| How many times in your life do you think you | | | | disconnected lengths. Fringes are still very |
| will go to a salon | | | | hot. I love anything Rock Chic looking. I |
| | | | try to make my models and clients look like |
| to get your hair cut or styled? Let's see, | | | | Rock stars.Colors are more a technique thing |
| if you start when you're about 2 years old | | | | rather than actual colors, though I am |
| and go 6 times a year until you're about 70 | | | | working a lot with mahogany and nut browns. |
| years old, that turns out to be over 400 | | | | Highlights are bolder yet they are peeping |
| visits. Even more impressive is the amount | | | | through the hair, not on the top of the hair. |
| of money (over $12,000 USD for average $30 | | | | I have been working with this technique for |
| visits) you will end up spending in your | | | | a couple of years, just varying the placement |
| lifetime to cut, style and care for your | | | | of color. At this very moment we are working |
| hair. This doesn't even include special hair | | | | with major contrast in color.Question: Where |
| care products or additional services such as | | | | do hair style trends start anyway?Emiliano: |
| coloring, perms, treatments, etc.With these | | | | I believe hair trends do not start, they |
| statistics, it is safe to say that our hair | | | | evolve. They are definitely started by the |
| is an important part of our lives. Finding | | | | hairdresser rather than the client. For |
| the right hair stylist and salon is crucial | | | | example, let's look at the past season. |
| to the end results of any hair style or | | | | Hair trends have a very sixties and eighties |
| process. Emiliano Vitale, Creative Director | | | | influence. Now that definitely didn't start |
| for E Salon in Wahroonga Australia, says, | | | | recently, though it evolved from that period |
| "All clients look to us for direction. It is | | | | and was adapted to today.I will try to start |
| up to us to listen carefully, understand our | | | | my own trends. At the moment I am working |
| clients needs and desires and then to | | | | with my GARAGE Collection in the salon and my |
| translate this into a style which is | | | | L'Oreal tour. The collection features |
| specifically designed and tailored to their | | | | extremely short crowns, varying lengths, with |
| lifestyle and personal needs." We have | | | | asymmetry and disconnection. Trends are |
| invited Emiliano to visit with us and answer | | | | inspired by something. They can be inspired |
| a few questions about salons, hairdressers | | | | by a movie, a song, a painting---with |
| and hair styles. Below are his insightful | | | | inspiration anything goes. You must trust |
| answers:Question: Men and women spend | | | | your instincts. Fashion is what you LOVE. |
| thousands of dollars every year going to | | | | LOVE IS FASHIONQuestion: On a global scale, |
| salons and caring for their hair. Yet most | | | | do you see a trend of how new hair style |
| people report that they are less than | | | | fashions evolve?Emiliano: Personally the |
| satisfied with the results. When you read | | | | entertainment industry inspires me. I feel |
| some of the salon reviews out there you will | | | | Hollywood has a major influence on setting |
| find people that like the look of their cut | | | | trends. European hairdressers, especially |
| color/perm but are very unhappy with the | | | | the English are great translators of this. |
| service. Some describe salons with arrogant, | | | | To take the mantle as trend setter, you |
| rude or inconsiderate hairdressers and staff. | | | | definitely need to earn it.I know many |
| Why is E Salon different in this respect? | | | | hairdressers look to fashion and the |
| How do you address complaints from clients | | | | designer's new collections for inspiration. |
| ?Emiliano: First of all, hairdressers are a | | | | You know that anything goes, and it is |
| reflection of their leader. You don't have | | | | usually started by some kid on a street |
| rude or arrogant team members--you have rude | | | | corner who has cut their own hair, and it has |
| and arrogant owners. Hairdressers globally, | | | | caught the eye of some top stylist, designer |
| actually Humanity globally wakes up every | | | | or even director.Fashion is what you make it |
| morning and wants to give their best. Then | | | | and who you are in context to that |
| they get to work and are rude only because | | | | fashion.Question: What are some of the |
| they are not appreciated or lack self worth. | | | | current hair concerns that your clients are |
| It is the duty of every leader to dedicate | | | | experiencing and what sort of treatments do |
| themselves to their team and to inspire their | | | | you offer?Emiliano: In Australia, hair is |
| team to cooperate in a spirit of harmony.The | | | | very good at the moment as we are in winter. |
| only reason we are successful is because I | | | | If anything, the hair is a little dehydrated. |
| dedicate myself to my team. I made a promise | | | | We offer the complete range of Power Dose |
