Lots to share, it's been so long...

I know, really...A month! A month since I last wrote something. I should be ashamed and really it's the procrastinator in me that I can blame. So much going on, so little time...Yes, tomorrow I will blog..I promise...well, as we can see...THAT didn't happen much at all this month!

SO, here's a little recap!

St. Baldricks! We were fortunate enough to be involved in this first annual Saint James, St. Baldricks head shaving extravaganza! There were 4 of us Bijou girls and two other hairdressers from other local salons. It was a great feeling to be able to network with other salons, this should really be done more often! We shaved over 70 heads, men and women, boys and girls! It was really...amazing seems like such a small word, it was impressive seeing everyone come together to support childhood cancer. The kids involved, listening to the parents talk. Kids are always the bravest. We were so honored to be a part of it, and we loved it so much that another group of Bijou girls will be doing the same thing in Auburn at the fire department! Such warmhearted girls, love those Bijou girls! Here are some articles about it to read. Click here and here! FYI, they weren't messing around, for their first time participating in St. Baldricks, they raised over 27k! We were thrilled to be a part of it!

At the end of the month, Courtney and Kim traveled on an adventure to Bumble and bumble!! For 4 days of learning how to network educate within our salon, we now have been fully trained in teaching classes to the girls at the salon. This was the most challenging four days in quite a long time, classes began promptly at 8:30 am and lasted till 5:30 pm. The day was jam packed and we learned so much. I find Bb University to be such a nurturing learning environment. They realize that people all learn in different ways, listening, seeing and experiencing. So they have us learn all three ways. It's quite interesting and I truly think it's a wonderful experience!! We were challenged with live models and they watched our every move, which is great to get such hands on learning experience with so much feedback!

Our other fun thing we have to share is two of our very talented clients have just begun a CSA garden! What is a “CSA”?

It is Community Supported Agriculture. A CSA is a community of individuals who pledge to support a farming operation where the growers and consumers share the risks and benefits of food production. CSAs usually consist of a system of weekly delivery or pick-up of vegetables and fruit, in a vegetable box scheme, where what is grown is split up among the CSA members. Each member purchases a part of all of a “share”. We have half or full shares available, and, you can choose a “Veggie share” or a “Spicy share”.

I've already secured my half share for my family and this will ensure that my family will once a week get a little bounty of veggies that are grown on a farm by people that I know are not putting chemicals all over them! They are growing them with love and I cannot wait to get those veggies. You can see their webpage - about us page that tells you all about them here! But look here too!

SO the great thing is, Rob and Ashley are letting me raffle off a half share for our Bijou friends. It's easy, you can do a couple of different things to get entered that are pretty darn simple, there is no catch, it's just if you are interested in having fresh veggies for a whole summer weekly! Here is what you can do:

• Go to facebook and watch out for the random questions I post every couple of days, if you comment, I'll add your name! You can do this as many times as you like!
  
• Leave a comment on our blog, I'll add your name to the raffle jar!
• Email me at info@bijousalon.net
• Come into the salon and take a Marigold Farm business card and ask to enter your name!

So there you have it, an easy way to win a half share of the farm!!! (btw, it's valued at $275!!!)

My next project getting the newsletter done with our April Specials!!

So the

Anonymous...

Good business owners want to hear the good, the bad and the ugly...A very good business person is secure enough in his/her business practices to know that mistakes are made and it's a great way to be able to learn a valuable lesson.

While I would love to be able to say (as I'm sure every business person would) that we never make mistakes, this is simply unrealistic and untrue. The best places I have visited slips up ever so often, we are all human and can all sometimes use some constructive feedback. To a good business owner this is gold!

