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Are You Happy With Your Hairdresser and Salon?
Perriann Rodriguez


How many times in your life do you think you will go to a salon
to get your hair cut or styled? Let's see, if you start when
you're about 2 years old and go 6 times a year until you're about
70 years old, that turns out to be over 400 visits. Even more
impressive is the amount of money (over $12,000 USD for average
$30 visits) you will end up spending in your lifetime to cut,
style and care for your hair. This doesn't even include special
hair care products or additional services such as coloring,
perms, treatments, etc.

With these statistics, it is safe to say that our hair is an
important part of our lives. Finding the right hair stylist and
salon is crucial to the end results of any hair style or process.
Emiliano Vitale, Creative Director for E Salon in Wahroonga
Australia, says, "All clients look to us for direction. It is up
to us to listen carefully, understand our clients needs and
desires and then to translate this into a style which is
specifically designed and tailored to their lifestyle and
personal needs." We have invited Emiliano to visit with us and
answer a few questions about salons, hairdressers and hair
styles. Below are his insightful answers:


Question: Men and women spend thousands of dollars every year
going to salons and caring for their hair. Yet most people report
that they are less than satisfied with the results. When you read
some of the salon reviews out there you will find people that
like the look of their cut/color/perm but are very unhappy with
the service. Some describe salons with arrogant, rude or
inconsiderate hairdressers and staff. Why is E Salon different in
this respect? How do you address complaints from clients ?

Emiliano: First of all, hairdressers are a reflection of their
leader. You don't have rude or arrogant team members--you have
rude and arrogant owners. Hairdressers globally, actually
Humanity globally wakes up every morning and wants to give their
best. Then they get to work and are rude only because they are
not appreciated or lack self worth. It is the duty of every
leader to dedicate themselves to their team and to inspire their
team to cooperate in a spirit of harmony.

The only reason we are successful is because I dedicate myself to
my team. I made a promise a long time ago that when one of my
team members leave, they will leave a better human being and a
better hairdresser. It is easy to blame our team members for
making mistakes and for not being good enough. But I can assure
that if we ALL, including OWNERS, realized that the person
looking back at us in the mirror was responsible for the state of
our life, then this industry, let alone this world, would be a
greater place.

I train my people to see themselves as truly great human beings,
and by doing this they will see greatness in everyone else. I
promise to give them an extraordinary life and that is what my
purpose is. My team members are the most pleasant and remarkable
people I know.

At E Salon we treat the Human Being, not the hair. We encourage
and welcome any feedback. Complaints are an opportunity to show
the world what kind of human being you are. Many hairdressers
take a complaint like a personal attack on them. As a leader it
is our responsibility to train our people properly and nurture
them and their spirit.

I am sorry; there are no rude and arrogant hairdressers---just
incapable leaders. Always see the human being and give your best
in evey moment in every situation. What you give is what you
get---it is that simple.


Question: When you first meet with a client that wants a new hair
style, what is your mode of operation?

Emiliano: The first thing I do is ask many questions, such as
'Why do you want to change your look? What don't you like about
your hair?' I try to find out as much history as possible,
including anything he/she has every been unhappy and happy with.
Next I like to feel the hair to determine its thickness and
texture. Then I look for any unusually growth patterns. Finally,
and most important, I look at face shape, bone structure and the
clients overall style. I focus in on suitability and I try to
enhance the strengths they may have, i.e. eyes, lips cheekbones,
etc. Sample photos of hair styles the clients like are also very
helpful in letting me know what my clients like.


Question: As a salon owner, how important is it to keep abreast
of current hair and fashion trends?

Emiliano: It is imperative that we stay abreast of what is
happening in the world of hairdressing. Though it is more
important to know who you are in relation to fashion. In today's
world every fashion designer and hairdresser is doing his or her
own thing. We must find what we identify with in terms of
fashion, and with that initial inspiration, make that evolve into
something that is uniquely ours.

It is so important to be a leader not a follower and to be true
to yourself. In the state of truth you will be able to tap into a
universal source of what is fashion anyway. That is a purely
surreal experience when you come up with an original idea, and
realize that others have had the same idea, very cool.


Question: A lot of hairdressers aim to please and give their
clients the hair cut that they want. For example---a client
brings in a photo of a hair style he/she really likes and wants
to get the same look. Do you ever tell a client that ---NO that
hair style or color will not work for you?

Emiliano: Absolutely! If I feel a hair style doesn't suit a
client, I will not hesitate to let him/her know how I feel. That
is why my clients pay me $110 a cut. Having said that, I must
also contradict myself by saying, hair is about the person
wearing it, not the hairdresser.

By knowing who you are and believing in yourself, you attract
clients who like what you do. Hence you will very rarely have
client in your chair that doesn't like what you do.


Question: What salon products do you use and how importat are
they to creating workable hair styles?

Emiliano: We use L'Oreal styling products. My favorites are;
Gloss Wax, Liss Control and Pure Gloss Spray in the Techni.art
range, Smoothing Serum in the Texturline range by Artic (L'Oreal)
and Kiwi Blow serum in the Kiwi range.

Without products, I don't believe we would really be able to
produce the results we are looking for.


Question: It's one thing to come out of the salon looking
fabulous. It's quite another creating the look on your own at
home. Do you offer styling advice and training for your clients?

Emiliano: I offer the correct advice on which products to use and
how to use them to achieve results.


Question: What can we expect for hair style trends for the Fall
2004? What will be the popular colors, lengths, styles?

Emiliano: From me, you can expect short crowns with longer
lengths, creating seamless layers and transition from short to
long. I am still working with asymmetry and disconnected lengths.
Fringes are still very hot. I love anything Rock Chic looking. I
try to make my models and clients look like Rock stars.

