprisingly Easy]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/emarketing.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[ Quick, easy, and inexpensive -as little as $15 you a month- email marketing programs are one of the best ways for you to communicate with existing and potential clients. Some programs even offer free trials, so you can see whether or not it&#39;ll work for your salon. First, some facts:91% of people 18 and 64 read email1 147 million Americans use email and most use it everyday163% of companies found e-mail marketing the most effective method of customer retention2To generate the same response direct mail costs 20 times as much as email3 Where do I start?Start right now by asking your clients for emails: ask every client when they call to book and keep a signup list at your front desk. Visit other salons&#39; websites. Sign up to receive their emails. Get ideas from their email strategies.  Find an email program that works for you. There are tons of them- MailChimp, MyEmma, iContact, etc. Many offer free tutorials and webinars!Decide what you want to communicate. New services? Special offers? Keep readers interested by giving them something more. Advertisers on TV pay for the shows - giving the consumers something in return. Do the same thing for your clients: In addition to your offers/specials throw in your salons latest skin/hair/makeup/fashion tips. That extra, entertaining "fluff" will keep them interested longer.Set up an email schedule. It is important to create consistency. Decide if you&#39;ll be sending out emails weekly, semi-weekly, monthly - whatever regular works for you. Just do it! The first one is the hardest, it gets easier after that first one - we promise! If you don&#39;t want to figure out the template, contact your graphic or web designer and they can build a template for you. Need a designer? Let us know, we can refer you to one who will work within your budget. Track your results. How many people opened your email? How many bounces? Use these results to improve your next email!To note, you never want to to do email campaigns from your office email account. Here are a few reasons why-You need to follow best mailing practices (the US CAN-SPAM Act): It&#39;s against the law not to provide an unsubscribe link in bulk email. Recipients must be able to opt-out of such emails at anytime. You don&#39;t want people opting out of receiving your individual email communications.They will manage your email list: Email marketing programs will track your list for you, saving you time. They will update unsubscribes and bounces (wrong addresses).They have easy-to-use templates: Most email marketing programs have templates that you can customize, so you can have a consistent look and feel to your emails. You can customize with photos, logos and more. They are easy to use and once you get your template setup all you have to do is pop in new content every week. Track your campaigns: Email marketing programs also have tracking tools that are included. You can track how many of your clients opened your email and if they clicked on any of your links. This is a valuable tool so you can keep improving your campaigns and getting the results you want!]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-07-15T17:18:01-05:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/BeautopiaAward.html">
<title><![CDATA[Beautopia Award]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/BeautopiaAward.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Salon Services is Still Beautopia&rsquo;s Number One Services & Supplies was named Beautopia&rsquo;s Distributor of the Year for the second year in a row at Beautopia&rsquo;s annual Distributor Conference in St. Paul, Minnesota. Salon Services distributes the manufacturer&rsquo;s Kadus and Brocato line of professional salon products.The Distributor of the Year award is based on each distributor&rsquo;s percentage increase of gross purchases along with the implementation of programs that foster success at the salon level as well.  Programs include product knowledge and education, along with marketing support that allows salons to really flourish.  ]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-07-15T11:30:49-05:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/photos.html">
<title><![CDATA[Educational Event Photos]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/photos.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Want to see that style a little closer? Missed a technique? Couldn&#39;t make the class? Did you know you can find our recent event photos online? You can! Check out our Flickr page here. We have photos from classes, product launches and events.  ]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-07-08T16:13:25-05:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/PBA.html">