| a long time ago that when one of my team | | | | treatments from L'Oreal. They are quick and |
| members leave, they will leave a better human | | | | easy treatments and make such an immediate |
| being and a better hairdresser. It is easy | | | | change in the hair. My favorite here is the |
| to blame our team members for making mistakes | | | | Shine Blonde treatment that is a toner as |
| and for not being good enough. But I can | | | | well as a treatment. Results are |
| assure that if we ALL, including OWNERS, | | | | awesome!Question: Do you have hard and fast |
| realized that the person looking back at us | | | | hair care advice that applies to |
| in the mirror was responsible for the state | | | | everyone?Emiliano: Use very little |
| of our life, then this industry, let alone | | | | conditioner. Apply it first to mid-lengths |
| this world, would be a greater place.I train | | | | and the ends, then comb it through the rest |
| my people to see themselves as truly great | | | | of the hair. When applying mousse, apply it |
| human beings, and by doing this they will see | | | | slowly and with a comb, little by little. |
| greatness in everyone else. I promise to | | | | Always finish with a gloss spray for |
| give them an extraordinary life and that is | | | | shine.Question: There is a study that says |
| what my purpose is. My team members are the | | | | one in two women color their hair. A lot of |
| most pleasant and remarkable people I know.At | | | | women do it themselves. What type of color |
| E Salon we treat the Human Being, not the | | | | products do you use and why would you |
| hair. We encourage and welcome any feedback. | | | | recomment that women go to E Salon for color |
| Complaints are an opportunity to show the | | | | processing?Emiliano: We exclusively use |
| world what kind of human being you are. Many | | | | L'Oreal Professional products. We recommend |
| hairdressers take a complaint like a personal | | | | that clients come to us for color because we |
| attack on them. As a leader it is our | | | | are trained professionals. COLOR TO HAIR |
| responsibility to train our people properly | | | | ACTS LIKE PAINT TO A SKETCH, IT GIVES IT |
| and nurture them and their spirit.I am sorry; | | | | LIFE! The reason I feel that one in two |
| there are no rude and arrogant | | | | women color their hair at home is our own |
| hairdressers---just incapable leaders. | | | | fault. We need to spend more money on |
| Always see the human being and give your best | | | | training our people and take responsibility |
| in evey moment in every situation. What you | | | | ourselves. We tend to blame the companies |
| give is what you get---it is that | | | | for making and selling hair color products in |
| simple.Question: When you first meet with a | | | | the supermarkets. If we were doing our jobs |
| client that wants a new hair style, what is | | | | correctly, the companies wouldn't need to |
| your mode of operation?Emiliano: The first | | | | sell in pharmacies and supermarkets.Question: |
| thing I do is ask many questions, such as | | | | Finally, what are your recommendations for |
| 'Why do you want to change your look? What | | | | someone seeking a new hairdresser or |
| don't you like about your hair?' I try to | | | | salon?Emiliano: Go in for a blow dry and |
| find out as much history as possible, | | | | take notice of all the work going on around |
| including anything he/she has every been | | | | you. Look for someone who puts love into his |
| unhappy and happy with. Next I like to feel | | | | or her work. The are a rare breed and when |
| the hair to determine its thickness and | | | | you find them, cherish them. You will notice |
| texture. Then I look for any unusually | | | | they stroke the hair, like you would pat a |
| growth patterns. Finally, and most | | | | cat. They put their heart and soul into |
| important, I look at face shape, bone | | | | their work and they look at what they are |
| structure and the clients overall style. I | | | | doing and the way the hair falls. The best |
| focus in on suitability and I try to enhance | | | | hairdressers will ask about you, not talk |
| the strengths they may have, i.e. eyes, lips | | | | about themselves. Always pick the stylist in |
| cheekbones, etc. Sample photos of hair | | | | a salon with the worst haircut. The best |
| styles the clients like are also very helpful | | | | hairdressers cut everyone elses' hair.I tend |
| in letting me know what my clients | | | | to get a lot of clients by people asking my |
| like.Question: As a salon owner, how | | | | clients on the street who cuts their hair. |
| important is it to keep abreast of current | | | | Don't be afraid to ask lots of questions and |
| hair and fashion trends?Emiliano: It is | | | | bring in pictures. When you find a happy and |
| imperative that we stay abreast of what is | | | | content team of hairdressers, you are sure |
| happening in the world of hairdressing. | | | | your money is going to someone who is making |
| Though it is more important to know who you | | | | a difference in the lives of their |
