Being Open to Change, Going Short and Switching to 3DeLuXe, by Gina Rivera

For more than two decades, I used a color line in my salon that I really liked so much. I wasn’t just comfortable with the products, I was confident in the way they mixed, the application, the process and, of course, the outcome — consistent quality that I could count on.

I suppose that my satisfaction was linked in part to my familiarity with the line, and my clients were never dissatisfied. I was reluctant to try something new. Then I did. I’m ecstatic. And this column is about change.

Let me step back a few months. The decision I made to use the 3DeLuXe Professional Hair Colour Line closely followed another change – I cut my hair short. Very short.

I loved long hair, but the familiarity, in this case, became a rut. I was just feeling kind of frumpy with what had become an everyday look. I felt like I needed a big change. So, last May I went short, and I love it. It’s great. It’s fun. I feel younger, not just because of the edgy, contemporary style but because it is a change.

I had another motivation for making a switch: my clients. Some of them had talked about changing their ‘hair life’ – a term coined for us by Torrie Wilson, a beautiful model, former MMA fighter (can you believe it?) and new friend of mine who recently became a spokesperson for Phenix. You’ll be hearing more and more from her in coming months. We’re delighted to have her on board, and I know you’ll like her.

These clients were looking for a change, but some of them, I believe, were afraid of just that – “change,” like I was. Cutting my hair was a way to point to the confidence they had inside. The results were stunning. Not only did everyone support my decision to go short, but several clients finally took the leap they’d been pondering and changed their hair, and several stylists in the Phenix Salon Suite where I do hair three times a week went short, too!

Originally, I went very short and platinum blonde, with the sides and back shaved pretty close. It was very liberating for me to go with a dramatic cut. And having changed once, I realized that I could, and should, change again. I soon went with more natural colors and a softer edge, and I change the shape frequently now, often subtly.

The bigger change, really, was switching to 3DeLuXe coloring for my hair and my clients’ hair. My dear friend and colleague, Robert Edick, who is now in charge of the Phenix education program, has been talking about this product for a few years but it wasn’t available in the United States until recently. He found it while training in Europe. Even knowing how great this product is, though, changing was oddly challenging. Now that I am providing 3DeLuXe in my salon I could not be happier. The improved quality of my work is distinct. The results have given me new confidence. With a variety of natural oils included, this produces a beautifully healthy look and feel.

Like you, I am devoted to my clients, and maybe that contributed to my reluctance. As the saying goes, “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it.” My clients have been happy for years. And why would I take a risk with those smiles, that beautiful expression of warmth and satisfaction on their faces. I live for that, and I know that you do, too. That’s why we’re in this business and not something else. But we owe our clients more than consistency. We need to provide them with the latest and best developments in the art. That requires us to continue our education through training and classes, and to look for the best that our industry has to offer. Please consider attending one of the free upcoming training sessions offered by Phenix and taught by Robert Edick and members of his team. They have a program developed from their recent trip to Denmark, including hands-on training in your own salon. This cannot be beat and you’ll get a chance to see the new 3DeLuXe colour line. Check the calendar for dates and locations. And be open to change!