Remember that post a while back, the one where that guy from New Zealand was going to wear 6 meters of hair extensions for 6 weeks? Well, he’s managed to do it, and the record is officially his. We’re still waiting on more details and we’ll post them here as they come.

It could have happened to anyone, it just happens to have happened to the face of Hair Extensions, hotel heiress, Paris Hilton. The extensions queen was recently spotted on the runway with all her clasps hanging out - not the end of the world by any stretch - but could have easily been avoided. One thing’s for sure: She was in desperate need of a visit to the salon!

Confident as ever, Paris was walking on to the red carpet in Hollywood in mid August, looking classy and glamorous posing for the paparazzi.

Unfortunately, her best efforts to impress were undone when she turned around to reveal a hair extension-hairstyle malfunction.

Lesson for the rest of us? It’s important that every 6-8 weeks you head back in to your favorite extension stylist for a quick bead adjustment, to ensure your locks look their best. Those new to hair extensions might not like the idea of having to go in for constant adjustments, but that’s just part of the commitment

You may need quicktime to view this video - which you can download for free here.

It’s on the front page of every newspaper in the US - and around the world: the troubled US economy. As consumers, and for many of us as business owners, we’re feeling the pinch everywhere - from the grocery store, price gouging hikes at the gas pump, electricity bills, to raising rents. Like every slump, there’s a mountain high somewhere in the future, but in the mean time, it’s survival mode for many.

Beauty Store Business magazine has a series on the economy and the beauty industry this month. Here’s a clip from their most recent article:

The three best ways to survive any slump, real or anticipated, are to:

• Know your business well so you can fine-tune it to increase profits (see “Knowing Your Numbers,” below).
• Take advantage of federal income tax laws to minimize the bite of taxes and help pick up a bigger portion of your cost of doing business (to be discussed in Part 2).
• Employ cost-cutting strategies to help you weather the storm (to be discussed in Part

The article covers the “how to” of survival and is a must read for any salon owner or beauty industry professional

Get it here.

The Washington Post is reporting, along with a number of other publications, the confirmed report that popular hair dyes used extensively in the early 1970’s are linked to bladder cancer. The authors of the new report on hair dye, have said the findings confirm what was first suspected back in the 1970s — that hair dyes appear to increase the risk of cancer. Thankfully, the coloring agents in question were discontinued in the 1970s when it was discovered they tested positive for cancer in lab rodents.

Dr. Michael J. Thun, head of epidemiological research at the American Cancer Society stated “This report updates an earlier review done in the 1990s, which called the evidence inadequate to determine the risk of cancer.” This leaves the debate open, somewhat, as to whether or not the same cancer risk is connected with hair dyes and chemicals still in use today in salon’s worldwide.

“These studies were done over years, and cancer takes years to develop. So the relevant exposures would have been in the past, and the products have changed,” Thun said. “So this report doesn’t provide any evidence about the risk of current exposure.”

The findings of the new study are being published in the April issue of The Lancet Oncology.

For more information on cancer and hair dyes, visit U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Here’s a great article from Beautynewsnyc.com on hair style, and hair’s important role in women’s lives - and what men think - or don’t think. The article address things like “cleanliness” “bone structure” “personal style” and “femininity”

A woman’s hair is her identity. It symbolizes what’s going on inside of her head and what she’d like to portray to the world. It reveals ethnic backgrounds, social class, age. It is our most personal adornment.

It is only natural that we are concerned with its appearance and, of course, what the other half thinks of it. But does it really matter if you look more like Audrey Hepburn rather than Gisele Bündchen. For most guys probably not—then again, everybody’s different.

Your hair should give men something to consider after you’ve left. Whether you’ve wowed them with your strength and independence, with your scent or with your ability to out-style everyone else in the room, it’s part of what makes you, you.

You can read the full article here, at Beauty News NYC’s Hair blog.

