ShineForth Salon’s 8th Anniversary

It's been eight years since I started my small business and continued my career as a hairstylist, and it has indeed been a wild ride. I don't think I could have predicted how much I would grow and change as a person after all those years, but one thing that has stayed constant is my love for making people feel beautiful and confident just by styling their hair. It brings me so much joy to do what I love every day, and I'm so grateful to have such an amazing community of clients and friends who support me. 

What a time to be creative and adventurous with hairstyles!

With my husband, a.k.a. ShineForth Salon’s top supporter!

I've had the chance to work with different people in and outside Oakland, California. From weddings to editorials to special events, I’ve grown a lot as a professional with these opportunities.

Thank you all so much for your support over the last 8 years! Here's to many more years of styling hair and making people feel beautiful!

Don't forget to stop by the studio starting next week for your surprise gift as a thank you.

xo,

Rebecca

P.S. If you're ever in Oakland, be sure to check out (or drop by) my salon! I offer various services, including haircuts, color, styling, and more. I would love to help you find your perfect look! Send me a message or click here to book an appointment.

P.P.S. Follow ShineForth Salon on Instagram for hair inspiration and to stay up-to-date on the latest salon news. I have a special treat for those who will be visiting the salon. No guesses, but I know you’ll love it!

One Winner!

Although you are all winners, in my opinion, I drew one name out of three that "Liked" us on Facebook last month. Jill Lesperance won a gift certificate to Homestead Restaurant on Piedmont Ave. Enjoy Jill, and thank you for the "Like". I will be choosing a winner every month to enjoy local restaurants, so if you are a Facebook user, please "like" or "share" today and maybe you will be our next winner!  another benefit to our social media friends, you will receive specials that are ONLY for our Facebook and Instagram users.

ShineForth Salon just celebrated it's 1st Anniversary!  We celebrated with Prosecco, Macaroons by Batch Pastries and Giveaways!  My husband and I, Greg, set up a table out front near the street, with our neighbors Reflexology Wellness.  I met Johanna Thaxter, a certified Reflexologist, and owner, she was offering free half hour sessions!  She is a lovely person and I can't wait to enjoy my session.We said hello to people as they were heading back from hearing music, having dinner, and or walking with ice cream cones in hand.

It was a beautiful night and great to meet more of our community. Third Thursday every month, Piedmont Avenue has an event called the Piedmont Stroll. They hold it only during the summer months, I plan to participate in August as well.  Maybe we will see you there.

Currently, I am having 30% sale on selected items in the salon.  They are on the counter for you to select from.  These are discontinued items, as I am making room for new products. There are also Dry Hair, Color Treated Hair, and Damaged Hair Sets available now.

May you all enjoy this beautiful summer.

ShineForth Salon Helps to Raise Money for Corey Reich

ShineForth will participate in a Cut-a-Thon to help raise money for Corey Reich at Calm Salon on Piedmont Avenue on November 16, 2014, from 10 am to 3 pm. For those wanting to see us for the first time, this is a great way to get discounted haircuts, blowouts, or treatment and blowout, and donate your money to Corey.

In 2007 Corey was diagnosed with ALS. Since then, he has sought to bring awareness to ALS and the development of treatments that work. Corey has also, along with his family, raised money for ALS through various avenues and continues to.

He has won various distinguished awards, and when he is not out there advocating, he can be found at Piedmont High, coaching the tennis team.

Come show some support and leave with beautiful hair!

ShineForth Salon is now OPEN!

The idea for a new home brewed in my heart for about a year, as I struggled with the joy and gratitude for being busy and yet feeling I was unable to deliver my full attention to my clients.  I felt distracted by the "salon" environment, which has become the norm out in the world.  I wanted to create beauty, in a place of beauty, without the usual hubbub of a salon.  The idea of moving had to happen, my soul needed it.

Opening Night

A colleague showed me pictures of his new, beautiful studio in Southern California and said he never looked back, going out on his own and working alone.  And that meeting is what cinched it for me.

I knew enough that it would have to be a case of the right place, right timing, and then leaping!  So I kept my eyes open, and then I saw it.

