When I received my degree in communications 20 years ago, the beauty industry was not on my radar. I was ready to find a career in sales or finance, so when I landed in a salon fresh out of college, it was a short-term financial choice—not a career.
Fast forward two decades later, and my career in the beauty industry has thrived—especially the last 11 years at Cole’s Salon. And even though I’m not actively working behind a chair, my friends still seek out hair advice or the latest skincare craze on the regular. Good thing that hanging around such creative, talented and passionate people for the past 20 years has taught me a thing or two along the way.
Here are the top 10 things I’ve learned in the beauty industry (so far):
10. Quality tools are worth the investment!
I am the queen of finding deals, so when I found a hair dryer at Target for $14.99, I figured that was good enough for me! I WAS WRONG. Not only does a quality dryer have more power, it usually comes with a warranty. More power = less time drying my hair in the mornings. Along with that dryer, a nozzle on your dryer is a huge help. The nozzle helps direct the hair for your style and directs the air where you want it—another time saver! And what about those flat irons, you ask? I only trust ghd. The ghd styler heating element perfectly creates consistent results every time without damaging my hair!
9. Use a heat protectant on your hair.
Before you turn on that dryer, start using a heat protectant on your hair! Whether you dry, style or use heat of any kind, you need to protect those strands. My current favorite is Oribe Supershine—since I’ve started using this product, the texture and integrity of my hair has improved significantly.
8. A lash lift and tint is great for vacations, date nights or just every day!
I love getting a lash lift and tint before vacation—it instantly curls my lashes and the tint allows me to leave my mascara at home. The lash lift we offer at Cole’s Salon is new and improved, conditioning the lashes as they curl and the service lasts up to 6 weeks. A personal favorite!
7. Bumble and bumble Hair Powder is my favorite for covering those stray greys.
When you work in a salon, there are times that your color just doesn’t happen on time (we love our guests and want them to always get in first!). So when my greys pop out (and there are more and more showing up!) I reach for my Bumble and bumble Hair Powder—not only does it cover my greys, it stays put until I wash my hair.
6. A little color on your cheeks makes you look healthy and younger.
I couldn’t make blush work on my face until an esthetician gave me a makeup lesson. They not only showed me how to apply blush, but helped me pick the correct shade for my skin tone. Now I won’t leave home without it!
5. Perfectly sculpted brows can perfectly frame your face.
A great brow shaping, whether created by a waxing or a threading service, instantly gives you a mini eye lift! Your eyelashes pop and that tired look goes away. Maintenance is key for me—when my brows are done I feel more professional and put together, so every 3 weeks I get a cleanup.
4. Unplugging and enjoying your time in the salon is sometimes the best.
I get it—a salon appointment means you get an hour to yourself and sometimes all you want to do is scroll through Facebook and zone out. It’s absolutely your choice and we’ll accommodate your wishes, but I’ve found that there is nothing more enjoyable than unplugging and enjoying the experience while I’m at the salon. Try it once and see how you like it!
3. Collagen works!
As mentioned before, I love a bargain. So when IMAGE Skincare launched their daily Yana Collagen shots, I was skeptical. I had read about the benefits of collagen but wasn’t ready to invest in a drink for my skin. Thankfully, I took the plunge and experienced Yana for 30 days. That was over 2 years ago. Hands down, I would now say Yana is the one product I cannot live without! It’s made my skin look younger, the tone of my skin is more even and I still get compliments on a regular basis about how young I look!
2. Sunscreen is a MUST!
I was a child of the 80s and 90s, back when summer was all about how tan you could get and how much Sun In you needed to create sun-kissed highlights in your hair. Yikes! We weren’t think about UVA or UVB rays, we were thinking about which tanning salon was open before prom. Again, yikes! Now my daily moisturizer has an SPF of 32+ and I use it every day of the year (yes, even during the winter!). The IMAGE Prevention+ line has several choices of protection to fit your skincare needs—giving you daily protection AND hydrating your skin at the same time.
1. A great stylist is worth their weight in GOLD!
We have a team of amazing people at Cole’s Salon—what I love about them is that they genuinely care for you as a person. They work with you to figure out what is best for your hair, skin, and nails! They really do customize their time with you, think though a plan designed with you in mind, and want to set you up for success at home. They love what they do and I am the lucky one that gets to learn from them daily.
What will the next 20 years bring to my personal and professional life? I’m not sure (and I’m okay with that), but I’m certain that as long as I have my team at Cole’s Salon by my side, I’ll keep learning, growing and sharing with others.
Heather Ehresman is on the corporate team at Cole’s Salon.
One Response
I’ve been a client at Cole’s Salon in Eagan for 20 years and when my wonderful stylist, Emma moved to Florida, I was so sad!Lucily I’ve found Becca and she’s awesome! Cut, style, color, and products, as well as the professionalism from everyone at the salon keeps me coming back! Thank you!