<title><![CDATA[New PBA Study Offers Insight Into Salon Retailing]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/PBA.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Professional Beauty Association Sponsers Groundbreaking Beauty Industry StudyAs reported in Women&rsquo;s Wear Daily, the salon industry is potentially missing out on $1 billion in retail sales per year. This figure comes from preliminary results of a study commissioned by The Professional Beauty Association, PBA. Conducted over the past 13 months, analyzing both quantitative and qualitative data from over 450 stylists and 1,000 consumers, this is the industry&rsquo;s largest and most comprehensive statistical undertaking. The survey, entitled Business of Beauty: Maximize Your Profitability, provides plenty of insight into the behavior and thought process of both stylists and consumers, and how their behavior works in tandem. For example, according to the study, 71% of consumers weren&rsquo;t given a product recommendation on their most recent salon visit &ndash; however 34% of consumers responded that they most likely would have made a purchase if a recommendation had been made. The study also discusses where potential salon retail dollars are going, what holds back stylists from making sales, and consumers&rsquo; perceptions of salon versus mass retail products. The study&rsquo;s official release of the results will be reviewed in much greater detail at the PBA Symposium on Sunday, July 19, at Cosmoprof in Las Vegas.To learn more about the PBA symposium, visit: http://probeauty.org/symposium/ ]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-06-23T11:21:04-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/move.html">
<title><![CDATA[We're Moving! (But Not Very Far)]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/move.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[This August we&rsquo;ll be closing our Olympia and Tacoma locations and regrouping in a brand new space in Lakewood.  Our new space will allow us to reach more of you, while reducing overhead costs and allowing us to continue offering the best, professional quality beauty products at the prices you&rsquo;ve come to expect.  We know this move will make things a little easier for some of you, and the drive a little longer for others, but we&rsquo;re certain you&rsquo;ll love our new space and hope you&rsquo;ll come see us often. See you soon in Lakewood!]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-06-22T16:49:14-05:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/inspiring.html">
<title><![CDATA[Are you inspired? We are! ]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/inspiring.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[We had a packed house of almost 60 salon and spa owners and managers who joined us on May 4, 2009 for the Inspiring Champions, "Double Your Income Now" seminar. Inspiring Champions was founded by industry veteran Lauren Gartland in 1995, and since then she has impacted the lives of thousands of salon professionals nationally - helping them make more money, work fewer hours and live a balanced life. Lauren has trained over 5,000 individuals nationally in her business workshops. Lauren is rated as one of the top business trainers and success coaches in the salon and spa industry and we learned about her engaging, dynamic presenting style firsthand and were blown away! She told us that we can "double or even triple sales by following the practical and proven strategies in this program-taking business from ordinary to extraordinary!" What we discussed at this event:How to dramatically improve profitsA success formula to gross $1 million+ per yearA proven system to get clients in 2 to 3 extra visits per yearA guaranteed 5-step system on "how to" double service sales without raising prices or seeing more clientsAbout dramatically increasing new client traffic with little or no money How to identify and control the four highest expenses in your business Ways to uncover hidden expenses What past Inspiring Champions attendees have told us:"I found Inspiring Champions at a point in my life where I needed help and direction-personally and professionally. With their help and guidance I was able to turn my financial and professional life around within months.I signed up for a package that they offered where I was able to attend three seminars and have one-on-one coaching for a year...this is the best money I have EVER spent! I highly recommend Cash Flow Camp for anyone that owns or manages a salon...it&#39;s an eye opener"! Lisa Power-Owner, Lisa Power Salon]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-06-04T14:29:35-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/MorrocanOil.html">
<title><![CDATA[Morrocanoil Moisture Repair Shampoo & Conditioner have Arrived!!!]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/MorrocanOil.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[ Finally! Morrocanoil Moisture Repair Shampoo & Conditioner have Arrived!After developing a strong, loyal, nearly cult(!) following &ndash; Morrocanoil has finally come out with their long anticipated shampoo and conditioner &ndash; rounding out their line of smoothing, soothing, shine-enhancing products.  The new Moisture Repair Shampoo & Conditioner will delight loyal followers and entice newcomers to experience Moroccanoil for themselves.  The shampoo creates a thick, rich lather, while the conditioner boasts a luxuriously smooth and creamy texture. Both products nourish hair with blends of plant extracts, nutrient-rich argan oil (Morrocanoil&rsquo;s magic ingredient) and fatty acids to smooth and repair hair. Plus, all Morrocanoil products are free of sulfates, phosphates and parabens, and safe for chemically treated hair.]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-06-03T13:27:28-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/headcase.html">