Piedmont Avenue in Oakland, CA, is where I worked 15 years ago.  The street has changed in a good way, with more going on, more youth, and yet classic restaurants like Bay Wolfe still thrive on the street.

I am happy to be in my new home, as we continue working on the last details.  Thank you to all my clients who have made this move with me, who continue to support my dreams, and who give so much!  I want to give to you even more than what you expect because I can.  And a special thanks to the clients who purchased services ahead of time to make a move possible. 

Thank you to one of my best friends, Mary Anne McKearnie of MA Designs, who designed the space and gave her time as a gift!  I love my new home.

We will have a Grand Opening in the Fall, so stay tuned.

Salon Update

I realize I've been so busy with beauty shoots, that I haven't given a salon update in awhile.  I got away from writing about specific clients on my blog if you haven't noticed, I am afraid to quite honestly.  It took one client recognizing herself in one of my posts, walking into the salon and confronting me about it.  Thing is, I didn't say anything negative, just personality quirks(like we all have)!  Maybe I should talk more about my own quirks instead. What do you think?  There are plenty of blogs about how to's for hair, and not enough about the psychological side of hairdressing. However, I am finding the psychological side less interesting, and the creating of beauty more compelling!  Maybe I should change the name of the blog.

Chop Wood, Carry Water

I’ve been under a bit of unusual stress the last three weeks, I would have been better off taking time to assimilate life’s latest serving of chewy bits.  But life goes on, and as a Buddhists have said, “Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.”  Cutting hair, even though a family member may have been on her death bed, seemed odd.

And yet, my clients were there for me. At first, I did not think I could work.  The salon environment, albeit quieter than usual that day felt too overwhelming.  I had no intention of laying it out for everybody, nor did I need to become maudlin, or ignore my reality.  At times, I felt as though I walked a tight rope.  On one side was my life, on the other, my profession, and when I engaged in conversation about myself, I began to falter, and the net below swung in all directions.

At home I placed a platic bag on a hot burner, walked in three directions at once, not remembering what I was doing. At work, during a weave, I turned my clients hair a pale violet in a few packets.  The flashing light inside strobed, sending a warning to refocus, and bring the conversation back to the client.

My family member felt better today, we all could sigh with relief. The road to healing is still long, and perhaps even questionable.  Meanwhile, I am grateful for my life, and for my clients who continue to awe me in their respect, concern, and kind words.

The $30,000 Pyramid

"So, what do you love about your hair?  What don't you like about it?  And when did you last get your haircut?"  I asked to begin the consultation with Leslie, a new client. Through Squaw Valley Writer's Conference in "07, I met a group of women writer's from the Bay Area.  Some of us have remained in contact, some have read at the readings I've held at the salon, and a few have even become clients.  One of the writer's that I had become a client, referred her friend Leslie.  Her curly hair was lovely, and way over due for a cut.  The longest layer on top reached to about her chin, sagging her beautiful face down "I'm one of those annoying clients, who wants to keep some length, but feel it's too heavy up here,"  she replied, pulling at her hair on top.  "I just got it cut six weeks ago.  That isn't very long is it?"

"No, it isn't, not for curly hair." 

"I feel like always leave with the same haircut."

"What attitude do you want your hair to have?"

"Ooh, that is a good question.  I've never been asked that.  Hmm.  Well, what do you think I have?"

"Long hair."

"Yeah, I feel like I look like a hippie, but without the hippie."

"Do you want to move into something a little more edgy?"

"What does that mean?"

"Edgy means to me a stronger shape."

"What does that look like?"

"Okay well, let me get my hands in here.  I think if you brought the length up to shoulder length, then took this hair away from your face a bit, slightly off center, then layered out this top, we'd be getting somewhere. I want to round out it out, so that you don't have a pyramid shape, and I'll do some dry cutting."

"Sounds, good.  Yeah, I've had the $30,000 pyramid quite often."

"You are funny." 

"Well, you come up with all kinds of names when you've had this kind of hair for a long time."

She removed her glasses, which was as slight discomfort, because she could not say anything. And so we cut, and cut and cut.  I asked at one point I asked if she would like to put the glasses back on.  No, she said, she was enjoying not seeing.  Then product instruction, then I twisted the hair and diffused.  Her hair looked fabulous.  Bouncy, full, sassy.   

