Celebrate Earth Day at Bella Bethesda Salon

Demetrios and the DL on summer looks from T&G

Spring is in full bloom (although it’s felt more like summertime these past few weeks) and the Bella Bethesda stylists are gearing up for the fun that's in store from wedding season, summer trends and of course the beautiful weather.

To prepare for the change in season and arm himself with the hottest new looks, Bella stylist Demetrios recently ventured to the TONI&GUY Academy, a premier hair cutting company, in New York City. For one week Demetrios learned new techniques for achieving the looks that will be all the rage as summer rolls in.

While Bella Bethesda stylists love to attend a variety of leading hair schools and connect with stylists from around the country, each school provides a different type of learning environment. Vidal Sassoon (which Abby attended earlier this year) is known for teaching blunt, geometric looks but at TONI&GUY, softer, piecy looks are the focus.

In terms of trends ,according to TONI&GUY, for women it’s all about maintenance and keeping it easy. For the girl on the go short, masculine-esque cuts are very in. If you prefer having length, lots of layering around the face and short bangs are great. For men, this summer the clean cut look will be the style of choice. Channeling the military’s buzz cut, looks that are very close to the head will be easy to maintain and #1 on the hot list.

To achieve such looks, stylists practiced a variety of cutting techniques such as:

• point cutting: holding the sheers parallel to hair and cutting into rather than across; provides loose, every day looks that are easy to maintain
• slide cutting: using sheers along hair without opening and closing them to cut; great for thick hair to remove excess weight
• razoring: often thought to be unhealthy for hair but when done properly achieves great looks

"The looks, although somewhat daring, are easily interchangeable,” said Demetrios. "Some of the more adventurous cuts are perfect for New York but here in DC, where hair tends to be more conservative and professional; the trends are still completely functional. The techniques I learned allow me to translate popular looks to fit my clients and their lifestyles.”

Since returning from this latest session, Demetrios has put many of the techniques into practice. Later this spring he will return to New York to attend a cut and color seminar at Redken.

Interested in learning more? Whether you want to know more about what looks will be in this summer or to schedule an appointment with Demetrios please call 301-718-9111. We hope to see you in the salon soon!

Bella Bethesda's Newest Junior Stylist

Abby Whalen has spent the last two years at Bella Bethesda Salon perfecting her skills and training to be a talented stylist. Many of you know her because of her tenure as Lindsey’s assistant to learn the tricks of the trade and hone her cut and coloring techniques.

Since her apprenticeship with Lindsey, Abby has taken on her own clients, including kids and teens, and has worked with our senior stylists to gain the experience and confidence to join our staff full time. And now, as February comes to a close, we can’t be more excited to have Abby complete her first month serving as a junior stylist at Bella Bethesda Salon!

It seems fitting that her transition to junior stylist culminated with an ABC Cutting Class with Vidal Sassoon, the preferred cutting techniques of her mentor Lindsey. For five days, Abby refreshed and refined her skills in sunny South Beach, Miami while working closely with the head educator Stephen Moody. Moody also serves as International Executive Director of Vidal Sassoon Education.

The class covered the techniques needed to master every type of haircut stylists may encounter from long hair to bobs, men to women. Real models were provided for the stylists to try out what they had learned but also allowed them to focus on their consultation and interpersonal skills.

“This class was great. Having watched Lindsey put the Vidal Sassoon techniques into action, this class really helped to bring together everything I have learned over the last few years. Now, I’m even more prepared to give great haircuts, no matter who sits in my chair. I am very excited to begin this next step in my career at Bella Bethesda.”

Although she will use the next few months to put these techniques to practice and take on new clients at the salon, Abby looks forward to expanding her education with more classes in the future.

If you would like to learn more about the Vidal Sassoon cutting techniques or to reserve your appointment with Abby please call 301.718.9111.

We hope to see you in the salon soon!

Bella Bethesda Celebrating Third Annual ‘Cut It For a Cause’ (FREE HAIRCUT!)

It’s that time of year again (and we don’t just mean Valentine’s Day). In the spirit of the month, we are asking for your help to spread the love by celebrating our third annual “Cut It For a Cause” campaign to benefit Locks of Love.

This week-long event has become an annual one at Bella Bethesda and we can’t thank you enough for the impact you have made over the last two years. Last year, we collected over 800 inches of hair and with your help hope to collect even more in 2010!

‘Cut It For a Cause’ kicks off this Sunday, February 7 and will continue through Sunday, February 14. All hair collected throughout the week will help provide hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children with medical hair loss due to disease, burns, and cancer. Bella Bethesda will also donate a portion of all product sales made throughout the week to Locks of Love.

Appointments still available!

Whether you have been growing your hair with the intention to donate or want to revamp your look with a drastic cut, we welcome you to the salon to show your support and receive a free haircut in the process! Those interested in donating must be able to give at least 10 inches of hair that has not been chemically treated or colored.

