Andis Rod Stubbs, Jan 12 education in MN

Jan 12 2009, Rod Stubbs / Andis Roadwork educational program .

Spaces still available.

Call for details and registration.

Cosmetology Training Center
1701 Adams St.
Mankato, MN 56001

contact info- nancy@cosmetologytrainingcenter.com
phone # 507-345-4033

week 52, 2009 business builder tip

Here is your Andis /Ivan Zoot / ClipperGuy business builder tip of the week for week 52, 2009.

Go on Vacation – All work and no play makes for a cranky clipper cutter. Enough is enough. It is time to take a week off. Go on vacation. Have a hobby. While you are gone the hair will be growing. There will be plenty of it for you to cut when you return. You will return to the shop fresh and energized. Clients will be happy to see you. You will be ready to provide the kind of service that earned their patronage in the first place and will keep them coming back and sending their friends for many years.

I like this tip, I like 'em all, but I know this one works and is very necessary.

Here is a link for a plane ticket. Buy one and go!

Here is the link to buy the entire ClipperGuy says Get Busy, 52 week Road map to barber greatness book. Get 2010 off on the right foot!

clippervocab word of the week

The Ivan Zoot, Andis clipper cutting vocabulary word of the week for week 51, 2009 is...

Cadence – A rhythm developed in cutting with an over-comb technique. This helps to maintain evenness and smoothness in the finish of a taper.

This is a very important part of over-comb technique. smoothness begets smoothness. Working in a smooth, repetitive rhythm will smooth out your tapering and smooth out your results. A great way to practice this is with shear-over-comb done with a blendnig shear. Blending shears are more forgiving and a great way to practice. then move up to straight shears, no shorter than 6.5"... then step up to clipper-over-comb.

One of the keys to cadence is "cutting beyond"... this refers to cutting up and out of the section... and keeping on cutting... cutting motion that is not within the section...

I am thinking we will need a YouTube video on this to really make the point... watch for one before the new year.

Return On Investment ?- a marketing calendar.

The following is adapted form an email I recieved. the piece was orig done for cosmetology schools, but it can be applied to any business.

A Tool for Tracking Your Marketing ROI – The Marketing Calendar

As you look back on the marketing efforts your business undertook in 2009, what tactics were most successful? Was a cable spot effective in attracting clients/sales? Did a discount promotion attract new customers? One of the most important tools in crating an effective marketing strategy is measuring the return on investment for various marketing tactics.

If you’re not currently tracking marketing initiatives, the following tool may help you with tracking 2010 marketing. It is adapted from Jay Conrad Levinson’s “Guerilla Marketing for Free – Dozens of No-Cost Tactics to Promote Your Business and Energize Your Profits.”

The process is as follows:

Create a calendar with 13 rows and 5 columns. This can be done in Excel, Word, or simply on a sheet of poster board.
Title column 1, “Month. Each row below will contain the appropriate month name.
Title column 2, “Focus” which refers to the special focus of marketing that month, whether it’s a free sample, discount, buy-one/get-one free promotion, etc.
Title column 3, “Media” and list any paid media you will be using each month such as newspaper, cable, etc.
Title column 4, “Internet/Social Media” and list the interactive offers you’ll be offering (includes mobile marketing, text marketing, FaceBook coupons, etc.)
Title column 5, “Grade” – This is where you evaluate the effectiveness of each tactic initiated over the course of the year. Be sure to grade each tactic as it is completed.

At the end of the year, you’ll be able to look back and see which marketing initiatives were “A” tactics you’ll want to do again in the upcoming year, and identify those non- “A” and “B” tactics which you’ll want to eliminate.

I will be sharing more ideas like this in the coming weeks and months. As the recovery unfolds, now it the time to stake your claim on the business opportunities to be had.

For more great, quick and easy business building ideas, have a look at my book, Big Small Business, Ivan Zoot's 52 week road map to small business greatness.
http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/916665

weekly business tip, week, 51, 2009

Here is your Andis/Ivan Zoot get busy business building tip of the week for week 51, 2009.

Say goodbye and thank you – Your goodbye should be as strong as your greeting was when a client/customer showed up. Acknowledge all as they depart. A simple “thank you, come again” will go a long way. This goes for all cutters and all clients. The owner sets the tone for the entire shop. By thanking all clients, not just the ones you personally cut, you build a sense of teamwork and shop community. Employee turnover is far less likely to lead to client turnover if clients feel they have a personal connection to the owner, the shop and the community.

This one is simple, but powerful. With 2009 drawing to a close we will be looking ahead to next year. The weekly business builder tips from my ClipperGuy Says... Get Busy book will start over... week 1 will be published, that is right, in week 1 of 2010... and on we will go. If you started following these weekly tips late in the year... this is your opportunity to start over with me and your fellow business builders.

If you like these tips but are impatient, and want them all NOW... click here for the link to buy the ClipperGuy Says get Busy book.

Answers to questiosn

Taper, Fade, Blend, what is the difference? Are they the same?

Good question.

Below are the definition s taken straight from my book , ClipperGuy says, Talk the Talk, My Complete Clipper Cutting Glossary. You will enjoy this book if you are an enthusiastic clipper cutter.

Blend – To create a smooth, seamless transition from a tapered section of a haircut into an area of greater length.

Fade – A term somewhat interchangeable with “taper”. Fade is typically used in the textured market. Fading does not have to be limited to the perimeter. A fade can occur higher up the head at the crestline or beyond as well. A fade is characterized by a look that is higher and shorter, with a lighter finish.

Taper – A progression of length in a graduated haircut where length increases from the perimeter towards the interior.

Blending refers to transitions without demarcation... at any length or style.

Fade and taper can be used somewhat interchangeable, however, generally... fade refers to cuts that are higher up the head, shorter in length and lighter (more scalp exposure) in overall finish...
Conversely, Taper can be thought of as haircuts that are longer in length, lower down the head and darker (more scalp coverage) in overall finish.

Here is an image of a classic fade.

Here is an image of a classic taper.

Look at all my ClipperGuy says books here.

Book Review, 2 in 1 week - Social media

I just finished reading my second book for the week. Both on the subject of social media and how it is impacting business today... and how a brand might make the most of the opportunities these tools represent. These are both must read titles for anyone in marketing today and anyone who thinks they are to make an impact with these tools... and anyone wishing to avoid common mistakes about these tools.

The number one thing I learned form these books is that I thought I understood the tools I was using and how they work and I was wrong... in some cases, 180 degrees wrong.

It is all about the power of the people, the power of just 1 people and the power o groups of people... it is not about the interesting content and creative things I can produce and share... it is more about creating a hub around which OTHERS can produce and me (us) (the brand) (the company) can support them in doing it... support through a community place to share it... support through linking, blogging and tweeting OTHERS stuff... and in some cases just staying out of the way... and LISTENING... and when and where, RESPONDING... or not to it all... That is where it gets dicey... I see some of the art and science of it all in knowing when and where to jump in and when and where to just sit quietly on the sidelines... and You all know how good I am at "sit quietly"

One of the big ah Ha's! of the book for me is that I need to turn my video camera around and turn over the content of our YouTube videos to the users and customers of our tools...

McConnell and Huba's earlier book... Creating Customer Evangelists... this next book is a perfect, natural follow up... spoke of creating these evangelists... they are out there... then new opportunity is cranking up their volume and seeing these evangelists scream through the channels that have developed to facilitate this evangelism.

Citizen Marketers, McConnell and Huba - Link to the book is below.

http://www.amazon.com/Citizen-Marketers-When-People-Message/dp/1419596063/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261060615&sr=8-2-spell

The earlier book referred to here as well...

Creating Customer Evangelists, link here:

http://www.amazon.com/Creating-Customer-Evangelists-ISBN-9780793155613/dp/B001G427OQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261061433&sr=8-2

Class notes, sassoon hair cutting

A friend and clipper cutting enthusiast, Jim Durkin recently completed a hair cutting class at Sassoon. he shared the following notes for the program with me. He and I had had some conversation of the definitions of some iems related to hair cutting. These are Jim's reflections on the terms and how the Sassoon team shared their interpretations. Very insightful. I have no argument with the terms as defined and their application of them. I might explain things differently, but I fully agree with their principles and concepts. I thought any hair cutter would find these interesting. I offer up a big thank you to Jim for sharing from his experiences.

I have included a link here for the Sassoon Academy if you want to build on your skills too!

http://www.sassoon.com/academy/

Jim offers up the small disclaimer that these remarks are transcribed from his notes. There may be room for slight variation from what was said to how he captured it. No intent to miss quote any of the instructors who shared so much with him.

