Great SKIN AND HAIR COMES with GREAT CARE

Summer is upon us, and so are the hair and skin woes that accompany it. As clients wrestle with grooming issues, it is the right time for salons to up their game and offer them a comprehensive care menu. Specialised skin and hair care treatments can prove to be a game changer for business in this season. Kanishka ramchandani takes a closer look at the care treatments offered by salons to keep their patrons happy through the hot months.

Clients are known to return to their favourite salon time and again because they prefer a certain stylist for a hair cut or colour. However, they are not very choosy when it comes to care services. This summer, as the temperatures rise, hair and skin care services are back in demand. Optimise this opportunity to make your salon the first choice for your client’s care needs. With a well-trained staff and unique services, you can amp up your service menu and see an instant change in customer footfall.Here are a few ideas that we have to offer on the subject:

SPECIALISED SUNCARE MENU

Remedial treatments for hair and damagerepair for the skin post sun exposure are good additions to your menu. Select products specifically designed to tackle issues related to humidity, dryness and exposure to the sun.

SUMMER PACKAGES

Indian summers last for almost four months, and even more in some places, making summer salon packages a must-have. This ensures that your clients have a host of services that they can avail at one go. This also translates into repeat customers and continued footfall.

TRAVEL PACKAGES

Summer is the time for travel and that serves as the best reason to have a specific travel package. Curate a menu with pre-and posttravel services for skin, hair and nails, which will give convenient options to your clientele.

BACK TO BASICS

Basic grooming services are perhaps the most popular ones during summer. You can either add premium versions of certain basic services such as waxing or club them together in an attractive summer care package.

FESTIVE OFFERS

Festivals are a part of Indian lifestyle, and summer has its choice of festivals. You can add specialised services as per the festive trends at the geographical location of your salon or the cultural preferences of the clientele in your catchment area.

BRIDAL PACKAGES

Add a generous dose of care services to your bridal offerings. The more well-cared-for and groomed your bridal client’s hair and skin is, the better she will look on her wedding day.

A series of facials, hair spas and body massage treatments will ensure that her skin and hair are bang on, and your make-up and styling services will give the optimum result, creating the perfect summer bride.

Apart from the service menu offerings, soft skills of your staff are important, too.

Ensure that your on-floor staff, especially your hairdressers and skin therapists are well-versed about grooming during the summer months.

Encourage them to offer customised advice to the clients, and also suggest home use products and remedies. While haircuts and waxing and pedicures are popular during summer, if your staff is well-trained and wellinformed, they will be able to upsell high-ticket services to the clients, too.

We get hair and skin experts to share their views and expertise on the subject of in-salon summer treatments.

WE CUSTOMISE AND CURATE TREATMENTS FOR THE CLIENTS.

What are the common hair concerns that customers have during summers?

The main concerns during summer for hair are humidity that leads to frizziness and dryness, impact on hair colour and effect on the scalp.

Which services on your menu are recommended or in demand during summers and why?

I recommend hair wash and conditioning with cold water. Avoid masque and conditioner and opt for water based leave-in products instead. Keep heat styling to a minimum. I recommend treatments by Rene Futerer such as Astera Fresh for the scalp for its soothing and calming effects and Biotop 911 for the lengths for treatment of the cuticles to add moisture and protection to the colour. The Ocara range of Rene Futerer for home care is a great option for coloured hair.

Are you making any special additions to your menu to tackle summer haircare woes?

We customise and curate treatments for our clients after checking their scalp and hair.

Which services should be avoided during summers?

Heat styling services such as blow dry, tonging and ironing are best avoided.

How does increase in temperature affect services such as colouration, rebonding and other heat-based treatments?

The increase in temperatures directly impacts the hair cuticles. Hair colour fades faster as do effects of chemical treatments such as keratin.

What is the best way to make the salon experience a good one for the customers during summers?

Make small yet meaningful offerings such as providing the clients with refreshing citrus or lémon based cool drinks and a wet wipe or single use reusable cold towels. These gestures are a great addition for a salon during summers.

