Hearing footsteps in a shoe shop is not exactly unusual. But when you are the only one there & they aren’t your footsteps, it could be somewhat unnerving. But at Stainers Footwear the staff & Stainer family are quite used to it.

Paula, (Granddaughter of Tom Stainer who founded the business in 1912) said “Oh yes I have heard footsteps, seen things pop of shelves, doors open & so has my brother Jon, nothing menacing or really scary though”.

But none of this is really surprising when you know the buildings history.

In November 1940 a German bomber with four crew onboard fell from the sky engulfed in flames & crashed into what was then the Stainers shoe repair shop. Although Frank, Paula & Jon’s Granddad, grabbed young son David & began to run on sight of the fireball, he was not fast enough for moments later they were buried alive under the rubble.

When you see a photograph of the aftermath it is truly a miracle anyone got out alive. But someone was surely watching over them, for though badly burnt Frank & David survived.

As for the Luftwaffe crew – one baled over Kinson but his parachute failed to open & so was killed, the other members stayed onboard & either died on impact or were burnt alive.

Paula showed me actual pieces of metal from the aircraft that were found after the crash, along with a parachute document & most moving & amazing of all what is left of a gold ring.

The young men that died that day were our country’s enemy, nevertheless they had family, friends & seemingly at least one of them had a wife. I am sure they didn’t want to be over here dropping bombs anymore than our young men wanted to be in Germany doing the same.

Only recently Paula was told by a clairvoyant that she could see a man in German uniform who wanted her to know he meant no harm & was there to help. Paula was taken aback as no one outside the family & a couple of employees, even knew about the strange goings-on. And until that moment even Paula hadn’t thought there might be a connection with the fateful events of 1940.

David Stainer did do some research & managed to discover the names of the German crew. They were OBLT A VON KUGELGEN, FEL J DUCKGEISCHEL, JFFZ K LOHN & K HOPF.

Yet which one of them seems quite content to remain in Poole is unknown.

So next time you are in Stainers & can’t quite decide which shoes to choose, yet one pair seem to edge forward by themselves – don’t be alarmed it might just be a bit of spiritual intervention & advice.

http://www.boothugspoole.co.uk

Due to the amount of chemicals and water a hairdresser’s hands actually endure, they are shockingly seventeen times more likely to suffer from work related skin issues than any other kind of worker. A whopping seventy percent of hairdressers will suffer skin problems for their work during their career.

Many hairdressers even need to take time away from work due to skin conditions such as dermatitis, meaning they are costing not just themselves, but also salon owners a lot of money for the sake if not wearing hairdressing gloves.

Dermatitis in particular is rather unpleasant. Skin starts to become inflamed and irritated, often leading to of unsightly red patches that flake away as the condition gets worse. If this isn’t treated correctly it can get so bad that work commitments can no longer be met and in some cases can end someone’s career entirely. There are two kinds of dermatitis; one manifests itself due to exposing skin to unsuitable conditions repeatedly and the second is an allergic reaction that occurs when certain substances are allowed to have prolonged contact to the skin.

As hairdressers work for hours each day with shampoos and water combined with the dry conditions created by hairdryers and other heated equipment, their skin’s natural defenses are greatly weakened. Along with this are the many chemicals used for dying and treating hair, which also have very negative effects on the skin. After seeing the facts it seems only natural that hairdressing gloves should be worn at all times.

Long sleeved gloves have proven to be particularly effective in cutting the risk to skin, as they can be turned down to create a kind of cuff that stops water from entering the glove completely.

One common issue though is that a lot of hairdressers believe hairdressing gloves will hinder their ability to work well. Trials in the United Kingdom however have greatly helped to dispel this idea. Each participating salon was given a supply of vinyl and nitrile gloves to use during any task that involved water and products, as well as whilst coloring, bleaching and straightening hair. The statistics after the trial were very surprising. Eighty percent claimed the gloves were easy and comfortable to wear and seventy four percent said that they were able to complete their client’s hair without any snagging. This feedback has pushed other salons to try out hairdressing gloves for themselves, which is great news for the hairdressing community.

Other professions have very strict guidelines for health and safety and many now believe that hairdressers should follow suit and wear gloves whenever possible to protect not only their skin, but also their careers.

1. You’ll want your reception furniture to be welcoming and inviting, after all, it’s where your clients will wait until it’s their turn to have their hair cut and styled. You won’t want your clients to think that you’re unprofessional or disorganised, or that you don’t really care about them.

2. Your reception desk is also important as it’s where your clients will arrange appointments and pay. Why not have some hair products on your desk for sale, and encourage your clients to come back more often, or promote your additional hair and beauty treatments?

