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SalonCentric bites off another piece of the country

Soon there will be total domination. 
SalonCentric has acquired the salon service company Peels.  Peels is a Nebraska based company with about $100 million in annual sales.  The amount of the sale has not been disclosed, but I'll let you know when I find out how much it cost.  Peels' coverage reached over 12 states with 57 stores and over 100 outside sales reps.  They distributed Matrix, Redkin, Tigi, Pureology, and American Crew, all of which are currently carried by SalonCentric. How close is SalonCentric to being the dominate US distributor?  Well, there are only a few spots on the East coast that SalonCentric doesn't have a presence.  So who will be next and will it happen shortly after the new year?  Stay tuned

Nail Polish Maverick on Podcast next week

Next week I will have the owner of Color Club on the saloninsiders podcast.  His name is Michael Rose and his polish company is the fastest growing nail line in the industry.  We will talk about the recent purchase of OPI.  If you have any questions for him email me at saloninsiders@gmail.com.  Have a great weekend!

OMG OPI sold!

You may have got some great black Friday deals at Walmart, Target, or  even Best Buy, But you missed out on one small deal.  You could have picked up a little polish line for just under a billion dollars.  OPI has sold to Coty Inc.  Coty is a holder of many cosmetic and fragrance brands such as Vera Wang and Jennifer Lopez. 
What does this mean for the professional beauty and nail industry?  Well, probably nothing in the near term.  Would I want to marry myself to this line and invest heavily in the brand?  No, I think I'm scared that OPI will now be Retailed at every department and chain store that wants it.  OPI had about $200 million in revenue last year and you don't spend a billion dollars to continue that revenue stream.  How do they grow the brand?  You grow it out of the professional market.  Just ask Paul Mitchell.  (That was a joke by the way).

Long Blond Russian seeking American Woman

No, it's not what you think.  Russia has become a huge source of blond human hair extensions for our industry.  Under normal economic circumstances women would not cut their hair for money.  But these are not normal economic times.  Russian women have been selling their long tresses to make ends meet.  Most human hair that we use today comes from China and India, but that hair is always dark in color.  Processing this hair into blond takes extra time and money. But these were the only places to find human hair in the quantities that the industry needed.  Well, the Ukrainian women are now the gold standard of hair extensions.  In some areas of Russia the average wage is only $300 a month and the starting price of 16 inch length hair is $50.  This extra money can bring in some much need income.  But then there are some Russian women that cut their hair only because of a style change, going from a long braid or pony to a short bob.  Whatever the reason, if you are using golden honey blond hair in an extension it has probably come from a Russian beauty.

Brazilian Blowout - the New Asbestos

To my friends and colleagues,
Please be very carefully with these products.  Make sure that if you choose to continue using these Brazilian Blowout products that you are properly protected.  Please wear gloves, and mask, and try to have a well vented location to apply this product.  The following is another article from a major new network regarding the dangers of using this straightening system.  If you can, find a healthy alternative.  You don't want to end up with Cancer years from now because of some trendy product that was using harmfully chemicals.  

From Fox news Chicago -

State officials in Oregon and hair stylists are raising concerns about a expensive hair-care solution called Brazilian Blowout that contains unsafe levels of formaldehyde, a chemical linked to cancer. The treatment converts frizzy or kinky hair into smooth locks, a 90-minute process that costs between $250 and $350.
After stylists complained of chest pains, sore throats and even bloody noses from exposure to the treatment, the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration began testing the solution and found significant amounts of formaldehyde, The Oregonian reported.
Classified as a carcinogen by the World Health Organization, formaldehyde is linked to cancer of the lungs, blood and nasal passages.
Oregon officials tested 105 samples from 54 Oregon salons and found that formaldehyde content averaged more than 8 percent in Brazilian Blowout, even when many bottles were marked formaldehyde-free, according to The Oregonian .

And the award goes too.....

It&ly Hairfashion has created a new award this year that will honor celebrity hairstylist for their creativity and talents.  The award is called the Artisan Award. 