What advice would you like to give to hairdressers about summer haircare?

Start with taking care of yourself -stay hydrated on a busy day. Recommend and guide the clients appropriately for the summers with the tips mentioned above.

Hair care tips for customers.

• Stay hydrated

• Stay indoors between 12 pm and 4 pm

• Always wear a UV protection leave-in product

• Wear a hat or a scarf to avoid direct sun rays on your scalp and hair

• Get regular head massages and hair treatments for your scalp and hair

• Get your summer colour look right with your stylist’s guidance

• If you have been toying with the idea of going short, now is the time!

SALONS SHOULD WORK LIKE A THERAPEUTIC EXPERIENCE.

What are the common hair concerns that customers have during summers?

• Excess sweat causes scalp issues

• Hair tends to become drier

• Hair breakage

Which services on your menu are recommended or in demand during summers?

• Hair spa for various hair types and concerns

• Frizz management treatments using hair Botox and keratin services

• Hair colouration including fashion shades

Are you making any special additions to your menu to tackle summer haircare woes?

Yes, we have introduced new advanced hair spa services for our customers to help them tackle hair concerns such as dryness and frizz and lack of moisture.

Which services should be avoided during summers?

All hair services, if done correctly and with technical know-how, can be done even during summers. There is no particular reason to stop any particular service.

How does increase in temperature affect services such as colouration, rebonding and other heat-based treatments?

As hair needs to be washed more frequently during the summer season, colour bleeding and erosion of keratin treatment happens rapidly, so hair needs faster repeat treatments. Also people use swimming pools more often during the hot months. The chlorinated water makes hair frizzy and unruly, and therefore requires appropriate management.

What is the best way to make the salon experience a good one for the customers during summers?

Salons should work like a therapeutic experience. Here are some minor yet effective additions to your regular salon routine that can earn you brownie points during summers.

• Optimise the air conditioning in your salon

• Use right fragrances to make the salon smell good

• Ensure that the service staff is using deodorants

• Offer cold face towels to the clients

• Serve them cool drinks

What advice would you like to give to hairdressers about summer haircare?

Hairdressers should try to reduce the heat on dryers, tongs and flat irons, and encourage the clients to have a trim for healthy looks and get rid of split ends. Finish washing hair with cold water in order to close the cuticles.

Hair care tips for customers

• Avoid over exposure to the sun

• Avoid sweat damage to the scalp resulting in dryness

• Use a hair mask

• Apply deep conditioning oil before getting into the pool

• Wear a hat or scarf to not let strong dry winds disturb the cuticles

CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE IS ALWAYS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.

What are the common hair concerns that customers have during summers?

Frizz is the most common summer issue in hair, followed by sun damage and fading of hair colour. Also due to excessive sweating, scalp related issues are a common concern.

Which services on your menu are recommended or in demand during summers and why?

We have seen an increase in basic shampoo service or the express hair spa treatment at the salon. The reason for this is the belief of the customer that a salon shampoo service or spa cleanses the scalp really well and the spa service keeps the frizz and dryness in check.

Are you making any special additions to your menu to tackle summer haircare woes?

We have introduced a protein treatment that looks after the scalp and hair. It helps keep the scalp healthy and the tresses hydrated. It involves giving high frequency treatment to the scalp to improve the blood circulation and a deep moisturising protein mask to help control frizz and dryness, which is typically a summer problem. It is a quick 45-minute service that keeps you relaxed as it comprises a scalp massage, too.

Which services should be avoided during summers?

Avoid permanent hair straightening services, high level hair highlights that require bleaching. If you are doing any of these treatments, make sure that a bond building treatment is added to the service. Follow up with a hydrating treatment or any other service that involves hair strengthening.

How does increase in temperature affect services such as colouration, rebonding and other heat-based treatments?

Summer temperatures cause the hair cuticles to swell, and any chemical service involves opening of cuticles. This aggravates the issue of open cuticles further, causing the hair to become sensitive and sometimes prone to damage or breakage.

What is the best way to make the salon experience a good one for the customers during summers?

