Discount Fever In The Salon

A look at the Dangers of Discounting, Couponing & "Social Buying Sites"

In this age, where "discount-focused" marketing tools, also referred to as coupon sites or social buying sites, I wondered how this has affected the hair salon and beauty industry. You're probably familiar with GroupOn and Living Social, as they're the most popular in the San Antonio area. But, there are dozens more that have sprung up quickly, all offering exposure to businesses and great discount opportunities for consumers. But is it all it's cracked up to be?

Many of us are gradually becoming hardwired to look at paying less than full price. The new status symbol has shifted from, "what great quality/service I received" to "look how much I saved." Many who would typically be quite satisfied with paying full price for the service or the product (or perhaps even on sale at a 10% discount) from an establishment we've been frequenting, are now attempting to bargain or talk down prices. This can have a serious down side at a hair salon. 

Why? When a salon offers a discounted service like this, they're banking on the fact that you'll be a returning client. It's really the only way that they can possibly break even on the pricing structures that the coupon sites use. Typically, the sites ask that you discount your service/product by at least 50%-60%. They then split the amounts purchased by consumers, making the salon's actual earnings only 25% of their regular fees! You don't need to be a CPA to realize that the winning party here is the coupon site, not the salon. The salon hasn't paid their employees, the utilities, the rent, advertising, or any of the other overhead and operating expenses.

There are two ways a salon can get around this. The first might be to artificially inflate the true "regular price", so that when they reduce the fee by half, it's not as big a hit. I've actually had this suggested to me when I met with one of the local "knock-off" companies to GroupOn. Or, a salon might also be encouraged to make limitations to the offer, usually hidden in the fine print within the ad details. For instance, if the 50% off foils offer was made, they could limit the number of foils to just 6. We all know that six foils wouldn't even be worth your time at the salon, as the average head of hair takes many more for a good highlighting.

I've seen these strategies used and I don't like it. I wouldn't want to be on the consumer end of a business feeling like they had to take a shortcut in order to avoid taking a loss. I provide professional services and I have worked hard for many years to perfect my skills. I would not consider a shortcut or do less than my absolute best because I'm not getting paid for my time and effort. And that's a risk with these coupon programs.

For these reasons and more, I've chosen not to participate in the social buying fever that has been pretty active in the San Antonio area. I would much prefer to offer my clients quality services at fair prices every day of the week. By doing this, I hope to develop a loyal following of clients whom I love working with on their hair extensions and hair care needs.

REFERENCES:
About.com - Web Trends
CIO.com - Coupons 2.0: Ten Social Buying Sites That Add Up To Savings
Quora.com - Groupon: Is there a large enough market for more group coupon sites?

RESOURCES:
Groupon.com - The Daily Groupon
Livingsocial.com - The Best of San Antonio

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 
Melissa White is an experienced hair extension artist and stylist whose passion is to bring out the natural beauty in everyone by enhancing their own individual features with the use of exquisite hair extensions. Melissa has over 10 years of extensive training with the industries top hair extension companies in the newest techniques. Originally from Boston, Melissa has been in San Antonio for the past 8 years. She believes that everyone should be able to access and afford the hair of their dreams . . . thus the creation of Extensions of Yourself, San Antonio's first salon which specializes exclusively in quality hair extensions.

Caring For Your Hair Can Achieve Better Looking Hair Extensions

by Melissa L. White
Licensed Hair Stylist

Everyone knows that proper skin care is essential for maintaining youthful skin. We've learned over the years of the importance in proper cleansing, and the use of quality products that nourish and maintain healthy skin, and most women place great importance on keeping their face fresh and youthful. Many women, however, do not realize the importance of proper hair care, and that your scalp ages just like the rest of your body!

