Harsh On Harsh

This week we really got the chance to see clients on each end of the spectrum. We had the women with tired looks, ready for something short, fresh, and completely new, and we had the particular clients who didn't want anyone to mess with their signature looks. It gave the stylists the freedom to transform one person before showing how well they could work within very specific parameters. Charlie really blew away the competition this week. He won both challenges for good reason. He impressed guest judge and returning fan favorite Tabatha whose cutthroat critiques made the show very entertaining. His clients were both thrilled, and he didn't have to sacrifice his own vision to please either of them. As you may have read last week, I really loved Parker's work during the first elimination challenge, but he got it all wrong this week. His client, Tammy, has strong features and strong eyes. That's all well and good, but only with a softer haircut to complement them.

What Parker did was create a look that was harsh on harsh and completely unflattering to his client. A lot of clients don't always know what look works best for them. A couple of the Housewives wouldn't even let the stylists approach them with scissors -- one of them because of a bad experience with extensions.

This is what you might call a "trauma client." Extensions aren't for everyone, and a lot of people find that they become dependent on them. Without extensions, they feel bald. Most often women with thin hair are better off using products that thicken and plump the hair. Nexxus Diametress Shampoo, with Panthenol, actually increases the diameter of the hair shaft, so hair appears thicker. It's always best to work with what you have. If you're stuck with a tired look, like some of the Housewives, but you're afraid to try something new because of the texture or density of your hair, the best thing to do is to find a stylist you can trust and let them tell you the best way to tackle a new 'do. A lot of women are afraid to go short or try something new because it's unfamiliar. It's the job of the stylist to educate clients and give them a sexy trim that will grow out in a way that best suites their type of hair. Women listen, and when you can give them something new that works for them, their friends are going to ask where they got it done and come in asking for the same treatment. I see it all the time.