"You like my hair, you really like my hair"

The CEO of It&ly Hairfashion had this to say about his award, “It was time for our hairdressing industry and IT&LY HAIRFASHION to recognize our peers for mastering their artistry and craft, producing a much needed annual event to honor them. Their ability to recreate characters, periods in history as well as fantasy for film and television, has brought a new found source of awareness, style trends and education to hairdressers around the world.”

I don't think this was one of the winners.

Most recently the 2010 IT&LY Artisan Awards held in Las Vegas were awarded to the following top celebrity hairdressers from the sets of Gossip Girl (Betsy Reyes), Dancing with the Stars (Kimi Messina), Sex and the City 2 (Frank Barbosa), Twilight Eclipse (Bonnie Clevering) , and the soon to be released Burlesque (Colleen LaBaff) and Tyler Perry’s: For Colored Girls and American Gangster (Kenneth Walker) plus Bride Wars (Barbara Lorenz), , America’s Got Talent (Russell Latham), How I met your Mother (Jani Kleinbard), Jada Pinkett & Willow Smith’s personal hairstylist (Marcia Hamilton) and Scooby-Doo (Ramona Fleetwood).

Podcast with Bosley Pro's Eric McLemore in the feed!

We had Eric McLemore on our latest podcast, "The Salon Insiders".  Eric is the president of Bosley Professional Strength.
He gave us a run down on his company's history and how it's stimulating the hair industry one follicle at a time.  He is helping us keep clients by keeping hair on their heads.  We also talk about hair in the news and answer email questions from listeners.  You can listen from the audio player on the right, or you can down load the podcast from itunes music store. 
Also Bosley was spoofed on Saturday Night Live, check it out on the youtube link.
                                                                           Bosley on SNL youtube link

Lady Ga Ga's newest hair style

Lady Ga Ga is so ahead of us in creative hair styles.  We have all been so focused on the head!  There is so much more we can do with hair in our salons.  We could be styling hair outfits.  Just imagine clients coming in with their new hair covered peasant top, asking for an updo or Brazilian blowout before a night on the town.
Sure lady just set your hair covered outfit on the chair and comeback in 3 hours, I'm in the middle of a bleach job on that sweater over there.

Balding - Could it be a thing of the past?

Sure Patrick Stewart looks great without hair, but how many times is he going to come into your salon for service?  Clients without hair are not clients.  We need to cure baldness for both men and women.  The big news is that scientist have just discovered the gene that regulates hair growth.  When it is turned on, hair grows in the follicle.  When it is turned off, well you can see the picture on the left.
Here is a link to the article from Science Daily -

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100415085317.htm

Also, my next guest on our podcast will be from Bosley Professional Strength hair care line.  They are on their way to becoming the #1 thinning hair care line.  Please email any questions for them to us at saloninsiders@gmail.com

Battle of the Hair

The Central Coast show went off this weekend in Santa Cruz Ca.  They had the largest amount of entries for the student model show in it's 16 year history.  The theme this year was Mardi Gras and the only thing missing was the floats.  After several months of following every rule in cosmetology school, these students let loose with their creativity. 

Halloween Hairstyle

Does your business drop off in the month of October?  Should it?
Start advertising to you clients now about Halloween hairstyles.  Give them the option to have semi permanent crazy hair color, or just the most insane updo possible.  Go goth on their hair or bride of Frankenstein.  Now is the season to be your most creative and fun.  There are parties going on all month so don't wait to the 31st! 

Cocktails and cuticles( A tail of getting sloshed and shellaced)

It is almost happy hour.  You and your girlfriends want to unwind, have a drink and catch up on the latest gossip.
You grab your hand bag and look down at your nails.  Oh no, this will not do.  They look awful.  Your supposed to go out this weekend.  You need a manicure.  You look at your best friends feet in those open toed Jimmy Choo's.  She needs a Pedicure.  What to do?  All of the above.  Its cocktail night at the nail salon.  Coming to a fashionable nail salon near you.  Check out what Dashing Diva and others are doing in NY.
New York times story about Dashing Diva Nail Salon

Redken Tribe 2010 NYC Hair Awards

And the winner is.....

