Runs Businesses With Scissors

Wishing you a Happy Holiday and a joyful New Year!  Let us all be prepared for this New Year and grab a hold for the ride! Make 2017 a fulfilling year. During this Holiday Season, as you dash back and forth from party to party and getting all of your shopping and preparations done, it can be hard coming up with an easy quick hairstyle that isn't a boring ponytail. Here are some ideas of what other's are doing as shown on Yahoo.  Maybe you'll like to have a short hairstyle with parted hair slicked to the side as seen above. Or, maybe you prefer a more wavy, low-key look as shown below. You'll just keep twisting and add bobby pins where needed. Don't want your hair up? Then just leave it down and add your favorite hair accessories to amp up your everyday style.  Getting frustrated with your curls? Try wrapping a few face-framing pieces of hair around a curling iron to define your beautiful curls! Want your hair off the back of ...

HairQueen News Gosh, it has been a while since I have written a blog. In fact it was in the Summer, in July. Now it is Autumn, and so much has happened. Happily, my lovely daughter got engaged, so I get to be the mother-of-the bride! No, I’m not doing the hair for the wedding day. I am going to get my hair done, and I’m so excited.  Stay tuned for wedding updates. Sadly, my dearest brother passed away.  His name was Kevin and I was very fond of him.  The good news about being self-employed is one must carry on. The bad news about being self-employed is one must carry on.   Last, but not least, because of changes in the crew at Swans Studios, we did a little construction and Swans Studios is even better than before. What a whirlwind summer in the wheel of my personal and professional life.  I am humbled by the wonderful support of my family, friends, and you my clients, as I've celebrated and mourned and managed and struggled and carried...

HairQueen News It's summertime! And that means it's time to relax and enjoy the sun! It also means it's time to protect your skin and hair with sunscreen and clarifying shampoo. Last summer , I wrote about hair care during the hot months. This summer I'm offering a little tutorial on a classic summer style! How-To: Summer Beach Waves Always wanted to sport that spent-the-day-at-the-beach look? Now you can! Spray Color Lover Hair Primer 11 on wet hair and apply BY Sparkling Mousse Flexible Hold on the roots.  Blow dry naturally.  With the flat iron and I.Dentity Protect.it shape the lengths without making curls, but just twisting the sections alternating clockwise and counterclockwise movements.  Smooth the fringe.  Open the sections with your fingers and finish with BY Black Lava Hair Spray Mega Hold Promotion of the Month This month I'm offering a promotion on my entire Kenra line:  Buy one get one 15% off!  Kenra Clarifyin...

HairQueen News Father's Day is just around the corner, so this month we're focusing of the men in our lives! Men's hairstyles and hair products are often overshadow in today's world, but they are just as important as women's hairstyles and products! Promotion of the Month So this month, I'm offering a special promotion for the entire American Crew product line, designed specifically for men's hair (but that doesn't mean women can't use it too!) Buy 1 American Crew product, receive 10% off. Buy 2 American Crew products, receive 15% off. Buy 3 American Crew products, receive 20% off. NO Foil Highlights NO Fooling Would you like a shimmer highlight or two?  New from Framesi Shimmer DeColorB  - 5 Minute Highlights from start to finish. My client Leann says "I absolutely love my Shimmer Highlights!!! So fast! No foil wraps!! And another great hair cut.  You are the best Suzanne! Thank you!" Thanks Leann!! Trends...

HairQueen News This April I attended the Spring Style Hair show in San Jose, CA. It was fun to wander the exhibit halls, chat with colleagues from Framesi  and to attend a hair color class on techniques for Balayage .  It's true you are never too old too learn and it's never too late to get out of a rut whether you are in or behind the chair. It is humbling, fun, and freeing to discover new ways to bring high-lights and low-lights to the wonderful heads of hair I am privileged to serve every day.  Trends of the Season It's officially Spring! That means it's time to sport those Spring trends! Choppy Lob A great laid-back look to pretend you just spent all day at the beach.  Great angled, tousled bobs with balayage. Fringe Baby Bangs A quick way to change up your look for the Spring season.  Nice bold color for bold fringes. Icy Buzzcut For the boldest of the bold, there's this look straight from the Spring 2016 fashion runway ...

