Huffington Post- Gina Rivera Your Opportunity For Renewal

I call January and February the “funk months.”

We’re blessed in the salon industry with very little in the way of a seasonal slowdown, unlike some businesses that experience a precipitous drop in business during certain months. What little seasonal drop we do experience, comes now.

The holidays are a wonderful frenzy of celebration, gift giving, and doing “something different” and bold with hair styles. We get very, very busy. Now, some of our clients pull back a bit and return to their jobs and carpools with a list of New Year’s resolutions.

A slowdown for us isn’t a bad thing. The funk months become an opportunity. Here are a couple of suggestions:

1. Pursue Continued Education.

This is a fantastic time for salon professionals to get recharged about their work with some technique classes on the coming trends for the New Year.

Continued education for salon professionals should be a very high priority. I believe so strongly in this that my company invest in that principle, providing classes led by members of our education team free to our salon professionals. Our education team is now in Copenhagen studying the latest trends and techniques. When they return they will fan out to all or our company traveling to all of our locations across the country to share what they’ve learned.

Meanwhile go online and search for classes in your area, or maybe use this brief slowdown to travel to an-out-of-town event — of course, keep track of expenses for tax purposes. There are major conventions in Long Beach this month and Chicago in March that are wonderful opportunities for education.

2. Go to Product Websites and Review Their Material on Usage and Techniques.

Then look for similar products and their descriptions for comparison. There are many options for obtaining more information if you cannot get away or travel. The internet is a great resource as are product websites and sites like YouTube.

3. Truly Take Time to Focus and Study.

The sheer volume of media produced about our industry is both wonderful and daunting — there is so much! And we are in it all the time. We live and work in it. But how often do we stop and really study the styles and trends. We can take the time to do that now.

Go back through recent magazines with the folded corners. Rediscover those styles that caught your eye. Look for multiple examples and variations. Then begin to formulate how those styles were created. Look for classes and talk with friends and colleagues about recreating certain looks. This is your opportunity to expand your repertoire, to reach beyond those cuts that you already do so well and take them to a higher level.

4. Care for Your Salon.

You are an artist. This is your studio, your salon. This is also where you receive your clients. Take time to clean and care for this essential, personal and professional space. Maybe your salon or work space is due for a new look? This is your chance to make that happen. Review your product stock — out with the old, in with the new. Keep this fresh and clean for the sake of performance and appearance.

Of course, you will have clients wanting cuts and color. In January and February, there is really one more opportunity to go with the dark colors for winter, including the deep, rich reds, before transitioning to the lighter and brighter hairstyles of spring and summer. It’s a good time to do that daring color one more time. Naturally, if your client longs for the warmer months and wants to transition sooner than later, help them do that. They’re smiles and self-esteem are paramount.