The coveted award goes to
Andrew Barton Salons

Their teddy boy, curly male cut won them the Male Expert award.  They also won the Style Innovator award for their unique, golden ginger crop.  No photos yet from the show.  I'll post them as soon as they come in.

New Podcast in feed!

The new Salon Insiders Podcast with Ricard Gundry is in the feed.

Hello Insiders!  Today we have Richard Gundry as our guest.  Richard is a former platform artist and salon owner.  These days Richard heads up waxing giant Depileve.   He gives us tips and advise about waxing, hairstyling, business and dating clients.  We also answer email questions and more.  Thanks for listening and subscribe to us in itunes and podbean directories.  Email us questions and comments to saloninsiders@gmail.com  You can also listen to the podcasts with the embedded player to the right.

Podcast recording tomorrow with Richard Gundry

Our guest for the Salon Insiders podcast tomorrow is Richard Gundry.  Richard was a platform artist, Miami salon owner, and now the head of the waxing giant Depileve.  He is a wealth of knowledge in our industry and if you have any questions for Richard to be asked during the show email us at saloninsiders@gmail.com
The show should post before the weekend.

Subscribe to us in itunes. search for us as saloninsiders podcast.

Paris Hilton Sued for Wearing Someone Else's Hair

Paris Hilton should probably be reading her contract instead of the Art of War.  She is being sued for $35 million by Hairtech Dream Catchers Hair extensions line.  She was caught wearing a competitor's hair extensions in magazines and on TV while under contract with Hairtech, a Beverly Hills Company.  Hairtech also accuses Paris of public debauchery tarnishing her public image.  Funny, I thought her image was created because of her public debauchery.  Anyway she also missed an important public event for the company because she was, wait for it .......in jail.  You can't expect a girl to stage a prison break just to stand in front of 600 hair professionals for god's sake.  It's not like she missed a sale at Neimans.  Anyway, the amount of the suit is 10 times the amount of her contract.

Emma Watson from wizard to pixie

Emma Watson no longer needed to keep her long witches tresses so she opted for a new pixie hair cut delivered by New York stylist Rodney Cutler of Cutler salon.  She is loving her new look after being under contract for 10 years and unable to cut her hair.  I think she was excited to shed the Hermione Granger of the Harry Potter series look.  She now enters her second year at Brown University.  She was asked if she had any remorse or regrets about her decision.  “It was weird. My hairdresser was like, ‘When are you going to freak out?’ Most people cry or go into shock,’” she says. “But I was very calm. I knew it was the right thing.”

Britney Spears is having a bad hair decade

Britney is a serial stylist switcher.  She has so many stylist you might even call her a salon Whor...no I won't finish it.  She has bounced around from George Papanikolas, Rick Henry, Kim Vo, Roberta Romero and Chris McMillan.  The pop tart was snapped last week with a big bald spot on her head!  Someone needs to help the girl, remember though, if you get the job don't expect any loyalty. 

Hair club for babies

Are you looking to increase your customer base?  Well here is a market you all are missing.
There are millions of babies born every year.  It's time for them to drag their diapered bottoms
into your salon to get fixed up.  Offer a complementary bottle of formula with service and you
will have a hit on your hands.  Find these baby bangs at   http://www.babybangshairband.com/
for $29.95

Nail salon youtube video that will have you laughing

If you have ever been in a nail salon you must watch this video for a good laugh.
Anjelah Johnson is the comedian in this youtube video and she has this experience down.
If you are the nail tech that she is talking about please don't change.  We love you, even though
we know you are talking about us to your coworkers.

youtube link to comedy video of Anjelah Johnson

Halle Berry Rocking the summertime curls

Curls are everywhere this summer!  Put the flat iron away.  Search under your bathroom cabinet and dig out that old curling iron.  It's time has come back around.  Oh, what was that I heard, someone is actually requesting a perm?  Do I remember how to do one of those?  Salon services are growing baby!
We don't just cut and color anymore!

Trade Secrets files for Bankruptcy

Trade Secrets and its parent company Premier Salons Beauty are filing for bankruptcy and closing 80 of their 612 stores. CEO Brian Luborsky told the Daily News that Trade Secrets has struggled for a long time.  "We finally had to restructure."  He admitted.  We hate to see any salon struggling so we wish them luck and hope they can pull out of the problems they are facing.

