While most everyone agrees that some form of higher education is a good idea, the question of trade school vs. college takes more thought.

If your heart is set on a career that requires college- law, architecture, or medicine for example this question answers itself.  For many others, however, it spotlights an important, even critical, choice.

While no one will argue the rewards of a college degree, the high cost of education today makes it prudent to look at the total picture of what is best for you.  For anyone who is considering higher education primarily to find a good job, trade schools offer several serious advantages:

1.  Shorter courses
2.  Lower costs
3.  Smaller classes
4.  Relevant training
5.  Less debt upon graduation 

A recent Google search disclosed this forum exchange under the heading of “Trade School vs. College”:
 

#1:  What are some good things to learn at Trade School vs. suffering through college? Has anybody had more success with trade school?  I’m going through “the motions” in grad school and not sure if I want to spend any more money on it.

#2:  Lets just say that my brother went to a trade school and I went to college. He now makes more than double what I make and without any of the outrageous student loans I have to pay back. I wish I had not gone to college, I could have done much more going to a trade school and learning a skill I could use the rest of my life.

#3:  I’ve yet to meet a poor plumber or electrician that works for themselves.

#4: That is the truth.

Here are some extracts from an article in “The School Directory”:

“Trade schools do exactly what they are supposed to, teach you a trade. The focus is on preparing students to enter the workforce upon completion of the course….

The curriculum leaves out a lot of generic theory and emphasizes practical training. Classes tend to be more shop-based than lecture-based. In fact, in many vocational and technical schools, the classroom environment actually resembles the workplace;

Trade schools usually consist of smaller batches of students…

Another great reason you may want to consider attending a trade school is the huge cost and time savings involved. Since courses are of shorter duration than universities, you spend less money and time studying.

It would also allow you to start earning much faster, almost 2-3 years ahead earlier than if you’d attended a university. You total savings could amount to almost 60%-70% of what you’d spend at university.”

As we move into fall, we approach the best time of year to consider the value of higher education.  As someone once said, “if you think education is expensive, try ignorance…”

Good- so now we have your attention. And what, you ask, is the meaning of “sextillis”? Well, what we know as the month of August was once the sixth month of the Roman calendar, and was called Sextillis, the latin name for that month.

August may be regarded as a little odd. For example, did you know that, except during a leap year, no other month of the year starts on the same day as August? Now there is some party material!

Further, not much has happened (comparatively) in August apart from extreme violence (August 6, 1945, Hiroshima is bombed – the first use of nuclear weapons against people) and preparation for school.

Back to history, sextillis was later renamed August, to honor Augustus Caesar. It was thought the proper place for it would be after July, which honored … you got it. The only problem - it had only 30 days. Since that could be taken as “dissing” Auggie, a day was added. Hence August is a “knuckle month” if you use that system.

From where did they steal the day, you ask? Yep, February.

Apart from all that, August spells the coming end of summer as we prepare for the upcoming school year. Classes are forming at Salon Schools Group, and there may still be room for you! Give us a call and join the fun!!

The great escape artist, Harry Houdini, had “penetrating” eyes.  They would fix one like a magnet and seem to bore right into the brain.  Dracula had those as well, I hear.

One of the most important skills for the successful cosmetologist or barber is “connection” - the ability to make the other person realize you are totally focused on them.  One of the best ways to achieve this is looking straight into their eyes, unblinking, unhurried, steady.

What we sometimes fail to understand is how much the mirror in front of us hinders this connection.  Well, very much!  Try it yourself with a friend: have a short conversation “through the mirror” then try the same looking straight into each other’s eyes.  You should notice a huge difference.

Of course, the mirror is an important part of our work.  The secret is, every once in awhile, when it makes sense to emphasize a point or you are saying something to be remembered, turn from the mirror and speak directly to your client, with a “connecting” gaze and eye-to-eye.

As part of this effort to connect, I have found it very effective to pause for several seconds, as if weighing what to say or what they just said.  It has an interesting effect as many people only look at you when they are talking to you. 

It is a lot of little things that help make a professional… well, professional! 

I always try to listen to folks with 2 first names.  From Patrick Henry to Elton John and Billy Joel it has served me well. 

As an admitted Larson-head, one of my favorites is captioned “Patrick Henry at Dinner” and shows a young boy at the table demanding “Give me potatoes, or give me death!” 

I think of Patrick Henry this time of year, as I give thanks to all those who helped to carve out our freedom from an unkind world.  He was instrumental in getting a call to arms when many were for “don’t rock the boat”.  What follows is just a portion of his speech of early spring 1775-  the end of it actually, which says much even today:

They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot?

Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. The millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable–and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.  It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter.

Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace– but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have?

Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death! 

An unpleasant aspect of summer, especially with the wet and hot spring we have had to date, is the bug we call a “tick”,. Interestingly, it is not technically an insect, as having 8 legs rather than 6 it is more properly an arachnid (spider family).

For understandable reasons, many people have a visceral revulsion to this little creature significantly out of proportion to its harm. When I would come upon them working in a salon, I learned early to handle the situation with “kid gloves”. Clients were almost always quite embarrassed, despite the fact that anyone who spends time outdoors can be a victim.  So, be prepared for “blood, sweat and tears” because this news can cause them all!