Took the ABC course of cutting by Sassoon. They mentioned a few things about how they see graduation and tapering. At the last hair show in Atlanta I think you had inquired about these. My instructor, Don Haidl, said others outside of Sassoon might see the terms differently. They saw graduation as using 1 to 89 degrees of elevation. They broke it up into external graduation as 1 to 45 degrees and internal graduation as 46 to 89 degrees. Graduation was a build up of weight.External graduation: A heavier build up of weight Develops a weight line with widest part being where the weight build up stops Is below the occipital bone It helps fill in the head shape by creating width Makes head shape better where it may lack Internal graduation: Used where not so much weight is needed but still some width would help It is seen as build up above the occipital bone It does not have a weight line because the build up does not stop They described it as any time you worked above the occipital bone Weight is higher and not so heavy compared to external graduation.Layering was a removal of weight created by lifting the hair 90 degrees or higher. They went on to describe:a. Flat layering as an even removal of weight that will even out the head shape. It builds corners if hair on side is pulled to plane parallel to side and hair on back is pulled to a plane behind the head. b. Convex layering as removal of weight following the head shape. It does not contribute to maintaining length and it will be round.c. Concave layering as creating an anti-head shape with shorter hair internally and longer hair externally. This will remove the most amount of hair compared to other layering. The more extreme it is the harder it will be to have it suitable for the client.Bottom line is they saw graduation as a build up of weight and layering as a removal of weight. They kept repeating that haircutting was to give the most flattering/suitable head shape for the client by adding or subtracting as needed.

Ivan Zoot book review - Socialnomics

I recently finished reading the book Socialnomics (link below). For anyone who is interested in the wide world of Web 2.0 and social media this is a must read. A lot of great, relevant, timely information.. Great for personal users of these web opportunities. Also very important for anyone trying to leverage these tools to build and grow business and relationships with/for a brand. I learned a lot and you will too. Love to hear your thoughts. My copy has been returned to my library... got get yours!

http://www.amazon.com/Socialnomics-social-media-transforms-business/dp/0470477237/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1260885664&sr=8-1-spell

Andis clipper classes in Minneapolis, MN

From yesterdays blog... Here is the web site for the educator who is doing these programs.
http://www.rodstubbs.com
Have a lookie and sign up today.

Rod Stubbs, Andis education opportunity, Minneapolis, MN

Rod Stubbs is a talented educator who has creates some exciting new clipper and men's hair cutting education. Andis is supporting him and his programs. Rod has a hands-on event scheduled for January 12, 2010. Space is very limited. If you live/work in the Minneapolis, MN area and are in need of some GREAT education... Please use the contact number provided to get in on this class opportunity. I will be posting other classes Rod offers in 2010. Stay tuned here for others. please email us and let us know what you learn.

Tuesday, January 12th - 2010
Lakeville, MN (twin cities south suburb)
Hands-on class from 9:00-5:00
Contact person is: Dawn # 952-469-9824

Drawing winner announced!

YouTube video announces Andis FREE tool give away drawing winner... Plus 10 bonus second chance winners as well!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BG_HyuATpC0

Business Builder tip of the week, week 49, 2009

Andis / Ivan Zoot business builder tip of the week, week 49, 2009
I guess it is called preaching to the choir... 'cuz if you are reading this you are already doing it, but, from my book... The tip is...
Surf the web – The internet is your connection to the entire world. Now, and growing every day, the World Wide Web provides instant access to more information than you could ever want. Be selective about what you read, where you look and how you spend your surfing time. Choose to seek out sites and relationships that will help you grow your business. My web site, clipperguy.com is a great place to start. I have posted links to some great clipper cutting related sites there as well.
Since the tip is a bit lame if you are here reading I will offer up some good links as value add... stuff if came up with when I tried a few key word searches on the web today as I was posting this blog.
I will share the key word(s) that I use to search... lets see what we come up with...
"how to fade hair" got me this = a wiki how page...
http://www.wikihow.com/Give-a-%22Fade%22-or-%22Faded%22-Haircut-Hair-Cut-for-Males
"fancy party hair styles" got me this =
http://www.herbalessences.com/us/hairstyles-how-tos-little-pink-style-book/?gclid=CJHKr__3y54CFQIMDQodeToJ9Q
"best professional shampoo" got me this =
http://www.teddiekossof.com/ amazingly a salon in my area... not so amazing as the Google system likely knows where I live...
I guess the important secondary lesson to be learned form this exercise is that these are the types of searches YOUR CLIENTS are doing... so beyond you getting information of value to you... give some thought to the information available to ALL your clients... and prospective ones.
use the web for yourself... but, also, be sure it is being used well for YOU!

Great business building idea...

This comes to us from the folks at the American Assn. of Cosmetology Schools... and it can work for any school or salon or shop...

Try it and create your own recovery!

Nice!

During the economic downturn, movies have been a particularly strong sector of the economy, with several recent blockbusters setting box office records. With the holiday movie season getting underway, here is an easy promotional idea schools can use to generate clinic traffic as well as enrollment interest.

Hold a Movie and a Makeover Event

Select a cinema near your school and contact the promotions manager, or general manager. Offer to provide free, in-lobby services for a three-hour time period on a busy movie afternoon/evening. Try to target your appearance to a movie that attracts young women, such as “Twilight.”

You may provide free seated chair massages or a arm, hand and wrist massage in the theater lobby. Another option is to provide a complimentary skin analysis. Make sure every guest leaves with a menu of services from your school, and a coupon for a free or discounted service; or a scholarship.

What you’ll need: A table to staff three students, a massage chair (if you plan on offering massages), three to six students and an instructor, lotion and nail supplies. It’s also good to have a greeter to meet guests as they enter the lobby and direct them to the service area; as well as answer questions from those interested in a beauty career.

Offer to donate tips to a cause in the community such as a United Way agency or CUT IT OUT! Finally, make sure the community knows about your school’s event. Send a brief “Movie and a Makeover” press release to local media outlets letting them know what your school is doing and who tips will benefit. You may also ask the promotions manager if you can distribute coupons at the box window.

Finally, be sure someone at the school tracks coupons that come in as a result of the program.
More Next Week

American Association of Cosmetology Schools
http://www.beautyschools.org
9927 E. Bell Rd., Ste. 110
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
800-831-1086 or 480-281-0431

New product review - Clocca Cape

I was provided a sample to test of a neat-O new hair cutting cape. Clocca Cape is a hair cutting cape with a unique, sliding, magnetic closure. It easily adjusts to any neck size. The cape closure concept works really well. The cape is large enough to provide sufficient coverage. Of course, I like the black color of the sample they sent me. It might just be the weather and temperature today, but the cape was generating more static than I usually find with the capes I use every day... might just be the material too... Link provided is to their web site. watch the video to learn how the closure works. Video is clear and easy to understand. The only problem I had with the cape is I can not figure out how to fold it. I laid it out on the floor to try to see the shape... and the wrapping/cloaking concept resulted in them creating a slightly unique shape in that the cape is not just one cut piece of fabric. When laid out you can see it is a few pieces seamed together to create the unique shape... as a result there is some overlap in the shape... If you can figure out how to fold it... please let me know... Might be a great subject for another video... P.S. The video suggests that the cape is not to be machine dried... but washed and then hung dry... good for the environment... better for the fabric life and for the magnets... so... I guess thye do not fold them either... but it was folded in some way when it came in the package. They will be having a booth at the America's beauty Show in Chicago this year... check them out. Bottom line... I like the cape... If I had one with the Andis logo on it... I would use it all the time (hint) http://www.cloccacapes.com/

Caring for HEADS of state

I had a very nice visit to the barber shop in the basement of the U.S. Capitol complex last week. Met Joseph Quattrone. He has been cutting hair in the barber shop in the basement of the U.S. capitol for 45 years. He is a legend cutting legendary American political heads. the 3 chair hop is hard to find and tough to beat. What an amazing situation to be a part of American history in the making in such a way.
Look here for articles on Joe and his career.
Nice to meet you!
http://www.historynet.com/joe-quattrone-barber-to-capitol-hill-interview.htm
And an article on the legendary barbers of Washington, DC area.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/17/AR2007051702632.html

Buisiness builder tip of the week, week 48, 2009

Week 48, 2009 - Andis, Ivan Zoot tip of the week -The final rinse – One of the simplest ways to provide that little extra level of service and create an upgraded client experience is to rinse clients after the clipper cut is completed. Whether or not you shampoo first, a final rinse to float away the clippings leaves a client feeling clean and itch free for the rest of the day. It only takes a few seconds, even less if you have a shampoo bowl at the station. There is no need to shampoo again, although a splash of a minty or menthol conditioner is a nice, refreshing touch. This also sets you up for a final styling and application of styling or finishing product. The use of these products leads very well into the sale of these products.

useable info - clogged hairspray nozzles

Andis brings you real info that you can really use. An article on how to clean hairspray can nozzles when they clog.
http://www.ehow.com/how_4863483_declog-hairspray-nozzle.html
And here is another...
http://www.oprah.com/article/omagazine/val_omag_200801_spray/1

winter fashion 2009, womens shoes/boots

O.K., I have seen the limits of reasonable fashion. Open toed boots? You are kidding me.
http://www.mizztissa.com/img-blog/open_toe_boots_1.jpg
Saw a pair like this in a store window. Then, just a few min later, saw a similarly inspired style on a pedestrian. Started looking and noticed quite a few pairs with either open toes or similarly inspired cut-outs. This will work great in snow. Highly practical, Not. Some just look plain goofy. Lets see how far this trend goes. See if you can spot any. Read an article a few weeks back in which they were picking on some celebrity fashion choices. Article referred to petite female star wearing ankle boots as looking like she had hooves. They were right... she looked like a little lady billy goat. I cannot get this idea/vision out of my head. makes me chuckle every time I see a pair in a store or see a pair on someone. See pic below.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv_qxqIZUhhE3bWGlUe8oQY3JaSDIR6o21g1kqeJ4itcALrdNlNKsWbS0lkr27dqFgFpPqJmDdkolBv25q5ThoNQub88GOWHhWFzAqQTeTeG8zgMngOayqjmV31lRLinysSP3kCGg061H5/s576/ankle-boots-5.jpg

In the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday, I am thankful that the world provides me with such entertainment.

week 48, 2009, clipper tip

Andis, Ivan Zoot clipper tip of the week, Tip 48 - Don’t Be A Blockhead – Do not block a hard line along the nape. Even fuller looks benefit from a slight tapering here. Some clients may ask for a blocked neckline. Even these will benefit from a slight tapering... But, generally, the best of men's haircutting is centered on the skill of tapering. The taper along the nape line is the hallmark of professional men's grooming. Haircuts with a subtle taper look better longer and grow out more naturally... this adds value for thee client. If all you can do is block a neck line you will lose this haircut to mom or the wife. She will figure out that with a $9 clipper from WalMart she can do as well as you... and she is right. Professional tapering uses both the adjustable blade feature of your clipper as well as skill with a trimmer and fine toothed finishing comb. Bottom line... do not be a blockhead!

