As well as being Francesco Group’s Advanced Academy Creative Director, Michelle Thompson is an award-winning Afro hairdresser, as well as current Northern Stylist of the Year at the Black Beauty Sensationnel awards. But aside from her expertise and awards, Midlands-based Michelle is one of the most inspirational hairdressers working in the UK today – on any hair type. Just take a look at her work over on Instagram, @michellethompsonhair, and you’ll see what we’re talking about!
In this, the first of two guest blogs with Michelle, she talks about the need for more salons to cater to clients with afro and/or extremely curly hair.
Why working on afro hair can only be a bonus for your salon profits
It’s a material that we as hairdressers work with – no matter what the texture is. You cannot forecast who your next client is going to be, which means that you need to be prepared for any client to walk through that door. I believe that in 20 years we are not going to see any one texture or type; it’s all going to be mixed up, as more and more cultures are blending. If you’re not open to understanding all hair types now, you will suffer in the future. It’s happening already! Think about it; when you go to the doctor, you don’t go to a doctor specific to your race, do you?
So why aren’t salons/hairdressers catering to all hair types?
It’s a fear – it’s the not knowing. I teach a lot of courses, cutting for Mizani working with hair types 3 and 4, and when you ask the majority of the attendees if they’ve ever worked with Afro hair, they’ll say ‘no’. So I’ll ask them, what makes you not want to work with it? Most of them say; ‘I don’t know how to; I’ve never been shown.’ For me, it goes back to the colleges. When I went to college, I was fortunate enough to go to one that included afro hair as part of the NVQ, but now it’s an optional module. But many of today’s stylists just see a mass of hair and they feel intimidated. It’s simply because they haven’t had that education from day one.
When I talk to hairdressers who already have many years of experience, but have never worked with afro hair, I always take them back to the basics. I ask them; if you have a frizzy client, what type of products would you use? I’ll ask them how they blowdry hair and they’ll answer me and I’ll tell them: it’s no different with Afro hair! By the end of the day the attendees are so happy and amazed at how much they’ve enjoyed it, and how much they can do. There just aren’t enough places in the UK delivering the education.
Freelance Focus, is a one stop resource for anyone working as a freelancer or thinking of going freelance in the hair & beauty industry, which includes a FREE downloadable guide filled with advice, useful insights, experiences and tips (from experienced freelancers) to help you understand the steps needed to make the right choices for you.
Introducing Chantelle, a talented beautician, hair extension specialist and proud owner of ‘Chantelle’s Beautique’. We sit down with Chantelle as she tells us how she started out in the industry, her top tips for becoming self-employed, struggles she faced and overcame along the way and her favourite products that she can’t live without!
My treatment room is based in my garden at home and I offer a full range of Hair and Beauty treatments specialising in skin care, brows & hair extensions. My clients love my set up and really appreciate the little touches like being able to park with ease and having more of a cosy experience away from the hustle and bustle of a busy salon. As well as running my own business at home, I also enjoy teaching others on their journey starting out in the trade with my own accredited courses at home as another branch of my business called ‘The Hair and Beauty Training Beautique’. You may also see me in your local Capital Hair & Beauty as I also tutor for one of their training providers ‘Face Forward’ offering brow lamination and lash lift and tint courses.
Sophie gained a wealth of experience working in the industry from her background working in prestigious 5 hotel & spa and salon settings which lead her up to starting a business of her own. We talk about all things beauty and the curved tweezers that she can’t live without!
Hi Sophie, tell us a little bit about your journey and how you go into the industry and what lead up to starting out on your own?
I gained a lot of knowledge from working in different settings from working with a big teams in a 5 star hotels and spas to smaller beauty salon environments. I gained so much knowledge from working in both settings and although it was hard work and long hours.
I started out by working in a few different 5 star hotels with spas and a salons where I gained all my knowledges and experiences from each one to put together for my own business! It was hard work and long hours all the practice paid off. It was actually one of my clients I saw regularly in the salon I worked at that said I should set up on my own and gave me the confidence to go self-employed and I’ve not looked back since!
As professionals in the hairdressing industry, we're well aware of the constant innovation occurring in our field. Our clients love to dramatically alter their look with the ever-changing trends and we do everything we can to prioritise the health of their hair. Bond-building treatments have long been a staple in salons to address this need. However, allow us to present the latest advancement: biomimetic hair science and K18!
Understanding the Future of Haircare: From Bond Builders to Biomimetic Hair Science
For centuries, the haircare industry relied on cosmetic chemistry to conceal damage. Historical solutions like oils and conditioners were designed to sit on the surface of the hair, providing a temporary fix by improving its appearance and manageability. However, these solutions fell short of addressing hair's health at its core.
Learn how to leverage K18 products in your salon services to reverse damage, fortify hair and enhance salon results all whilst boosting your salon profits. Discover our step-by-step instructions for every treatment, from lightening to styling in our handy salon go-to guide!
Following the natural structure of hair, the biologically active peptide is considered natural. Unlike traditional bonding agents, it is not rinsed away by water or shampoo, making K18 a genuine and enduring remedy for damaged hair. Healthy hair originates in the salon, and K18 believes its influence starts at the salon chair and radiates outward. While K18 is suitable for all hair types and services, the most significant improvements are seen in damaged hair.
Have you ever noticed how closely linked your mind and body are? It's like they're always communicating, even when we're not tuned in.
And when stress creeps in, it's not just your mind that feels the burden – your skin and hair can take a hit too. Stress, whether it's a short-term or a long-term problem, can be detrimental to your body's health.
In fact, a recent survey by the UK’s largest independent supplier to hair and beauty professionals, Capital Hair and Beauty, revealed nearly half (42%) of the nation believe that stress has had a negative impact on their skin and hair health!
Last year, Brits faced their fair share of hair and skin woes.Topping the list was the recurring issue of dry skin, affecting a significant 29% of the population. Not too far behind was hair thinning/loss, troubling over a fifth (22%) of us, while acne and breakouts are also a cause for concern, affecting 19% of survey respondents. And let's not forget about skin inflammation (12%) and eczema (11%).
Does the bob ever go out of style? Short answer: No. The reason for the evergreen appeal of the bob is because, depending on the length, it’s a look that can suit any face shape or hair texture. Right now, it can be anything from a short and swingy French girl bob, a luxurious long bob, or a razor-cut curly bob. For Tori Kiff, it’s about keeping things fresh with the addition of a fringe.
“I love updating a classic curly bob with a fringe, especially as so many of my curly clients seem to think it’s a style they shouldn’t have. I’ve managed to show so many clients that it’s all down to fear and that actually, a curly bob is so flattering and easy to style; I advise them to use their fingers to curl their fringes or to use a brush when styling,” shares Tori.
Of course, the most modern way to wear a bob is the Bixie, a hybrid of the bob and pixie; think classic bob updated with a fringe or micro bangs, or you could play with the Butterfly Bob. RUSH Creative Director Andy Heasman’s a fan.
If you ever spend time on social media, then you'll definitely have heard about skin cycling, or skin fasting. During the pandemic, this three-step regime rose to popularity as many of us had more time to spend on pursuing our 'perfect' skin. Read on to find out the what and why of skin cycling and how you can build it into your beauty therapy menu.
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This policy was last updated on 23rd May 2018
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