After owning my business for 5 years, I really believe that all of our clients know this, but it's worth repeating , I want the good, the bad and the ugly! I hope everyone knows how important this is to me and they know I want the chance always to fix the issue. The Bijou girls know this too and they too have adapted this approach, it's better to know what you are doing wrong than thinking you're doing it always right and nobody telling you! I never appreciated being "spared" the mistakes I made when I was a young stylist, how are you to grow? I always make it a point to go over it with the girls if this happens and evaluate what could be done instead, they have learned also to take constructive feedback without getting bothered. I would be doing them a disservice if I didn't tell them.

When I go to my favorite restaurant and I'm not happy, I used to shy away from telling the manager, but now owning my business...I know how useful and important this information is and that the owners appreciate getting a heads up, just as I do. It's really okay to be honest, helpful and truthful!

BUT what I don't like is "anonymous" reviews that don't feel exactly constructive, they feel more personal, more spiteful and just plain not playing nice on the playground! I remember being infuriated when reading comments on Syracuse.com about Tim Green and Adam Weitsman, two men that I admire greatly, I hate people who spew hate and post anonymous, really?! Don't they remember when our Mothers told us, if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all?!

We've had two very similar reviews from "anonymous", both saying similar things that our staff is inexperienced and young. I hate to be so blunt, but anonymous in at least one of these cases could be renamed "obvious"! (click here and scroll all the way to the bottom) Notice who "anonymous" insists on going to instead of us, hmm, coincidence?

I would like to address a couple things in this review, it says that the reviews on the web were made by friends and staff of Bijou. I can assure you none were made by staff at all, and they were all made by clients (who in fact are friends of Bijou)! It said we have a high turnover rate, hmm, yes, over the last 5 years 4 were let go for irreconcilable differences you could say, 4 moved to different areas, (and all have said they miss Bijou terribly) 1 decided to stay home with her kids and 1 went on disability full time. We have almost all our original staff and they claim they are lifers. But guess what, in this industry, there is a lot of change and ultimately I will always do what is good for our business. Sometimes it's better for everyone! And years of experience? Well let's just say there are 10 of us and total years combined experience is 92 years, we are a true team so we all mentor the young girls and help each other!

This same review also said the number of bad reviews from locals are infinite, I find this also amusing as I hear so often that the Bijou name comes up at football banquets, wrestling matches, events and clients are always so proud to say that they go there and report back to me what nice things are said. If there is one thing I know, it's our reputation is very solid. I guess this is what eats anonymous up!

So normally I would not jump on my soap box and use this as a platform to vent, but sometimes you just get fed up. All of my friends know, that I am always the one to see the good in everyone, I tend to be very naive when it comes to people not doing nice things and genuinely make excuses for most people's behaviors. While I'm super patient, I also have a breaking point like most people! It's silly, there is plenty of business for everyone, nobody needs to get nasty and make anonymous comments. Work hard at improving your own station in life instead of using immature tactics such as posing as "anonymous", try to build yourself up instead of only trying to sabatoge others. This is always more effective!

I'm a true believer in karma. You get what you give, whether it's bad or good.

This is the first time and only time I will post about such an issue:) It's all hair, hair products, stories at Bijou, doing good and all general happiness from here on out! Amen!

Matching a stylist and a guest...

From time to time, I will get emails from new guests asking me what stylist would be good for them. I LOVE when this happens and if every new guest that came to Bijou would tell us a little about their hair, their past salon experiences and their likes and dislikes...Matching stylists to guests would be so easy.

This is my theory on finding a hairstylist that is right for you. Personalities play a big part in the success of this, a wild child who would go to a conservative stylist, may not always work. The same if it's vice versa. Some people like to play it safe with their hair, some people like to just be a wild card and some people really need a stylist to tell them what would be best. Stylists that are good for one person, doesn't always mean they'll be good for that persons friend. But it doesn't make them bad, it just makes them not right for them.