Iran says "Death to the Mullet!"

Billy Ray will not be going to Iran for the next Hannah Montana tour if he knows what's good for him.

Y'all gonna get in more trouble than a fox in a hen house.  Iran has outlawed western hair styles for men such as the ever popular mullet, long hair, and pony tails.  First time violators will receive unflattering  short back, sides, and front cuts.  Repeat offenders will receive hefty fines and if your the stylist providing those decadent cuts you will be shut down! Here is a picture from the NY daily news showing the acceptable hairstyles.

Happy 4th of July

Speed skater Ryan Bedford show us how to celebrate America's birthday in style!

Podcast with Scrappy Coco in feed

The newest Salon Insiders podcast with Scrappy Coco is in the itunes feed and on the embedded player.

We talk about facebook, twitter, and answer email questions.

Crackdown coming to the Beauty Biz

Well the man may be coming down on the advanced skin care business.  Portland's state board is looking into more regulation for the skin care side of cosmetology.  It is probably long over due by the looks of some of
the mishaps that have occurred to unfortunate customers.  Less training equals less results.  Possibly painful and hideous results.  Check out the Fox 12 article below.

http://www.kptv.com/health/23683237/detail.html

Cate Blanchett's New Hair Style

Cate has a new hair style this week.  She has a darker tint and a shorter cut.  I think it looks like a more mature and serious look.  Is it for a new role?  What do you think of her new look?

Vampire Nail Tips - Are You Ready To Be The Princess of Darkness?

It's early for Halloween, but this look is coming out of Europe for all seasons.  They are titled as stiletto nail tips and they are the rage in Europe.  Will they make a splash in the US?  They don't need to be just for Halloween and black or red in color.  As the picture shows they could achieve a great look.  Bring the trend into your salon and get a premium price for this service.

Here is a link to a company selling the nails.
Stiletto Nails from Star Nails

L'Oreal Buys Everyone says Letterman?

No, Letterman didn't really say that but they are getting close to taking over completely.  L'Oreal announced today a new acquisition.  One of the last competing large distributors sold out to the beauty giant.  Here is the press release from their website.

L'Oréal USA acquires C.B. Sullivan extending its coverage of American hair salons

L'Oréal USA, a subsidiary of L'Oréal, has acquired, through its SalonCentric division, 100% of the capital of C.B. Sullivan, a New Hampshire-based company.

C.B. Sullivan supplies hair salons in 6 states across the North East of the United States (Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts) with a network of representatives and outlets open only to professionals. The company’s net sales for the fiscal year 2009 were approximately $50 million.

With this acquisition, the SalonCentric division of L'Oréal USA is extending its distribution network, demonstrating the constant determination of the Professional Products Division to offer a better service to U.S. hair salons.

This acquisition is consolidated as of June 1, 2010.

Jewels and Updos

Today's hottest hair styles are being featured at Cannes this year.  Great updos and buns are all the rage.  Bring in some bling to sell to your client.  Look how great a jeweled headband will look with your updo.  Weddings and proms are here!

Uncle Sam wants to tax your haircut

New York state is having budget problems.  Their solution?  Tax hair cuts.  Oh yea, looks like barbers and stylist are going to have to collect sales tax for their services.  More red tape, more regulation, more paper work, just what we love about cutting hair.  If it works in New York look for more states to follow suit.

L’Oréal Acquires Essie Cosmetics Brand

Oooo, pretty colors.  L'Oreal picks up Essie.  The New York based company was founded in 1981 and was purchased for an undisclosed price.  The founder, Essie Weingarten will stay on to create more clever names for the extensive nail color line.

Summer of Style

Your client sits down in your chair.  You wrap the cape around them with a flourish, spin them to face the mirror and say....."How do you want your hair cut today?"  The client is not thinking about how they are just going to look today.  No no no it's almost May, summer is almost here.  The summer of style!  The client wants a look that will change their life.   A style that will bring back the fun, bring back the good times.  We've been down for two years.  We have all given up things, made sacrifices, maybe even had to forgo the six syllable latte.  We are all tired of that.  Give us color, give us shape, give us style!  Look at that eager face, they are ready.  Be inspired, be creative,  give them what they need...Change.