World Haircutting record Quiz

I found this fun thing on the web over the holiday weekend. I created the Ivan Zoot, ClipperGuy, Andis Guinness World haircutting record quiz. Take the quiz. See how well you know me and Andis and the Guinness World haircutting records. Just for fun.
http://www.squidoo.com/quiz-the-ivan-zoot-clipperguy-world-record-quiz

Andis/ Ivan Zoot vocab word of the week, the letter V

Welcome to week 47, 2009. The letter of the week is V. The word of the week is Visual Blend.
Visual Blend – The appearance of a blended transition in a hairstyle. Due to factors such as color and texture, a blended area may appear not to really blend. In this circumstance, the cut should be tailored to appear to blend even if it does not in fact technically blend. basically the idea here is... sometimes it REALLY blends... sometimes it looks like it blends, but upon close inspection... it really does not. So, ask yourself... Is it important for the cut to blend? or is it important for the cut to LOOK blended... there are many times that many haircutters get so tied up in making it REALLY blend that they lose sight of the idea that it is all about how it looks... not how it really is... sometimes the idea is for it to blend... most of the time it is about looking that way... and some times the goal is for it to look NOT blended... but do not get me started on that today.

Guy Kawasaki, Reality Check, read this book

Guy Kawasaki, RealityCheck, bookreview Clipperguy says…
Read this book. You should read this book. I really found a lot of great stuff in here. The book starts out with a lot of info related to seeking venture capital. Not my interest, but I got past that and found the gold here. Info on hiring, firing, promotion, and many other great business ideas. This “Guy” is up there with Seth Godin on my list of “if he writes it I have to read it” writers. Plus, Guy takes his own advice and hires others who know more than him. Several chapters have been provided by colleagues and associates with areas of specialty beyond him. Nice, like getting bonus info. Guy has a web site http://www.alltop.com Short for all topics, he calls it a on line magazine rack. There is much good stuff here too. I look there and read a lot of links. I even twitter the good stuff I find. He makes that easy with a twitter this button right on each article. Great stuff.

Bolt barbers in LA

Bolt barbers

ClipperGuy and Andis cut more than the ribbon on the first new barber shop in downtown LA in 50 years!
Spring street and 6th was the place to be last Thurs. for the grand opening of Bolt Barbers in downtown, LA, CA. Andis and I played host to the throngs getting “hawks for Homeless”. The Midnight Mission of LA, a group that works to aid the homeless was the beneficiary of the revenue collected and the Bolt barbers team and I cranked out the clipper cuts. We cut Mohawks, lowhawks, and fauxhawks… and a whole bunch of classic cuts as well. Bolt is Old School, but NEVER old fashioned. It is classic barbering at its best. The Monkey logo rocks. The decor is complete with 10 fully restored 1950’s vintage barber chairs found in a barn in Kansas. A jamming jukebox and monster flat screens provide added vibe and volume. I hope to be back in LA soon to cut more hair here as well as volunteer at the barber shop at the mission to do more great cuts for a good cause.

Andis / Ivan Zoot business building tip of the week, week 46, 2009

Welcome to week 46, 2009.
The Andis / Ivan Zoot business building tip of the week is:
Charge for everything you do – Do not fall into the trap of giving away your time, talent and energy. There is a time and a place for sampling of services to grow your business. Beard trims, bang trims, edge clean-ups all take time and are very good reasons to patronize your business. Giving them away devalues you as a professional. Family members should pay for services during regular business hours. Barter arrangements can be made as long as the trade is fair.
Make sure you are asking for and taking all the $ you are entitled to. be sure to have a full price list posted for all to see. That way there are no surprises. Charge the same prices for all patrons. No one gets left behind when there is a price increase.

Week 46 of 2009 brings us Andis / Ivan Zoot vocabulary word of the week in the world of clipper cutting featuring the letter U.
This weeks word is - Underhand Cutting – A clipper cutting technique in which the clipper is held with the hand positioned under the clipper. This technique is preferred for cutting over the crestline in the interior of a haircut. It is the direct opposite of Overhand cutting. This underhand technique is very important for clipper cutter comfort as well as for accurate short interior layering with a clipper. Any time the hair on the top of the head is too short to hold in your fingers it it time to go with underhand clipper position.

The future of barbering in Chicago

Success school, Chicago
ClipperGuy, Ivan Zoot paid an Andis visit to a piece of barber history and future last week. Success Barber School, the great guys from Merrilville, IN are about to open the clinic of their new barber school on Wabash, in the loop in downtown Chicago. From back in the Moler days… barbering education begins in Chicago and it is great to have it back. Under the L tracks. Like it was for many, many years. Classic barbering, classic cuts. This is a milestone in barber history. I am looking forward to visiting again soon and presenting programming to the students. I met the 1st class of students. There are many more to come. Congrats Nancy, Joe, Joe, Jr. and all the Success team!

The 1980's in hair, coming back around...

ClipperGuy says... be aware, the 1980's of hair is on the way back.

Living the 1980’s

I missed the 1980’s in the hair business. I was finishing high school, in college and working in another industry. I did have the hair cut of the day. I do remember and appreciate the styles. I am to get to live them first hand in the coming months and next few years. The 1980’s are back in a big way. Specifically, geometric styles, strong shapes, clippered perimeters and bold texture, asymmetry and disconnection. In the coming weeks and months I will post pictures of looks I see and looks to be seen cutting on your clients. Dig out the old cassette tapes, even an 8 track or two… the 80’s are back!

Andis clipper tip of the week, week 46, 2009

Ivan Zoot ClipperGuy Andis clipper cutting tip of the week, week 46, 2009,
Tip 46 - Wide and Square - Use a wide blade trimmer when blocking necklines. Fewer bites create straighter lines.

Narrower blades are easier to use in tight spaces like around ears. if you want stronger, longer, bolder lines, use longer blades.

A T-Outliner blade is wider than a T-Ejer blade, as an example. both cut super close, but one makes stronger lines. The Outliner blade in the BG detachable series is the biggest/widest available. try that one for big jobs.

Clipper cutting word of the week

The Andis/Ivan Zoot word of the week, letter T, for week 46, 2009 is Taper. ...And an important word this is. A taper is a progression of length in a graduated haircut where length increases from the perimeter towards the interior. The entire barber business is founded on this class haircut structure. If you can taper, you have a career. Different from a fade, a taper is Longer, lower and darker in overall finish than a fade. More on this important word. Since taper is so important I will devote the next few days to expanding on the tpaer topic. Stay tuned.

Hair fashion, 2010

Hair fashion 2010 from, salon International, London, UK 2009
I wrote this a few weeks ago and did not post it. No matter. it is still rlelvant.

Several big trends were to be seen at Salon International this past week. They will be seen here in the U.K. in the spring and to follow in the fall of 2010. Bottom line, welcome back to the mid 1980’s. I commented earlier this week on the return of parachute pants… just like the old ones. I saw wide shoulders with shoulder pads as well… on both models as well as attendees. The big hair trends to look forward to and to be sure you have both the skills as well as the tools to execute are… Clippered disconnection, asymmetry big hair on men and women and . Clippered disconnection, that is to say, clipper cut perimeters with interior hair hanging over to obscure a portion of the clippering… not so much the skater cuts of the early 1990’s but more like the geometric shapes of 1985. Asymetry is back in a big way too. Radically short on one side and mid length on the other… Long, smooth and straight is going away. Sure we will still be using out flat irons, but now we will use them for bumping in volume and smoothing out medium lengths. Smaller flat irons will be popular… 3/8” flat irons and 1/2 “ irons will be everywhere.

FREE shaving seminar

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/event.php?eid=167909087721&ref=share
have a look here. FREE shaving seminar at a new barber school in Chicago, IL.
I will be there, You?

Open a green salon...

Open a green salon. E how shows you how.
http://www.ehow.com/how_4453166_open-green-beauty-salon.html
have a look.

Social media, the power, the opportunity...

This is one to watch...The power, The Opportunity, the time to act...
Makes you think. or better... makes you act...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVXKI506w-E

Going green for green...