HairQueen News It is Spring and time to think about a Spring Haircut or Fresh Spring Hair Color.  Recently I took a Balayage Class to freshen up my color skills.  Balayage means to "sweep" or "paint" in French.  With this technique I am able to create softer less noticeable regrowth lines.  This is especially helpful for blond and silver haired clients. The principal idea being less is more when creating soft natural looks.  Although of course as is often the case to create something simple takes time, technique, and expertise.  If you would like find out if this technique is right for you, let's talk at your next hair appointment. In the meantime here is a recent example of a Balayage for a Brunette whose hair I have been reverting from all over Color to Prestige Silver and Brunette. For hair appointments, contact me at 510-545-2955 or suzanne@suzannevanhouten.com or go on line to www.suzannevanhouten.com .

Runs Businesses with Scissors Tax season is a stressful time of year for everyone, but especially for small business owners and entrepreneurs. It's this time of year that I like to focus on de-stressing. These are my tips for staying stress-free during tax season: Make a cup of tea and review all your income and expenses for 2015. Hire a professional bookkeeper to review that all your income and expenses are sorted out properly. Hire a Certified Public Accountant and give everything from your bookkeeper to the CPA Be prepared to answer questions from the bookkeeper and the CPA. Don't cry if this is overwhelming, as a small business owner you wear a lot of hats - Chief Financial Officer is only one of them. Contact Suzanne** and set up an appointment so she can help you get organized for next year. Remember you know more than you think you do! Client Corner This month's client is Kyra from Vermeulen & Co: Kyra's professional story start...

Runs Businesses with Scissors I have noticed as a long time business owner that I need to know how to do a little bit of everything. I need to make sure every aspect of my business is running smoothly, so it's up to me to not only be a skilled hairstylist, but to also be skilled in business management bookkeeping marketing human resources financial operations inventory communications licensing etc. This is why it's so important to diversify your skills, while continuing to hone your specialty skill. For me, my specialty skill is hairstyling. As a business owner, over the years through trial and error and shear determination it turns out I have developed many complementary skills that have helped my businesses be successful.  One of the best decisions I ever made was to hire myself a business consultant many years ago.  My consultant has guided me through many trials and tribulations, successes and failures, celebrations and losses. As artists and entrepre...

Valentine's Day is around the corner. Ti's the day we celebrate love.  Whether you have a date or not, it is a good day to try a new "do".  Have you planned what you're going to wear to your romantic date night out or your night in? How are you going to do your hair? Trends of the Season This season's trend is asymmetry. Try a one-sided hairstyle this Valentine's Day! Low Side Bun Loose Side Braid Side Swept Curls Question of the Month Question: If I put coconut oil on my hair, will it fix my split ends? Answer: The only solution to split ends is a haircut. So schedule an appointment for a haircut today! Client Corner One of my recent clients wanted a hair transformation.  We took her from black to purple, purposefully leaving her roots black.  It took over three hours to lighten and then dye her hair purple. Check out these pictures of her that she sent to me with lots of thumbs up from her friends and fami...

Runs Businesses with Scissors Gosh it's officially the middle of January 2016 and that means you should have already made a business plan for the year. How are you going to make 2016 your best year yet? I encourage you to include plans for both your business life and your personal life, 2016 here we come! Two aspects that I notice are often overlooked when developing a business plan are marketing and scheduled time off. Marketing not only brings in new customers, it also helps maintain loyal clients, and let's them know that you value them very, very much.   I strongly encourage you to plan at least one quarter ahead.  January is well underway, what are you doing for February and March?  Need help, give me a call and we can plan the marketing and promotions that suit your clients and your business. Scheduling personal time off is also very important as it ensures that you have time to relax, clear your mind, and return to work refreshed. When you are cle...

HairQueen News It's officially 2016! I hope everyone had a festive holiday season spent with family and friends. As the new years begins, it's time to try new things, retire old routines and make positive changes in your life. Here in the boutique salon, things are changing as well. Marisa Fullerton is joining Swans Studios as a hairstylist in the front studio. For more information about Marisa check out her website at marisafullerton.com . As for yourself, one of the easiest changes you can make is to your hair. A new hairstyle or hair color can make you feel like a whole new you! Which leads us to the question of the month below. Question of the Month Question:  How do I update my look for the new year? Answer: It's surprising what a difference a small change can make to freshen up a haircut or color.  Also a sight change can be drastic for some and pointless to others. Start with looking at pictures of haircuts and colors that you like and bring t...