<title><![CDATA[Head Case: Salon Consults That Make the Cut - From the Wall Street Journal, 5/28/09]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/headcase.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[There&#39;s no guarantee against a bad-hair day, but you can hedge your bets. For those seeking a style change, most salons offer hair consultations -- essentially a meet-and-greet with a stylist. While some hairdressers charge for the service, in this limp economy, many are offering free or lower-cost advice.                  We took our unruly mop of long hair to four different consultants, both in-person and online, to evaluate the quality of advice on offer. Since we&#39;ve had the same dull &#39;do for several years, we were seeking a change and some tips on how to deal with our thick, curly mane in the humid city this summer. First stop, the Sassoon salon chain, which offers free hair consultations at all locations nationwide. Appointments are available, but we walked into a New York City location near Union Square on a Saturday afternoon and saw a stylist within five minutes. The stylist asked detailed and practical questions about how much time we wanted to spend doing our hair each morning, (less than 10 minutes a day) and how often we straightened our hair. When discussing length, she cautioned that summer humidity might be perilous for a shorter cut. She also gave us feedback about how specific haircuts might not be complimentary to our face shape. Though her consult was short, she patiently answered our questions and didn&#39;t pressure us to buy hair products or adopt a particular style. The stylist advised against coloring, but said she would be happy to arrange a meeting with a colorist if we were still interested. A business card was provided, and we were in and out in less than 20 minutes. High-end salons typically charge for these kinds of consults, but these days some may be willing to bend on pricing. That&#39;s what happened to us uptown at the high-end Christo Fifth Avenue salon. We scheduled a week in advance for a one-hour consultation advertised on the salon&#39;s site for $100. After we inquired about the hefty price, the salon agreed to waive it. Lesson learned: It doesn&#39;t hurt to haggle with the haircutter.]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-05-28T14:08:16-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/Runway_Style.html">
<title><![CDATA[Kevin Murphy Runway.Style - Portland Goes Glam]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/Runway_Style.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Felicity Davis, veteran runway and session stylist, joined us last week at Chroma Hair Studio in Portland to demonstrate runway-inspired looks using the uber-hip Kevin Murphy line of styling products.  With her own long locks flowing in perfectly-imperfect fashion, Felicity expertly displayed some unique approaches to creating these high fashion looks &ndash; including a messy-sexy updo held in place by nothing more than a thread and gorgeous Birth of Venus style waves.  Kevin Murphy Runway.StylesClick on to see more fabulous pics!]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-05-26T12:25:22-05:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/change.html">
<title><![CDATA[A Skin Care Educator's Story of Change]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/change.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[I had the incredible opportunity to attend the Re-Define the Future event in Vancouver, BC this week and what an amazing event it was! Staying true to her vision and passion - as well as our expectations - Jane Wurwand delivered motivation and promise for the future to all who attended. One focus of Jane&#39;s presentation that I thought especially compelling was the idea of embracing change. As humans we look at change as uncomfortable, challenging and even frightening, but how many life lessons have come in this form? Many!  And most likely we didn&#39;t even ask for them or see them coming. A personal change came to me in the form of an injury. After working as a PST for 5 years at my dream skin center (I stalked them until they hired me - so persistence is key as well!) I was diagnosed with two herniated disks in my lower back. My doctor said either find a new job or....find an new job. There was no option. After deciding that there was no way I was giving up the career I loved and worked so hard to learn, I tried for two more weeks to continue seeing my clients. It soon became clear that my back would be making the decisions now and it had decided that either I was done as a Skin Therapist or that I wouldn&#39;t be walking upright ever again.Devastated, I went back to work at the restaurant I came from and my back regained its strength, but I was unhappy. One morning, complaining to my significant other about how much I hated my job, he said to me with a smile "when I come back inside the house from washing my car, you&#39;d better be on that computer looking for a new job." So, begrudgingly, I did. The first job I saw posted was a position at Salon Services for an educator. I had been to classes before at Salon Services, but wasn&#39;t sure I was equipped with that level of knowledge, let alone the ability to stand up and speak before groups of people -how scary! Since I was supposed to be finding a new job, though, I answered the ad and was called to come in for an interview. Uh oh... what had I started? I made it through the first interview and was asked to return with a model and put together a presentation to deliver for the next one.The day of the presentation came and after explaining in great detail that, "I have never spoken in front of people and I am very nervous," I delivered the information I had been studying since the initial interview. And I nailed it! It was like I had been speaking to crowds since birth, it came that naturally. It was then I realized... I really can do this and really enjoy it. Receiving the first feedback forms from