Not ready to donate? Come to Bella Bethesda throughout the week to sign our pledge board and receive your free hair cut later in the year when you have enough hair to donate.

To reserve your free hair cut please call Bella Bethesda at 301.718.9111. We hope to see you in the salon soon.

XO

Participate in Bella Bethesda Salon's Survey- Receive Special Discount!

If you have not heard, thanks to our great clients, we have once again been named 'Best Salon' in Bethesda by Bethesda Magazine - an honor we are very proud of. This is the second year in a row that we have achieved this recognition, and at the same time, we know that we need to continue to improve and provide even better service to you. By always finding ways to improve we will be even better able to offer an experience worthy of being called the best.

That is where we need your help. We need your feedback to help us assess how you think we are doing, what we could do better, and what changes you'd like to see in the coming year. By completing our short survey, you can give us that important perspective that we can turn into positive change in 2010. All you need to do is click on the link below to the 2010 Bella Bethesda Client Survey and answer a few questions as honestly as you can. For your time, we're offering a special discount for completing the survey. Just click the link for more details on the discount and to start taking the survey now.

Thank you for your support and we look forward to seeing you in the salon soon!

Click here to take our survey!

The Science of Great Hair Color

Happy 2010! As the New Year kicks off, we are very excited to announce that Bella Bethesda has been named the best salon in Bethesda by Bethesda Magazine readers for the second year in a row (check out this month’s edition for more)! We can’t express our gratitude for your votes and support. With this title we’re reminded how important it is for our stylists to continually strengthen their skills, so that we can make every single one of your visits to Bella the best they can be!

Stylist Boy Sharp came back from California in August with a series of new cutting techniques, and most recently stylists Katie and Tania visited the Big Apple to work firsthand with leading experts on their coloring skills.

Katie spent two days at the Wella Studio at Rockefeller Center in the heart of NYC. And Tania, a few blocks away, attended a four-day class at the Redken 5th Avenue studio. To kick things off, the classes went back to basics and then worked with the stylists to build and improve their skills.

Because color does fade over time, Wella’s coloring class provided tips for extending the life of hair color. Katie learned that adding cellophane to color can make a big difference. Not only does it add tons of shine, it won’t damage your hair and will keep color locked in longer. Katie also learned about Wella’s relights system, which is perfect for touchups and grey hair. The relights mesh with existing color to refresh hair for a natural look. Katie loves relights so much that she’s used them on almost every color client since returning!

At Redken, Tania learned the science of color and strengthened her skills when it comes to giving a thorough consultation. During her class, stylists learned about the chemical components found in hair dyes and the importance of creating the perfect formula to achieve the right look. Stylists had the opportunity to work with real models to practice the technical and interpersonal skills learned over the four days- meaning they had the benefit of real-time feedback. Tania says all consultations are unique but the fundamentals she learned at Redken can be applied to every client.

“It is fun to connect with other stylists and see how techniques differ in locations across the country. I hope Bella’s eagerness to learn shows our clients that as a team, we are thinking outside the box and want to provide the best service to them.”-Katie

“My class not only taught me new techniques but motivated me. It is so important to be aware of your client and their needs. Understanding your client makes your work more detailed and efficient. Being on par with the client is a must.” -Tania

Next up? Katie plans to attend the next class within the Wella color series and a cutting class in the spring. Tania will continue with color classes, but first, this March she will return to Redken to learn the new trends in bridal updos as the wedding season kicks off.

Stay tuned to hear more from the Bella Bethesda stylists. Interested hearing more about the techniques Katie and Tania learned? Please call Bella Bethesda at 301-718-9111 to book your appointment.

Happy Bellagiving!! Deals & Discounts from Bella Bethesda

The Thanksgiving holiday is almost here and at Bella Bethesda Salon we want to take the time to remember what we are most thankful for... our loyal clients! We can't think of a better time to show our appreciation or to say thanks for your continued business and friendship.

Join Bella Bethesda Salon Monday, November 16 through Friday, November 27 as we celebrate our own version of the holiday-Bellagiving!

Before the turkey, parades and holiday festivities begin, do a little something extra for yourself (and maybe for someone else, too!) Print out Bellagiving coupons (http://www.bellabethesda.com/BellaGiving-Flyer.pdf) and redeem for great deals and discounts.

Offers to be thankful for include:
- Glossing treatments
- Retail purchases
- Hair services
- Gift cards
- Reconditioning treatments

Call or come in now to reserve your next appointment, and thanks again for being such an important part of Bella Bethesda Salon!

Warmest Wishes from,

Stacy, Lindsey and the Bella Bethesda staff

PS- Don't forget to enter for your chance to win a Bella Bethesda gift basket featuring products and a gift card! Simply enter your name at the front desk each time you make a purchase. The lucky winner will be chosen on Friday, November 27!