At Bijou, we strongly encourage...and every one of our stylists will tell you this. We won't take it personally if you don't return to us, it's nothing personal and we just want you to be happy and comfortable with who you go to. If your style is to go to someone different each time, just to see what's out there. WE encourage it! We have lots of clients who float freely within Bijou Salon. (it's how I was, when I was a client:)

So please, if you are new and coming to Bijou, and the team profiles are not helping you enough to figure out who to choose for a stylist. Email me and tell me your hair hang ups, your wants and your do NOT wants. Send me some pictures if you wish and I will give you at least 2 stylist recommendations and why. Then you can choose!

2012 Polar Bear plunge - Team Bijou

Ready...

Set......

Wait...Let's stop to take a picture..Okay...
GO!!

How the heck did we get involved in jumping into freezing cold waters? Well, you know...It just happened.

Last year we watched the plunge. We sponsored Andy Ramsgard, one of the founding fathers of the plunge. While in my head, I think...I could do that...I really know I could NOT! Jokingly I said to a couple of the girls, we should do that next year. At least three girls jumped at it. We talked about it all year long. Lightly planned costumes. Googled polka dotted bikini's. Then around Christmas, we started getting serious!

My deal was, I'll provide the entrance fee's, raise the money and buy the costumes. They just have to freeze their buns off!

After a month of planning, raising money and Miranda's mom sewing the capes. We were ready.

Of course we had to glam up the hair...and the make up...lots of glitter and hair as high as it could go!

OH, and we WON the trophy for a year at Bijou! LUCKY #13!! We were the 13th team to enter and we raised the most funds. Over $1100! Our biggest fan and contributor was Adam at Upstate Shredding. He dared us to jump in for $500. We made sashes that said, 'Upstate Shredding is the reason our buns are freezing'. The articles written where here and here. Read and enjoy!

And to our snow bird Kay (and my Mama and Papa), who reads us from far away, nice and warm in Florida. Those crazy girls will do it again next year! The video link is HERE!

Great Job Bijou girls!!

NOLA and ST200 top fastest growing salon in North America

Winning ST 200 was an amazing experience. Visiting NOLA to receive the award and attend the Serious Business Conference was very exciting! The four days we spent learning new business practices were days well spent! And we ate really good food:)

New Orleans is a very INTERESTING city. The culture is...interesting and diverse! We took it all in, everything that was there we tried to experience it. But we also are setting our sites at going back next year to receive another award!

The highlight for me? Other than spending it with my beloved new froggy husband? Meeting the most amazing woman in this industry. A person that is so lovely...ugh that is just not enough of a description....My best explanation is this, you know how in Ugly Betty there is the character Wilhelmina Slater? And in The devil wears prada, there is Miranda Priestly! Well they are both editor in chiefs of major magazines and they are...SCARY! Maybe just because of those movies, do I have a preconceived notion of what an editor in chief should look and act like. But can you blame me?

Well my favorite editor in chief, and the only editor in chief that I know...Is nothing of the sort. She gives her time to the people who read her. Honestly the main fuel in why I wanted and needed to go to NOLA, was to meet her. I hope that other people get the experience of meeting someone in their industry that they admire and are so grateful for the job they do and I hope they meet your expectations. I had her on a pretty high pedestal. She did not disappoint. She was just as excited as I was, to finally be able to meet each other. She didn't have to tell me this for me to know. I just knew:)


The conference, Serious business, was a great way to learn better business practices so that we can keep growing our little business! We joined PBA, something I have been wanting to do for quite some time. We are looking into new systems to try in the field of marketing and computer programs. Anything to make things better for clients and more options is what we are looking for!

Here are some quick snaps of our 4 day whirlwind trip. We had a great time and next year we will be even more prepared to explore NOLA! We met some people at the award ceremony and maybe next year will be braver to go outside our box and talk to some more:)

Bijou Salon in the tiny village of Skaneateles wins Salon Today magazines top 200 growing salons in the country!

Remember when I wrote this? I had just found out we WON!

Okay, if you don't feel like backflashing to that post last month, here is the gist:

Salon today 200 magazine chooses the top 200 fastest growing salons in north America every year.

