A cut every 6-8 weeks? Yep!

Your hair grows 1/4 inches a month - on average.  It also grows at different rates all over your head and you typically will develop split ends (yes it happens to everyone).

I have talked to woman after woman who has hair on the longer side that don't get their hair cut very often.  One of the guest's hair I cut this weekend had really, supper long hair.  It took me about 30 minutes to untangle and brush through her hair.  I ended up taking about 4 inches off - she hadn't had a cut in over 4 months and was completely overwhelmed by her own hair, which she liked to wear down and couldn't manage very well.  Well, we also ended up cutting some long bangs on her - she was super excited about that because it made her feel like she had an instant change that she could see, beyond the super long hair that she chose to keep.  Since it was such a change for her, I scheduled a time to see her next week to check on her new bangs to make sure they are still working and to see if she wanted to go shorter.

She went home with some detangling spray (I'm so glad) and an appointment set for 8 weeks from now to revisit the idea of making even more of a change, right before the holidays.  This is setting my guest up for a routine of maintenance, feeling like she has a plan for her hair and ultimately success when she looks in the mirror.

Julianne Moore probably gets her hair cut often, but still maintains her length.

My cut is VERY inverted and precise.  If I let my cut grow out beyond 6-8 weeks, you can really see it!

Front View of Posh's famous inverted bob.

Observing Posh's famous inverted bob, to maintain the percision, you can assume that her hair is cut very frequently. 

This would also be true for many men - they get their hair cut every 4-6 weeks, you can really see it if they don't!  It's great - this is one of the things that most men really get when it comes to their appearance and general maintenance.

The women I see coming in have generally waited soooo long to come in that it feels like a heavy burden after they have waited so long, rather than a complete pampering joy they could experience more often.  There are few things better than a good head massage, a precise cut and a great blow out!

By going to the Academy, you can get all of the above for only 12.95 - which fits every body's budget.  The web site usually has specials under their client section and a program that you can join to send you special coupons on cuts, colors and pretty much every service the Academy offers.  Make that call, get in early in the day so you get maximum time with your stylist and leave feeling like a million bucks for the rest of the day!

Arica Kildea aka Britta 
www.genejuarezacademy.com 
206.365.6900 - scheduling line

Suitability

Suitability is a term we learned in Design - during the first six weeks at Gene Juarez Academy.  Suitability means that a stylist can listen to the guest and determine his or her hair needs depending on 1. what the guest wants 2. what the guest needs 3. what maintenance the guest will actually put into their hair and 4. what will work with their life-style.

For example, it wouldn't make sense to advise a guest with curly hair that went down her back to straight iron her hair every day to achieve the look she really wanted, while having several young children at home to care for - this style may be what she wants, but is not conducive to her lifestyle.  This process might take her up to an hour every day.  Is that really practical for my guest?  Probably not, but it is my job to inform her of the realistic maintenance involved with her hair choices.  If my guest wanted to get a bleach and tone *think Gwen Steffani) - the physical and costly maintenance may not be fully appreciated until it is explained to the guest before the service is underway.  To be fair to the guest, these thing must be explained before the service is done.  Next time your stylist is giving you super good advice on what you have to do to maintain your look - please listen up and head their advice!

Extreme A-line Bob, cut perfectly by Matt at SEVEN Salon in Downtown. 

To be honest, when I first started school... I had no idea about what I wanted or how to even do my own hair!  I knew that I enjoyed having it long, but rarely wore it down.  Starting school it was made clear to every student that wearing it back in a pony tail every day (as I had been accustomed to) was not an option.  We are now stylists and should look and act like it.  I felt an inner panic at this point.  Over time, as I realized just what made me not want to put my hair down, I realized how to keep it long and solve my problem with one cut... and color.   I realized I did not like having my hair upon my heck, it made me feel oily and gross by about hour two of school because my hair was so fine and did not take well to so much volume being given at the nape (or back of the head).  My ideal hair cut came through once this initial road block was articulated.  Thus, I got an extreme a-line bob.    Keeping the length in front and cutting it super short and dramatic in the back.  I further achieved the dramatic look I was going for by coloring the back and and under parts of my hair dark brown and keeping the blonde on top.  I finally look like I know what to do with my hair, while maintaining my suitability.

My suitability lived out:
1. Maintaining my length in front - I worked hard to get it this long, I wanted to keep it.

2.  Minimal maintenance - before school started I had never successfully flat ironed my hair!  By showering the night before and wrapping my hair so that it is not 100% dry in the morning allows my hair to be pliable and lends it's self nicely to get quick flat ironed look that indicated professionalism.

3.  Dramatic and professional - check. check.

Next time you go into get your hair cut and styled, make sure your stylist is taking into account all of these factors before you get your hair cut!  

I'll be on the floor doing any service that we offer some time in September!  

Be sure to contact me with any additional questions - or if your a professional in the fied... I'd love your feedback!