Some suggestions from my experiences in the salon:

Always start a hair service with a “neck up” exam, as a courtesy to your clients.

Ohio Rules state “No patron … exhibiting symptoms of … parasitic infestations will be served unless written permission from a physician has been secured” - a good reason to know before you start any hair service.

Think of what and how you will tell your client before you say anything - you have a responsibility to explain what you have found to your client, but in a professional manner.

Your conversation should be private to the extent possible. Be calm and reassuring- remember this could happen to anyone.

You should not attempt to remove the tick - there is a chance of infection, thus potential liability. In addition, it is outside your “scope of practice” and therefore inadvisable.

Nail polish, touching with a hot iron or other “home remedies” usually do not work. Advise your client to visit a medical doctor, Urgent Care, etc. to have the tick removed. There are special tweezers made just for this task that help prevent the spread of infection.

Pulling or twisting a tick off is not recommended as it increases the risk of infection dramatically. Ticks secrete a type of glue which, combined with their barbed protrusion makes removal difficult and sometimes painful and bloody.

Avoid touching a tick with your bare hands, wash your hands thoroughly and use an anti-bacterial lotion after any contact.

If the tick “releases”, putting it in a solution containing at least 10% household bleach is an effective way to kill it. Do not just throw it away or “flush it”. The client should keep it in case anything develops that would make the doctor want to run tests on it.

Lastly, if a lover of the great outdoors, give yourself a “tick check” after a day in the woods or grass. It takes awhile for a tick to “attach” and it is the old “ounce of protection” philosophy.

Not the most pleasant post, but an important topic. As hair, skin and nail experts, we have a professional duty to look out for the welfare and health of our clients. Hope this helps…

Perhaps I define these terms different from most.  For me, “fun” runs more shallow, has a quicker ending, less lasting.  “Enjoyment” on the other hand, goes deeper, involves a sense of accomplishment, perhaps learning something, or helping someone, or speaking out against a wrong, perceived or otherwise.

For me, watching a basketball game can be fun, but for my definition of enjoyment I would need to watch a play, or the opera, perhaps a concert.  Some thoughts…

Eating a Wendy’s burger= fun
Eating a home-cooked gourmet meal= enjoyment

Listening to music= fun
Playing my guitar= enjoyment

Watching a cooking show= fun
Taking cooking classes= enjoyment

Watching a movie= fun
Reading a book= enjoyment

Watching Dancing with the Stars= fun
Learning to Dance= enjoyment

Chatting with friends about the oil spill= fun
Writing my thoughts about the oil spill to POTUS= enjoyment

I also enjoy reading inspirational quotes:
‘’Life is mostly froth and bubble;
Two things stand like stone:
Kindness in another’s trouble,
Courage in our own. - Adam Gordon (1833-1870)

In many aspects of life, the ability to ”rise above” our consuming troubles, and so present an image so real that it becomes, indeed, real is a major key to success.  A true story, with an important message to those who would be the stars of our industry…

BY MR. DOUG HIGLEY

It was near the end of his life. Though we didn’t know that for sure. But as Sammy Davis Jr. was helped into the studio and to a waiting chair, it was obvious he was in a bad way. Sammy looked…well, old. And very weak.

I was setting up the cameras for a commercial shoot I was directing for The Jewelry Factory at South Lake Tahoe. Sammy…the great Sammy…fiddled with his jewelry on the table before him, laying it out into individual dazzlers (and they were), his head was down and he wasn’t speaking to anyone.

As I rolled the big monitor over so he could see the script I had written, I began to get nervous. What the hell were we going to do! There was no way this shadow of a former star would be able to do the commercial without making everyone who saw it sad. I called his attention to the monitor and he read the script to himself and said ok…lets go.

No changes! He accepted my words that would be his personal testimonial without question or discussion. That really scared me.

I cued Vince in the control room, where Mike and Elain (owners of the studio) were also ‘housed’ at monitors etc.

I stared the count down for Sammy 5…4…3…2… (we always stop at two for the talent to mentaly fill in the number 1 and begin).

At the number 4…Sammy’s demeanor started to change. it was a physical change.
Drooping shoulders straightened…the head came up and looked directly into the camera. The face which was drawn and aged (without makeup!) TRANSFORMED from a sick almost unrecognizable old man to:

SAMMY DAVIS JR! The one we knew! The one who had to do a commercial for a life long friend, Bob Lindner. (The Jeweler). He was ON! Sammy Davis Jr. did the commercial in ONE take. The delivery was dynamic. The voice strong and sure. The smile compelling

As soon as I yelled “CUT”…the shoulders drooped…the weary wrinkled face returned and the reverse transformation took place. Sammy was helped from the chair and basically carried out to the waiting car to return to Harrah’s a few blocks away.

We were stunned…almost to silence. We had witnessed the persona…the epitome of ‘The Show Must Go On’ by a trooper of the old school.

And it was ALL on tape. It played back exactly as we all witnessed it.

No Hollywood FX wizard or makeup genius could have improved on the transformation scene. Shortly after by weeks, Sammy passed away. I still get chills.

Whether it means to you the special person, the pretty card or the little sweet heart candy, don’t forget to remember this special day!  You’ve been told!!