Today was a wonderful day of travel in beautiful Bloemfontein. I was sorry to miss the Indola Street Style seminar which was held on Monday, but I arrived in time to attend day two of a Wahl clipper cutting seminar, hosted by the EOHCB. This was well attended with awesome information and techniques explained, and it was fabulous to meet so many familiar friends. From there, I drove to Posh Lab, to meet up with one of the directors, Sue Watson, who is the EOHCB chairman for the Free State region. It was fascinating to chat with Sue about her background, her businesses, and her passion for how the EOHCB can help salons. This information will be presented in a Hairnews video soon. The third stop-off for the day was at the fabulous, bustling, immaculate The Salon in Dan Pienaar Drive, owned by husband and wife team Caz and Ruth, and assisted by their energetic and gorgeous young stylists and apprentices. After experiencing the awesome service for myself I understood why this salon is fully booked with a three week waiting list. I even had my Wella SP Energy Code done - and the cappuccino with a Lindt chocolate on the side was simply wonderful. It was really interesting to hear from Ruth that people in the Free State are more concerned about their hair than Capetonians or Jo'burgers, and that she believes there is no better place for a hairdresser to be. More Bloemfontein news tomorrow - stay tuned.

Take a look inside a new, brilliant concept - the luxuriously decorated Franco International Hyde Park salon.

This video is so much fun as fashions over the past century are recreated on the model. Hairstyles are included in the total look... but OMG, does fashion take a swerve into strange territory in the 70s and 80s... From Mode.com

We love this blue bob, created by the talented Salome de Wet at Scar Hair, Kloof Street, Cape Town. Thanks for sharing your colour recipe, Salome! Powder blue formula. Base level 5 natural Off root bleach application with Wella Blondor + 20 vol + B3 After all the ends havebeen applied, directly apply the same formula to the root area. Process for 20 min Rinse and silver shampoo tone with Wella Instamatic Ocean Storm. Leave to process for 20 min. Rinse and finish with Crazy Color Bubblegum Blue on dry hair. Process for 20 min. Rinse and treat.

These three fabulous hair transformations on salon clients were done by Uncut By Nicole, 28 Shuter Road, Berea, Durban. Tel 031 201 9506. She has shared her recipes for these stunning make overs. Hair was bleached using Schwarzkopf Vario Blond with Fibreplex. Three applications of this were performed. The hair was then given its gorgeous blue shade with a 30 minute application of Jungle Fever’s Feva Colour. Nicole used 20-vol Schwarzkopf Vario Blond bleach, with a balayage technique. In between the sections she used a 5-0 10-vol. Afterwards, she toned the bleached hair with an 8-0 Schwarzkopf Vibrance rinse. Two applications of 20-vol Schwarzkopf Vario Blond bleach were performed on the hair, and Fibreplex was used together with the bleach. Then Schwarzkopf 9.5-1 with 20-vol was applied for 45 minutes. The blue streak in the fringe was done using Jungle Fever’s Feva colour.

Whether you are a salon owner or a hairstylist, growth means progress. Here are some tips from Chris Parker of ESP Online, on how to get started on a positive path of achievable growth. If you want to determine if your business is growing or not you need to start by tracking performance and doing this consistently over time. The first thing you need is a good analysis of your business at the present time so that you can set targets and monitor if you are achieving them. Just as it would be with your bank balance, if you want to know if it has grown you need to know what it was previously so that you can compare. Keep it very simple to start, don’t get too complicated else you won’t sustain it. Just like your new years resolution to get to gym fourteen times a week ends up with you going twice in the first week and then once every six months thereafter so it is with your business. Get the bare minimum into place, and then anything above this is bonus. Just keep it consistent though! Start setting targets for yourself. Therefore if you currently have a client database of 5000 then aim to have a client database of 6000 within 6 months. If your turnover is currently R300 000 per month, aim to have it at R315000 in 12 months. If your client average spend is R400 per docket then aim to have it at R425 in 12 months. Once you have set yourself realistic goals you need to start the process of achieving them. To stick with the gym analogy this may mean that you need a personal trainer. Whether it be one of your peers, someone who is successfully implementing growth in their salons (or other type of business) or an outside consultant who is able to hold you accountable and keep you focused on your goals.

A plain outgrown style is transformed into a modern, attractive cut with fabulous hints of emerald and sapphire. Salon: Lily Jackson, Australia. Stylist: Julie Peacocke. Products: Goldwell Elumen.

On Tuesday and Wednesday 4-5 July, Hairnews will be visiting salons in Bloemfontein, to bring the Bloemfontein hair scene to our national readers. If you would like Hairnews to pop into your salon or do an interview or salon tour, drop us a line at info@hairnews.co.za or 082 891 8537. Look forward to finding out all about the Bloemfontein hairdressing scene!

This year, visitors to London’s Salon International will have a special treat. International icon Trevor Sorbie will be putting on a show during the event. This is the first time in more than 10 years that this superstar has presented at this show, and his performance promises to dazzle with a blend of avant-garde hairdressing, a new approach to colour, and forward-thinking haircuts. Trevor himself will work on stage with his team. Salon International takes place from 14-16 October at Excel London, and Trevor’s show is booked for Sunday 15 October at 10.30 am. For more information on this international expo, visit www.salonexhibitions.co.uk

With his interpretation of a steampunk Romeo & Juliet, Intercoiffure international president Klaus Peter Ochs portrays coolness and passion, love and provocation, in a series of retro-futuristic looks. Romance has never been so funky! Hair: Klaus Peter Ochs Artistic Team: Philipp Margraf and Lisa Raab Stylist: Mickael Komer and Elmarie Lignier / Paris Make-up: Florent Pellet / Paris Photo: Laurence Laborie / Paris

Before and After Finalists and Winners Thanks to all hairdressers and salons who submitted their in-salon snapshots for this pop-up competition sponsored by American Crew. We selected four finalists in the men’s section and five in the ladies’ section whose work was simply incredible. Browse through these fabulous transformations and enjoy the transformations on real clients done by Kadin D Viljoen from Maxwell Haus in Centurion, Eugene Venter from Paul James Hairdressing in Alberton, Reto from Reto HQ in Kalk Bay, Terry Morris from Hines & Harley Men’s Grooming Lounge in Randburg, Johan Pretorius from I Am Hair & Beauty in Namibia, the team at Creative Cutterz in Waterkloofrand, and Kim Franklin Hickman from Carlton Hair. Men’s Finalists Ladies’ Finalists Then our celebrity guest judge Natasha Cornelius from Pasquale selected her winning look, and the Hairnews team selected our winning look. Congratulations to the two winning styles created by Kim Franklin Hickman from Carlton Hair, and Reto from Reto HQ. You will each receive a fabulous American Crew hamper. Watch out for more pop-up competitions, and more before and after looks on real clients with colour formulations, coming soon!

It’s a busy Saturday... and the water supply to your salon is cut off! Horrors – what to do? If this occurs once in a blue moon, salons have to cope with it however they can. A few years back, when water was cut off at a branch of Gary Rom Hairdressing, they washed their clients’ hair using bottles of Valpre still mineral water. However, after the water supply to Pasquale Intercoiffure was repeatedly cut off leaving them high and dry, salon owner Maria Gough made a better plan. She installed multiple water storage tanks at the back of the salon. This neat row of high-capacity tanks provides them with enough water for two full, busy days. The water switches seamlessly over, so that salon service is not interrupted at all. A great solution and a wonderful example of “making a plan”!