This summer we had the opportunity to explore the latest in styling, cutting, and color at the Oribe Signature Sessions in Raleigh NC. Our Oribe Ambassadors and a few salon managers attended demos and hands-on learning opportunities. We always love learning from our industry’s best and brightest!

Check out what a few of our Oribe Ambassadors had to say…

 

It felt so good to be able to go to another Oribe Atelier, as we haven’t been able to go to one since pre-Covid. We have such an amazing, talented, inspired team of Oribe Ambassadors here at Cole’s and these trips are something we all look forward to. It’s a great opportunity to bond and spend time together since we are all spread out at all 5 locations and Raleigh was the perfect place to do that! 

The weather was hot and humid, but I came back to Minnesota full of laughs and inspiration! We were able to see the talented Stacey Ciceron giving a demonstration of textured hairstyles. Then we were able to watch a full razor haircut and got some great tips and tricks. The last demo explored tips and tricks centered on Oribe products, and how we would use them in the hands-on portion of the event! 

Working hands-on with new styles and techniques is so much fun, but definitely took me out of my comfort zone as it was more of an editorial style. Who doesn’t love a good challenge? Can’t wait for the next Oribe event!  

• Megan S., Advanced Designer, and Oribe Ambassador since March 2013

A group of us attended the Oribe Global Educator show and it was amazing! We got to see and learn so much from Stacey Ciceron, what an amazing stylist and influencer. Not only did she teach us the dos and don’ts in styling highly textured hair but she made it fun, easy, and effortless. 

We also got to see a straight-edge razor cut and learn new techniques when it comes to elevation and bangs done with a razor. The highlight for me was to see, and then recreate, a runway look done by Christian Ceja Compin! With help from the Oribe educators, it was not only fun and out of the box, but educational. We learned a lot to take back to our clients and our team! 

Thank you to Cole’s for sending me on this incredible adventure, and thanks to the Oribe team for making us all feel welcome, special, and inspired!

• Shayna M., Advanced Designer, and Oribe Ambassador since September 2006

If you’re interested in incredible learning opportunities like Oribe Signature Sessions, join our team! We’re passionate about continuing education and are proud to offer opportunities like this and more to our team members. Explore open positions here. 

Megan S. is an advanced designer and Oribe ambassador at our Cedar Cliff location.  You can follow her on Instagram at @megansoulehair.

Shayna M. is an advanced designer and Oribe ambassador at our Cedar Cliff location.  

The post Bringing Cutting-Edge Techniques Back to MN with Oribe appeared first on Cole's Salon.

But first: How did this New York City-based international icon land in Minnesota? My colleague Liz first ‘met’ Stacey in the early days of the pandemic when she hosted a virtual training (before it was the norm!). Liz became an immediate fan but bringing Stacey to Cole’s Salon took three years almost to the day! 

Here are a few takeaways from the amazing five-hour training opportunity:

Know the Basics.

During the training, we explored five techniques that are ideal for supporting guests with textured hair, including the flat twist, rod twists, two-strand twist, finger-combing, and a stretching technique.

Always ‘Pre-Poo’.

The most significant takeaway for me was the importance of “pre-poo” (“pre-shampooing”) when working with textured hair. This process involves prepping the hair and scalp with a protective moisturizing treatment before shampooing and washing. The goal is to more easily detangle curls and coils, retain moisture, and obtain the best end style.

Respect the Curl. Trust the Product.

We also learned that guests with type 4C hair should never air dry their hair. Instead, some sort of set needs to be completed to help manage the texture, coil, or curl pattern. The Oribe products we use and love were designed to support each technique, and Stacey’s expertise provided us a deeper understanding to better support our guests with textured hair. 

In fact, one of my new favorites is the Moisture and Control Conditioner, which is great for “pre-pooing” the hair, followed by the Moisture and Control Masque to condition and lock in moisture. And, Invisible Defense is a great option to protect and prime the hair for styling.

Overall, the Stacey Ciceron training has equipped me with valuable insights and techniques for supporting guests with textured hair. I am excited to implement these techniques into my practice!

P.S. Stacey is on Instagram @staceyciceron!

Natalia W. is an advanced designer at our Burnsville location.

Interested in a consultation for your textured hair? Book a complimentary consultation online or call any of our locations and ask for a consultation with a member of our Texture Team. 

The Cole’s Salon Texture Team is always improving their skills to best serve the needs and wants of our guests. Most recently that was a training with Renée Gadar.

If you’re interested in having access to quality training opportunities like this one, consider joining the Cole’s team!