As the scalp ages, it loses tone and elasticity just like your face! Cell production steadily declines and your hair weakens. I learned a lot about hair in cosmetology school. We were all taught that the hair follicle is made up of the hair bulb, the sheath and the hair shaft. The hair shaft is made up of the medulla, cortex and cuticle. Blood vessels supply the follicle with much of its nutrients. Hair strands for most women grow about a half inch per month. At any given time, approximately 10-15% of your hair has reached a "resting" phase, after which the hair falls out and is replaced with new hair. The average person sheds 50-100 hairs each day. In usual circumstances, the cycle continually repeats itself. However, when stress, disease, hormones, nutritional deficiencies, medications or even aging itself occurs, the cycle can be disrupted.  When I worked for a plastic surgeon and became certified in Laser Hair Removal. I really learned a lot more about hair because we were trying to eliminate it! 

Without getting too technical and boring, there are three phases healthy hair continuously go through. Simply put, the first phase (anagen phase) is where the matrix cells in the root divide rapidly, forms the cells of the hair sheath, shaft and cuticle, and actively produces keratin - the "essential" of healthy hair. The hair grows about a half inch every month, and stays in this active phase between 2-6 years, depending upon your genetics. Your hair then goes into a short transition stage called catagen phase which signals the end of the active growth stage. It can last 2-3 weeks before going into the third and final stage (telogen phase), which is the resting phase. This lasts a few months for scalp hair, longer for body hair. It is the phase where you shed your hair, as it has completed it's entire growth cycle.

Because your hair has such a long first phase, and because of all the harsh treatments we tend to subject our hair to when styling it, it is essential that it receives proper nourishment. When hair does not, you may notice thinning, dryness, dandruff, acne and other scalp conditions. As stylist at Extensions of Yourself, a San Antonio Salon which specializes in hair extensions, I routinely work with women who have thinning or damaged hair, or who have medical conditions which subject them to loss of hair or thinning hair. While many women choose hair extensions simply because they want fuller hair, longer hair, or a better hair style,  I frequently use extensions as a way of instantly transforming thinning or damaged hair, and helping women feel better about themselves.

You don't need "perfect" hair to start with, as you can work toward improving your own hair as you wear your hair extensions. I consult with each of my client's about the health of their hair and the types of products they can begin using to improve their own natural hair. Each client has their own specific needs, but there are a wide range of quality products I use to help achieve healthy hair. Healthy, well-nourished hair only compliments beautiful hair extensions even more!

Melissa White is owner of Extensions of Yourself, a San Antonio based salon specializing in hair extensions. As hair extension artist, Melissa sees women of all ages for quality hair extensions.

The Cost of Hair Extensions

by Melissa White
Licensed Hair Stylist

Hair Extension prices depend on a number of factors. The type and quality of hair extension, the amount of hair used, the length of hair or the look desired. A top-of-the-line hair extension system like Great Lengths, HairDreams and So-Cap, will cost more because of the premium nature of the hair used in these extensions. This hair is not as readily available as lower end hair, hence the much higher costs for the hair extensions. General rule of thumb, to add body to hair figure you need $500 and up, to add length, figure $1000 and up.

The average person spends over $1000. Be careful just judging on price. Hair Extensions are an investment in yourself. If it costs $200 for a full head of hair extensions, stay away. They will probably destroy your hair. Use only 100% Natural Remy Human Hair Extensions. Avoid synthetic extensions, and make sure the person is a licensed hair dresser who has had experience applying them.

The best thing to do is schedule a consultation with an extension specialist in your area, or a location you are willing to travel to. I personally enjoy meeting my clients in consultations, as they enable me to give an exact price based upon the look you want, the length you want, your lifestyle, and the amount of hair needed to accomplish your desires. These are all important. I spend time answer any and all questions you may have, and preparing you for what to expect when you get your new hair. Make sure the person you see is a licensed hair stylist who has had experience applying hair extensions, and who is willing to give you a realistic idea of what it is like to wear them. While my consultations and hair analysis visits are always free, some stylists choose to charge a fee.   Here's more information on what it's like to wear hair extensions, where the hair comes from, and the different types of hair extensions available.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 
Melissa White is an experienced, licensed hair extension artist and stylist whose passion is to bring out the natural beauty in everyone by enhancing their own individual features with the use of exquisite hair extensions. Melissa has over 10 years of extensive training with the industries top hair extension companies in the newest techniques. Originally from Boston, Melissa has been in San Antonio for the past 8 years. She believes that everyone should be able to access and afford the hair of their dreams . . . thus the creation of Extensions of Yourself, San Antonio's first salon which specializes exclusively in quality hair extensions.

