Salon Love for Studio Em.

Salon Love for Studio Em.

Emily Chapdelaine is one of our hugely talented North American Salon Mentors who recently opened up her own salon and took part in our first ever Look & Learn Workshop. She is an avid dog lover and just a fun loving person to be around! We ask her more about her journey into the Organic Colour Systems family.

How did you get into the world of hair?

I grew up spending a lot of time at my Nana’s Salon (that she owned for over 20 years!) She would let me answer the phones, sweep floors and re-arrange the retail area. I loved the energy at the salon and definitely pictured myself being a salon owner some day.

What do you love most about being a hairstylist?

My clients. There’s something about the power of “touch”. When someone lets you into their personal space , it allows them to feel safe and open up. I see some of my clients more than I see my own family and friends. I love seeing their lives change with their hair.

You opened up a gorgeous new salon last year, what challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?

I’m sure you have all heard the saying “if you do what you love you’ll never work a day in your life”. Guess what, this job is HARD. It’s hard on your body, spirit and mind. When you love what you do so much it’s easy to let it take over your life. When I opened my new space, I was so excited and needed to do so much work, so it took over my life. Working on my work life balance is a struggle that I work on all the time. It’s super important to take vacation, take sick days, and treat yourself. Getting burnt out isn’t good for business.

What advice would you give to anyone looking to open a new salon?

Get some good mentors. Small business owners, independent contractors, social media people and anyone who is willing to give you advice. Learn from their mistakes (it will save you money!).

How did you come across Organic Colour Systems?

I knew a lot of hairstylists who had allergies to hair colour and hair products that had to change careers because of it. I couldn’t imagine doing something besides hair. So I started looking for salons that were “greener” and found a salon that used OCS. When I found that the line worked better than traditional lines, I was hooked.

You are an Organic Colour Systems Salon Mentor, what inspired you to get involved with the education side of the industry?

After using OCS for 5 years I loved it so much that I wanted to spread the word. I felt like there were so many stylists that wanted a healthier option but didn’t know it existed.

You were involved in our first Look & Learn Workshop, what did you think of the day and why would you recommend stylists attend?

The first look and learn was amazing. Seeing the mentors teach in such a different capacity was really inspiring. I would absolutely recommend the Look & Learn workshop to stylists. It’s so drastically different from anything we have seen before.

We have been told you are the queen of hair up! Why do you think many find hair up such a daunting task?

It’s not something we have to do everyday so it’s often a forgotten skill to brush up on, also, people don’t wear updos often so they are unsure of what they want. Consultation is so, so important with updos. They can be really fun if you stop being afraid of them.

Do you have any top tips for hair up?

Start with a plan. Break your plan down into smaller plans. Check in with your client every few steps to make sure your on the same page. It’s easier to take out a section, than start from scratch.

What is your favourite product and why?

Hands down Finale! First off it’s smells amazing. I find it’s such a universal product, that can be used on almost all of your clients.

Why would you recommend Organic Colour Systems to fellow stylists?

It’s very hard to find a line that has it all. Beautiful reds, stunning blondes, great grey coverage, fashion colours AND keeps the integrity of your hair and stylist in mind! To me it’s a no brainer.

What is your favourite colour formulation?

I am a 4 colour bottle kind of stylist. I love to add dimension with low lights. Take advantage of the natural lightness in your client’s hair and use those as highlights. Grab larger sections next to those lighter pieces. My favourite formula is 5CR+4MO+6TO and a drop of Blue!

How do you deal with difficult clients?

You’re never going to make everyone happy and that’s okay. Make sure your consultation is strong. Look at pictures, talk about what they like and don’t like. If you still can’t make them happy, tell them it’s time to try something different.