3. Don’t forget that you’ll need plenty of storage for all of your hairdressing gowns, towels, magazines, hair products and everything else that your clients need you to have. By staying tidy and organised your clients will have a better impression of your hairdressing salon.

4. The hairdressing chairs in your salon get a lot of use, and so need to be of good quality. If they’re starting to look a bit shabby, or not working as well as they used to, then perhaps it’s time to get new ones. You won’t want your clients to be uncomfortable, or your stylists unable to work properly, because of your hairdressing chairs.

5. Having the right hairdressing equipment is essential, and so you’ll need to make sure that everything you use, from your hairdryers to your hair styling products, are of salon quality and up to the job. You won’t want to have to keep replacing hair straighteners or dryers because they can’t cope with salon life.

6. Your wash areas will also see a lot of use, and need to be kept clean and tidy at all times. Clients won’t want to have their hair washed somewhere that looks dirty and uncared for.

7. Your stylists will benefit from having their own trolleys, so that they have everything they need close to hand, and that they stay tidy and organised. they’ also be able to work at different styling units, so they have all they need to cut and style clients’ hair wherever they are in the salon.

8. Having styling units that are right for your salon will also make a difference. If you haven’t updated your salon for a while, then you might be surprised at the range of different styling units available. How could having new styling units impress your existing clients, and attract new clients?

9. If your salon offers more than just hairdressing, then you’ll want to make sure that you have the right sort of treatment couches, chairs and stools, so that your clients and beauticians are comfortable throughout the treatment. If you’re making do with inappropriate furniture, something more suitable will be better for your clients and staff alike.

10. Although you might have a budget in mind for improving your hairdressing salon, it’s important that cost isn’t the most important factor. You’ll want to make sure that the hairdressing equipment and beauty salon equipment you get, is what you need for your clients, so that they can get the hair and beauty treatments they want, and your staff can provide them.

Now you know what sort of things to consider, will you look for new hairdressing equipment and beauty salon equipment?

If you’re looking for new Hairdressing Equipment, or need new Beauty Salon Equipment, then why not see if REM can help? With a wide range of styling units, salon furniture, hairdressing chairs, trolleys, stools, wash areas, and much more, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Find out more, and see how REM could help your redesign your salon, at REM.co.uk today. If you want to improve your salon, then you need REM.

The fact is, I want to know about the person behind the qualifications, what drives them to get up in a morning, what do they do on their day off or weekend. These insights to what a person is really like will help me as an employer, understand how ambitious and motivated they are to finish their training. If you can portray how serious you are about not only learning your hairdressing skills but perfecting them, these are some of the terms I want to hear from potential employees.

The only thing or the main thing that has driven my hairdressing career is, to best the best I possibly can with my field of expertise. Hairdressing is a great career because as soon as you think you have perfected one aspect of hairdressing you can move on to another part of hairdressing. Becoming not just a good all rounder but an expert in all the fields of hairdressing can take a lifetime, but if you have the yearning to do that, I can’t recommend a better profession.

The absolute passion I have for hairdressing, is the same if not greater now than when I first set off at sixteen. Hairdressing has given me a life I could have only dreamed of when I was at school, it has not only given me the finical rewards of hard work but a social standing within my community, and a respected from my professional peers.

I recently interviewed a young girl for a vacancy, and when asked about her ambitions, she said that she would like to own her own salon, I don’t know if she understood the amount of work that it takes to open a salon, but, I remember replying to that same question in an interview within a large hairdressing company, my answer was, I wanted to be the best hairdresser that ever lived, they were a bit bold over but I got the job.

It is easy to lose focus when running a salon, but the only thing I think we really sell as hairdressers is not what the latest offer is in the salon, 10% off perms or colours, but it is the quality of service, how good are the cuts, colours and other services you provide, set you apart from the rest, set your own standards and reappraise them, keeping them as high as possible. Whatever helps motivate you, get some, whether it is additional training or going to shows and competitions. Sometimes being the best you can is used as a flippant remark, but if you can be the very best you can, in hairdressing the rewards will come to you. If you are interested in training or refresher courses Check out the link below.

Hairdressing courses
http://www.hairdresser-training.com

Hairdresser Pros: What makes the profession enjoyable?