This year Bijou qualified to enter the competition. With thousands of applications by salon businesses across the country, this honor is bestowed upon the salons that showcase the best management/business practices that contribute to overall success. We didn't know if we had a chance, but nothing ventured, nothing gained was going to be our motto!

Thank God we tried, because luck and hard work bestowed us the honor to be ranked with 199 other salons who put their best foot forward too!

Until just last week, we didn't know what categories we had won or placed in. NOW we do! We won in overall growth of our salon business. AND we also placed in philanthropy and technology!

Please click here to see our picture in the magazine and read our mention! We also got lucky and they mentioned us on the last page where they wrap up the whole issue:) Such an honor!

Next week, Thomas and I, will head to New Orleans to accept the award and attend the Serious Business conference. I believe attending this conference will teach us more, give us more serious ideas and take our little gem of a salon to a whole new level!

Feeling so blessed!

Christmas elves...

In my next life, I want to be one of Santa's elves. For real.

Well as I am typing this, it's silly, everyone can be a little elf! There are lots of things you & I can do. I know people, tons of people that I love and think the world of. I have always admired nice people and selfless people. They make the world go around. I have nice and kind people all around me, woven through my life. It makes me feel rich in friends and the quality of them! I'm grateful and will always be grateful!
Okay so let me explain why I am posting about Christmas elves and secret missions. It's all very exciting and I almost missed the boat on that. I was told by one of the front desk girls, who was very excited to tell me btw, that someone who read our blog had been inspired by one of our posts about random acts of kindness. She had told me that this person had a friend who had something very sad happen in her life. She wanted to surprise her with a secret elf presents for her and her family. She chose Bijou to be her present. I was so touched when I heard just those details. And we were all excited to be a part of this random act of kindness/secret elf mission.

Then things got busy. Can I just say an amen to my front desk girls. Oh my, they are the backbone of our salon. They really work hard at keeping things running smooth. Our front desk girl took care of it immediately and felt good to be a part of it. Me too!

Then I was lucky. This person (the Christmas elf, doing Xmas magic) reached out in email to me, (probably the best way, because when I read my emails, I am home relaxing and my head is clear(ish:) She told me the whole story and knew I would want to do something. She was right, I certainly do. And what an angel on earth to think of something to do, we all do that, we all have great intentions. But to actually follow through, at this busy time of the year. Well that is heartwarming.

In 2012, my friends here and friends from far, friends I know really well and friends I don't know too well. All of them have inspired me to always act on my thoughts of random acts of kindness. Do! Not just think. Do!

2012 will be a great year, people are good. Sure there are stinkers out there, but good still outweighs the stinkers:) Angels are everywhere, this I know to be true:)

Marketing, making sense of it!

I have a secret weapon.

And you know what? Because I share really well, am a nice person and it makes me super happy to help people! While, I have definitely helped people in the past and somewhat regretted it..nah, not really, because I try not to have regrets and just learn from the "mistakes" I've made. What is a world without making mistakes? Okay, yes, it's late, I digress when I am sleepy!

Okay so marketing. I had a friend who went to college for marketing, I remember asking her if it was fun. IT SOUNDED SO BORING! I remember thinking the only benefit would be working for a big company and being able to wear a suit. What can I say? Suits in the early 90's were cool, especially hounds tooth...Okaaay, digressing...

SO marketing, when I first started my business and even in businesses that I worked for before, I always had ideas and would tell them. Even offer to do them for the owners, eh, but nobody really was interested. Maybe I was bad at pitching them or they just didn't want me helping, I have no idea. BUT obviously, I should say a little thank you to my guardian angel watching over me that they tossed my ideas aside. Or else this little blog may be named something else..it's all about everything happening for a reason! (yes, I know I'm beginning to digress. Believe it or not, I really am trying very hard to stay on track:)

Okay, so I just went about promoting my business in ways that would make me myself look at other businesses. I am good at observing, I do pay attention, I'm creative, I genuinely care, I have passion and I have a wicked good memory. ALL very helpful traits for a good marketing person!

