My Favorite Go-To Product: Leave-In Conditioner

I’ve been a big believer in leave-in conditioners for over 40 years, and for good reason—they truly make a difference in the health and manageability of hair. Unlike heavy creams or rinse-out conditioners, leave-ins are lighter in weight, don’t cause buildup, and can be used on both wet and dry hair.

What sets them apart is their staying power. Leave-in conditioners continually hydrate long after application, offering benefits that regular conditioners can’t. They detangle, prevent breakage, improve elasticity, nourish, protect against color fading, control frizz, guard against heat, add shine, and make hair easier to style.

HAIR DYE ON EYEBROWS OR LASHES: YES OR NO?

The short Answer: No — Using scalp hair dye on eyebrows or lashes is not recommended and can be dangerous. 

Why You Should Avoid Using Hair Dye on Eyebrows? While some people try using hair dye on their eyebrows, it's important to know that hair dyes are not formulated for use near the eyes. The skin around the eyes is extremely thin and sensitive, and the eyes themselves are highly vulnerable to irritation or chemical injury.

Sunscreen for Hair and Scalp 

We always emphasize the importance of sunscreen for our face and body, but did you know your hair and scalp need protection too?

The scalp is skin, like any other part of the body; it’s vulnerable to sunburn and skin cancer. Around 10% of melanomas occur on the scalp. As we age and hair begins to thin, the scalp becomes even more exposed, often directly facing the sun's rays.

But your scalp is not the only one at risk. Sun exposure can damage your hair by breaking down its proteins, leading to dryness, brittleness, and color fading, whether your hair is natural or color-treated.

What can you do?

Spring 2025 Color Trends & Their Impact on the Beauty Industry

As the seasons change, so do the trends in beauty and fashion. Spring 2025 brings a vibrant and versatile color palette that offers endless opportunities for industry professionals. From hairstylists to estheticians, these trends can inspire new services, marketing strategies, and retail opportunities. Understanding how these colors influence beauty and personal style is essential for staying ahead in the industry. Here’s a look at the top color trends for Spring 2025 and how professionals in the hair and beauty industry can incorporate them into their work.

Spring 2025 Color Trends

1. Mocha Mousse / Chocolate Brown – The neutral of the season, offering a rich and versatile base that pairs well with a variety of shades. Perfect for classic hair colors, rich brunette tones, and warm makeup looks.
2. Wispy Pink / Tea Rose – A soft, delicate shade ideal for pastel hair tones, soft blush makeup, and subtle highlights.
3. Moody Plum / Eggplant Purple / Maroon – A deep, rich hue that exudes sophistication, making it a perfect choice for bold hair color transformations or dramatic makeup.
4. Crisp Blue / Icy Blue – A fresh and timeless shade, excellent for cool-toned hair colors, eye makeup, and fashion-forward nail designs.
5. Clementine / Marigold – Vibrant and energetic, this zesty citrus shade can inspire warm, golden balayage or sunset-hued makeup trends.
6. Butter Yellow – A soft pastel alternative to white, offering a subtle way to brighten up hair color, fashion styling, and nail aesthetics.
7. 24K Gold – A deeper, more radiant yellow that can be incorporated into golden blonde hair colors, shimmery makeup, and eye-catching nail art.
8. Siren Red / Cardinal Red – Bold, fiery hues that make a statement in hair, lipstick, and nail polish trends.
9. Periwinkle – A universally flattering shade that balances cool and warm tones, making it a standout choice for vibrant hair colors and bold eye makeup.
10. Frog Green / Minty Green – A fresh, grassy hue that adds a pop of color to creative hair dyes, fashion-forward accessories, and playful makeup looks.
11. Cream – A timeless staple in fashion and beauty, providing an elegant base for hair color, wardrobe styling, and classic makeup applications.

 Incorporating Color Trends into the Beauty Industry

As a Beauty Artist, we all have a way of expressing our interpretation of beauty and it is what makes us unique and makes our clients keep coming back again and again. To define different expressions of art I will use foundations that we are all familiar with. The question is are you a Painter, Sculptor, Architect, or Illustrator?

A painter expresses their beauty art by using long and short strokes with a brush, while incorporating colors that add depth or expand that can be gradient or abrupt creates both bold and subtle looks. These looks can be modern, classic, abstract, surreal or cubed to name a few. Think colorist.