students was the confirmation I needed to prove to myself that I really could teach, and teach well. To this day, I still wonder what would have become of me if I hadn&#39;t challenged myself to do something I believed to be as utterly terrifying as speaking in front of groups. I would never have the insight into my abilities as an instructor, and to top it off I am still working in my beloved industry! I believe my experience is a perfect example of Jane&#39;s advice to, "Refuse to be defined by the events of your life and demand to be defined by your responses to them."Change is often the strongest motivating factor that forces us to grow and learn. By accepting change, embracing it and understanding its value we all become better and more intelligent when dealing with each new challenge or obstacle. As we grow as individuals, change allows us to progress through each lesson and stage in life, providing clarity with each new endeavor.In the economic times we are all facing, we must make sure we change with the times. Are we expanding hours to accommodate our clientele? Simplifying our menu so we don&#39;t overwhelm them? Offering speedy services to our time-compressed client? Targeting clients through newly available technology? It&#39;s all too easy to become comfortable and stick with processes that "have always worked in the past." But the past is exactly that, the past. Look to the future to create your own progress and strive to STAY RELEVANT. Without changing our long standing ideas and looking for new ways to change, we start to see the world pass us by.In order to grow in both our business and personal lives, we must embrace the opportunity for change. Create a different outlook - look through a new window, it may be a window of opportunity. It won&#39;t be easy, but the lessons you learn in the process will contribute to your living successes in exponential and often surprising ways! "See it, believe it, become it."ColleenSalon Services & Supplies Dermalogica Educator PS: You can take a class from Colleen here at Salon Services! Visit our education page and check out some of Colleen&#39;s Dermalogica classes.  ]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-04-30T14:33:31-05:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/belleepoque.html">
<title><![CDATA[ The first Zero Impact Salon in the US:  Belle Epoque Salon - Portland, Oregon]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/belleepoque.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Dayna Cakebread, Owner and Stylist of Belle Epoque Salon shares her story of how she got started building a sustainable salon and discovering the "beauty of going green". Dayna Cakebread with Salon Services Owners George Learned and Sydney Berry, alongside industry legend Robert Lobetta at Cosmoprof 2008.  "We connect so much with our clients on a personal level, we can encourage them to give back", said Dayna. This is something that is important to me, my staff and my clients; we are thrilled to see the amazing response we have gotten. It started at Belle Epoque and has quickly spread down Mississippi Avenue".   April is Earth Month. Now is a great time to get to become more green!    How Dayna and her stylists got started:Sign up for the Zero Impact Program: Dayna and her team sold raffle tickets to their clients to pay for this program. They raffled their services as a prize, taking turns in offering the free service. The clients loved getting a chance for a free service and knowing their money was going to rebuilding the rainforests. Call your Salon Services Consultant and they can answer your questions about Zero Impact and get you signed up.Get everyone involved. Have a meeting to discuss ways everyone can make change- setting up recycling and creating a system that works. Matter of Trust is a great organization that recycles hair left from salon services to build mats that help clean up environmental damage in our oceans. Dayna estimates she is able to fill a bin every other week. Call BEST Business Center (this is for the Portland area - if you aren&#39;t in Portland, you can start by calling your utility company. Most offer a free evaluation of things you can change to save the planet and money). Look at your lighting. Dayna switched to compact efficient light bulbs (look for soft white bulbs-less of a "fluorescent" glow). Moving from 150 watt bulbs to 26 watts, has lowered their electric bill by $60 a cycle. Start talking to your clients. Tell them what you are doing and get them involved. Talk to other businesses in your neighborhood. Food waste composting for you and your neighbors? Collecting water runoff for resuse? Share ideas!  ]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-03-25T16:23:53-05:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/demand.html">