I remember the first full year of opening my business, I started right away with my blog (here was the very first post) and internet researching. These things I enjoyed and found to be fascinating. Guess what, I had NO freaking idea that I was marketing my salon. No clue, I was just doing. Someone actually had to say to me, "You are really good at marketing your salon", for me to realize..OH, I was marketing? Well thank you, (still scratching my head, thinking..marketing is fun??) So, Without a lot of intent, I just did what felt right. I only did what I enjoyed and I have to say, I LOVE marketing. I would market other people for free. WELL I do, things that I LOVE, I could convince everyone and anyone to go there, use them, buy that..you name it.

So are you wondering what my secret weapon for 2012 will be, gosh should I tell? Hehe, yes of course I will...It's my marketing BFF!

Oh and guess what, she also inspires me to blog, it's like magic, I'm mentioned in her blog. And the little voice (who coincidentally speaks with an accent:) in my head (Oh please, we all have them..right?;) Says..blog blog blog. But seriously, don't all good friends do that. My closest friends that I hold dear, they inspire me, I know I have inspired them, that's what real friends do. Even friends that you have never met. The girl who named my shop..never met her in real life, we just were blogging friends, I knew she was creative, we talked about books, I consider her a friend. My favorite editor in chief...never met her (BUT I WILL BE SOON:), but consider her a friend. Sigh, yes different from years ago, this whole internet world has changed many things, but embrace it. Everything happens for a reason, ya know!? ;)

HUGE NEWS!

Do you remember when we won a salon of distinction in the Salon of the Year competition? OMG, I do, what an honor and achievement. It's based on the decor of your salon. I still can't believe we won, what a dream, what a great feeling, what an honor...I can't tell you how grateful we all felt!

Well you remember me saying on Facebook that I was entering the Salon Today top 200 competition? It all happened so fast because, the years that it is judged are not current years, and you enter the competition the year before the competition runs. And like I said you are judged on prior years. SO this year it was judged from 2009 and 2010, you enter in 2011 and the competition is announced as ST 200 2012. Can you see how easily I got all jumbled, when it was time to actually enter.

WHICH is why I almost missed the deadline!! YEP, I almost totally missed it. It was to be postmarked the next day, and I read this at 10pm, ran to the salon and started the reports I needed. OH and essays, I started writing essays while the reports were printing, I was frantic.

Do you remember when I wrote THIS? Well I remembered one thing that my favorite editor in chief said at that time...She asked me if I needed more time, because my photos were being process for Salon of the year, literally the day before the postmarked date. She said, "Some other salons needed extensions, so if you need an extra couple of days, I can do that for you." I didn't need it then for Salon of the Year. BUT I needed it now!! I took a leap of faith and emailed her and facebooked her! I kept telling myself, the answer will be NO! if I don't ask that is for sure, and it could be NO! if I do ask, but it could be YES! too. WHY take that chance!? Always ask, you just never know! She responded by telling me to go to bed tonight and that I could have a few days extension.

We worked our butt's off the next couple days, and got it in! I was SUPER happy with our essays. Thomas edited all my ramblings and since he knows me so well, knew exactly what I was trying to say. We are such a good team!!!! I couldn't accomplish anything without him in my life! We entered several different categories; Customer service, marketing, advanced education and technology to name a few. SO now we just had to WAIT...for this...



When I got the letter, it was in a plain white envelope. My mail lady (you have to love a small town, she knew we were waiting for this..so brought it to me at my chair) handed it to me and I put one finger in the envelope and then stopped. I remembered that the first year I opened Bijou, I had entered Salon of the year. I received a white envelope the same as this one and inside it said. Thank you for entering, we regret to inform you that you have not placed. BUT when we won the salon of distinction I remember getting a huge gold envelope. SO, I told the girls, I'm not crying in front of clients. I'll wait..

