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