<title><![CDATA[Create Luxury Demand Through Invitation]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/demand.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Invitation-only sales and sites are thriving when it comes to luxury. What ingredients do you need to take from these exclusive events to create experiences to indulge and delight?     As your customer, I want to feel a little spoiled, because I am worth it, or indulge in things that comfort me on a rainy day or during a recession (suppressing fear and depression). Please, stimulate or amuse me and meet more than just my basic needs.  Go further, and satisfy my social needs on top of my personal indulgence (image). Give me a little more than the economy or my budget allows (value). Create moments for me where my spirit can escape from the stress of the every day, the demands placed upon me by others, and certainly from the negativity that pervades my news and information sources.It&rsquo;s about you telling me in some meaningful way that I am more to you than just a customer.   It&rsquo;s about you knowing me well enough not to waste my time. Bringing me moments that delight and inspire me. Creating an experience where I leave feeling &ldquo;filled up&rdquo; and not depleted; where you have made those things I most want readily available at an investment of my time and money where I am convinced that you are bringing me my delights as a special favor, and at a special price.   It&rsquo;s about exclusivity, or the illusion of exclusivity. The creation of a feeling that I am more trusted, more welcome, more relevant to your business than the average joe. It&rsquo;s about events where I will meet other people similarly important to you, and therefore, relevant to me.   It&rsquo;s about creating a clutter-free, hassle free moment in my life. Simplifying the choices to those that are most relevant and making the buying process fast, simple, and pain free. Showing me that I am important to you by being my &ldquo;personal shopper&rdquo; ahead of time, knowing how to bring me the indulgences and delights I crave!Elizabeth Brown, 12monthsofmarketing.net | Be InPulse Branding, Marketing & Design March 10, 2009 ]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-03-16T11:18:58-05:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/Buying.html">
<title><![CDATA[Ten Things We're Still Buying]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/Buying.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Consumer spending may be at all-time low, but there are plenty of things people can&#39;t seem to live with out. Hey, Big Spender, are you out there? You must be, since December 2008 sales amounted to $343.2 billion. What did you buy?While retailers suffer from shoppers changing their behaviors during recessions (mainly by abandoning brand loyalty), says Lindstrom, "There are certain things people won&#39;t give up."Personal care is one of them. That vast category includes everything from shaving cream to perfume to hairspray. From November 2007 to November 2008, U.S. sales of shampoo, acne treatments, skin care gift sets and grooming products increased by 18%, 14%, 11% and 15%, respectively, according to Karen Grant, senior beauty analyst at Port Washington, N.Y.-based market-research firm NPD Group.Consumer confidence is at its lowest point in history and, according to a Jan. 14 report released by the Commerce Department, retail sales were down 2.7% in December 2008 from November 2008 and 9.8% from December 2007.However, $343.2 billion is still something, not zero, meaning consumers still deem many items worthy of the original price tag, says Martin Lindstrom, a retail marketing expert and author of Buyology: Truth and Lies about What We Buy.In Depth: 10 Things We&#39;re Still BuyingConsumers are even still spending beyond the necessities in the personal-care category, it seems. At Nelson Bach, a North Andover, Mass.-based natural remedy company, year-over-year sales of its Rescue® Pastilles have doubled, according to company president Cynthia Batterman.She believes that in a tough economy, when 7.2% unemployment means an increase in those lacking health insurance, many turn to alternative therapies. Nelson Bach&#39;s gummy lozenges, made with flower essence of white chestnut, are said to offer natural stress relief. And at $7 a tin, they&#39;re a relatively inexpensive way to feel just a little bit better."When people put off going to the doctor, they&#39;re more likely to try self-treatment," says Batterman.Seeking an EscapeWhether used for keeping up appearances or curing minor ailments, personal care is--ultimately--about feeling good. Sometimes, that means buying products to escape the reality of the recession."Even if we can&#39;t afford to escape to Paris, we can still afford to buy perfume with &#39;Paris&#39; on the label," says Lindstrom.Read the full article from Forbes.com here. ]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-03-12T11:53:59-05:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/inspire.html">
<title><![CDATA[Be Inspired!]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/inspire.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Meet Brian Suhr and Kirsten Demant, the dynamic Danish team from Davines when they visit Seattle on Sunday April 19th! Brian and Kirsten bring grace and irony to their hairstyling, developing styles that are unconventional, yet in touch with changing fashion. Their work is an expression of creative brilliance, as they strike sparks off each other and keep their eyes open for inspiration from street style while traveling the world in search of new ideas. Their hallmark is ceaseless experimentation lived with enthusiasm and curiosity, fully in harmony with the Davines approach to life. Here&#39;s the buzz after a recent event Brian led in Canada:  "Brian was great. As an artist his work showed a wide variety of looks, proving his talents in both design and execution. It is difficult to create asymmetry that is pretty and not too 80s looking. He did it." TZ"Brian showed user-friendly techniques and presented both runway and commercial styles. It was a great show." DS Join Salon Services as we take a journey with Davines International Educators Kirsten Demant and Brain Suhr. In over 10 years with Davines they have developed a no boundaries approach to hair and a loyal cult following that is constantly blown away by their engaging techniques. They will interpret the Davines lifestyle through hair fashion that is street-inspired, glamorous, fashion-forward&mdash;and most importantly&mdash;wearable.This event will be fun, educational and inspirational. Watch this video to see Kirsten and Brian in action!    Sunday, April 19, 20096:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Herban Feast | 3200 1st Ave S, Seattle, WA Career Investment $99Call 800-251-4247 x226 to purchase your ticket. Save your cash&mdash;use your rewards dollars!]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-03-10T12:36:17-05:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/econinfulence.html">