Interaction with different types of people. A hairdresser always has this opportunity with various types of clients, young or old, male or female. As a matter of fact, it is this dealing with different personalities that add challenge and reward to the job. A hairdresser is prevented from boredom as each client requires specific hair care needs.
Work Flexibility. If you are a hairdresser, you may choose to work for a salon or for yourself. You may opt to work in an 8-hour shift or by appointment only. You may also establish your own salon or offer home service.
Variety of services. These days, clients prefer a convenient on-stop salon where they could get different services like hair styling, facials and nail care. If you are a hairdresser working for a salon such as this, you would need to know how to perform other beauty services. Expect that every day, you might be performing a different service and not just the basic hair trimming.
Options for training. If you want to become a hairdresser, you may choose to attend a training course from a technical school. You may also choose to become an apprentice in a work environment where you would likely be absorbed once the apprenticeship is completed.

Hairdresser Cons: What makes the profession taxing?

People interaction. Although this may also be considered as an advantage, if you are a type of person who has less interest and patience in dealing with people, you may consider this as one advantage. Not all clients are easy to deal with. As a hairdresser there will be times when you will be working for difficult to please clients. Some will take note on how you would handle your scissors, some will not like the way you shampoo their hair and others will even mind the way you speak and talk to them. So you must be careful and gentle with your technical hair styling and communication skills.
Hair and Beauty responsibility. As a hairdresser, your clients expect you to enhance their appearance and not ruin it. There will be accidents and though it is not your fault, most clients will consider this as your flaw and they will likely not come back for your service.
Physical strain. A hairdresser’s job involves standing for long straight hours resulting to inflamed feet and ankles, growth of varicose veins, back and joint pains.
Competition among other hairdressers. There are many other hairdressers out there, each with his or her own skills. If you will not think of an effective marketing strategy, you will be left with just a few clients. You may pursue additional training on the recent hair dressing techniques; you may offer a light massage or any freebie that will make your service extraordinary and special to your clients.

To find your local hairdressers near you to give your hair a new look, please visit HairSalon.com.au, an Australian Hair Salon Directory.

Whether you’re after mobile hairdressers to hair colourists, there’s something for everyone at HairSalon.com.au.

One can find different kinds of scissors for distinctive hair styles and the hairdresser’s type of cutting style. Curved blades will help make it much easier to cut round ears and also for shaping specific styles. Longer blades will be suitable for long hair, shorter blades will be much better for short styles and thinning scissorc are essential for thinning and tapering. Some scissors have tiny grooves on a single edge of the blade to keep the hair straight when is cut. These are typically most beneficial used for thick hair. Any good hairdresser would have a collection of scissors to be well prepared for any hair style and style of hair.

To help keep your scissors in the very best of shape they need to be used with clean hair only. Hair styling products and unclean hair is going to leave a film on the blades which could dull them quickly after regular use. The blades should really be wiped nice and clean after every single hair cut and also cleaned and oiled frequently. Clean your scissors by using tepid to warm water together with a moderate cleaning agent. Open up the blades wide while cleaning to eradicate any kind of dirt and grime from the full length of the cutting blade. Always rinse them properly and dry by using a soft towel. Just after cleaning put on oil to the blades and open up and close them a couple of times to be able to spread the oil, mop any surplus away.

It is essential that you take care of your hairdressing scissors and treat them as the unique professional tool that they are. Use them just to cut hair, and take care to not ever drop them which may damage the end or bend the blade. Make certain to adjust the tension screw on occasion because it is going to undo with regular use.

The ideal set of hairdressing scissors does not only make it to easier for the hairdresser to cut the required style and to be comfortable enough to utilise for hours on end but high-quality hairdressing scissors are created to last. With the right care and attention they will likely last quite a few years and so the purchase will pay for itself in the end.

If you wish to find out what hairdressing scissors are available to buy. Please head over to our website for a huge range and variety.
http://hairdressingscissorsonline.co.uk/category/hairdressing-scissors/

1. If you’re reception furniture looks tatty, it might be putting off potential clients, and won’t be a nice environment for your clients to wait in. if your reception furniture has seen better days, then why not replace it?

2. Perhaps your hairdressing chairs don’t work properly or are falling apart. If they are ripped, or uncomfortable, or don’t portray the right image for your salon, then you’ll want to get some hairdressing chairs that are more appropriate.

3. Perhaps your hairdressers have trolleys that aren’t big enough. If they are overflowing with hairdressing equipment, or hard to move, then you might want to replace them with more suitable hairdressing trolleys.

4. Maybe your styling units look old, and uninspiring. How can you claim to be a cutting edge salon and attract young professionals if your work area is drab and falling apart?

5. Maybe your wash areas look old and are discoursing people from having their hair washed in your salon. Why not replace them with a more design that’s easier to use?

6. If you’re now cutting men’s hair as well as women’s hair, you’ll need to make sure that your salon furniture in the male area of the salon is designed to appeal to men.

