Refresh & Relaxation & READINESS

by Alyssa, Level 2 Stylist

The time away from the salon has allowed for some R&R; Refresh and reflection. As much as I’ve missed being behind the chair, I’ve really enjoyed my time home with my husband (Bryan, NY First Responder), as many of you know I am a newlywed! When this whole pandemic started, we thought it would last no more than a week. Here we are two months later with no clear plan as to when life will get back to normal. So, like most people, I rearranged and reorganized my whole place, but day two into a two-month-long quarantine, what else are you supposed to do?

I took the time to reflect on all the fantastic classes I was lucky enough to take in the last year. While I was contemplating the next updo I could create on the mannequin; I stumbled upon virtual classes that were available. That is the astonishing thing about this industry. We are innovators continually looking for new ways to improve our craft. As the Redken Fanatic that I am, I signed up for loads of Redken virtual classes taught by some of the best educators in the business. But I didn’t just stop there. So many amazing artists were offering education on different platforms daily. If I was going to be out of work for an extended period of time, I wanted to make sure I was taking an educational break. My first class was a color class that went over some tips and tricks to achieve the Instagram worthy looks. After two months of grow out and endless time flipping through internet photos, I wanted to be ahead of the curve and be able to achieve any look my clients ask for. 

But that is not where my educational journey ended. What was also important to me was understanding the fears that clients, as well as myself, might have when coming back into the salon. Our team was fortunate enough to have classes with Tanea; A certifies coach. Tanea is an extension of our Salon 718 family, who often comes to our meetings and provides an array of team-building exercises. You might have been lucky enough to attend one of her salon talks or catch her on our Live. For this class, she wanted to see where we were and how we could work together to adjust to this new norm. She introduced Sara or Sarah. 

Shock, Anger, Resistance, Acceptance, and Hope. This is so important because we all deal with things differently. WE need to understand where we are and surround ourselves with positive people who will help push us through some of those negative feelings. How does this pertain to the salon you ask? If you are feeling resistant out of fear to enter back into our salon, we want to be able to ease those fears by showing you how we’ve ensured yours as well as our safety. I’d love to give away some insight as to what has been going on in the salon, but I’ll leave that surprise to video coming out in the near future. 😉

I, along with my team, have not only taken classes on haircut and color techniques but also safety protocol. It is essential to understand how we can keep everyone safe while making sure you look your best. In today’s class with Kerastase Jen, we discussed everyone’s favorite: TREATMENTS!!! How many of you kept your hair up in ponytails? I know I have gone between three styles; bun, pony, and wild mane. Due to pure boredom, I have been experimenting, which I am sure everyone else has, with that means maybe our hair might need a little TLC and might be a little sensitized. The great thing about our class with Jen was learning how to get your hair needs back on track. We went through a collection of rituals as well as take-home care to ensure that if this ever happens again, you are prepared. 

 I can’t wait to see you all soon! Know that as each day goes by, I will be taking more opportunities to hone in on my craft, and I can’t wait to tell you all about it! Until then, be safe and continue to be entertained by our [salon]718 TikToks!

About the Author: Our resident Redken fanatic, color mixer, and one who understands the balance of how to achieve your hair goals while maintaining a healthy mane. Alyssa is passionate about continuing education, driven to succeed by always learning even in a global pandemic.