Some colorists don’t know that they want to make rainbows for a living until they realize how much joy the vivids niche can bring to their clients and to themselves. But once you discover that artistic passion, how do you attract your dream clients?
Samantha Sellars, Digital Education Manager at PRAVANA
Samantha Sellars (@forloveandhair) is a highly accomplished hairstylist, educator and content creator with over a decade of experience. Her career has been marked by her influential roles with top beauty brands where she honed her skills and developed a reputation for excellence. For the past year, Sellars has served as the Curriculum and Digital Education Manager at PRAVANA where she designs and manages cutting-edge educational programs and content.
Sellars’ extensive industry knowledge and innovative approach continue to make her a leading figure in the world of professional beauty. Throughout her journey she’s become an expert in creative color, namely PRAVANA VIVIDS, and has plenty of knowledge to share on how to grow your VIVIDS business.
Social Media
Use reels, videos and high-quality images to generate buzz about your colorful hair art and how you create it. Vibrant colors, especially those using PRAVANA VIVIDS, are some of the most eye-catching, scroll-stopping hair content out there. Be sure to do your work justice when documenting it.
“To make your VIVIDS content pop, we recommend shooting against a clean and uncluttered background,” Sellars explains. “Make sure that the hair is the focal point of the frame. Use indirect, natural lighting for the most accurate depiction of the color and avoid any unnatural editing.”
Don’t forget to hashtag your local cities and suburbs so that future clients can find you on social!
Boldness
When promoting your artistry, Sellars advises colorists to “showcase how VIVIDS can be used minimally or boldly to give clients a pop of color or a full rainbow.”
Show your clients the range of possibilities when working with VIVIDS. Not every amazing look features a bright, vibrant color—make sure they know that they have options in the lighter pastel and deeper, darker categories as well.
And if they want their bold color to pop, really make it pop! VIVIDS can help you create some really electric colors, like this bright green color blocking look that Sellars created:
photo courtesy of Samantha Sellars
Formula: 30g ChromaSilk VIVIDS Neon Green + 10g Emerald
Toning
In case you didn’t know, PRAVANA offers several highly customizable options for all your toning needs. When working with bright colors, it’s beneficial to have plenty of different toners on hand so that you can adjust your canvas no matter the situation.
Sellars shares that pre-toning after blonding using similar hues as your desired end result will help ensure the color not only looks more even but fades on tone as well.
“PRAVANA has 3 demi-permanent color options that are great for toning,” says Sellars. “For express toning, we offer ChromaSilk Express Tones that deposit in as little as 5 minutes and are customizable for levels 7-10. For toning on levels 9+ we have ChromaSilk Platinum Toner that deposits in 5-20 minutes depending on whether you want to correct unwanted pigments or deposit beautiful tones. We also have ChromaSilk HydraGloss that has 24 intermixable shades for customized results from level 1 all the way to level 10 and deposits in up to 20 minutes.”
Consultations
What’s the number one best way to make sure you give the client the look they want? Consult with them! And not just the first time, but every time. Having a thorough consultation with your clients ensures that you understand their goals and they understand what is achievable during that appointment, as well as plans for the future.
“During the consultation, it’s important to discuss the level of lift the client’s hair can achieve and the overall tones (warm or cool) and patterns the client is seeking,” says Sellars. “One of the benefits of PRAVANA VIVIDS is that not every shade requires the hair to be at a level 10. If what the client wants and what is realistic for their hair are different, you should work with your client to come up with a solution that doesn’t compromise the integrity of their hair while giving them the color they want.”
On that note, also be sure to share with your clients that lightening their hair will help the VIVIDS color to stick if they want it to last.
“VIVIDS should last about 30 washes with proper application, care and maintenance, but it’s important to keep in mind that pastel tones will fade faster due to the lighter dye load,” Sellars continues. “ChromaSilk VIVIDS use cationic dyes which create positively charged ions. We recommend applying VIVIDS to pre-lightened hair since the lightening process produces negative ions in the hair and establishes anchor points for the color to stick to the hair. This application process helps to maximize the longevity of the color.”
Knowledge
Educate your clients on the best ways to maintain their VIVID color at home. Knowing is half the battle, so sharing the necessary knowledge with your clients will keep them happy with their color long after their appointment, as well as keep them coming back. Speaking of, make sure they know when to come back for that next appointment, too.
“To help close the cuticle and seal in the color, rinse with cool water and use a gentle cleansing system like PRAVANA’s Color Protect Cleanse & Condition,” says Sellars. “Minimizing the frequency of washing is also recommended, using PRAVANA’s Fresh Dry Shampoo between washing. It’s also important to avoid chlorinated pools, salt water, well water, hot tools and clarifying shampoos as well as sun exposure which accelerates fading.”
Nothing beats feeling creatively fulfilled in your career. That creative fulfilment can also help you rake in the big bucks, as creative color is a bigger hair category than it’s ever been. If you’ve been pondering specializing in VIVIDS, take Samantha Sellars’ advice as your sign to jump in and try something new.
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