Customer experience is always our number one priority. Right from the perfect temperature at the salon to a more relaxing ambience is your win. Also, giving your customers the right solution for their problems is a great way of making the experience at the salon worthwhile. Time is an essential factor, so keep your treatments quick, comfortable and rejuvenating. Add options of fresh, summer haircuts to the menu, as everyone is looking for fuss free hair and short manageable hair. Keep styling references ready, preferably from your own portfolio of work.

What advice would you like to give to hairdressers about summer haircare?

Keep the hair quality in check by going easy on heavy duty chemical services, and give right solutions for your customers’ problems or suggest home care solutions, ideas and tips. Quick DIY ideas to style their new summer crop is the best solution to keep your hair art always looking fabulous.

Hair care tips for customers

• Cleanse, hydrate and heat protect

• Cleanse regularly with a shampoo meant for your scalp type

• You can shampoo as often and you like as long as you use a good brand

• Hydrate by using a conditioner or hair mask that suits your hair best. Don’t forget to leave it in the hair a couple of minutes before you rinse out with room temperature water

• Hot water is a big no no

• Heat protection sprays or leave-in conditioners will keep your hair in check, avoid breakage or fading of your hair colour, and maintain the overall health of your hair

WE CATER TO EVERY CLIENT’S NEEDS WITH CUSTOMISED SOLUTIONS.

What are the common skin concerns that customers have during summers?

Summer’s blazing heat can wreak havoc on the skin. During the summer, clients have a variety of skin problems such as tanned skin, uneven toned and textured skin, acne getting aggravated, oily skin, suntan and sunburn and increased sensitivity. At Lakmé Salon, we provide a detailed skin consultation and analysis to understand and cater to every client’s needs with customised solutions.

Which services on your menu are recommended or in demand during summers and why?

The Lakmé Eye Need a Blink treatment involves a soothing massage tapping the pressure points relaxes the muscles around the eyes, while multivitamins and vital rose oil provide hydration. The Lakmé Sensi Calm Facial contains botanical actives that are naturally calming, and soothing agents that help to remove irritants from the skin, while also revitalising it. Our Deep Cleansing Treatment helps draw out impurities, further purifying greasy and congested skin with natural essential oils. Some of the other treatments include Lakmé Goodbye Tan, Lakmé Gloss Intense Hydrating, Dermalogica ProSkin 60 Hydration and Sensitivity Treatment and Dermalogica Pro skin 60 & 90 De-Tan.

Which services should be avoided during summers?

In summers, avoid consuming too much steam during spa treatments or to remove pollutants. Also, strong toners or astringents to remove greasiness should be avoided, as should facials with extreme or forceful exfoliations. Due to the weather, more heat or exfoliation of the skin can make it more fragile and prone to sensitivity or hyperpigmentation. Our facial services, such as the Dermalogica Pro Skin 60 & 90 – Detan, use gentle and mild exfoliants, as well as multivitamin toners and balancers.

What is the best way to make the salon experience a good one for the customers during summer?

While there is no one-size-fits-all solution to summertime blues, you can always do the following to improve the overall client experience and create a soothing environment: -Cooling, natural herb-based drinks -Comfortable AC temperature (not too cold as that will contrast with the hot temperature outside the salon) -Pre-book appointments, less waiting time -Hygiene, sanitation and adequate ventilation are all essential

Skin care tips for customers

• Cleanse, hydrate and protect your skin

• Cleanse your skin in the morning and evening using gentle but efficient cleansers

• Keep your body and skin hydrated by drinking enough water and using medium or light moisturisers on your skin

• Use a broad-spectrum SPF to avoid an unhealthy tan, sensitivity and uneven skin tone

• While travelling, especially at noon, wear a hat or carry an umbrella

• Apply light make-up and remember to remove it with a suitable make-up remover

• Spray a multivitamin-based mist or toner on your face throughout the day to look and feel fresh

• Summertime makes skin even more sensitive, so get professional guidance for your skin type, needs and concerns, while selecting a home care or facial service