PRESS RELEASE: VIA Hairextensionguide.com

Fairfax, VA Daniel Funk, publisher of Passion International Stylebooks and Larry Oskin of Marketing Solutions, announce plans for many new 2008 Passion International Photography Competition Sessions. Today, Passion International remains respected as the global leader in professional stylebooks that are provided to salons for use in their reception areas across the globe.

Funk notes, “Now is your chance to get famous! Many of the 2008 Passion International Stylebooks that are being hosted and art directed in cooperation with Larry Oskin and the Marketing Solutions Team are exclusive, yet open invitational events. Participating hair designers must provide their own models, makeup and wardrobe artistry while matching the desired theme of each stylebook title.”

Passion Hair Extension Stylebooks: The very first Passion Hair Extensions Stylebooks has just been released under hard cover, with international acclaim. The following photography sessions are now planned:

(more…)

Spring is on its way, and the fashion industry and beauty industry alike are gearing up to give us some pointers on what’s sure to be hot in 2008. All signs point to “natural” hacolors - especially when it comes to the color of our hair. Most fashion know-it-alls are claiming it’s in-vogue to have natural-looking hair, whatever that means (for those of us who’ve not strayed far from the look we were born with).

This month’s feature article in BSB magazine is all about this very subject, and more specifically how salon owners and stylists can start offering coloring services in the most effective way.

Here’s a clip of the article:

If there’s good news for beauty stores these days, it’s that “natural-looking” hair color is back in vogue. Usually defined as one or two levels away from unadulterated color, natural hair coloring simplifies product selection and minimizes snafus. However, this time around, natural hardly means plain. With bobs in abundance, stronger, more vibrant color is a natural companion to smooth, shiny surfaces. Additionally, with panels and streaks giving way to strategically placed highlights, the color itself is what packs the punch.

If your salon has always put an emphasis on hair health, leaving hair in good condition despite treatments, you’re in a good position; this will be a year for focusing on the self, detoxing and restoring that natural beauty that fashionista’s of years past have told us to curl up and dye.

For the full article, click here.

Hair extension boutique Donna Bella will be at this year’s ISSE (International Salon & Spa Expo) showing off their latest hair extension products. Donna Bella will be showing their newest line of HiLo-Light hair extension clips, made from 100% human hair and ship ready to clip-in.

You can read more about the HiLo-Light clip in extensions here. Donna Bella will also be featuring their extensive line of Brushes & Combs, Education and Consulting products, Hair Extensions, as well as Shears and Wigs

Always wanting to get the word out about their popular product, Donna Bella is also running a special to ISSE attendees. Be sure to stop by booth #2111 to pick up your coupon for savings on your next hair extension kit or related hair care product purchase.

Get Donna Bella’s Booth info here.

L’Oreal USA has made another grab at acquiring salon distributors, the third in the last year. The beauty company released a press release today. Here’s a bit:

L’Oréal USA, a subsidiary of L’Oréal U.S.A., announced today the acquisition of Columbia Beauty Supply, one of the professional salon industry’s most well-respected distributors of salon products. Preceded by the acquisitions of Beauty Alliance, Inc., and Maly’s West in 2007, this transaction represents another step in the company’s strategy to take greater interest in the professional salon distribution process.

Columbia Beauty Supply, located in Charlotte, NC, is a family-owned business with 2007 sales of $60 million, and a network of sales representatives and professional-only stores. With more than 80 years experience in the salon industry, Columbia Beauty Supply has a rich heritage and longstanding relationships with salon professionals. It will be managed by Beauty Alliance, Inc., (BAI) which is headquartered in Clearwater, FL. Columbia Beauty Supply, which services the salon community throughout the Southeastern part of the US, is geographically compatible with BAI creating a strong synergy between the two companies.

According to L’Oreal Professional Products President David Craggs,

“This acquisition enables us to continue to leverage our strengths by getting closer to hairdressers and their consumers, ensuring our leadership position and future sustainability in this category. As with BAI and Maly’s West, this acquisition will enable us to further control diversion, while creating better services and efficiencies to the benefit of salons, our brands, and other non-L’Oréal brands and consumers of salon products.”