The girls grabbed the envelope and held it under the light, sneaky girls! They encouraged me to open it with them in the quiet room. And since I know how protective they are of me, I trusted they knew it was maybe ok... We screamed. We won!!!

We will know what categories we placed in when the magazine comes out in January. Can't wait! SO grateful! Life in 2012 is going to be GRANDE!

Other blogs...

I love people who blog. What did we all do without them? I find them so informative, it's like a friend sharing an idea or an experience with you. I always love a good story!

It's fun to be featured in other blogs. It's usually people I know, but a few times, it's been complete strangers. When you blog, it's a big deal:)

We had someone come into the shop the other day, I didn't get to see them, so I was unaware who it was. The girls brought back this candy jar and on it said 'courtesy of a random act of kindness'.

What I love more than blogs and people who blog...IS RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS!! Oh and paying it forward..and Karma! I love all those things. They govern my life, they should govern everyone's lives..it will be more peaceful and kind! In this town, I witness everyday examples of paying it forward and random acts of kindness. In my home I see them, in my business I see them. I see them everywhere. Sometimes I see not nice things too, but then I see Karma, because almost always, what comes around goes around! Anyway, I digress.

SO on to where Bijou was spotted!

One of our creative genius types that come into the salon, who I love to share APP joy with. She also has a blog, it's very informative with the right amount of fluff. I LOVE that!

Read HERE and HERE! (remember click on the highlighted posts and it should zoom you there, for those that only read this blog by email, I'm not certain it works like that here, BUT if you click on the bottom of this email onto the highlighted name of the blog, it will also take you to the actual blog, you should hear music when you do this..not like angels singing, but real music;)

We were also featured HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE! (the one I didn't know personally...yet;)

Maybe you'll find a love for blogs too, that is, if you don't already love them:)

IS big hair making a come-back?

I have to say while straight and sleek still looks great on some people, I do see more and more bigger, fuller..more voluminous hair.

Let's be real, hair for the past decade has resembled the 70's (with a splash of 60's) And that can only mean one thing: Eighties hair is next. I predict that big hair is gonna be BIG once again. Start looking for your banana clips, those are next.

Style, in particular, is cyclical. Things come and go through the years, they seem to re emerge with updated names, but in fact, they are...the same.

Think about it:

Bell bottoms = Flare or boot cut

Pedal pushers = Capri pants.

Jordache or Guess jeans = skinny jeans.

Frosted = highlights.

And Jackie Kennedy = Michelle Obama.

OH, and hair teasing = hair packing!

I'm not worried (and not just because, I actually loved BIG full hair), but as with the return of the 70's styles, we modified them and made them better! (or so we think;) I think the new fuller styles won't look as fried and brittle. We of course have better products, better hair color and training for stylists have come a long long way! If you don't believe me, check out this article in the LA times!



What do you think? Will it come back and how do you think it will look? Do you see yourself seeing bigger fuller hair and thinking...hmmm, I could do that...!

Wedding videographer in action at Bijou

We have many weddings at Bijou. Lately over the past couple years, we see a video guy in too taking film. I've often wondered what the finished product looks like. Of course decades ago I saw wedding videos from friends weddings, they've never appealed to me, BUT this is different, less like a film and more like a movie with a story!

I have to say, I'm quite impressed and felt the need to share this with you all!

Click HERE, or HERE to see a wedding held in Skaneateles, where the bridal party got ready at Bijou. Click HERE if you want to visit his page and get more information and peak around...who know's, maybe you'll see someone you know in the videos. Heck it's a blog, spend hours:)

So glad to finally have seen some of the work from Mayer Video productions. Click here to be zoomed to his page where all his information is!

Bijou was noticed, from half way across the country!

Imagine my surprise when I was checking my emails for Facebook and saw one that said, your marketing Bff posted a link about you. Of course I was curious...Who was my marketing Bff? I clicked on the link that said congrats you were featured in our latest blog post! And got to read the nicest, most complimentary posts about me. I was so delighted!