7. Perhaps you don’t have enough storage for towels and gowns, and they are always lying around. This doesn’t create a good impression for your clients, or people walking past your salon.

8. Maybe you want a nice new reception desk to show off your hair products, and encourage your clients to spend extra on additional products to keep their hair looking good until their next appointment.

9. If your salon hasn’t been decorated in a while, it might look old, and have really dated colours. This might also be why people are walking past your salon, rather than walking in.

10. If you’re looking to attract more clients then you’ll want to make sure that your salon appeals to your target market. If you’re in the town centre trying to attract young professionals on their lunch hour, then your salon will need to reflect this.

Now you know how to tell if your hairdressing salon equipment needs replacing, do you need new hairdressing equipment?

Find all the Hairdressing Equipment you need for your salon at REM.co.uk. If you’re looking for Hairdressing Chairs, styling units, wash areas or more storage, you’ll find it at REM. Does your salon need updating and modernising?

A new novelist?   No, the things we over pack!

The ‘justin case’ the weather turns cold, even though the lowest temp at the time ofyear you will be visiting is 45 degrees.

The ‘justin case’ I wear the 25 tea shirts I have already packed. Or the just in case Ineed more than 6 pairs of shoes.

Soundfamiliar? I even know a lady who had to pay for excess luggage going onholiday!   No it wasn’t me.

So whatshould you pack? Obviously the essential toiletries, but these can take up alot of room & weigh as much as a small dog. Most chemists & drug storessell miniature sizes of toothpaste, deodorants, body lotion & so on, alsosmall plastic bottles you can decant your shampoo, conditioner, moisturiserinto. Blag some samples from your hairdresser & the cosmetic counters, youwill be surprised how far a small sachet will go.

Buy yoursuntan lotion at the airport as these can be heavy items, but after you gothrough security, this way it doesn’t add to your luggage weight & you canbuy large sizes which normally won’t be allowed in your carryon pre security.If you don’t use it all up leave it  behind as sun preps normally onlyhave a 12 month shelf life once opened. Unless of course you are going awayagain soon after.

Lay yourholiday clothes on the bed. It is at times like these that Colour Coding reallycomes into it’s own as pretty much 90% of your wardrobe will mix & match.But if you have all the colours of the rainbow then it’s time to pick just afew. Whites or creams are always favourites & good basics for trousers,shorts or skirts. If you prefer to keep the lower half in darker shades choosea chocolate, navy or black. Use light or bright coloured tops. Oversizedshirts, tops or kaftan style can be worn with either trousers or crops & ifyou are young enough or the tops are long enough, worn alone in the eveningwith  chunky necklaces or a bright scarf can look great. The next day theycan be used over swim wear around the pool or on the beach.

A pair ofgold or silver flatties look good day or night & take up little room.

Mosthotels supply hairdryers (check before you go) if yours doesn’t get alightweight travel one.

If youspread your packing over a few days make a list of what you have packed, thenyou will be sure not to forget something. So convinced was I once that I must have packed my underwear I didn’t bother to check the suitcase, only tofind when I unpacked it I hadn’t! So now I make a list of everything as I putit in.

Don’tforget to take an electrical adaptor if where you are going has differentvoltage.

Thesuitcase alone can often weigh a ton so try a large holdall instead. PersonallyI find the holdalls tend to come out first on the carousel, I don’t know butthis may be because they are stacked on top of the suitcases in the hold. Asblack seems to be the most popular colour for luggage tie a bright tag, ribbon,something, anything around your bag so it is easily identified.

You don’twant to pick up someone else’s bag by mistake & end up delaying your onwardjourney, or having housekeeping in the hotel cut off ‘your’ padlock becauseclearly you must have forgotten the code! Or find men’spolo shirts inside ‘your’ bag  & worst of all, shaving cream insteadof your make up!!!!

Do you?

Sorry Iwas just reliving a rather unfortunate holiday incident from last year when mylovely husband picked up the wrong bag because it was identical to ours. Iwon’t mention that I had put a pink tag on it.

But themost important thing to take, apart from your passport, is your sense ofhumour! Travelling is rarely fun & more often than not stressful so remindyourself you are going away to de-stress & have a good time, so don’t sweatthe small stuff, as they say.

Bonvoyage & have a fantastic time!  You’ve earned it!

E-mailyour hair/beauty questions or your hints & tips to californiasecrets@mac.com

LOOSE 20 LBS IN 20 DAYS!

DROP A DRESS SIZE BY BEDTIME!