Colors are more a technique thing rather than actual colors,
though I am working a lot with mahogany and nut browns.
Highlights are bolder yet they are peeping through the hair, not
on the top of the hair. I have been working with this technique
for a couple of years, just varying the placement of color. At
this very moment we are working with major contrast in color.


Question: Where do hair style trends start anyway?

Emiliano: I believe hair trends do not start, they evolve. They
are definitely started by the hairdresser rather than the client.
For example, let's look at the past season. Hair trends have a
very sixties and eighties influence. Now that definitely didn't
start recently, though it evolved from that period and was
adapted to today.

I will try to start my own trends. At the moment I am working
with my GARAGE Collection in the salon and my L'Oreal tour. The
collection features extremely short crowns, varying lengths, with
asymmetry and disconnection. Trends are inspired by something.
They can be inspired by a movie, a song, a painting---with
inspiration anything goes. You must trust your instincts. Fashion
is what you LOVE. LOVE IS FASHION


Question: On a global scale, do you see a trend of how new hair
style fashions evolve?

Emiliano: Personally the entertainment industry inspires me. I
feel Hollywood has a major influence on setting trends. European
hairdressers, especially the English are great translators of
this. To take the mantle as trend setter, you definitely need to
earn it.

I know many hairdressers look to fashion and the designer's new
collections for inspiration. You know that anything goes, and it
is usually started by some kid on a street corner who has cut
their own hair, and it has caught the eye of some top stylist,
designer or even director.

Fashion is what you make it and who you are in context to that
fashion.


Question: What are some of the current hair concerns that your
clients are experiencing and what sort of treatments do you
offer?

Emiliano: In Australia, hair is very good at the moment as we are
in winter. If anything, the hair is a little dehydrated. We offer
the complete range of Power Dose treatments from L'Oreal. They
are quick and easy treatments and make such an immediate change
in the hair. My favorite here is the Shine Blonde treatment that
is a toner as well as a treatment. Results are awesome!


Question: Do you have hard and fast hair care advice that applies
to everyone?

Emiliano: Use very little conditioner. Apply it first to
mid-lengths and the ends, then comb it through the rest of the
hair. When applying mousse, apply it slowly and with a comb,
little by little. Always finish with a gloss spray for shine.


Question: There is a study that says one in two women color their
hair. A lot of women do it themselves. What type of color
products do you use and why would you recomment that women go to
E Salon for color processing?

Emiliano: We exclusively use L'Oreal Professional products. We
recommend that clients come to us for color because we are
trained professionals. COLOR TO HAIR ACTS LIKE PAINT TO A SKETCH,
IT GIVES IT LIFE! The reason I feel that one in two women color
their hair at home is our own fault. We need to spend more money
on training our people and take responsibility ourselves. We tend
to blame the companies for making and selling hair color products
in the supermarkets. If we were doing our jobs correctly, the
companies wouldn't need to sell in pharmacies and supermarkets.


Question: Finally, what are your recommendations for someone
seeking a new hairdresser or salon?

Emiliano: Go in for a blow dry and take notice of all the work
going on around you. Look for someone who puts love into his or
her work. The are a rare breed and when you find them, cherish
them. You will notice they stroke the hair, like you would pat a
cat. They put their heart and soul into their work and they look
at what they are doing and the way the hair falls. The best
hairdressers will ask about you, not talk about themselves.
Always pick the stylist in a salon with the worst haircut. The
best hairdressers cut everyone elses' hair.

I tend to get a lot of clients by people asking my clients on the
street who cuts their hair. Don't be afraid to ask lots of
questions and bring in pictures. When you find a happy and
content team of hairdressers, you are sure your money is going to
someone who is making a difference in the lives of their clients.

Thank you Emiliano for your thoughts and insights on hair styles
and salons!

Emiliano: Final words: Be brilliant and accept yourself for the
glorious human being you are, for the SIMPLE reason that you ARE.
GOD BLESS ! Emiliano

E Salon, E for Effort, Enthusiasm and Excellence in Hair

Emiliano Vitale operates E Salon along with his father, Samuel
Vitale - Managing Director, and his cousin Valerio Domenici -
Salon Director. E Salon first opened in Double Bay in 1994. The
second E Salon opened in Wahroonga in 2000 the Double Bay closed
in 2001 as it merged with Wahroonga so that Emiliano could focus
more on education, shows, seminars and travel - July 2001 to Dec
2001 Emiliano traveled through Europe, UK, USA looking at latest
fashions to bring back to E Salon. Now Emiliano travels every
year to keep up to date with what is happening around the world.

Emiliano's father, Samuel has been a great source of inspiration
for his career as a hairdresser. Samuel successfully ran his own
salon, Samuel's Hairdressing, in Hornsby for 28 years before
joining forces with his son and nephew at E Salon at Wahroonga.
He has been contracted by L'Oreal to educate in seminars on
haircutting, success, goal setting and the importance of
DREAMING, BELIEVING and ACHIEVING. He adds, "My main objectives
for my seminars are to inspire hairdressers to GIVE more and to
help them discover the tools that will make them truly
successful." Emiliano is the Style and Shoot 2004 Ambassador and
National Judge. Style and shoot has 1000 entrants from across
Australia. He will select 20 State finalists, then 1 ultimate
winner.


Perriann Rodriguez is the founder of
http://www.hairresources.com  an international online resource for
hair styles and beauty salons and http://www.hairresources.net,
an online resource for human and synthetic hair extensions. She
has published over 100 articles in various trade publications and
is listed in the Who's Who of Executives and Professionals and
the US Register of American Writers.


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