<title><![CDATA[The Economic Influence: Spas and Skin Centers]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/econinfulence.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[This industry thrives on trends-the latest and greatest takes on what clients want and need from spas. Multiple spa publications, organizations and Web sites even grandly announce their top 10 lists for what will be big at the beginning of every year. This year, however, things are different; clients&#39; needs and wants have changed, and so the trends may not be as catchy or gasp-inducing or exotic beyond belief. This year, clients need and want spas to make skin maintenance and stress reduction accessible and affordable, and a variety of initiatives are taking place to make sure that happens.Skin maintenance vs. stress reductionThese battling concepts of maintaining skin health and soothing stress from the body are both crucial for clients, especially during this recession. Because of the level of stress that has been stoked by the economic downturn, clients require an escape from their worldly problems now more than ever. But they also need solid results in order to keep spa visits as must-haves in their budgets. "When things are tough, because of the field we&#39;re in, we focus on having a peaceful, serene environment. In stressful times, people need that. When they come here, they don&#39;t want to leave. We have to focus on addressing clients&#39; needs and looking at their stress levels," says Sandra Donovan, owner of Donovan&#39;s Serenity & Wellness Spa in Alpena, Michigan.Jane Wurwand, founder of Dermalogica and a longtime proponent of skin maintenance, believes the recession has brought an end to pampering in the spa. "For me, skin therapy has nothing to do with luxury or relaxation. It&#39;s a necessity, a part of health and well-being like fitness or nutrition. Pampering and luxury doesn&#39;t resonate, and no consumer is going in that direction," she says.Of course, these opposing perspectives both have their merits and in the end, their balance will result in a happy, well-served clientele. "We need to try to reduce stress and be focused on results because clients don&#39;t have money to waste," says Donovan.Read the full article here ]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-03-02T11:44:41-06:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/tax.html">
<title><![CDATA[Tax Breaks for You!]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/tax.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Read the PBA (Professional Beauty Association) Washington Update on the stimulus act and some of the tax breaks that YOU can take advantage of!  Stimulus & You: Individual Tax Breaks    President Barack Obama will sign the $787 billion federal stimulus package into law in Denver on Tuesday. The legislation includes billions of dollars in spending on items including infrastructure, education, tax breaks for individuals and businesses, help for unemployed workers and aid for state governments.Below is a snapshot of some of the individual tax breaks included in the Stimulus bill:&ldquo;Making Work Pay&rdquo; Tax CreditThe Stimulus bill cuts taxes for more than 95% of working families in the United States. For 2009 and 2010, the bill would provide a refundable tax credit of up to $400 for working individuals and $800 for working families.How you might benefit: About $116 billion would help people who make less than $75,000 a year (twice that for couples) and who have taxes withheld. Individuals will get $400; couples, $800. Individual beneficiaries will start to see about $15 extra per week in their paychecks starting in July. Next year, the $400-per-person benefit will be spread over 52 weeks, so the extra per paycheck will be closer to $7.50.Extension of AMT relief for 2009Each year, Congress creates a temporary fix to keep millions of people from paying the alternative minimum tax (AMT). This bill provides more than 26 million families with tax relief in 2009 by extending AMT relief for nonrefundable personal credits and increasing the AMT exemption amount by $70,950 for joint filers and $46,700 for individuals.How you might benefit: It is not applicable to 2008 taxes due on April 15. Those with 2009 earnings from $200,000 to $500,000 will get about $4,800 in 2010. For incomes of $75,000 to $100,000, the 2010 tax savings will be $500.Read the full article at www.probeauty.org. Be sure to sign up to receive The Washington Update - an e-newsletter designed to keep you informed on the latest legislative and regulatory news affecting the professional beauty industry. The Washington Update is published 8 times a year and delivered directly to your inbox., as it relates to you and your business! ]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-03-02T11:04:21-06:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/spaoffer.html">
