The matter of haircare is no simple task. Hairstylists the world over are well aware of this fact, and as a result they are finding new and different ways to stay current in their businesses. This week our Under the Dryer team features one such stylist, Treacha Reid-McCalla, who refurbished her salon — Shades of Elegance Beauty Creations & Spa in Old Harbour, St Catherine — and invited aestheticians from Revlon, Black Opal, Nairobi and Avlon distributors for the reopening. Here are a few highlights.

(Photos: Marlon Reid)

Beauty Affirmed

Winsome Donegal — the Avlon haircare technician assigned to Affirm products by the Beauty Concept, which is the official local distributor of Avlon and Affirm products — was on hand to give the clients of Shades of Elegance a scalp analysis. After analysing Pauline Nembhard she uses the Affirm Sensitive relaxer to process her hair so as not to irritate her sensitive scalp. She then uses Affirm Dry and Itchy Scalp Normalizing Shampoo and Affirm Positive Link Conditioner to shampoo her hair. After Winsome works in a dollop of Affirm 5-in-1 Reconstructor leave-in treatment in Pauline’s hair ahead of drying to enhance her its health.

Pauline’s take:

“I love it; it’s very mild, so it doesn’t burn, and it’s just right for my sensitive scalp.”

Nairobi Newness

Nairobi educator and representative Karline Ricketts is currently the official distributor of Nairobi products in Jamaica. She jetted in from Florida to demonstrate the use of Nairobi products to the staff and customers of Shades of Elegance Beauty Creations & Spa for the reopening of the salon, and she also gave some pointers on salon marketing and development.

Janice Lewin, a customer of the salon, volunteers for her demonstration. Janice has just started using the Nairobi line, as Treacha had recommended it to her a few months before. She wants a shampoo and curl job, so Karline uses Nairobi Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner to do the job. She then uses the Nairobi Recovery Volumizing Foaming Mousse to wrap her hair ahead of placing her under the dryer, which she says “sculpts and forms her hair, making it softer”.

After Janice’s hair is dried, Karline applies a bit of Nairobi Professional Finishing Agents Creme Press and Nairobi Sheer Spritz and uses a small barrel-heated curling iron to style her tresses.

Janice’s Take:

“I really like Nairobi, especially the colour lines and the creme press. Their products are very good and I like how Karline handled my hair. She is really a professional.”

Nairobi Newness 2

Stacy Reid is a new customer of Shades of Elegance Beauty Creations & Spa. In fact, this is only her third visit, and she is already impressed with the service. A friend recommended she try the salon, as she was having problems with her previous hairdressers who used harsh relaxers on her hair, which damaged her scalp. The knowledgeable hairstylist Treacha assessed her hair type and suggested she try Nairobi products, and she has been quite pleased with the results. She has come for a relax, treat, trim and style package, and Karline is only too happy to assist. She uses Nairobi Replenishing Hair Relaxer to process her hair, then uses Nairobi Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner ahead of drying. Before placing her under the dryer, she applies a generous amount of Nairobi Recovery Volumizing Foaming Mousse then works in a dollop of Nairobi Professional Finishing Agents Creme Press ahead of styling. Karline then uses Nairobi Sheer Spritz to complete the look.

Stacy’s take:

“I love it! The results are amazing!”

Beautiful Braids

Cavel Edwards has been a client of Shades of Elegance for years, and she loves the fact that she is always able to create whatever style she needs, and recommends products that are good for her hair. She wants to give her hair a break, but since she is not very fond of traditional braids, Treacha decides to keep the look current with large sienna braids, as opposed to small plaits, and asks one of her stylists, Rosemarie, to execute the style. Cavel absolutely loves her new look.

Cavel’s take:

“This is a very trendy and convenient hairstyle and I’m happy Treacha suggested it. I have been coming here for years and she never disappoints, and her staff is very talented.”

Here Comes the Bride…

Treacha wanted to try something new and different for the reopening of her salon, so she decided to feature various hairstyles using her clients as models for her salon look book. She wants to create a bridal look, so she asks one of her stylists, Stacy-Ann, to create it. Sana Holmes volunteers to get her hair styled and soon Treacha takes over from Stacy-Ann to add the finishing touches to the look. Here are the results.

Sana’s take:

“I like it, this is a very nice hairstyle.”

Hairstylist Treacha Reid-McCalla puts the finishing touches on Sana Holmes’ bridal hairdo.

A Welcome Change

Fellow Shades of Elegance clients Kimberly Carr and Toni Ann Stewart also volunteer to get their hair styled for Treacha’s look book. Treacha asks Cuyann, one of her stylists, to create indentation curls for Kimberly, who simply wants to break up the monotony of the dead straight hairstyle that she usually wears.

Crimson Fire

Toni-Ann, however, opts for classic curls with a bit of crimson highlights to give the look an edge. Treacha asks Camelle to carry out this task.

Both ladies are enamoured with their fabulous new ‘dos.

Captions

Revlon Radiance

Venesha Capleton

Revlon haircare technician Marcia Chin of Orion Sales Limited — local distributors of Revlon and Creme of Nature products — uses Creme of Nature Neutralising and Conditioning Shampoo on volunteer Venesha Capleton, a client of Shades of Elegance. She tells our Under the Dryer team that 90 per cent of Revlon products are made locally at a factory in Yallahs, St Thomas.

team

The Shades of Elegance Beauty Creations & Spa team

(back row, from left): Cuyann Taylor and Stacy Ann Mills (partially hidden). Front row, from left: Rhonda Clarke, Treacha Reid-McCalla, Camelle Palmer and Rosemarie Loutin.

guests

Hairstylist Treacha Reid-McCalla (centre) introduces Black Opal-certified make-up artist Tashana Davis (left) and Florida-based Nairobi representative Karline Ricketts to our Under the Dryer team.

Hair by:

Karline Ricketts (Nairobi), Winsome Donegal (Affirm – The Beauty Concept)

Marcia Chin (Revlon – Orion Sales Limited) and the Shades of Elegance team.

Shades of Elegance Beauty Creations and Spa

Neighbourhood Plaza, Shop 3, 3 Ascot Drive, Old Harbour, St Catherine.

Tel: 983-6652 or 361-3043, Email: shadesofelegance@yahoo.com

Make-up by:

Black-Opal certified make-up artist Tashana Davis of:

Beauty Concept

25 Winchester Business Centre, 15 Hope Road, Kingston 10.

Tel: 929-095-6.