I unwrapped her, she reached for her glasses, and as we spun the chair around, she exclaimed, "Oh wow.  I love it." She remained in the chair a bit, wanting to take in her image a bit.  We laughed about her looking for reflective surfaces to gaze in, on her way home.  We agreed it was a transformation.

http://search.creativecommons.org/photogirl7

http://search.creativecommons.org/Neil Carey's photostream

Intuition or Practice

What part of coloring hair is intuitive, and what is years of practice?  As I worked with a new assistant yesterday, she said she used to work with Logics hair color, and where she worked before, they couldn't look at a color chart.  They learned by knowing the boxes of color, the color level, and the tone.  As we talked, I realized I trained myself in hair color, and that has its pluses and minuses, right? Knowing levels and tones of hair color without a chart is a definite must because it is about training the eye to see color.  Some stylists have this gift, this natural ability.  Since I did train myself, and with practice, it is intuitive and knowing what level and tone is second nature.  And, I still refer to a chart to get a visual strongly placed in my head, and it happens within minutes.

We are playing with Dia hair color now.  I like it.  The range of tones, flexibility, and shine is wonderful.  The other day, I saw a new client for a weave and haircut.  I liked her, she seemed to respond to my ideas, our communication felt on track and we articulated a plan.  She had a natural level 5, and she was heavily highlighted.  We decided to not go that light. So I highlighted her hair with slices of Blondor and 9%.   Then I went back through with a thin slice of light brown, with a bit of copper, and a bit of gold.  I like that you can add a squirt of this and a squirt of that.  I thought after I shook the formula in the jar that maybe I needed to add more gold or natural to the formula, but I didn't.  but I did at a toner for the blonde of Richesse 9.3, which undid the shine, I am sure.  Next time, I would see what the Dia equivalent would be. 

The color was beautiful, with definite coppery lowlights, but not brassy.  The overall look had a zing to it.  I loved it, and she was happy.  The finesse of color formulating is to see what the gut says, and listen, or to follow through with what you worked up, and take a risk.  To me being a great colorist is not a perfect formulation, but knowing how to get back when you've gone too far.  Some of it is intuition and some of it is practice.

Hot Topics in the Chair

Topics were all over the board yesterday, all the while, awesome hair color of magenta and Special Effects yellow on Anne, level 3 and Special Effects yellow on Frankie, and cutting a client's hair, then needing to be in dialogue about, her still wanting it shorter.  And yet, I thought we were growing it out.  One needs to be flexible.  And in the end, the client needs to be happy, and sometimes this translates to me letting go of my vision. Suicide of a 24-year-old on one side, people thrilled about Obama and the possibilities he represents on the other.  How is it our youth want to take their lives?   Overworked, overwhelmed, over-achieving women, women shaming men, pathos in full living color in the chair, and promotion of small business owners...also how women are afraid of calling attention to themselves, so they dress frumpy.  Why does anyone want to put out that kind of energy into the world?  It's for us that we dress.

The owner and I went to a book reading for another client, but we had the day wrong.  So, we walked to a restaurant a client recommended.  This fabulous Cajun restaurant, Angenline's in Berkeley, has created an authentic, fabulous, inviting ambiance.  The restaurateur, Robert is friendly and loves talking about the menu.  The food was delicious, and the music added the finishing touch!  We talked about business and possibilities for the salon.

Hair and Politics

Everybody I saw today had lots of hair. They all had hair that needed more attention than most or didn't have much hair, but they decided today was the day their hair did need attention—lots of color, lots of focus, lots of foils. And only one client and I talked about politics.

How can that be? The rest of the world is waiting. How will the American people vote? We are making history now, no matter how the election turns out. Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama have people talking. Will they decide to work together for the better of the Democratic Party and the country? Will they choose to work together for the better of the Democratic Party and the country? Will the Clinton constituents realign with Obama?