A list of 200 green initiatives... and Green Salons made the list at... NUMBER 1! What doeas this tell you/me/us about the importance of green initiatives?

http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/meredith-gossland/green-leanings/200-green-business-ideas

International mohawk day

I did not know there was an international mohawk day. Well, there is... Nov 15. What are your plans? Will you be sporting one? Now is the time to plan for this BIG event. Check out the link. Who knew?
http://www.mohawksrock.com/events/international-mohawk-day

hawks for Homeless, media coverage

More media coverage of the upcoming Hawks for Homeless event. Come out LA, CA to support this great event and get a mohawk, fauxhawk or lowhawk cut by me for a good cause...
See you there.
http://www.behindthechair.com/news/default.aspx?NID=261

Cutting it all off - options

Cutting it all off... Consider this option...
http://www.squidoo.com/donateyourhair

Ameriacn salon Blog mention

Andis and I made the American salon blog today.
lookie here.
http://blog.americansalonmag.com/

I love these stories

I love these stories... classic barber shop experiences.
http://www.oregonlive.com/O/index.ssf/2009/10/a_main_street_barber_shop_serv.html

Mohawk of another variety...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAh8_h586IY&feature=rec-HM-r2

With the Bolt barbers mohawk event coming up... This is timely...

Web site of the day...

if it is not flat... It is NOT a flat top...

Have a look here.

http://www.theflattopcrew.com.au/

Drawing hair in pencil

http://www.howtodothings.com/fashion-and-personal-care/a2795-how-to-cut-your-own-hair.html

This is just amazing. I have tried to draw hair and have found it to be a real challenge. The pencil drawing books that we used for style selection were always faves of mine in the shop. They were great for really seeing lengths, movement and sirection. They were a great tool for accurate consultation and creating very satiafied clients as they created realistic expectations.

neat-O!

Interesting question

Interesting question here. I see hair all the time.. on celebs, on real people, o catalog models that I would like to have... problem is, since I am typically short... most all of them require patience and growth from whereever I am at...

http://www.glamour.com/beauty/blogs/girls-in-the-beauty-department/2009/10/whats-the-last-hairstyle-you-r.html

Another interesting Squidoo...

http://www.squidoo.com/grow-a-beard

Here is another interesting web site/page form the Squidoo collection related to the wide world of hair cutting. Enjoy!

My site is here. Kinda neat-O.

http://www.clipperguy.com

Have a look at both.

Home hair cutting your kids

Here is a fun little web site on home hair cutting for your kids. http://www.squidoo.com/ChildHairCut

This is a site/lens on Squidoo. This is a fun web site where you can build your own web site for FREE. You should do it.

I did.

Notes from London, Mark Woolley

Mark Woolley and his team

Shared the stage with them at salon International. Great talent. Awesome hair styles. Hot models. Denman, our UK distributor and makers of the best brushes on the planet… the only ones I will use… commissioned them to do a video on classic blow drying. The video is called Esssential blow drying. I have not sat down to watch the entire thing yet, but have seen segments as they were running it on TVs at the booth during their presentation. The point of their program was essential foundations for success in styling. These guys do a lot of editorial work. They did 3 models each segment… in most cases re-using the same models so we got to see multiple looks. My fave was a short tapered style that I saw done 3 different ways. All 3 were great looking, salon marketable and real. Nice job team Electric. I look forward to watching the entire video. You can get it here:
http://www.denmanpro.com
sales@denmanbrush.com
http://www.ownyourstyle.co.uk
You can follow mark on Twitter as markwoolley1

Small Tragedy

Small Tragedy

I was sharing the stage at Salon International with Mark Woolley and his team from Electric salon… More on them later this week… so I had to pack up my things and shove off for a bit 2X per day. No biggie there as I prefer to be a nice neighbor and share my space. First change over I put all my things into my green bag and put my green bag back stage. Did not notice that a brand spankin’ new pink BCA can of Kenra Volume Spray was upside down. By the time I got back to my bag the can was empty and the bag was filled with a puddle of volume spray. This is a tragedy on several levels… Number 1… wasted a can of Volume Spray… and as good as that stuff it… shame to waste it. Number 2… puddle in bag is firm hold and sticky… so were all my tools and equipment. Number 3… bottom of bag is never going to come clean… Number 4, there was a package of frosted strawberry poptarts from the airport in Chicago in the bottom of a pocket… now ruined… and I am half a world away from more poptarts. I get home to Chicago and share this tragedy. My kid puts his head in the bag and says… “hey, well, at least the bag smells good”. Nice. Love the Kenra Volume Spray #25… Got to get another one… at least it is the pink one for BCA so a donation is involved.

New YouTube vid today

New Andis video on YouTube today. have a lookie!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3_OzgZb930

Andis at Salon Inrternational, London, UK

A big show and an upgraded presence for ou brand. Nice! Only complaint... the pic they used of me is from the world record... when this was taken I had been up for 24 hours and was a mess... nice that it it my head shot on an international stage!

TY frineds!

Very good news

I have very good news on the fashion forecast... We just might be done with low rise jeans... I have seen very few of them in London this weekend. This is a very good thing. And know... I have been looking at jeans. More and more women are wearing full rise, classic rise jeans. Many are the very skinny leg variety, the jeans not the women... which is just fine with me, although, some are so skinny legged that I wonder how they get them on and how comfortable they are not... In the U.S.A. this would be a welcome trend. I will gladly take the skinny jeans with the higher rise. Lets hope I am accurate in this.

fashion Update, London, UK

Do you still have your parachute pants from 984? Better go look. You will need them... if I still have mine I would not likely fit in them as I am a bit bigger and rounder... but I will likely be at the store buying some very soon... they will be back on our side of the pond in just a bit... seeing many of them here in U.K. at salon International. I will grab a few pics tomorrow. Unlike some fashion trends that when they come back they are updated in colors, materials or detailing... these are back same as I remember them... and I do remember them... even the swish, swish sound the nylon makes as they walk by...

Business building tip of the week, week 38, 2009

This is the Andis, Ivan Zoot, ClipperGuy, clipper cutter Business building tip of the week for week 38, 2009

Week 38

Open on Sunday - Sunday used to be the day of rest. Now it is the day of catch-up. Many harried consumers use Sunday to do all the things that did not get done during the week. Sunday hours can be shorter than the rest of the week. You should open a bit later and close earlier. Many shops report that Sunday is one of the most profitable days of the week in revenue per hour. You can cram a full day of revenue into a half day of work if you maximize the flow through the chairs. In many cases, opening on Sunday and closing on a weekday is well worth the trade off. The bonus is that you can then be off during the week when the rest of the world is working. This makes doing the things you need to do easier when crowds are lighter and lines are shorter. It is a double win for you and your team.

Word of the week... The letter L

The Ivan Zoot, Andis clipper cutting word of the week for week #38, 2009 is...

Landing Strip - The clear cut area at the top of a horseshoe flattop.

this link shows a pic of onet...

http://www.menshairstylesonline.com/Hair/Short-Mens-Hairstyles/Horseshoe-Flat-top-hair.jpg

Here is another...

http://mens-haircuts.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/hs02.jpg

Here is my pal Slim cutting a nice flat top...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qac4yvucOso

Bradley offers a GREAT flat top cutting video as well. Here...

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/870591/flat_top/

... and here si my flat top vid too...

http://www.howcast.com/videos/105124-Andis-Tool-Tips-Flat-Top-Cutting

... 'cuz we LOVE flat tops!

Mohawks Rock... on the web

I found this site last night while I was pokin' round on the net looking for information about Bolt Barbers in LA and my upcoming participation there for their grand opening. The world of moahwks... Interesting. Just might need to get me one some day. have a look here if you have a mohawk, want a mohawk, appreciate mohawks.
http://www.mohawksrock.com/
When you are ready for yours, look me up. If you are in LA go to Bolt Barbers. FEEE hawks for charity on Nov. 13 at their event.
http://www.boltbarbers.com

Andis on Scissorboy... again!

Episode #44 from Scissorboy is here... and Clipper Guy is featured once again. This is one of my fave techniques. The model had great hair for this. Static salon in LA hosted the shoot. They were great about letting Scissorboy and me take over the place for half a day. You can subscribe to Scissorboy and never miss an episode.
http://scissorboy.com/video/?episode=44

New barber school, another...

... Just got word of another NEW barber school opening up. This one in the heart of the city of Chicago. 214 South Wabash. Success barber School, Yes, that is right. the great school from merrilville, IN is opening up a branch in downtown Chi-town. Classes are forming now. Sign up today. This will be great place. I look forward to my first guest appearance here very soon.
Good luck Nancy, Joe and Joe Jr.

Pink! Pink! Pink!

The world famous Andis clipper comb is now available in PINK. No, this is not just a BCA pink promotional opportunity. There is real vlaue here in this here pinkness. Pink is mid tone, neutral. You can see both dark and light hair colors against this pink. You can not cut what you can not see. Get some contrast. see some hair, clipper some hair!

