Here are the top 5 headlines I want to share with you, I sent these out to my newsletter subscribers a few days ago. You can sign up here:

• Are you an entrepreneur? A stylist? Recently launched your blog, product line or opened a new salon? If so I want to put you and or your business on blast on my website and my blog. Send me your details and lets work to get your business growing. Cost: We only ask you do the same for someone else in the future: Send an email to Tiffany@kristenlock.com

• Resellers pay attention: We have found a great wholesaler of Remy hair and lace fronts named Jaguar Luxury Remi Hair: U.S. owned to boot, ;). If you are thinking of getting an online beauty related store open or selling in your local store, finding good wholesalers can increase your business to serious dollars. Do you not know what a reseller is? Read more

Recently I was invited to meet Kim and Wendi, the founder of Mixed Chicks at a mixer in West Hollywood. Talk about gracious and down to earth women. I was nervous, but they made me feel right at home. I don’t know about you but the pressure of speaking in front of a camera is indescribable. Anyways, their product is highly recommended for many woman of mixed ethnicities, but don’t take my word, read other reviews on the net.

As a stylist I can give all aspiring stylist one piece of advice that has served me well. Stay versatile and continue to learn. What I am really saying is that hair comes in many grades and textures. If you don’t learn how to style various styles, you will limit your potential range of clients.

Carol’s Daughter founder Lisa Price does an interview for Rolling Out TV.

It’s important to understand the difference between a beauty brand as opposed to a stand alone products. Think of Macy’s as a fashion store brand and the local boutique as a stand alone product. Each plays an important role, but for those looking to eventually exit the business, a great strategy would consist of getting out when you are ahead.

Essentially what is smart to consider, after you have created your products and know what works and does not work for your customers, taking your products to the next level would include creating affiliates, resellers or getting distribution in retail. This is where the big money is at and what most people look at as a marker that they are on the path to great growth.

Well let’s start with a little History:

The creator of the product we have coined a “Perm” was Garrett Augustus Morgan,Sr. He was born in Paris, Kentucky on March 4, 1877. Garrett was a natural born inventor. Among his creations was the three-position traffic signal, a traffic management device that greatly improved safety along America’s streets and roadways. Morgan’s technology was the basis for the modern-day traffic signal and was a significant contribution to development of what we now know as Intelligent Transportation Systems.

Why do you care about all of this? Because he invented the hair relaxer! While working in his workshop attempting to invent a new lubricating liquid for the machine needle, it is widely believed that Morgan wiped his hands on a wool cloth, returned the next day, found the woolly texture of the cloth had “smoothed out”, and set out to find how the liquid chemical had changed the texture as it had. He experimented on an Read more

I am a natural sista, what do I mean by that? I have given up chemical relaxers which have been proven to have side effects including but not limited to total or spot hair loss, hair breakage where hair breaks at the scalp line, bald spots scalp rashes, irritation and potential scarring of the scalp. In rare cases, if burns occur on the skin, these can leave scars as well. Now I am researching the affects that synthetic hair has on the head. In the world of natural hair care, there is a distinction much like Vegans vs. Vegetarians. I have learned the term natural is a truly relative term.

Also with chemicals in your hair it may stop growing temporarily or permanently as a result of the chemical relaxers. In fact, the FDA lists hair straighteners and hair dyes among its top consumer complaint areas. I find it Read more

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A fellow UCLA Bruin, who has blown up in the world of hip hop gossip blogs has taken A Hot Mess Blog to the next level with their, America’s Next Top Hot Mess competition. 

If you are having a rough day and would like to see that your bad hair day, is not that bad take a look at all twelve contestants.  This goes to prove that my mother was right.  Always wear clean underwear and always carry yourself like a lady, because celebrities are not the only ones getting caught up on the web.  My money is on #11

Have you ever purchased a car and been asked if you want XM or Sirius radio? What about a laptop combined with Microsoft Office? Even better, ever tried to get your phone serviced at a store that has your carrier’s logo but been told you have to take it to an company store? These are prime examples of resellers. Companies that have permission to sale goods and services for profit on behalf of others. Soon, I will begin to write about reseller and affiliate programs as a means of increasing your income. But before I begin I realize not everyone knows what resellers and affiliates are. So here is a quick definition.

(From Wikipedia) A reseller is a company or individual that purchases goods or services with the intention of on selling Read more

You can get your Bronner Brothers tickets half price til June 1st, 2008.  While many people I know either love or hate what the show represents, you can not deny its popularity and appeal.  My sister is trying to get me to go and I think it would be a great experience.   Runways and hairicopters!  Im there.

What type of Human hair to use for tree braids?

This by far is the number one question that I am asked.  Well before you decide on the type of hair to purchase you need to know how much and how long.

1. For maximum fullness and length I recommend you use 24 inch hair for your tree braids, however the hair used should never be shorter then 18 inches. Some braiders will tell you that you have to use 24 inches, but if they know what they are doing they can make it work with 18.  You may be asking why you need such long hair.  When completing tree braids the hair is folded in half so 24 inches ends up being more like 12 and18 inches ends up being closer to 9 inches when your head is completed.

2. You need to get either 2 packs of hair or 8oz.  If you purchase it online they will usually sale it in sets of 4 oz bundles so you will need to get two.

3. Make sure that your hair is not on a weft.  You want to get hair that is meant for braiding so it should be loose. Note that you will not be able to reuse the hair after you take out your tree braids so I would not advise you to purchase the most expensive hair that you can find because you can only use it once.

4. If you are an online shopper like I am then I would suggest that you go to http://www.hisandher.com click on braiding hair on the left hand panel.  I like to tell my clients to get either European wave or French Refined hair.

5. If you want to go to your local beauty supply store then I suggest that you purchase either Milky Way hair our Outre hair.  They are going to give you the most bang for your buck.

I hope this tip was a good one.  I look forward to reading more testimonials from all my clients who purchase my DVDs and successfully learn to tree braid just like me!

I get so many questions from people all over the world and one question that I answered over and over again is, “After I get tree braids what do I do to keep the hair looking nice?” Well let me answer this question for you all!

1. I Suggest that you do your best to keep the hair CLEAN! So that means that you should wash the hair once or twice a week with lukewarm or cold water.

2. When washing the hair, mix shampoo with lots of conditioner and brush the hair thoroughly. Do this by washing the hair in one direction and squeezing the shampoo and conditioner from top to bottom, then rinse it out with clean water.

3. Make sure that you brush/comb the hair everyday and after each wash. When brushing the hair start from the bottom and work your way gradually to the top. (If you have a weave that is on the weft make sure to hold the weft while brushing/combing to minimize shedding)

4. To keep the hair from drying out dilute conditioner (10%-15%) with water (85%-90%). If you have hair that has a curl pattern in it use the above noted solution as a hair spray ever day before brushing.

5. Make couple of big braids when going to sleep, swim, or exercise (please untangle the hair before making the braids). NEVER SLEEP ON WET HAIR! Make sure the hair is completely dry before going to bed.

I truly hope that these tips have been beneficial to you because I know that they help me and my clients on a daily basis!