<title><![CDATA[Surviving the Economy]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/spaoffer.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Here is a great example from a local Salon & Spa of how to create a promotion around the tough economy (and the weather)!So, it&#39;s rough out there we all know this. The cold winter climate, the economic climate... You are an urban survivalist!  But, maybe right now you just need someone to rub your feet or receive a relaxing scalp massage. Add 15 minutes* as a love offering from me to you. Take some time for yourself.  Come in for a 30 or 60 minute facial and relax.  Maybe to rest your body for 15 more minute; do that if that&#39;s what you need.Receive my offering of survival: Add 15 minutes* to receive a lip or brow wax or to relax, renew and restore on your next scheduled appointment. My offering of survival to you; for you.A great idea! What kind of promotion ideas has your salon been working on? We would love to hear what has worked for you!  ]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-03-02T10:55:26-06:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/jamesalan.html">
<title><![CDATA[And For This I Am Grateful]]></title>
<link>http://www.salonservicesnw.com//blogs/jamesalan.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Congrats to the James Alan Salon! They have been selected as the winner of the Healthy Community Corporate Champion Award for their amazing contributions to the region&rsquo;s Neighborhoods and Communities. They will be featured in a special supplement to the May 8 issue of the Puget Sound Business Journal.Recently the staff at James Alan Salon in Shoreline, WA did an amazing community outreach event for the residents of Tent City, a Seattle-area homeless camp. James Alan Owner Matthew Fairfax shares his story about giving back and reminding us that "we are not doing hair; we are touching lives and building esteem".  What an incredible experience. Several weeks ago we were approached by community members asking if James Alan Salon would be willing to cut hair for the residents of Tent City. I&#39;m ashamed to admit, my initial reaction was - "Homeless people in the salon, really?" And then I thought, "Will my team even want to participate in this event?" I forwarded the e-mail on to Keri who heads up a lot of our Community Outreach work and asked what she thought. Without hesitation she said of course we should do it. We&#39;ve done homeless teens, why not Tent City. And with that, the ball was rolling.Within a week, we had our former co-owner, Keith McGlashan coming out of retirement for the day, 11 other team members, front desk team members and even an esthetician ready to participate. Shoreline Top Foods gave us muffins, Starbucks sent over coffee and treats, and Salon Services & Supplies NW donated a bunch of Brocato shampoo to send home with the participants.As we prepared for the event, many of the clients verbalized some of the same internal feelings I had felt. Surprisingly, some expressed what most of us only thought. "What about lice?" or "Are you worried about theft?" Amazing what fear of the unknown can conjure up in our minds.All of that disappeared in the first 5 minutes this morning. The first shuttle of Tent City residents showed up just before 10 a.m. The first thing we heard was - "Thank you so much for doing this - it means so much to us." One after another expressed their gratitude to the team. I was hooked. Then came Faye. She walked in with her hair matted and looking as though she had just woken up. She took a cup of coffee, sat down and drank in silence - her head looking down. Her fellow Tent City neighbors kidding her, trying to wake her up. Eventually, she was ready to go with Andrea to get her hair done, refusing her picture being taken. Forty minutes later, out came Faye, radiant with silky smooth hair. The reaction in the lobby was awesome. Friends, stylist and Barb, the coordinator of the event, collectively ooo&#39;d and awed over her hair. And the tears flowed down Faye&#39;s cheeks as she hugged Barb. At that moment it wasn&#39;t just Faye who was leaking tears. I was once again reminded that we are not doing hair; we are touching lives and building esteem. This was not to be the last emotional experience of the day. Time and again, the grateful Tent City residents left with a smile on their face and feeling just a little bit lighter. And each time my team felt gratitude for the opportunity to give back to our community. It seems so easy to dismiss those members of Tent City as people who have chosen to live that way. To turn away or pretend it is not there. It&#39;s uncomfortable to have to face things we don&#39;t understand. I am so grateful that today I have a new perspective on my fellow citizens and new friends of Tent City.Several years ago while talking with my minister, I told her I had always felt called to the ministry but for some reason just never really pursued it. She asked me, "What makes you think you are not already doing your ministry?" Today, I got it. Every day, my team and I minister to people. We don&#39;t do hair, we touch lives and for that I am grateful.Matthew Fairfax, James Alan SalonMatthew also runs Northern Torch Consulting and specializes in small business improvement, team building, employee retention, retreat facilitation and leadership skill development. Matthew is working with Salon Services to make our upcoming employee retreat a memorable event.  ]]></description>
<dc:date>2009-02-18T16:48:39-06:00</dc:date>
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