Politics, writing, moves, changes, good stories, music, suicide, friendships, Squaw Valley Writing Conference, the economy, and loyalty were discussed in the chair today. I felt fatigued at the end, and yet I couldn't stop. I had to race to pick up my daughter. She reminded me she was almost the last one to be picked up(thankfully, it had been a long time since that happened). I needed to leave my previous client with my assistant to finish the blow dry. Unfortunate situation, even though I trust my assistant to treat my client well.

When I walked past the newsstand to get a cup of coffee, I read the headlines as I always do. Today was the first day I had bought a newspaper in at least a year. The front page of the San Francisco Chronicle caught my eye. I wanted to read the paper; this was highly unusual behavior. I don't know if you call it real news, but it was the first I'd read beyond the online news through moveon.org or truemajority.com. It provoked conversation.

Clients seem to be excited or entirely in fear and still anxious about politics. The campaign is not over until it is over. Will the American people be willing to move beyond their fear and small minds and allow the white patriarchal to rest? Whoops! What does this have to do with hair? A regular client sometimes sits in my chair and wants to talk politics and not hide.

Hair Salon Personnel Change

Savanna, my anchor, and colleague is leaving the salon.  Her last day will be June 17, and it will be a sad day for me, although I am terribly excited for her.  She, and her husband Jeff, are heading to the UK, where he is from, and where she has spent time. Her father is English as well.  Savanna is a talented hairdresser, who is down-to-earth, unpretentious, and somebody you want to know forever.  Her hair designs are creative, detailed, and daring.  Her bobs are perfect, her one lengths impeccable, and her short haircuts are original and well suited for the hair texture and the facial features of her clients.  And, she is a beautiful, genuine, gentle, funny, and kind soul.

Then there is the way she dresses.  Vintage most of the time with a Savanna twist.  She will not wear makeup if she doesn't feel like it.  She is regal, yet funky.  She is grounded and steady.  She changes her hair more than any hairdresser I've known.

Her presence in the salon will be missed by a lot of people.  Her level of care for her clients from the moment they show up, until the time they walk out of the salon, is superior.  She takes care of their hair, describing it to them at length to them, informing them of things they have never known.  I have never heard the cuticle of the hair be so interesting before.

Savanna's future will be fascinating.  She plans to go to design school, with an industrial focus.  She was already a painter before she studied hairdressing at the Paul Mitchell school in San Francisco.  Savanna and Jeff dined at our place the other nite, and as usual, there was lots of laughter, good food, and stories.  In true Savanna style, she walked in with a wet painting to which she had just applied the finishing touches.  It was an oil portrait of me, with my latest haircut and color.  I think she captured a lightness of being, that I will treasure for all time.

Thank you Savanna for your artistry, professionalism, care for people, your beauty inside and out, and your dear friendship.  You are an inspiration to me, and words cannot define the deep level of respect I have for you.  And even though I shall miss you, I am proud of you for taking this leap.  I will see you in the UK.

Baby Green Steps

Okay, so I'm taking a moment out of the presidential campaign flurry of interviews, and updating you on what changes are occurring in the salon. It's amazing, that hairdressers can actually change their ways. I voiced the opinion that there ought to be three plastic, same-size bins for the break room. One for trash, one for plastic/bottles, and one for paper.  One day they showed up, and, they are actually being used, not only that but filled up. The color boxes are being recycled, instead of ending up in the trash. I've encouraged the use of bringing your own cup to get coffee. I overheard Wayne, say today, "You may as well have asked me to walk with books on my head." Milky white, hot liquid spilled over his chapped hands. It was filled to the brim, I might add. Savanna has actually instigated a trend of bringing a bowl to get her lunch in. I just love it! Nick has asked Kerastase to please stop their waste of shipping products with a huge amount of paper, and boxes.  Stay tuned for their response.

There are still issues to work out, like light bulbs(I'm not even sure why we haven't changed over). We still use toxic cleaning sprays. And I have to say, as I hilite clients’ hair, I am more sensitive to the waste produced by all the foils. Adding to the problem is becoming more difficult to ignore. Could I offer less toxic means of coloring the hair? Could I give up an enormous part of my business income because of this sensitivity? Can one person's actions change all that much? Probably not, but what else do we have, but living our own truth? I've got to be able to live with myself and my choices.