The post What I Learned from Beauty Powerhouse Stacey Ciceron appeared first on Cole's Salon.

As a busy mom of three in my mid-forties, there is little time for “self care” these days! Between baseball games and track meets, rarely do I get a break from the sun, let alone the time for extended skin treatments.

My demanding routines are one reason I am so grateful for having been introduced to IMAGE Skincare and the importance of taking care of your skin every.single.day. when I started my career at Cole’s Salon over 16 years ago!

Start Simple

When I first began at Cole’s Salon my skin was irritated, congested, and dehydrated from all the over-the-counter products that promised great results. Redness was often covered up with heavy makeup and it only accentuated my skin challenges. One of the first events I coordinated in my position was a meet and greet with our guests and founder of IMAGE Skincare, Janna Ronert. Throughout the planning and prep for the event our team of estheticians started talking with me about the clinical benefits of IMAGE. I was intrigued but skeptical. I started simple, investing in a hydrating cleanser and a moisturizer.

Refine as You Age

As my skin adjusted to IMAGE Skincare, my irritated, red skin cleared up. Over time, I developed a healthy foundation that I could maintain for younger-looking skin, and I have adjusted my routine over the years. Now in my mid-forties, I have added deeper hydration to my lineup. I include regular exfoliation to help with skin cell turnover. And in recent years I have incorporated retinol to fight aging. I love that with IMAGE you can work within their entire product line to customize the results you want. And our Cole’s estheticians do an amazing job of recommending a system that will work for your skin type.

Stick to the Routine

My system is still simple but effective. The investment is well worth the results I continue to see in my skin! In the morning I cleanse, add a serum that deeply hydrates my skin, then apply an SPF prior to my makeup routine. In evenings I cleanse and moisturize my skin, and then add IMAGE ORMEDIC Balancing Lip Enhancement Complex to focus on conditioning my lips overnight (game changer!!). Weekly, I build into my schedule the VITAL C Hydrating Enzyme Masque, usually on an evening when I have 30 minutes at the end of my night to unwind.  

My one piece of advice for you? It’s never too early to have a good skin routine! I encourage you to book a complimentary consultation with one of our estheticians. You will not regret it! Start now and I promise you will love the future you even more!

Heather E. is Director of Team Development on our Corporate team. She joined the Cole’s Salon team in 2007.

New to developing a skincare routine? Our expert estheticians have you covered. Contact one of our six salon locations to schedule your complimentary skincare consultation or book a service right now. In the meantime, learn about skincare and esthetics and the best products for your age on our blog.

The post Skincare Today, Results Tomorrow appeared first on Cole's Salon.

Here are my top takeaways and what it means for my coworkers and our clients back here in Minnesota.

1. Prepare your clients

Our educators put huge emphasis on preparing clients for their service, including consulting ahead of time. Specifically, asking their clients to come thoroughly detangled for any service, both to help with their service timing and to avoid detangling fees. 

2. Focus on shampooing

Honestly, my biggest takeaway was shampooing. We spent the majority of the first day just talking about how to properly cleanse the hair. 

3. Maximize moisture

We also talked about how to get maximum moisture into the hair by using steamers and other tools while you are conditioning the hair. 

4. Cut hair when dry

A huge “ah ha” for me! We literally didn’t even use a comb. Instead, we sectioned the hair with chopped sticks and pinched in our fingers what we wanted to cut. I really enjoyed this technique because it was very different from other classes I have taken. 

5. Color curls kindly

When we talked about coloring curls, we talked about prioritizing the health of the hair, using treatments that won’t destroy the curls. I also learned how to color curls without straightening them. 

6. Bow to the braid

The last day was probably the most mind blowing because we went over box braids, knotless braids, corn rows and other protective styles. This was by far my favorite day because it was the skill area I was least comfortable. 

7. Learn from the best

Wella Studios in L.A. is internationally famous, empowering beauty professionals with education that unleashes our potential and sparks creativity. The educators did such a great job going so in depth into all of the topics that they covered. And I can’t wait for Rene Gadar to come to Minnesota and teach us her braiding class!

Sena S. is an advanced designer at our Eagan Station location. You can follow her on Instagram at @hairbysena.

The Cole’s Salon Texture Team has been diving into a number of training opportunities lately, including with Naomi Dove and Juan Perez. We are excited to continue improving our skills to serve the needs of individuals with all hair types!  

If you’re interested in having access to quality training opportunities like this, consider joining the Cole’s team.

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