New video from Scissorboy

This is the new vid from Scissorboy.
Kirby Morris is amazing. he knows soo much stuff that I do not about stuff in the beauty industry that I do not know about. You will like him and appreciate his information. Watch and learn.

http://scissorboy.com/video/?episode=43

Andis announces FREE giveaway/drawing

Andis is giving away a FREE Andis clipper gift pack valued at over $750.00 Watch the YouTube video below to learn more.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXoJOWPiqCE

Guinness Book, 2010

The 2010 edition of the Guinness Book of World records is now available.
I am featured smack dab in the middle of page 89 with all 3 of my Guinness World Haircutting records. I got my coipes on sale at Sam's club for about $15. Link below is Amazon for about $17. I have a brand new Sharpie marker. Line forms at my front porch.

http://www.amazon.com/Guinness-World-Records-2010/dp/1904994504/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253104008&sr=1-1

Next episode of Scissorboy

The next eposide of Scissorboy is here.

Link below.

Watch and learn.

http://scissorboy.com/video/?episode=42

Bolt barbers, more to come.

See this blog post ofr more on Bolt Barbers in LA. Andis and I will be there for the grand opening...

http://blogdowntown.com/news/



More to come.

Stay tuned.

Bolt barbers, LA event

Bolt barbers event this week. Check out the pics.
I am invited to appear at their grand opening celebration in Nov Downtown LA. Will be interesting.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/boltbarbers/sets/72157622335980132/

Week 36, Clipper vocabulary word of the week - L

This week we are up to the letter L in the list of clipper cutting vocabulary.
Layer Cutting - Haircutting technique in which a progression of length is created, increasing from the interior of the head to the perimeter. This creates the effect of the hair lying in layers. Think Farrah Fawcet, classic long layered hair.

Wayne Grund featured on Scissorboy

I have always been a big fan of Wayne Grund. Here he is in a video from Scissorboy. Enjoy.
http://scissorboy.com/video/?episode=41

Video from Slim the Barber

Another video from our friend Slim the barber. Using an Andis, of course! Thank you Slim!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kf5guPi5sMY

Not cutting my onw hair

Not cutting my own hair

A while back I was bloging my experiences and adventures as I embarked on the project of cutting my own hair. Now, a new idea, Now I am NOT cutting my own hair. I am to blog my adventures in NOT cutting y own hair… and no one else is either. I am to try to grow it out a bit… something I have never done successfully in the past. Let’s see how far I get. Let’s see how it might look. I will have some pics shot along the way. First pic tomorrow. My wife and others will be engaged to clean up my neckline along the way, but that is it. Oh yeah, and I will also taper the front corners at the sideburns a little bit too, hey, got to look human at the very least.

clipper Tip #35

This is Andis / Ivan Zoot clipper tip number 35. I love this one. This is both a trimmer tip as well as an efficiency tip. I just spoke about this in a class last week. This one can make a big difference in your clipper cutting timing.

Tip 35 -Trim Early - Do not wait until the last stages of the haircut to trim and detail the hairline. By trimming early you get a better look at how the finished cut is shaping up.

Hair ed on Video - ckeck it out.

Pointed out to me by our Friend from north U.K. Barber Phil...
This is a barbering series on YouTube. A little slow for my brain speed, but interesting, and just good stuff.
Have a look at this one here as well as the others he has posted. This is the way ppl share information today. Nice, fast, fun, FREE and if it is not what you are looking for.. just a click and it is gone.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JlMWaJExBs

Andis Clipper Business Tip of the Week, Week 34, 2009

Andis / Clipperguy business tip of the week, week 34, 2009
Take credit cards - This one is simple and easy. In today’s world few of us carry cash. You must take credit cards. You need to keep honest books and you need to report your full income and pay your fair share of taxes. Raise your prices to cover any fees you will incur. Clients will spend more money and spend it more often with the convenience of credit cards. We are heading towards a cashless society. Do not be the last one living in the stone age.

Very interesting video - watch it.

The video link was sent to me by a barber associate... Very interesting. Other options and advancement in out industry to address client needs... Watch and learn.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sfoz-IW-Tk

Thank you Godsfavoritebarber for forwarding along this video

Read this book, lead your tribe!

Read This
Tribes
By Seth Godin
I have read much all of what he has written over the past number of years. Good stuff once again from him. A primer on leadership and our need for it today… and the ripe opportunity for anyone of us to seize the opportunity and become a true leader. Find a cause. Recruit a tribe. Engage and inspire others. You are now a leader. No promotion needed. No one asks you. You go out and lead… by choice. Rise to the level of your understanding of leadership today. The entire world is waiting for you to step up. Will you? I am going to, heck, I already am. Just watch. Join my tribe… oh, yeah, by reading this, you already have. Thank you for following.
Buy the book at the link below.

http://www.amazon.com/Tribes-We-Need-You-Lead/dp/1591842336/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251295655&sr=1-1

Clipper Vocabulary word of the week, week 34, 2009, letter H

Ivan Zoot, ClipperGuy, Andis clipper vocabulary word of the week, week 24, 2009 letter H... Hat Head - The condition in which clients frequently arrive for a clipper cut. This is the result of an extended period of baseball hat wearing, creating a crimp running around the hair at the crestline. This head cannot be clipper cut without shampooing first.

Great men's haircut resource

Thank you to our barber friend Phil in the north of the U.K. for sharing this great men's haircut resource with us.
Click and enjoy!
TY
Phil
http://hairstyletwist.com/blog/category/mens-hairstyles/

Clipper Business Tip - week 33

This is week 33 of 2009. Here is ClipperGuy business tip number 33.

Show some style - Create and provide clients with a contemporary style book. Update this book four times each year. Many of us were required to build one of these in cosmetology or barber school. It is a great idea to maintain one today. By scanning magazines and fashion information for contemporary images, looks and styles, you keep your eyes sharp and your radar tuned into the looks of the moment… and the moment changes. Clients will use this book to help them communicate the styles they desire and aspects of cuts they like or dislike. You will cut better hair and raise the level of client satisfaction by using a style book as a tool. There is a big difference between building a book of your own rather than buying one from a dealer. The difference is in your own education and training. A little cut and paste will be time well spent.

New video from Scissorbly

New video from Scissorboy. Watch it here. Link below. Good stuff.
http://scissorboy.com/video/?episode=37

The Salon Stretch

The Salon Stretch

The above was the title of an interesting article in a magazine that my wife passed along to me. It was full of hints and strategies for stretching your beauty dollars by stretching your time between salon visits. The ideas were not new. Most of them were things that some consumers do unconsciously. The difference was, now, they are being coached to do them by the media. If the consumers are banding together to spend less in our industry… what are we doing to band together to move things in the other direction? No. I am not going to share any of the ideas from their article here… I am not interested in seeing their ideas encouraged.

Clipper tip of the week - week 33, 2009

Andis / Ivan Zoot clipper tip of the week for week 33, 2009
Tip 33 - Unplug - Choose a cordless trimmer when freedom and the elimination of the “electric spaghetti” around your station is desired.
Andis makes the world's best cordless trimmers. The Slimline trimmer is the best selling cordless trimmer ever... and Andis is raising the bar again with the introduction of the next generation Slimline II trimmer... and overhaul and update of the best seller... sleeker shape, soft touch housing, rubber grippy overmold insert on the case, bright chrome finish, updated charge stand design... It just gets better.
http://www.andis.com for more info.

Andis clipper Vocabulary - Word of the week - Letter F

Fauxhawk - A modified interpretation of a Mohawk hairstyle. Some hair is left on the sides. The top is pushed to the center and up. Can be styled more subtly for work or school. Less popular today in favor of the "lowhawk", but the web is loaded with both images of this look as well as technical how-tos. Bottom line, any short men's style with the top pushed up into a center crest or ridge line... Does not need to be cut that way. Just styled.

Clipper Buyisness Tip - week 32, 2009

Week 32 Andis, Ivan Zoot Clipper Business tip -
Update your environment - Spend a buck to make two. From time to time it is necessary to reinvest in your business. Find highly visible ways to improve the physical environment of the shop. A fresh coat of paint can make a world of difference to clients and employees. New, updated pictures or posters reflect your connection to fashion and trend. Recovering the waiting room and cutting chairs every five years is a great way to totally remake the shop for small change. Rotating out the plants can invigorate the entire shop. These are the little things that speak volumes about the value you hope to build of your business in the hearts and minds of your customers.

Clipper Tip #31

Tip 31 - Shop Before You Drop - Have spare clipper and trimmer blades on hand before you need them.

You can not run to the supply house in the middle of a busy day to buy a blade. Be prepared. Buy the extra blade the day you buy the clipper or trimmer. This will also help you to be sure you buy the correct blade the first time.

Get all the Andis / Ivan Zoot clipper tips in Ivan's book ClipperGuy Says... Get Clippering...
Buy it here:
http://www.clipperguy.com

ClipperVocabulary - word of the week - E

Ivan Zoot, Andis, ClipperGuy Says... Talk the Talk word of the week. Week 31, 2009, Letter E

Ears - Used to refer to the wide outer corners of a flattop before they have been “squared-up”. When the sides appear to flare out past vertical giving the flat top a wide look at the upper sides... this is called having "ears". The down from above clipper stroke will pull these in and square up the shape to vertical.

Week 31 - Clipper Business tip of the week

Welcome to week 31, 2009. Your weekly Clipper Business tip is below...

Have at it!