As I ponder nontoxic thoughts, I ponder the idea of cutting my hair off and exposing my grey hair. Radical thought in radical times. There is something about just letting it be that sounds attractive, knowing full and well it doesn't mean that I'm interested in being frumpy, or not feminine. But this idea counters the general philosophy of the beauty industry.

Back to the green conversation, though.  We are taking baby steps in the direction of being conscious, but we have still, a long way to go.  I acknowledge the great job my colleagues have done arriving to this point.

Obama or McCain

Instead of interviewing clients about their thoughts, feelings, and reactions to color, I want to know which candidate the Democrats are going to vote for and why.  At this point, it is a little frightening to think that if the Democrats in America can't get behind Obama, and they decide for malicious reasons they will vote for the antiquated McCain, a guy that even the Republican party doesn't like, we are heading down further into dark times.  Maybe it's too late for this sort of inquiry, but is it?  Shouldn't we fight with determination in the ways that we can to affect those around us, to have a dialogue about what matters in the final moment? In fact, I need to be recording people's responses, NOW.  What better place than the hairdresser's chair to gather a consensus based on this particular segment of society, in Berkeley, California?  It's a bit intimidating to open up the political conversation in the chair, because who knows what beliefs people have, and if they consider it too personal a topic to go into, and what if they are Republican?  In the past, maybe I would have had a reaction, but now, I think it is more important to discuss our viewpoints, especially if they differ from mine, to understand other viewpoints.  I think I could interview clients from a neutral position. 

Mrs. Page in beauty school might not approve, but interviewing clients right now about their political views would bring me the satisfaction of a different sort.  I've always been trying to get to the underbelly of the beauty industry, knowing from experience, that there is much more than what meets the eye when somebody sits in the chair.  Why not take the opportunity?

Spark a Smile

A new client came in the other day.  Another contact from Jennifer Butler.  Nancy Procurier is her name, and talk about sprite!  More like vivacious, fun, good hearted, attractive, a great smile and laugh.  Spending time with Nancy was like dancing the cha cha cha, we laughed, we shared business ideas, stories from our past, back and forth, step, step, step. She came in with long, heavy mid blonde hair, with highlights, pinned up.  She wore high heels and shorts, and large sunglasses.  Hip, with a desire for change, for more femininity.  This woman is busting out of her comfort zone, and what better set up could a hairdresser ask for.  She was respectful of my ideas, and we were able to build rapport with a snap of a finger.  I suggested she bring up the length to at least mid back, shape it around the front, and release the crown.  I wanted to see more movement to match her energy, and size of her facial features.

As we layered, and lengths flew to the floor, we went for getting in as much as we could.  Her business is brilliant!  It's based on fostering contact between aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc, and the kids in their life.  She sends them mail for you.  That's right a bright envelope, with big letters!  The envelope contains different fun things based on themes she creates through the year.  I love it! Not only is her service fostering contact and connection with those little loved ones, who may live miles away, but it's fostering letter writing, a lost art.

Check it out!  www.sparksprite.com

It takes a lot of courage and inner strength to make change.  Beautiful job Nancy.  Thank you.  Stayed tune for make up and hair photo.

Romance Helper

Sierra Faith is a new acquaintance.  We met at Jennifer Butler's follow up event.  She came to me with long, lackluster hair, all one length.  She said she was ready to shed some of it.  I suggested bringing up the length, and layering.  At the last minute, I asked if she would mind if we cut and styled her hair, then applied makeup, and then took a before and after picture.  She said please do.  See what you think.

As we started talking during this, what I think she would call a transformative afternoon, she revealed that she was an online dating coach, hence her url of www.onlinedatingcoach.com.  She loves this work she is doing with men and women, about dealing with what is in the way of them not only meeting people, but walking the dating course with them.  They look at, and talk about what worked and what didn't.  She said, "Women don't know how to recieve from men."  I've been pondering that statement ever since.  This woman knows what she is talking about.

As I put the finishing touches to her hair, I could see tears trickling down her cheeks.   "This is who I knew myself to be."  This kind of transformation takes being ready inside. to let go of who we thought oiurselves to be.

Thank you Sierra.

