American Board of Certified Haircolorists 

Newsletter 

November 2013

In This Issue
Atlanta EXAM Results
ABCH 2014 Exam Dates
Full Roster 2014 SUMMIT
Wella Sponsored Mentoring
KT Revenue Slows Down
Wella Sponsored Workshop
Lowlights from the Editor

SAVE THE DATE!!
14th Annual ABCH Energizing Summit 
   
June 8-9, 2014 
 
LAX Marriott Hotel
Los Angeles, CA 
       
  SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!
Atlanta  ABCH Exam Results: Congratulations to our newest ABCH!

Atlanta was the last examination of this year and we welcome 12 new ABCH Certified Haircolorists. Many waited until the last exam of the year to retake a portion of the examination, giving themselves more time to study and practice. Half of the candidates were retakes and as a result we had an outstanding pass rate.  

Courtney vonBerg and Jay Marshlick were the evaluators with Tamara Dahill being the exam Captain.  

2014 ABCH Examination Dates:

Chicago  ..........  March 23              Boston  ............... August 17                         
Denver  ...........  April 13                Washington DC..... October 12    
Los Angeles .....  July 13                 Atlanta ...............  November 9 

  

Links for more info: 

2014 SUMMIT TALENT PACKED ROSTER FILLED

 

The difficult part of putting together the Energizing Summit is getting commitments from individual educators so long before the event.  We will be presenting many new educators participating in the 2014 Energizing Summit, as well as your favorite educators of the past years. 

Haircolor education has many aspects and there are many points of view on the same haircoloring services. Whether you are a beginning haircolorist or veteran, there is always something new to learn. To often, we get stuck behind our styling chair, surrounded by the same people and never get out among new people to see what is fresh and current. What makes the Energizing Summit unique is that you are learning from your peers. 

 

Registration for the 2014 Energizing Summit starts Feb.1st with a 20% discount for the entire month.

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

  

The Economics of KT 

KERATIN STRAIGHTENING SLOWS DOWN 

  

It could be that the big launch is over or that all of the bad press the Keratin Treatment service is receiving, but the sales of keratin services have slowed. Whether the scares are justified, it has yet to be determined. It could be the some of the clients are realizing broom straight is not all it is cracked up to be. While still a viable service in salons, when done with proper ventilation, it is should be safe. It would be a shame if OSHA outlaws it entirely.

The Science of KT
More Technology for Clean Salon Air

Fume extraction is the technology that addresses the formaldehyde vapors created during Keratin Treatments. The welding industry also deals with the release of toxic fumes at their workstation and uses ventilation units and face masks. Similar salon units are available to help scrub the air both at the work station and the larger units, for the entire salon. But this safety measure comes with a pretty steep price tag.
Here is an informative article by a Fume Extractor vendor:
The salon industry is notorious for having improper ventilation in place to protect salon workers ...
read more
If you prefer a video over an article, here is a YouTube ad from a similar vendor. view here 
Of course, old school ventilation (where available) can also do the trick, but not all salons have outside doors or open windows.
Pat Helmandollar, ABCH and salon owner, warns other salons:  
 
We had a kindly visit by OSHA in North Carolina and found out exactly how to handle formaldehyde in the salon.  It is a requirement that the air quality be measured "before" employees are exposed to the fumes.  We had already decided, before the visit, to move our Keratin treatments to our training room.  We set up a station near the back door, which we try to keep open during a service.  We use both a fan and an exhaust unit during the treatments.The OSHA rep. measured the air quality during a treatment and found that we were well within our limits for the service; however, since we did not measure the air quality ourselves prior to exposing our employees to the service, we were fined $450.  This is minimal compared to what the fine would have been had we not been in compliance.

This is a letter to the ABCH Editor regarding the the Fume Iron mentioned in the last newsletter. 

ChemRisk of Chicago, IL and San Francisco, CA published a study in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 8:686-699.  In this study, they collected air samples and tested them for formaldehyde content at various locations around a salon during fume-producing BKT services.  Air concentrations of formaldehyde were more than 3 times as high during blow dry as they were during flatironing.  Concentrations ranged from 0.08-3.47 ppm and 0.08-1.05 ppm respectively for blowdry and ironing.

While I applaud the innovation and intent of the fume capturing flatiron, I question the positive impact in this situation.  I am concerned that it may be mistakenly perceived as a complete solution to formaldehyde exposure during a BKT, which may lead to more people being unwittingly exposed to this cancer-causing substance without their knowledge or consent.

Cindy Van Steelandt, Zerran.com   

Whether you choose to invest in a fume extractor unit or irons for your salon, or open the windows and doors, or avoid offering the keratin treatments completely, please understand that OSHA is not the bad guy and is looking out for the best interest of ALL of us. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one. Clean air for everyone is more important than straight hair and profitable hair services. 
The Fashion of KT
Lowlights from the Editor         

Jennifer Aniston claimed in an interview with Elle UK that she recently cut her hair very short when her hair didn't react well to the Keratin Treatment Brazilian Blowout.

There is no secret to hairstylists (if not the general public) that Jennifer's hair is naturally wavy/curly and naturally brown.  Colorists understand that her hair was chemically and thermally damaged, even though she used great techniques and products.

Her story to Elle UK is surprising since  according to the ABCH 2012 KT survey regarding the damage caused by Keratin Treatments, our results showed that KT caused an increase of no more than one grade of porosity OR LESS. Online speculation is that this is a promotional act for Jennifer's celebrity sponsored product line, Living Proof .  

"It was a spontaneous decision, even though she had kind of been thinking about it for a while," Chris McMillan told Allure magazine. "It took a few hours to get it right. But I wanted it to look chewed off and lived in." While the cut might take some time for her to get used to, McMillan says the new cut reflects her laid-back personality. 

While Jennifer rarely plays with her haircuts, she never alters her signature blonde highlighted color beyond subtle tonal shifts. My guess is she grows the length back immediately for her wedding to Justin Theroux (GQ cover model for October 2013).  

   

Happy Thanksgiving!! I am grateful for this wonderful ABCH community and thankful for professional stylists seeking continuing haircolor education!  

 

Problem? Question? Complaint? Suggestion?   

Write to me... I love getting email and talking to other stylists about haircolor!

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editor 

Mary Petillo, ABCH