Week 31

Court seniors - The population is getting older every day. Is your shop ideally suited to serving these affluent spenders? I do not endorse blanket senior discounts. Many seniors have more money than the rest of us. Limited senior discounts to fill slower hours are a better idea. Take steps to ensure your shop is senior friendly Physical issues like ramps and lighting as well as marketing strategies like discounts and coupons are all to be considered. Anything you print should be printed large enough to be easily seen by these clients.

Jackrabbits and Turltes

Jackrabbits and turtles
That is always the way it is in hands-on clipper education classes… jackrabbits and turtles. The jackrabbit learners pick up new things fast and run with them. The turtles need special attention and poke along at a much slower pace. Recently a clipper workshop had the biggest gap in skill and ability I have ever encountered. A few of the cutters were simply good clipper cutters. A few were experienced stylists and fast learners. This was ease, but still a challenge to keep them challenged and ward off bad habits and easy mistakes. The turtles were killing me. Some were students with zero experience - I can handle this. Some were very green stylists - I can handle this. Some were just a bit thick - I can handle this too. Trouble is not only having just too many turtles, but also having them in the workshop with a handful of jackrabbits hopped up on clipper cutting cutting enthusiasm and Red Bull. What a day! I love it! I can say that everyone learned something and everyone went home better than they were when they woke up that moring. Me included.

And so it goes as I head in to a week of intensive clipper classes. Wish me luck.

Clipper Vocabulary - word of the Week - D

This weeks clipper cutting vocabulary word of the week features the letter D
Dead Muskrat - A form of undercut hairstyle in which the interior is uniformly layered to a length of approximately two inches. Gets its name from the idea that when tousled to style, the hair on the top of the head resembles road kill. A lifeless, funny shaped furry thing, just lying there.

Clipper tip of the week - Week 30, 2009

Excerpted form The book ClipperGuy Says - Get Clippering this is the Andis / Ivan Zoot clipper tip of the week for week 30, 2009

Tip 30 - Play Pivotal - Pivot motor clippers are great all around choices for both wet and dry clipper cutting. Smooth operation, minimal blade and housing heat, and compact size are all benefits in this category. Low blade speed and high blade torque define the characteristics of these great tools. Andis is the world leader in pivot motor technology. be on the lookout for a NEW pivot motor clipper from Andis featuring never before seen patented technology in pivot motor clippers... OOPS! Did I just say too much?

Week 30 - Build Your Business Tip

From the book ClipperGuy Says Get Busy, Ivan Zoot's 52 Week Road Map to Barbering Greatness. It is week 30. This is the 30th weekly business building tip of 2009.

Week 30

Use a reception clipboard - Traditional shops do not have a receptionist. The clients play a little game. When a client enters a shop he takes a mental inventory of the guys in the waiting chairs. He puts himself at the end of the group present when he arrived. Eye contact and nodding ensue as, one at a time, guys get up and into cutting chairs, in order. A check-in clipboard can aid the shop in several valuable ways. By placing a clipboard on the front counter for incoming clients to put down their names, all clients will be served in proper order. The name on the sheet serves as a quick reminder to the staff to prevent an awkward situation when a frequent client is not remembered. At the end of the day, the shop has a log of total cuts. If cutters are asked to initial the sheet by each name as clients are taken, there is a record of cuts done as well as a picture of client flow and cutter pace.

Another new YouTube video

Link is below to another great Andis, Ivan Zoot tool tips video o YouTube. This one features the secrets of my Guinness World ecord setting haircutting system. Watch and learn. Pick up your speed. Maintain quality and grow your business.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOr5XSsaYcQ

Clipper Tip of the week

From Ivan Zoot's book, ClipperGuy says... Get Clipping... The clipper tip of the week is featured below.

Tip 29 - Take A Rotary For A Spin - Choose a universal, rotary motor, detachable blade clipper for high volume hair cutting, clipper-over-comb and fast bulk take-down.

The book contains 10's of them. Plus there are 3 more books in the series. Go to clipperguy.com to learn more and access links to buy the books.
http://www.clipperguy.com

Traveling Tracy

From Andis educator Tracy Belcher
............"About 2 weeks ago I did a clipper cutting class for the Local 706 Union, located here in Beverly Hills...these stylist's are the one's that work in the industry on Movie sets, Sitcoms, Game shows and Video sets....they were so impressed with our clippers and cutting action that they are asking for more classes.....im still recieving emails on questions about our clippers and questions on techniques...Very inspiring and enthusiastic class!....Here at Andis we appreciate all the love....Thank you for all the support!! Tracy B.

Read this book

Own a business?
Manage a business?
Read this book.
Powerful.
Straight shooting.
At time hard to read, tough to take. Makes you thing. Makes sense.

http://www.amazon.com/Search-Obvious-Antidote-Todays-Marketing/dp/0470288590/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1247496597&sr=1-1

In Search of the Obvious

Stephanie gets a trim

Stephanie from Barbers Only Magazine gets a bit of a trim
Stephanie Deluke, editor of Barbers Only Magazine (http://www.barbersonlymagazine.com) and co-founder of Beyond Green Media (http://www.beyondgreenmedia.com) was an enthusiastic donator of about a foot of hair on the stage at Permiere Orlando. As long as I have know her ( a few years) she had been growing out the==her hair. When I met her she had a realy great super short style… Then the project behan. Every time I saw her I offered her a haircut. She always declined, claiming she was still growing it long. When she was ready to see it go I got the call. This was fun. We took her hair back to short and sexy. The new cut makes her look taller, thinner, younger and she just seems to smile a bit brighter too. Not bad for the effects of a simple haircut. Why didn’t I think of it sooner?

B is for...

The Ivan Zoot, Andis ClipperGuy vocabulary word of the week is:

Bail Loop - The wire loop at the cord end of a clipper or trimmer from which it is hung when not in use.

Hanging clippers is the best way to keep them safe and handy when not in use.

Jeremy Knott

Jeremy Knott
losangelesbarber.com
Static salon from the Monday blog entry... this is where jeremy works.
Jeremy is a good friend of Andis and a talented clipper cutter. Jason made a guest appearance at the ISSE show in Long Beach for us this year. He was a special guest for recent Scissorboy video shoot as well. When I was done cutting model #3 He nailed a great clipper design on the model’s head to all a special look. Thank you Jeremy. Got o http://www.losangelesbarbershop.com to learn more about Jeremy Knott.
http://www.losangelesbarbershop.com

New Andis YouTube video

Below is the link to the latest Andis / Ivan Zoot YouTube video. Is it a clipper? Is it a trimmer? How do you know? Watch and learn.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6HpzpwaKfg

Static Salon in LA

Static salon in Los Angeles
Static Salon in Los Angeles played host to Grand the video wizard from Scissorboy.com. Amee E played host as I cut 3 heads of hair for a group of Scissorboy.com videos. Stay tuned to Scissorboy.com for the release of the first one in Aug. The salon was a great little place to shoot. The owners and salon team were welcoming and great hosts. If this is an indication, they will build and grow business here very well. Stop in for a visit just off Melrose Ave.

Emu Marketing - Brilliant!

Emu marketing - brilliant
We were miles from nowhere, between Atlanta and Savannah, GA. We needed gas. We needed a bathroom. We needed cold drinks. We pulled off the highway. Like many highway exits this one had 2 gas stations directly opposite each other on one side of the interstate. The one on the south side of the road was your typical BP station and mini mart. The one on the north was nearly identical… except for the emu. Like most highway interchanges this one has a bit of open land around and about the ramps and areas where to gas stations are. Some is farmed, most is empty. The station to the north had fenced in an area and had dug a small retention pond. Nature filled it with water and the geese naturally showed up. Then the guy got smart. He got an emu, and a llama and a goat and a cow. He put them in the fenced area to drink the water and maintain the grass. Next he got a bunch of emu and goat and llama food and he got a sign. That is it. Master plan. Where would you stop? Here or across the street? Simple but brilliant marketing. This guy sells most all the gas on these here corners. He sells most all of the soda and most all the chips. He sells 100% of the emu food too! When we stopped I counted the cars. 26 cars at the emu station… and a total of ZERO at the BP across the street. And he is not even a brand name station. Just a simple business man trying to make a buck. Nicely done if I do say so myself. When the going gets tough, get an emu!

Andis All Stars - This is your chance!!

