Open Your Mind

Whether you believe it takes two weeks or two months to form a new habit, for those working in the beauty industry for 10 to 20-plus years, it can be hard to break bad ones, too. As they say, “Old habits die hard,” right?

But what if I were to tell you that by simply breaking some old routines and opening your mind to new skills, techniques and ideas, you can not only help build business and increase revenue but also provide a more welcoming and inclusive environment for all.

As more of us expand our self-awareness and knowledge around diversity and inclusion in the beauty industry, we at Salon want to help you on your journey. That’s why we’re committed to dedicating an entire issue to textured hair each year. This year, we have decided to combine it with education since we strongly believe that the two need to work more hand in hand in our industry. In Time for Texture (page 30), we break down the different curl types and share tips for working with curly and coily hair.

Fun fact: I actually have type 2B hair, which I’ve chosen to flat-iron since, gosh, probably the ninth grade! Like many of us, I definitely have some hair regrets, including not taking better care of my hair when I was younger. While my curl pattern has evolved as I’ve gotten older, I can still relate to stories of walking into a salon and seeing the fear in a hairstylist’s eyes when they see my hair. While their “fears” are often put to rest once they finally work with my hair, I’m still often questioned about if I’ve had it chemically straightened (no, but I would be lying if I said I’ve never thought about it). In Going All In (page 58), we speak with two experts about creating a safe space for all hair textures in your salon and how doing so can reap rewards, such as growing your clientele and building loyalty.

Regardless of whether you or your salon currently offer textured-hair services, I truly hope this issue motivates you to break out of your comfort zone and expand your skill set to be able to confidently work with all hair types and textures. No excuses!

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Veronica Boodhan veronica@salonmagazine.ca

ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR (ACTING) Barbara Burrows

ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR (ON LEAVE) Stephanie MacDonald Gallant stephanie@salonmagazine.ca

DIGITAL SPECIALIST Shanice Romelus shanice@salonmagazine.ca

CONTRIBUTORS Lucy Mazzucco, Abiola Regan

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Marc Gadbois marc@salonmagazine.ca

SALES & EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Lauren Farrugia lauren@salonmagazine.ca

PRODUCTION MANAGER Alan Swinton production@salonmagazine.ca

OFFICE MANAGER Cathy Donaghy cathy@salonmagazine.ca

CIRCULATION MANAGER Adrian Holland helpdesk@subscriptions.salon

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER & PUBLISHER Tom Arkell tom@salonmagazine.ca

Veronica Boodhan Editorial Director

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This project has been made possible [in part] by the Government of Canada.

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Entries for the 2024 Contessa Awards open in May, marking the official start to Contessa season! Read up on everything you need to know about entering this year’s awards.

See our roundup of texture education across Canada to help you learn or advance your curly-hair skills.

Calling all salon owners and managers! Use our job board to share new opportunities in your salon and help build your dream team.