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Freshen up your client's look. Read on for inspiration on the top trending hair looks that you can use to refresh your wig, topper, or alternative hairstyle.   Bangs, Bang and More Bangs While quarantine bangs might have seemed like a fad, stylists are still incorporating every single bang style into their current cuts. There are lots of bang options for everyone. In addition to the highly popular curtain bangs full bangs, shaggy bangs, wispy bangs, and even side bangs are practically everywhere right now. Curtain Bangs Not quite ready to make a permanent change? Check out clip-on bangs to get the bang look without the commitment. How to Achieve This Look Bangs work well on your natural hair as well as wigs, toppers or hair replacements. I love taking old wigs or toppers that have challenging front hairlines and cutting in a trendy bang. This gives a nice fresh look and eliminates the cost and hassle of fixing or repairing the front. It is advised to go to a stylist who is experienced in cutting alternative hair since the placement and density vary from natural hair. When cutting bangs it’s important to blend the bangs and remove weight with point-cutting techniques to create that natural, seamless look. The Shag 2021 is about the return of the shag. It requires a ton of layering, which helps to create texture for a cool, lived-in look. How to Achieve this Look Layering wigs and toppers create an illusion of volume and help frame your face. It also [...]

Just like the hair replacement industry offers “alternative hair solutions,” there are alternatives to human hair. Created fiber, alternative fiber and synthetic are all terms used to describe “non-human hair.” While semantics may be considered a marketing gimmick, consider how your client feels about something they perceive as unnatural. Synthetic fibers commonly used consist of modacrylic, polyvinyl chloride, polyester and nylon. Modacrylic (K7). Commonly used in wigs. Curling temperature 190 degrees F Replicates human hair denier Melting temperature 390 degrees F Moist heat Won’t absorb water Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC). Very shiny by itself and common in costume or Cosplay wigs, and of course, Barbie doll hair. Curling temperature 190 degrees F Moist heat Won’t absorb water Polyester is also known as its marketing name of Futura. Curling temperature 250 degrees F Moist and dry heat Won’t absorb water Nylon is also known as cyberhair and vital hair. Made from nylon chips with color throughout. Curling temperature 320 degrees F to 365 degrees (depending on the type) Keeps factory-made textures and curl Replicates human hair shine Three times lighter than human hair Moist and dry heat Absorbs water like human hair Created hair fibers can often be worn right out of the box with little cutting and no styling. Synthetic hair fibers have "memory" for wave, curl and volume built into the fiber, which lets hair bounce back into place with minimal effort. Some synthetic fibers can even hold up in bad weather without frizzing. Wigs made from synthetic fibers typically last about three to six months, with nylon-made fibers [...]

Oftentimes a new company starting up doesn’t have the money to purchase property, especially in high-dollar areas. But after nine years in business, Kelly Nemitz, owner of The Hair Specialists in Hudson, Ohio, asked herself, “Why am I leasing?” She realized how expensive it was when she added up the money spent on monthly lease payments. That’s when she decided to look for a building to buy and an opportunity to be her own landlord. Nemitz Handel Stacey Handel, owner of Garde Bien Spa Salon in Knoxville, Tennessee, had a similar experience. She leased for 12 years when she first opened. “When I did the math, I saw that I had no equity for that 12 years of business.” She moved to her permanent location in 2011. This year she was able to purchase the adjacent space to renovate and expand. For these two business owners, owning property is not only the best choice for their business but also a great investment toward their future. With more than 40 years of experience, Handel says she has watched business ebb and flow. “I would have never guessed I’d be closing my doors because of a global illness.” However, the busy bus that started rolling after those shutdowns during the pandemic has not stopped. One thing is for sure, with all the changes from 2020 she says she’s learned to prepare for the unknown. “I can’t lie. When the adjacent space became available during a pandemic it was frightening and exciting! Prior to [...]

Many years ago there was a moderately funny movie called "Caddyshack" starring Chevy Chase, who was funny for 15 minutes. He was probably upset that although he got top billing, the movie was stolen by funnier actors like Bill Murray, Ted Knight and Rodney Dangerfield. Michael Suba But he did have one bit of advice that was worth noting. “Be the ball, Danny. Be the ball.” And no, its not the same as “Use the Force.” For business, it translates into “Be The Brand, Danny. Be The Brand.” You are the brand. Be it. Own it. Jealously guard it. My first exposure to this angle of marketing goes even farther back. In the 1970s there was a phenomenally successful men’s hairpiece wholesaler called New Man Hair. My father was the distributor for them in eastern Canada. He also retailed them in his Toronto salon, Continental Hair. I remember he had a large sign in the front window with their logo. It lit up so there was no way you could miss it. I still remember the names of the synthetic stock units — The Adolfo and The Triumph. It was a great time to be in the business as these things were flying off the shelves. But I remember when my father got a visit from someone from the head office. I was only about 15 at the time but my dad would insist I sit in on these business meetings. I guess he thought I would absorb something through osmosis. These guys knew their stuff. More pointedly, they knew my dad’s stuff. They had his sales [...]