Generosity Abounds

Beth has been a client since 1986.  Her loyalty to me as a person, a friend, a hairstylist, is unbelievable.  Twenty two years of unwavering support in all that I do.  Her heart is generous, always thinking about what I would like, not to mention she allows me to play with her hair.  I saw her the other day, and we discussed everything, while we applied a level 4, Majorel, on a zigzag section, from below temple, all the way around her head.  Then with many slices we alternated 6.01 20 volume, with the level 4, all on a level 5, with 90% grey.

Beth is a wonderful jewelry designer, artist, and has an interest in the world around her.  Listen to her talk about her ideas on creativity. 

Here is her bio:  Through my 30+ years working in the fields of Adoption, and other areas of Child Welfare including Foster Care with Refugee Youth,  I have found continual inspiration in the incredible struggles of people with broken connections and the magic of their healing.

Bellemirth Creations grew out of my interest in the mysteries of the creative forces within.  It has become my source of healing and revitalization of spirit and soul.

She uses Precious Metal Clay, which is a product comprised of silver particles mixed with an organic binder that is in a clay form. It is fired in a kiln, resulting in a piece that is actually .999% pure fine silver.  At high temperatures, the binder burns away and the metal particles fuse to form solid silver that can be sanded, soldered, and polished.

Thank you, Beth.  It is my pleasure to know you, and an honor to be with you, always.

The Tree of Life

Anne use to live in a live-work unit in the same building I did years ago.  I moved out, she moved out, and we hadn't seen each other until she popped intot he salon seven, or so, years later in a stylist's chair.  That stylist went out on maternity leave, and so Anne ended in up in my chair.  Then three years later, same thing.  Another pregnancy leave, and Anne was back in my chair. We had a great time.  Anne is smart, talented, and computer savvy, which I am not.  I shared my interest in interviewing clients, and she agreed in it's appeal.   I didn't know the extent of her creative genius, until we interviewed her, while she sat with color in foils all over her head. 

Beautiful Anne, I've got to get sound up and running so that we can hear you talking about this Tree of Life project.  Thanks for sharing with me.

The Latest Version of Frankie

She's the new assistant at Keter.  We love her, and the girl's got talent.   She just graduated from the Paul Mitchell school in the San Francisco.  And now she wants to apprentice.  I think she has the combination of people skills, the eye-she can see hair, and she is an astute listener.  Now, she must make it through the program, however long it takes her.  I predict she will have no problem moving through it quicker than any assistant so far.  Talent, beauty, smarts, and funny as all get out, all she needs is to believe in herself.

She has endeared herself to me, and now is my muse.  We are trying to grow some hair out in front, if she can dodge my scissors, and her need for change.  Meanwhile, on our off hours, this is our latest color fest.

Good luck Frankie.

Juggling

Today I have a shoot in Marin County.  It's for a permanent makeup artist.  There will be five models, I will step in with the hair. I am going to meet the fashion pr woman in charge of the shoot, Annette Harding.  I responded to an ad looking for fashion interns to help out with a fashion show she is planning for the end of May.  The purpose is to raise money for a non-profit organization called Stop the Spray.  "They" want to spray all of California with poison to kill of the apple moth(can't imagine what it will do for every other living being).  I let her know I'd like to come up with the concepts for the hair and makeup, so today's shoot she invited me in on so we could meet.

My mind is reeling with ideas, and creating a challenge for myself by using no artificial products.  Creating netting with hair, by crimping, teasing slightly than using egg whites to harden the hair over organic shaped forms, and then attaching them to the hair.  I'll start playing this weekend.

Meanwhile, I am sending out photos to clients who have modeled for me, printing all of them, so I can see how everything is translating to camera.  I'm waiting patiently for images from the professional photographers.  I am trading with Dee Conway to choose and print images for my portfolio.

It is crazy energy in the salon. I have moved clients to accommodate the shoot today, and the fashion show the other day.  This of course takes finesse.  I must talk to others in the industry to see how they deal with this situation.  It feels delicate.  I must scramble to find time for a client I needed to move for today.  Three out of the four days I work, she is not available, so I think I must come in on a day off.  Time with my daughter is squeezed, and I leave next week for three days to the mountains.

I have to remember in times like these that it's not quantity, but quality.