Blog Assignment # 8 - A Professional Critique

Critiquing in cosmetology is critical when your going to be using certain products on clients skin or hair. You're going to have to know if the formula for the makeup is good for sensitive-dry/oily skin. If it's going to react with the clients skin, or if the hair product your using wont leave a greasy looking residue on the clients hair after you style it. This is all important on how people will specifically want to look.

Two products I have recently tried are the MAC prep 'n' prime skin base, and Big Sexy Hair Mousse.
The mac prep + prime is highly known in the makeup industry for the staying power for making foundation last all day.
Pros:- Very velvety when rubbed into skin.
- No scent, which is good for sensitive skin, or if you just dont want any smells.
- Does make your makeup last, for about 5 hours.
Cons: - Expensive. About $32.
- Does not moisturize. I would not recommend if you have dry skin, this may also case breakouts.
- Has very small glitters in this, so if you're aiming for a matte finish, avoid this. This is for dewy fresh glowing face.

The other product; Big Sexy Hair Mousse. This is a salon product, that you can purchase at any salon, and Winners will usually have this in stock. This is a good product if you want the big 'sexy' hair if you have fine limp hair, or you just want extra volume. You can use this on wet or dry hair, blowdrying your roots upwards to get the lift. A little goes a long way, so don't over do it.

Pros: - The smell is very fresh and abit floral smelling, but it does smell nice.
- Does not leave your hair feeling sticky or crunchy at all.
- Very good for alot of volume, or a little.
- Big bottle, will last you a long time.
Cons: - Expensive! $20-$30.
- When hair gets wet from rain, your roots or hair will become very sticky and or crunchy.
- Leaves your roots abit dull, not shiny or glossy looking.

Dress code

The one great thing about hairdressing which I love, is that you are allowed to wear a huge variety of clothing; as long as it is either white or black. As long as it is appropriate though. You can't go walking around at work with booty shorts and a top that barely covers anything. You want to make a good impression to your clients, but you also want to be creative, since hairdressing is all about being creative. With you hair, it's up to you. You can have whatever hairstyle you want. People are going to expect you to have a Lady Gaga style hairdo, or just a plain sleek ponytail.
You also want to me bubbly and talkative. Unless the client isn't in the mood to talk, you should still be able to keep up a steady conversation. You don't want to seem moody, the client will think you will take out all your anger on their hair, and they came in to get a good hair cut, not a disaster.
Even when you aren't on the job, and are out doing errands or what-not, you still want to look appropriate.

Tools

For hairdressing, you have the basic kit to start off with. The kit costs about $6000-$9000, depending on what brand of hair tools you get. The two things you will need the most in hairdressing is scissors and a comb/brush. Although you will use a blow dryer and straightener or curling iron on a client, some will prefer to leave the hair salon with their hair air-drying naturally. Consider the fact that the majority of the time, people will just want to come into the salon to get a trim, or a big chop, or also dye their hair. To be able to cut hair, you'll need scissors and a comb. Without these, you wont be able to cut hair at all.
To learn how to cut hair, you should be taught the proper way. Depending on how long the hair is, how thick it is, and how damaged it is, plays a big role in cutting hair. Some say you should cut your hair dry, because when you cut it wet it's shorter when its dry. But cutting hair wet is also easier to handle, and more precise.

It's not the end of your dreams when you wake up in the morning

Alot of people think hairdressing is an easy task. In reality, you do have to go to school for it if you want to be properly trained. And you have to graduate to get into university for this course.
You don't particularly need great marks to get into hairdressing. C+ average is the lowest to get in, but what's the point in not trying in school. Good grades and enthusiasm can get you into alot of open doors.
Also it depends where you live, if you don't have a school offering any hairdressing classes, you might have a hard time managing this. So it's good to do your re-search when wanting to do this field of work.
If your really determined and dream to do this job, try shadowing at a local hair parlor to get a sense of what a day in the life is. You might end up actually hating it. So it's always a good idea to shadow, and it's also good to get some knowledge of it, so you wont have to stress about it when you get into the program.
Hairdressing is an art. Why? It's a form of creativity and personality. So don't worry what other people think of you, or what your wearing. They expect you to be unique and totally out of the world 'hipster'. Plus, it will really bright up your self-esteem.
Once you have completed the requirements, then you will have your chance to go into school for two years or more depending on the school to get your license to become a hairdresser. Then you are free and have the whole world to work around.

A day in the life

A day of hairdressing would consist of alot of stress and fast-pace working. Though, it is alot of fun. But, I would be in school for this next year for half of my grade 12 year. This is the CTC program. Many people don't know about this, but I would really recommend this if you are in gr.11. This is only for trading though. It would be regular school hours. Wake up at 6:00, get to VIU at 8:30 be in class, learn what we are doing today and when our assignments are due. There is lunch breaks and school ends at 4 or 5:30. Yet the cool thing about this school, you actually get paid for working. Weird, i know. But you work in the hair salon at the school, get your own customers and work with them for a various amount of time depending on what they want done. Honestly, I wouldn't complain about that, because I am an outgoing person and I love to meet new people. And I love hairdressing, so it would probably be a dream.

Addiction

I have always been told since I was in elemntary school that I wouldn't be able to do much with a career because I am not academically there. I have always struggled with the academic courses, but have always tried and hardest and pushed through. I am not the brightest and I am creative and I use that everyday.
In gr.5 I decided I was going to pursue my creativity into hairdressing. I used to dye my hair from black to blonde to red to purple all the time. Eventually I was told there was a course up at VIU called the "CTC". I was so anxious to get enough credits to do this because this is what I have always dreamed of doing. Just recently I have been getting into makeup also, so now I am wanting to be a stylist, but I am more focused on hairdressing. One step at a time.