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Presenting the RAT PACK
MELISSA WALTON: Essensuals, Reading
“ After training in Northampton, I joined Toni & Guy in Glasgow, moving south to run Toni & Guy’ s customer service team for a couple of years, 2002 seeing me become co-franchisee of Essensuals in Reading. I’ m now the salon’ s manager, as we handed back the business to Toni & Guy a couple of years ago. I’ m fully booked every day, cutting, styling, doing all my own technical work and extensions, which I introduced into the salon six or seven years ago; no-one was offering them locally and I knew they’ d be good for business.
“ Racoon extensions are absolutely brilliant and I never cease to be amazed at the transformations they create. We charge £ 400 upwards and ask for the cost of the hair as a deposit, as well as offering a scheme where clients can pay off the bill in chunks. We’ re known for creating great fashion looks, our clients range from 16 to 60; we even had a 99-year-old lady who asked us to make her look cool. She was full of life and giggles and just loved the graduated bob we created for her!”
LOUISA SAXTON: Silhouette du Barry, Chelmsford
“ I love being a hairdresser, there’ s something to surprise you every day, getting to know the clients, learning new techniques, trying new products. I’ ve worked at Silhouette du Barry for over eight years. The salon’ s been established for over 40 years and its clientele ranges from children to ladies in their 80s. For three years I did nothing except Racoon extensions all day and every day; but now five of us are Racoon trained and qualified, I do a better balance of hairdressing – cutting, styling, colour, weddings, roller sets etc.
“ Extensions-wise, a half-head service is the most popular, most clients wanting to add more thickness as opposed to extra length. I also do quite a lot of ladies where I scatter extensions to create more volume, using blended tonal shades to match in with the natural hair. Styling Racoon’ s hair is great as it holds a curl so well, perfect for today’ s trend for more styled looks. The hair quality is great too, it feels, looks and moves like the client’ s own hair, not unnatural in the slightest.”
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