Yes wehave all read headlines like that & so wanted to believe it’s possible. Yetknowing deep down it’s all hype. Usually seen splashed across the front coversof glossy magazines or paper back books with the sole intention of sellingas many copies as possible of course.

The dietindustry is worth hundreds of millions, yet we know the key to weight loss isto take in less (food) & put out more (exercise). Rocket science it aint!So why do so many find it hard at best & impossible at worst? And why do somany lose the weight only to put it all back on again, plus some more?

Commonsense tells us that eating nothing but one food type, say grapefruit or eggs orreplacing two meals a day with a bowl of cereal (which of course has nonutritional value) we will lose weight. Of course you will because yourcalorific content has been so dramatically reduced. Our bodies are clever butwhen it comes to certain aspect they are still in the neanderthal times. Backthen man had to hunt for his food & could go for days, sometimes longer,without eating. So the body’s natural response is to s-l-o-w  everythingdown & hold on to the fat stores as much as possible. This was basicsurvival. The problem is that although we have evolved & have cupboardsfull of food our internal organs don’t know that & will still respond asthey did millions of years ago. So after basically starving yourself when foodis once again consumed the body is more likely to store it (for future need)than burn it off. In other words you start eating again & the lost weightcomes straight back.

I admit Ihave never been on a diet that lasted more than a day simply because the momentI knew I was dieting I felt hungry enough to eat next doors cat – only joking!

Am Ioverweight? No. Have I ever had a weight problem? No. Do I live on salad? No.Can I eat what I want? Yes & No.

I likenaughty food like most people & if I ate whatever I fancied I would gainpounds. But the days I do indulge in a Chinese takeaway washed down with somevino, I enjoy it don’t feel guilty about it & just get back to sensibleeating the next day. But if I indulged like that every day I would look like abarrel & a short one at that.

A friendof mine lost over 28 lbs by simple portion control. No complicated foodcombining or forbidden carbs after 7.0 pm malarky, just a smaller plate. Hewasn’t a junk food addict he just liked good basic food & even when fullcouldn’t resist a second helping. I know this sounds obvious but some peoplenever or rarely feel full, so just go on eating because the food tastes good.If this is you then part way through your meal ask yourself if you are stillactually feel hungry.

It doestake time for the stomach & brain to engage letting us know we are full,which is why eating slowly is much better for you.

SUGGESTIONS

1. Ask yourself why you overeat. Comfort? Stress? Boredom? Try to

address the problem BEFORE you even think about changing your

eating habits.

2. Eat only when you are hungry not because the clock says it’s meal

time.

3. Eat slowly sitting down without distractions – telly.

4. Chew food thoroughly, it will pass through you digestive system

quicker & more easily.

5. Grill, steam or bake your food, frying adds a huge amount of

calories & fat which is as bad for your waistline as it is foryour

health. If you cannot live without a fry up try one of the sprays

like Fry Lite that has only 1 calorie per spray.

6. Drink approx. 1 litre of water a day, it can include tea, herbal or

regular & sugarless coffee.

7. Drink some of your water before you eat as this can make you feel

full much quicker. But don’t drink during your meal.

8. Never feel like you have to clear your plate, no matter what your

mum used to say!

9. Making small changes add up, example swap white bread for

wholemeal or granary it will sustain you for longer & is betterfor

you.

10. If you fall off the diet wagon don’t beat yourself up, just

jump back on the next day.

11. STOP eating when full.

12. Don’t set yourself unrealistic goals you will only get frustrated &

upset when you don’t achieve them. Reward your self when you do

well. And no I don’t mean with food.

There arediet plates available that have measured portions marked out on the plate. Areally easy way to portion control when it comes to carbohydrates & protein- don’t eat a helping bigger than your fist.

A LITTLEOF WHAT YOU FANCY DOES YOU GOOD

A LOT OF WHAT YOU FANCY CAN MAKE YOU FAT!

It’s that time of year when we want to give everything a good clean. Get out & look longingly at our summer clothes hoping it won’t be too long before we can wear them and think about a diet perhaps so that we can still fit into them !

But what about your hair ?  Doesn’t that too deserve a Spring Clean ? To remove those nasty pollutants,  product build up and general winter gloom.

The perfect solution is a Hair Detox – Yes you can Detox your hair no fasting or drinking green gunk involved.  A simple 6 step salon treatment (using Alterna, the creme de la creme in hair care products ) will remove build up, revive and renew your growing glory. You even get a relaxing head massage into the bargain. All for just £7.00.

Now that’s a deal that won’t clean out your wallet!

(Only available at Albert House Salon. Price does not include cut or blow dry )

If you would like an answer to any queries don’t hesitate to e-mail us.

Julie

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