Use of Hair Extensions in Today's Economy

by Melissa White

Licensed Hair Stylist

Hair extensions have exploded in popularity over the last several years, and are not just for celebrities anymore. People from all over the country are getting hair extensions, trying to improve their hair fullness and length. At the start of the hair extension craze, everyone wanted to look like their favorite celebrity. Mariah, Beyonce, Tyra, Oprah, Shakira, and a host of others, never left the house without their extensions in. Now it is everyday people, making room for the hair’s budget, even in tough economic times.

As the demand for hair extensions grows, more and more companies are offering different type of hair extensions. At the start of the hair extension boom, silicone was the bonding agent of choice to connect or “fuse” the hair extension to your own hair. Fusion attaches small amounts of hair, strategically placed, throughout your own hair to create length, fullness, or both. Shortly after the boom began, Great Lengths developed a pre-bonded hair extension, that eliminated the need for glues, and the new hair extension revolution took place.

The current bonding agent of choice is usually a keratin polymer. Keratin is a natural component of real human hair. This polymer can be fused in many ways, such as heat, ultrasonic waves, air pressure, or laser. There may be pros and cons for each method depending upon your hair type and the type of hair extension used. An experienced extension artist can advise you.

Today, there are dozens of companies looking for a share. HairDreams and So-Cap are a close second to Great Lengths and their 10 year head start in the hair extension market. With the huge response to hair extensions, people are innovating new and creative techniques and that is good for everyone.

I’m often asked by other businesses whether the downward changes in the economy do anything to change demand. At my San Antonio hair extension salon I've noticed that with today’s emphasis on trends, it has become apparent that people will always find room in their budget to look good. A woman might buy one less dress or fewer pair of shoes instead of giving up their hair extensions.

One thing is for sure, the hair business is changing. The days of getting a haircut or color at the salon are changing. More and more exotic services are showing up and taking hold, and growth for the beauty industry as a whole looks like it will continue. Celebrities are not the only ones trying to look good, and with the Internet, people are made aware of new trends faster than ever before.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 
Melissa White is an experienced, licensed hair extension artist and stylist whose passion is to bring out the natural beauty in everyone by enhancing their own individual features with the use of exquisite hair extensions. Melissa has over 10 years of extensive training with the industries top hair extension companies in the newest techniques. Originally from Boston, Melissa has been in San Antonio for the past 8 years. She believes that everyone should be able to access and afford the hair of their dreams . . . thus the creation of Extensions of Yourself, San Antonio's first salon which specializes exclusively in quality hair extensions.

The Purpose of this Newsletter

by Melissa White

The internet carries a lot of information.  My goal is to bring the latest in accurate news about hair trends, especially those that relate to women who want hair extensions, or already have them and want to make the most of them.

My name is Melissa White, and I am owner of Extensions of Yourself, a San Antonio hair salon which specializes in hair extensions. Having used hair extensions for over 9 years myself, I want them to look their best.  I've tried many methods, many types of hair, and many products to maintain the hair. My clients range from those who already have very nice hair but want more of it, or want more length, to those who have illnesses which have caused extreme thinning, and those weak or damaged hair. With proper application of extensions, they can remedy many hair problems and leave you feeling fantastic!

This newsletter is designed to bring you information you can use to improve the quality of your own hair and get the most out of hair extensions.  Please send me an e-mail if you have questions you would like answered or if you'd like to see a particular topic discussed.