A sculptor creates two- and three-dimensional statements on straight, wavy, curly, and tightly curled tapestries. Sculptors create structure and form that build on an already existing shapes, that add or create balance and distribute height and weight where needed. Think of a hairstylist who executes a beautiful updo.

SUMMER is HERE!  It is time to enjoy the beach, go on vacation, and have fun in the sun.  So, pack that SPF Sunscreen. It is HOT out there, share your professional sunscreen knowledge. 

Protect your guests, focus on the right SPF to protect their skin and hair.  Foundations, facial cream, body products, as well as hair products contain sunscreen.  Research your product line for sunscreen protection, then engage in a dialog with your guest.  Find out their summer plans and how much time will spend in the great outdoors or just time outside.  That pool is so inviting! 

Everyone needs sunscreen, from the toddlers to the retirees encourage them to use sunscreen DAILY.   Protect your guests from ultraviolet radiation and help prevent skin cancer.  They will Thank You for also helping to prevent wrinkles, aging, and dark spots.  Let’s not forget about how important it is to protect their hair, so encourage them to wear a hat or use a sun protector hair product.  That beautiful sun they love so much will fade that gorgeous hair color they spent their dollars and your creativity on!  Remember to check for any allergies as some are very sensitive to sunscreen. 

Kick the Heat to the Curb and ENJOY summer!

As the state of Minnesota begins to open up and prom season is upon us, teenagers have been sequestered in their homes-bored, in front of their phone camera (tik-tok) and have experimented with every Splat, Splot, Paint, known to woman. Well, let me prepare you. They are coming to a salon near you! They want to look “normal” for their prom. And… they want it done within one session (because they have prom pictures tomorrow). So, get ready, they are desperate for you to fix what they have been creatively expressing over this last miserable year for the event they have been waiting for all of their teenage lives. Dust off your magic wands and your secrete hair potions for the remainder of the month of May!

Get used to the words, pre-color, re-color, color cleanse, re-shaping, “we may need to consider other options” and of course our trusty stand by “not today”. Your portfolio of beautiful alternatives will be key for these young doe-eyed beauties.

For Professional use only: Only show the pictures that you will be able to achieve today!

Live Excellence and Professionalism Every Day

It has been one year since my friend and boss, Horst Rechelbacher, passed away. We took a chance working together for the first time in 1989 when he hired me to be his business assistant. That position lasted exactly one month when he asked me to step into his new adventure, the Aveda Esthetique, his signature retail shop.

365 products later, Aveda Esthetique, launched on Madison Avenue in New York. Horst once again changed the world of beauty. All of the products he created throughout his life changed the world of beauty over and over again. "Eco-chic" was his favorite catch phrase. He created the natural category in the beauty industry that carries into today.

Flash forward 26 years . . .

I have been trying to determine an appropriate way to honor my friend Horst. Horst loved the beauty industry and all licensed professionals. While we worked together at the Aveda Corporation, he always developed products and promotions with the licensed professional in mind.

Why it was my goal to become a licensed Instructor. . . It could be yours too!

Looking at the ever changing nature of the beauty industry will be a great way to help answer that question. Having lived by the credo “change is good”, the beauty industry has been a great choice allowing me to not only change but to grow, try new things and truly experience all avenues of the business. 

When SSPA sent out an email that they were now offering the 38 Hour Instructor Licensure Course, I had recently been laid off from my job with Horst Rechelbacher after his death. Having worked with Horst for many years, I knew he believed in the credo “you are on your path” and I have tried to live my life in the same way. Believing everything happens for a reason, I jumped at the chance to learn a new skill and ultimately become more employable as I seek a new position.

Seeking a new position, combining my new educator skills with my varied job experience, I hope to become a hybrid of sales/marketing/educator that most job candidates don’t possess within the beauty industry. Most organizations seek people able to perform varied duties and fill different needs within a single job classification. Becoming a licensed educator will help in my career to do just that.

Welcome to the SSPA Beauty Blog Live!

My name is Deborah Otten and I have taken on the role of blogger for the Salon & Spa Professional Association team. While I am excited for this new responsibility, I am also a little nervous. Those of you reading this post please send me feedback (positive or negative, I am a big girl… really) and maybe an idea or two for future postings.

In my tenure in the salon industry in Minnesota, I have had many people ask why I belong to a professional organization…

Why belong to SSPA? Or simply put: “What’s in it for me?”