CONTINENTAL HAIR BLOG

February 18, 2012

When we make a custom wig or piece one of the variables is colour. This can be tricky. In the case of a woman with high lights we usually pick one or two ‘base’ colours and then do what a woman would normally do – namely get it highlighted (or foil lighted).

It is important to nail it.

Posted in: Ask Michael, Integration Systems, Postiche, Wigs

February 11, 2012

The Wigs For Kids Program has been going for almost 20 years. What we do is take hair donations and blend them into free wigs for Canadian kids that need hair. It could be because of cancer treatment, lupus, alopecia, trichotillomania, and accident. Whatever the need.

It is a popular program. Last year I got a call from the manager of some rock band, Amplitusian, telling me that the lead singer wanted to donate his hair at a fundraiser at the Hard Rock Cafe in Toronto. He asked if we had someone that would cut the hair on stage. I said sure. He asked “We want this to be a fun event. Are they the fun kind?”

My response was evident.

Posted in: Ask Seven

February 10, 2012

Everyone says it, but it does not always translate into reality. I got an email from a woman that was very upset. She is a cancer patient and had bought a wig from a wig salon at her hospital (not Continental Hair’s wig salon at The Odette Centre, just to let you know) and was not at all happy. Why? Because they refused to style it. Any wig, even a synthetic like the one that she purchased, needs to be styled. But they said that not only could they not style it, but that no one should either. It would ruin it.

Well, she heard about us and asked if we could help. I emailed back to her that its not usual for us to work on someone else’s stuff but I would make an exception for her. I told her it would cost $150 and we could not take any responsibility for the outcome. I know that does not sound very accommodating but it was more than she was getting anywhere else.

She came in this afternoon. I was not here and did not even meet her. However, after I got back from wrestling with my Toyota dealership (well, that is not entirely fair, they were very nice), I got this email which I immediately shared with my staff, and now with you.

“Hi Michael:

I want to sincerely thank you so much for allowing me into your salon. We received the upmost exceptional service ever at your salon today! I went in very sad and depressed about a wig that I purchased for a great deal of money that I refused to put on because I just hated to look at myself in the mirror. Corale was my stylist and she was so kind., helpful, knowledgable and professional. She made my experience today life changing along with all the other stylists in the salon today. You have the best staff.”

Its nice to know that I don’t even need to be here and people are happy. I might not want to advertise that too much though.

I started saying it in the ’80s, a wig out of a box looks like a wig out of the box. You can’t wear a suit without it being tailored. Its just the same thing. Actually, usually it takes more than one styling session as it sometimes needs to be “tweaked” as we call it around here. So make sure that when you are looking for something that they not only will style it, and that they stand behind their styling, but that you can still get it changed.

Have a great weekend. Making someone this happy has already made mine.

Posted in: Ask Michael, Testimonials, Wigs, Your Stories

February 8, 2012

That is the time you have to wake up if you are hosting Breakfast TV’s Live Eye. They get to the salon at 5 in the morning to start setting up. And someone has to be there to let them in. I thought, briefly, about sleeping on the couch in my office but decided that it would not be a good precedent. So I tried as best I could to go about getting ready at home without waking up the wife and kids.

The other thing is that you have to get the staff in at a crazy hour. About 6am. How do you get them to do that? And on their day off to boot? Its surprisingly easy. They love showing off, so you let them. It is also easy when the host is Jennifer Valentine (does she ever sleep?). She is the greatest at this. She came in at 6:10, took off her coat to reveal a beautiful dress, turned around and said “Zip me up!” She didn’t want to wake her husband up to do it so she just hopped in the car and had it done on site.

I think what I find I am most grateful for is the clients that are willing to be models on TV. And I am so happy that they have a good time. It is something that I never take for granted and never forget. It is so much of a personal endorsement, much more than any celebrity could do. Its because it is so personal that I take it personally.

And everyone had fun.     Seven hams it up with Ivana during a commercial break.

And here is Jaqueline, Richard, Ivana, Jennifer, Corale and Seven at the end of the morning, happy that there were no really insane live air mistakes. Where am I? I was down the block getting Jennifer’s car.

Posted in: Ask Michael

February 7, 2012

Over the weekend a woman and her daughter came to see me. It is not unusual for a woman to be apprehensive about seeing someone about her hair loss. It is not easy. But she was downright scared. She sat down and we were talking and I finally said,

“It’s okay. You can breathe now.”

She looked at me and smiled. She understood that the hard part, getting herself to see me, was over. I told her that we were going to walk through things and hopefully have some fun. And we did have fun. She wanted to see herself with bangs again. So she did. And with highlights. And of course, with more hair. It was a lot of fun. I am so glad they came to see me, and from the experience I can say that they felt the same way.

Many women tell me that they follow my website for months, or even a year or two, before coming in. That is one reason why I try to keep things up to date. If you have a particular topic that you would like me to address, please email me at michael@continentalhair.com and I will try my best to answer it.

Posted in: Ask Seven