L'Oreal Launches its new hair color product INOA

Here at the American Beauty Show in Chicago L'Oreal launched their new INOA hair color line.  Or did they?

INOA is positioned to compete with P&G's WELLA brand.  INOA is an odorless, ammonia free color line that has beautiful packaging and fantastic marketing.  The problem is that they have made claims that the product leaves your hair in a virgin state after several uses.  What?  Well P&G has been trying to get an injunction to keep INOA off the market in the EU where it has been selling for a while.  Wella and the EU are not happy with the bold claims from INOA.  I heard a lot of claims at the American Beauty Show of INOA processing hair to a "virgin like look to the naked eye".  Still, they made a huge splash and most are excited to begin working with it this summer.

Salon Insiders Podcast with the Salon Success Program

Hello Everyone,
Today we talked with Rosellen and Debbi from the Salon Success Program.
They offer us tips regarding custom blended makeup and supplements that we
can offer to the clients sitting in the chair.  Have a listen and hopefully it will give
 you food for thought about how we can expand our services.

Getting schooled on Clippers

We sat down with Kevin from Professional Products and More to learn all about clippers.  We learned what to look for and why we need different types of equipment for different types of hair.  Take a listen on the audio player to the left or subscribe to saloninsiders in the itunes music store in the podcast section.

Sandra Bullocks Setting Hair Style Trend

Buy yourself a new flat iron, quick!  If you are a hair stylist, get ready to see this photo for the next couple of weeks.  Your clients are going to want this look.  Sandra Bullock is working her long gorgeous hair this year at the Oscars.  Stylist need to be prepared to recreate this look.

New tech for the Nail Tech

Hello Nail Techs,
Is there really a great new technology out there for gels?
Soak off gels are now hot on the market.  5 minutes to soak them off?!
Add extra dollars to the shrinking price of a manicure?!  Say it is so!
Please say it so.  This guy, Tony Cuccio says it's so.  Here is a clip of him

Cuccio soak off Gels youtube link click here

ISSE ISSE BABY

Long Beach Ca just finished hosting the ISSE show over the weekend. And now as the colored hair clipping are being swept up off the floor and the hairspray is vented out of the building, I reflect on the spectacle that I saw. Sure there were new lines and amazing celebrity platform artist, but the attendees are what we all love about that show. They generate the style and energy better than any performance coming from the stages. The people I met and outfits I saw (or lack there of) showed me that this industry was ready to thrive with innovation this year. They are charged up and ready for twenty ten! They want new products! They want Exciting concepts! They want Education! This year things are going to turn around and beauty is back!

L'Oreal USA's Salon Centric Division aquires two midwest distributors

L'Oreal announced two acquisitions yesterday. Their Salon Centric division acquired Maly's Midwest and Marshall Salon Services. This is part of a strategic commitment that L'Oreal USA made to further its mission to gain closer proximity to the salon community while continuing to provide them with products, service, training and education. Salon Centric now covers 80% of the US. Maly's Midwest and Marshall Salon Services represent combined sales of $130 million annually.


SalonCentric, headquartered in Clearwater, Florida, is the professional products distribution operation of L’Oréal USA. It was created in 2008 following a series of acquisitions that provided a strong store organization and distributor sales consultant network. SalonCentric is the premier distribution partner to the professional salon community in the US, fully committed to fighting diversion and protecting legitimate channels of distribution. Focused on a multi-line, multi-channel business approach with professional salon brands, including partner brands, and through hundreds of store locations and field sales activities, SalonCentric connects stylists to the finest brands, education and business solutions to ensure their overall success. SalonCentric has over 3300 employees and services salon professionals through its network of around 1150 distributor sales consultants and 700 stores. A multi-branded organization, SalonCentric distributes, among others, the following: Big Sexy Hair, Farouk, Framesi, Kenra, L’Oréal Professionnel, Matrix, Mizani, OPI, Pravana, Pureology, Redken 5th Avenue NYC and TIGI.