| are in relation to fashion. In today's world | | | | clients.Thank you Emiliano for your thoughts |
| every fashion designer and hairdresser is | | | | and insights on hair styles and |
| doing his or her own thing. We must find | | | | salons!Emiliano: Final words: Be brilliant |
| what we identify with in terms of fashion, | | | | and accept yourself for the glorious human |
| and with that initial inspiration, make that | | | | being you are, for the SIMPLE reason that you |
| evolve into something that is uniquely | | | | ARE. GOD BLESS ! EmilianoE Salon, E for |
| ours.It is so important to be a leader not a | | | | Effort, Enthusiasm and Excellence in |
| follower and to be true to yourself. In the | | | | HairEmiliano Vitale operates E Salon along |
| state of truth you will be able to tap into a | | | | with his father, Samuel Vitale - Managing |
| universal source of what is fashion anyway. | | | | Director, and his cousin Valerio Domenici - |
| That is a purely surreal experience when you | | | | Salon Director. |
| come up with an original idea, and realize | | | | |
| that others have had the same idea, very | | | | E Salon first opened in Double Bay in 1994. |
| cool.Question: A lot of hairdressers aim to | | | | The second E Salon opened in Wahroonga in |
| please and give their clients the hair cut | | | | 2000 the Double Bay closed in 2001 as it |
| that they want. For example---a client | | | | merged with Wahroonga so that Emiliano could |
| brings in a photo of a hair style he/she | | | | focus more on education, shows, seminars and |
| really likes and wants to get the same look. | | | | travel - July 2001 to Dec 2001 Emiliano |
| Do you ever tell a client that ---NO that | | | | traveled through Europe, UK, USA looking at |
| hair style or color will not work for | | | | latest fashions to bring back to E Salon. |
| you?Emiliano: Absolutely! If I feel a hair | | | | Now Emiliano travels every year to keep up to |
| style doesn't suit a client, I will not | | | | date with what is happening around the |
| hesitate to let him/her know how I feel. | | | | world.Emiliano's father, Samuel has been a |
| That is why my clients pay me $110 a cut. | | | | great source of inspiration for his career as |
| Having said that, I must also contradict | | | | a hairdresser. Samuel successfully ran his |
| myself by saying, hair is about the person | | | | own salon, Samuel's Hairdressing, in |
| wearing it, not the hairdresser.By knowing | | | | Hornsby for 28 years before joining forces |
| who you are and believing in yourself, you | | | | with his son and nephew at E Salon at |
| attract clients who like what you do. Hence | | | | Wahroonga. He has been contracted by |
| you will very rarely have client in your | | | | L'Oreal to educate in seminars on |
| chair that doesn't like what you do.Question: | | | | haircutting, success, goal setting and the |
| What salon products do you use and how | | | | importance of DREAMING, BELIEVING and |
| importat are they to creating workable hair | | | | ACHIEVING. He adds, "My main objectives for |
| styles?Emiliano: We use L'Oreal styling | | | | my seminars are to inspire hairdressers to |
| products. My favorites are; Gloss Wax, Liss | | | | GIVE more and to help them discover the tools |
| Control and Pure Gloss Spray in the | | | | that will make them truly successful." |
| Techni.art range, Smoothing Serum in the | | | | Emiliano is the Style and Shoot 2004 |
| Texturline range by Artic (L'Oreal) and Kiwi | | | | Ambassador and National Judge. Style and |
| Blow serum in the Kiwi range.Without | | | | shoot has 1000 entrants from across |
| products, I don't believe we would really be | | | | Australia. He will select 20 State |
| able to produce the results we are looking | | | | finalists, then 1 ultimate winner.E Salon |
| for.Question: It's one thing to come out of | | | | was voted in top 10 salons by Sydney's |
| the salon looking fabulous. It's quite | | | | Highroller magazine and has received |
| another creating the look on your own at | | | | significant press coverage in international |
| home. Do you offer styling advice and | | | | and national magazines. For additional |
| training for your clients?Emiliano: I offer | | | | information about Emiliano or E Salon, see |
| the correct advice on which products to use | | | | their website located at: Rodriguez is the |
| and how to use them to achieve | | | | founder of http:// an international online |
| results.Question: What can we expect for | | | | resource for hair styles and beauty salons |
| hair style trends for the Fall 2004? What | | | | and an online resource for human and |
| will be the popular colors, lengths, | | | | synthetic hair extensions. She has published |
| styles?Emiliano: From me, you can expect | | | | over 100 articles in various trade |
| short crowns with longer lengths, creating | | | | publications and is listed in the Who's Who |
| seamless layers and transition from short to | | | | of Executives and Professionals and the US |
| long. I am still working with asymmetry and | | | | Register of American Writers. |