So lets back up a little bit, I've been blogging for several years, I read LOTS of blogs and I'm always inspired by people. I have been featured once before on my dearest friend Shelly's blog, where she wrote how she stepped outside of her creative box and helped me so much designing Bijou. And that made me so excited too, but THIS lovely girl, I don't even know. She is a marketing genius, because now I will have my eye on her and what she will be posting and already have read some of her posts. One of my favorites was this one about good gossip! But I also really related to this one.

I love blogs in general. I typically feel indulgent when I read them, I love to read, so they are my little short stories I can dive into. Sometimes I have to tear myself away from them. BUT when they are business related AND enjoyable to read and entertaining as well, I feel less indulgent and more doing what I am supposed to be doing;) .

When things are more story like and make sense, I can remember and recall them later when needed. Does that make any sense to anyone else but me? Probably not. The bottom line is, that because I feel like this is a friend giving advice, and not a dull reading book, it works for me!

Isn't the internet great for all these things, I mean really, 10 years ago, no one from Arizona would have been able to hear about, a little gem of a salon, clear across the country in upstate New York. Let alone would we have been able to connect.

Thank you Tana for writing such a nice post complimenting my marketing attempts. Coming from you, I take it as a very high compliment.

Breast Cancer awareness month at Bijou

It's October, can you believe it? We are participating in Breast cancer awareness month for the 3rd year in a row. We have several survivors and thrivers that are friends of Bijou. And also several that are battling right now. So this is near and dear to us.

We are happy to help, it's no trouble at all. It's fun to wear pink and feels good to wear pink for the cure. Won't you come get pinked?

We kicked off early this year and already before the 1st received 38 donations. Oh yeah, I guess you would like to know how it works: Donate $10 and receive a pink hair extension! And you get to write your name on a pledge sheet and hang it on our doorway! It's all good, you know ;)

I should tell you how this got started, because I love a good story, so you should too...right?!

Well the coach from the Auburn high school volleyball team, Rachelle, contacted me to ask if we were participating in pink hair for hope? I immediately googled the program to see what it was all about. We always like to do something and normally donate 10% of our month to a fund we decide on that relates to Breast cancer research. I looked specifically at the actual pink hair for hope, but was disappointed that only $7 of the $10 to research and then when you figure that most of the research funds have administrative fees as well. I hate to see money dwindling, it's hard earned, ya know!? So I took matters in my own hands, and found pink hair extensions for a reasonable price, bought 200 of them, because, HELLO! That is $2000 and Bijou donated the pink hair extensions so the whole $10 BUCKS can go to whatever fund we decide.

Any suggestions for where it should go? The one with the least amount that goes to administrative fees and the most of the buck goes to actual research or assistance.

What's new in nails at Bijou!?

Getting bored of just painting your nails? Well there really is no reason for that!

People step outside of their boxes every day, more and more. Why didn't we think of these things before, it's the young people, isn't it?? They're really good at stepping outside of boxes.


Like painting all your nails one solid color, but then mixing it up on the ring finger. Sparkles, polka dots, stripes, whatever is your passion. Just do it!





And you have no longer to do just a plain french...do a combination of different ones, light on the tip, bright on the tip, all different tips - whatever you desire. The sky is the limit, not the figertip


And shatter, have you heard about that? It's nailpolish that shatters right after application. Very cool effect and the creativity you can create with that is limitless! Nail polish companies are making huge strides in offering creative new ideas and products. I heard it from a very reliable source (the owners of OPI who visited Bijou in Skaneateles) that they were making a magnetic nailpolish, that after painting, you used a tool that made an embossing mark on the nail. That sounds really neat.


And then you have the Ombre, yes you see it in hair coloring. But now it's in nails too. Look at all the examples of Ombre nails, can you say AMAZING!?



And look what you can do with scotch tape and fancy scissors! That's incredible...(remember that show?)




And lastly, holding up the train of nails, we have our dear friend - Shellac! Can I just say, I love this product!