Hello Clipper Cutters!
It is that time again...
Andis All Stars live on stage at Bronner Bros in Atlanta, GA.
The August 2009 show is nearing.
Once again Andis will make our stage available to in dependant clipper cutters who want to strut their stuff live on stage.
email me at expert@andisco.com for a copy of the rules and a registration form.
Time slots are first come, first served and they will go fast.
Do you have what it takes to be a star?
This is your opportunity.
Do not miss it!
Feb. was a big success...
There are only 21 spots. Do not delay.
TY
Ivan

Jim Jones and me

Jim Jones and me
Jim Jones taught me how to clipper cut. Jim Jones taught me how to share clipper cutting with others. Jim has been an important mentor to me for a long time. Over the past few years I have respectfully referred stylists to Jim and his presentations at every event we are at together. I even send stylists and aspiring clipper cutters to see him in Lansing, MI where he has his shop and training facility. Jim and I are both busy teaching at most major events. At IBS Las Vegas, for the first time in our career we were sharing a classroom and a stage. This was a HUGE thrill for me. Pictured is Jim and me at the classroom sign outside our room. This was neat-O. Clipper cutter students did not even have to leave the room for the BEST in clipper cutting education. Jim Jones and me! Wow! This was fun. Thank you Jim! For more education from Jim contact him at 800.962.6178 or on the web at http://www.jimjonesseminars.com
Jim is still the legend in this business. Thank you Jim!
P.S. See the pic at Twitter... follow me there too... Clipperguy!
http://www.twitter.com

Behind the scenes

Behind the scenes at the video shoot
The Scissorboy.com video shoot in LA was a lot of fun. The host salon, Static salon, was great. More on them tomorrow. The location was ideal. I love Melrose ave. I could walk the street there all day looking in stores and people watching. We had a nice “live studio audience” made up of the salon staff, clinets, passers by and students from a local cosmetology school. I am sure I am always just a bit better with an audience. The models were ideal for the cuts we were trying to do. Jeremy Knott, The clipper cutter we had as a guest in Long beach at ISSE works at Static and set the whole thing up for us. He sourced the models. More on Jeremy here http://www.losangelesbarbershop.com Contact me if you would like to hose a video shoot in your shop. Esp for the YouTube program we are always looking for neat places to film and great heads to cut.

Flat top at the video shoot

Flat top at the video shoot
At the scissorboy.com video shoot I cut one of the best flat tops I have cut in some time. Amazing what a live audience will do for a performance. Great, willing modes. Nice hair. Awesome flat. Go to http://www.scissorboy.com to subscribe to the video series. Good stuff straight to your in box.
Photo is on Twitter. Follow me there.
http://www.twitter.com search clipperguy

Latest on YouTube.

New YouTube vid posted today.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Td2OG5sCNhw&feature=channel_page
It is all about the Andis PhatMaster. new and HOT!
Enjoy.

speaking of feet

See the pic on my facebook or Twitter. That is my shoe on my left foot and a Shaquile O'Neil shoe on my right, size HUGE. This was a catch your attention item at a booth at a recent show. it worked. Reminds me of a book I just read... Pow! Right between the eyes, profiting from the power of surprise... or something like that.


Link to the book is below on Amazon. This is a must read for progressive promotion minded business ppl.

http://www.amazon.com/Pow-Right-Between-Eyes-Profiting/dp/0470405503/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245345011&sr=1-1
Pow! Right between the eyes Profiting form the power of surprise.

Happy Feet!

Massaging insoles
I have written about my happiness with these insoles in the past. Now I am writing about how good their service is… I stopped by to see them at the booth in Orlando since mine were running flat and not as “bouncy” as before… No questions. No worries… Just a new pair - FREE replacement. Nice. Get yourself some of these too and have very happy feet. Like me!
http://www.massaginginsoles.com
... and then I had another shoe experience... more on this next week.

The Andis booth monkey

The Andis booth monkey
The Andis booth monkey was in place surveying the crowd and keeping an eye on the world of Andis this past weekend in Orlando. Part mascot and part good luck charm, he delivered the numbers in grand style for us. Several models were sell outs. Especially, Bty Master which sold out first day after a huge demo and stage push. That is a lot of clipper and a lot of clipper technology for a small sum. Thank you, booth monkey. See you again soon. Booth monkey lives in my tool trunk, not in the warehouse with the booth and staging. This is the first published pic of the booth monkey. The pic shows with the blog entry on clipperguysays blog and his pic was Twitpic’ed today too. He is soon to become the true mini-celebrity that he deserved to be. Maybe I will have to find him a spot in my office instead of inside a dart trade show trunk.

Andis on Facebook

Link is below...
follow us there, be a fan, be a folllower, be a leader, be better than you were yesterday!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sturtevant-WI/Andis-Company/44846203708?ref=mf

Way to go Wallace!

Way to go Wallace
Wallace Barlow made a strong showing on stage this past weekend at Premiere in Orlando. Wallace cuts in Atlanta at American Haircuts in Mid-town. He rocks the BGRc at his chair and did a great job for Andis at the show. At one point I literally had to push him off the stage to get him to grab a drink and visit the rest room. He just kept the hair flying and the chatter going. He built good crowds and saw them leave the Andis booth area with new tools and the information to use them well. Nice job Wallace. If you are a guy in need of a great clipper cut search him out at the shop.

Hands-on at Premiere Orlando

Hands on at Premiere show
The Andis hands-on clipper cutting class at Premiere was a hoot. Fast paced and a bit hectic. I think the agenda was just a bit ambitious for the rookie portion of the crowd. Even so, fun was had by all and at the very least everyone was working hard and the hair was a’flyin’. We workshopped 7 powerful concepts. We did shear style cutting, back hand layering, clipper-over-comb overhand, clipper-over-comb underhand, skip guard tapering, 4 min fading and flat topping. We had quite a few impressive flat tops created by a few clipper cutters who have not had much experience with the discipline. Nice. This was definitely the number 1 clipper educational opportunity of the weekend. Premiere shows web site is below. Plan to be there next year. If you want to see this workshop happen again... speak out. it is not too soon to plan.
TY
GC
http://www.premiereshows.com

The Pedometer Project

The Pedometer project
They passed out pedometers at a recent Andis meeting. Part of an ongoing wellness campaign. Ever year they are tracking walking. They walk to a specific destination. I seldom participate as I am no tin the office much. This time I decided, lets see how far I walk and how fast. I am tracking the pedometer. I will continue to post the distance on Twitter and in my blog. Lets see just how far I can get and how fast. Our sales team was told that whoever walks the farthest by Cosmoprof in Vegas gets $100. I will easily have that in the bag… unless our west coast sales manager gives me a “walk for my money”… or a run. My stride is about 2.5 feet so 2,112 steps = 1 mile for me. I wonder if I can walk to Vegas by the time we get to Vegas. Vegas is 1,809 miles from the office. This is 9,551,520 feet or 3,820,608 steps on the pedometer. How about walk to London by the time I go to London in October? Stay tuned. As of today I am at 102,438 steps… 48.5 miles or to about 8 miles short of Janesville WI. I am on my way!

Cutting my own hair - Chapter 13

Cutting my own hair - Chapter 13
Freehand carving
This was a lot of fun. My hair is shaping up nicely. I had my contacts in and was using the guards to taper up the sides. The top is grown out enough that there was some overhang from the top to the taper. I cannot really cut clipper-over-comb on my one head… so it was time for another technique. It is time to freehand carve. An OA F/D blade on a detachable blade clipper would be ideal for this… but as a noobie to cutting my own hair I was to go with an Easy Style clipper with a #1 guard in place… just in case I dip in too deep. This was easy t do. The slight angle of my mirror and my standing so close, right up onto it made this easy to see and easy to maintain control of what I was seeing and cutting. I was able to do a superb job of blending in the top/sides.

Hands-on w/ Andis and Ivan

Premiere hands-on.
There are only just 3 spots available in the hands-on workshop at Premiere Orlando on Sat. afternoon June 6. Premiere web site is here to get more info and to register. More clipper education for your $ than any other opportunity in first half 2009. Do not miss this.
http://www.primereshows.com

Cutting my onw hair - Chapter 12

Cutting my own hair - Chapter 12
By now the worst of my last paid haircut disaster is completely behind me. What is living on my head can now only be blamed on me. And it is not too shabby. I am liking this experiment. I had an amazing opportunity in a hotel recently. There was a 3 sided mirror and a mirror on the outside of the bathroom door. Between the 3 way mirror and the careful positioning of the door I was bale to see all sides and angles of my head better than ever before. This provided me the arena for much more aggressive personal topiary efforts. I got the back blended in well… and cleaned up my own neck line with the interesting Swerve tool we have discussed here recently. Please be patient while more hair grows. I will soon post a pic of what I have created thus far.

Autographed mqn auction ends

The Ivan Zoot autographed ClipperGuy flat top mannequin closed on ebay this morning. Final bid was $20. Thank you to all who bid. $ will go to Success barber College in Merrilville, IN.
Stay tuned for more fun stuff.

eBay Opportunities

Ebay opportunities

In my programs I mention the presence of very old Andis tools available for sale on ebay. I use this as an example of the long term durability of our tools and the value they represent. I always say… “take care of your Andis clipper and it will live longer than you will.” This is a link to a current very old Andis tool,on ebay just to show you what I am talking about. This one is quite old and a good example.
http://cgi.ebay.com/OLD-ANDIS-MASTER-MODEL-M-HAIR-CLIPPER-BOX-BLADES_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1205Q7c66Q3a2Q7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318Q7c301Q3a0Q7c293Q3a1Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem3ef4a7ab4bQQitemZ270392601419QQptZLHQ5fDefaultDomainQ5f0QQsalenotsupported

ClipperGuy in print

Andis is a valued vendor partner working with Regency beauty Institute. All Regency students are issued Andis tools, clippers, rimmers, dryers, irons, all the best tools to start a career.
This is a Neat-O little article published on line in a publication from Regency Beauty Institute, a great cosmetology school chain with a great real-world student program. This program provides real life training and experiences to prepare students for their careers. Good stuff.
The illustrations are mine as well... How cool is that?
TY
CG

http://www.regencybeauty.com/institute/star-beauty-show-chicago-ivan-zoot.aspx

Flat Top Week - Wrap up

Flat top week - wrap up.

Flat top week was a lot of fun. Monday’s offer of a technical… 70+ of you asked for a copy.
Tuesday’s videos were enjoyed by many. Wed web sites were a hit. The Thursday auction is getting traffic and the bidding is on the rise. Have you bid yet? Link is below. Get your bid in.
Friday I announced the flat top contest. Have you got a head to cut? Are you submitting a pic.? Get on with it! Win a FREE Andis clipper!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=180356762018

Based upon the success and positive feedback we got from flat top week… fade week will likely be here soon.

Flat Top Week - Friday

Flat Top Friday

We have been taking heavy-duty flat top stuff all week. You must be flat top amped-up by now… so… go out and cut a few. Here is the Friday idea. Cut an awesome flat top or two. Email me the pics. First, I will blog and twitpic the top 10 best flat top pics I get form readers. Second the best flat top I see wins a free Andis Easy Style clipper. This is a new and hot Andis tool. See the link below for a pic of the New Andis Easy Style. This is a recent addition to the Andis line and one I have been having a lot of fun with recently. Light weight, high speed and torque rotary motor. Click adjust blade, soft touch grippiness… a lot to like in the great tool.
Here are the rules…
Enter as many flat tops as you like.
Each flat top must be sent to me in a separate email, subject line “flat top week”
Your flat top entry must be cut fresh this week (within the next 7 days of today) entries must be in by 5.22.09. You must prove this by taking your pic with a view of the front page of your local paper held up in the hands of the model. Every shop has a newspaper… easy to do this.

This is going to be fun.

Flat Top Week - Thursday

Flat top Thursday

The Flat Top party continues. To celebrate flat top Thursday week we are offering something special. Here is a rare opportunity. I have attached a pic of a flat top I recently cut on a mannequin at a class at Digrigoli academy in West Springfield, MA. I have autographed the mannequin… second pic. The mannequin is posted on ebay at the link below. Click there and have a look at the offer. Here is the deal. Bid on this unique signed collectable. Shipping to you will be FREE, our treat. ALL the proceeds of the sale of the mannequin will be donated to Success Barber School in Merrilville, IN near Chicago. They will use the $ to help pay for tools for students that need the help. How cool is that? Bid high… It is for a good cause.

Here is the link to the ebay auction:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180356762018
FREE shipping.
All $ to a good cause.
Please bid this thing up way high!

Flat Top Week - Wednesday

Flat top week - Wednesday

Today is flat top week web site day. Have a click at the links provided for a few great flat top focused web sites. Good stuff.

This is a great general flat top site. Fun stuff.
http://www.pathguy.com/flattop.htm

Here is the wiki flat top page…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flattop

I love this stuff for flattopping;
http://www.amazon.com/Krew-Comb-Stick-Groom-Flattop/dp/B000AMRHZO

Interesting…
http://www.essortment.com/all/howtogiveaha_rcav.htm

Flat info here.
http://hubpages.com/hub/The-Art-of-the-Flatop-Haircut

The Google images flat top gallery:
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=flat%20top%20hair&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi

Flat top wax…
http://www.thegreaseshop.com/servlet/the-76/Flat-dsh-top-wax-pomade-AGS/Detail

Info on horseshoe flats
http://www.geocities.com/rodeodrive/3696/Photos_hs.html

The Flat topper cutting tool. I have used this. I teach proper use of this tool. Good way to train on flat topping.
http://www.hairproducts.com/view_product_ACC-BRI100.htm

Flat Top Week - Tuesday

Flat top Tuesday

Flat top week continues
Flat top week just keeps getting better and better. Today is flat top video day. Links are provided below to some of the best flat top cutting video on the web. Pop some popcorn, fop down in the lazyboy and start learning. Then get a model and bang one out.

This is my YouTube flat top video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3u4pxz0jnY

Here is a nice flat top from Slim the Barber
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aT2bDt1XXQ

This is just a preview, but Bradley does a great job on his video. Worth a look.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfAMT-2rKHU

1980’s Bridget Nielsen look here. I do not agree w/ using hairspray, but I do agree that the blow dry is critical.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZloyCRdtEKQ

A classic here. This is Kenny Alsup in an Andis video from the 1980s.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbveA7Yeuhk

This is Slim’s father-in-law cutting a flat top.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zArgoKYjlxI&feature=related

This is Harold from Wahl cutting a nice flat.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMmvRPaLWI0

Andis and Ivan Zoot on NBC tonight

Ivan Zoot ClipperGuy on NBC television tonight... Watch it here:
http://www.wwlp.com/dpp/news/local/wwlp_local_massachusetts_worldsfastesthaircuttervisitssalong_200905111200

How it is Made - Marvy barber Poles

Link below is to the site for the show schedule to watch How It Is Made... Featuring William Marvy Co. - World famous barber Poles.
Check it out.
https://pop.andisco.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://science.discovery.com/tv-schedules/series.html?paid=48.14293.126455.16541.1%26start=20

Welcome to Flat Top week!

Flat top week - Monday

I am declaring this week flat top week. All week I will be blogging great flat top stuff… Including a neat-O charity opportunity at the end of the week. If you love flat tops like I love flat tops this is to be a fun week.

Today, Monday starts out the week with my offer of a printed technical of the Andis “round-the-clock” flat top cutting system. Send me an email. I will email back a pdf of a simple flat top cutting system. This is the system I use every day. This is the system I developed to assist hair cutters who do NOT come from a classic barbering background or education in mastering this important cut and revenue generating service. Send the email to me at either my Andis email expert@andisco.com or my clipperguysays@yahoo.com address.

Sample eval - Comfort The Guest

Comfort the Guest
This was a neat-O sample to play with. A Thermal water bottle. Fill it with warm water at 8 a.m. Midnight it is still spraying comfortably warm water. What a nice treat for a client. No more shot in the head with ice water. Nicely made. Good quality materials. Mine is brushed stainless. Several colors avail. Better get you one.
More info here.
http://twitter.com/comforttheguest

Cutting my own hair - Chapter 11

Cutting my own hair - Chapter 11

Taper guides

I have always laughed at the left and right side clipper guides that Andis sells with their home cutting kits. They seemed amateurish to me. I have used them to demo in consumer presentation, but have never considered them serious tools. Well, a change in perspective can create a change in attitude and opinion.
I have been using these angled, tapering guides to cut the corners and around the ear on my own haircut. They really work well. I knew that they would. I knew that they do. I can do the tight corner taper with a #1 guide on my own by tipping the guard… hey, that is the skill you develop as a pro… but these little suckers really make it easy. Since the front corner is the first thing you notice on a short tapered haircut it is important that this point looks good. And these guards have made this very easy. Try ‘em on your own head. Still would not use one on someone else.

Thoughts from Porto Rico

Roman inspired sandals

For quite some time we have heard that Roman inspired sandals were to be hot. My recent trip to Porto Rico proved this to be the case. They were everywhere. They were especially more noticeable in a nation that really loves its heels. Women everywhere wear heels. Heels in the restaurants. Heels all over the hotels. Heels in the streets. Even heels at the beach. A trip to them mall and poking around in shoe stores and you can hardly find a pair of flats. Away from the tourist areas this was even more obvious. At the mall in the neighborhood with the locals on a Saturday afternoon… every woman at the mall is wearing heels… except the ones in the Roman sandals. Then today in NYC… on the street… lots of Roman sandals.. Even saw variations of them I the form of Roman inspired sandals with a high heel. Likely to be seen soon in Porto Rico.

Pony clip time again

I did a pony clip clipper cut at the show today. Have not done one in a long time. Back in the day I did 'em all the time.
This one had a design, zebra stripes cut into the clippered bottom... stenciled in with black and white pencil too.
This is a pic I found on line for those of you who do not know what a pony clip is (or was).
http://www.hji.co.uk/hjimages/images/qhs2639/hji/medium/1984-ponytail-crop.jpg

NEW YouTube vid live today

NEW Video on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weOdR5tw-_U&feature=channel_page
Secrets of Fading - Porcupine Fluff.
Watch it now.
Use the link above.
TY

Cutting my own hair - Chapter 10

Cutting my own hair - Chapter 10

The comb
So I never shut up about clipper combs. I have been the king of the clipper comb for years. I would never even dream of picking up a regular comb to cut your hair, much less mine. I started out just tapering the corners in the front of my head with a #1 snap on guide comb. Then I started moving up the head using a guard with heel pressure to build length. Next it was time to pick up the world famous Andis clipper comb. Of course, for me it would be a white one as I am still mostly dark hair. Grey in the corners and a few scattered here and there, but dark hair. The BIG Andis clipper comb seemed small. Too small. Working on my own head the angles and positions are awkward and new. The comb feels too small and dangerous. Time to step up to bigger. So what did I reach for? It was Flattopper time. Yes. I was to use the old standard flattopper comb. These things are the size of a ping pong paddle. I have had one for years. I used them in the beginning to cut flat tops. I have used them to train others. It is just a monster big comb. Nice big handle. A very safe tool for clipper cutting. Turns out, it is a great tool for use for cutting your own hair. The beige color is great for high contrast. I can see what I am cutting. The other small trick that has paid big dividends in my success and confidence to continue the project has been the #1 clipper guide comb. I have taught for a long time, the idea that beginners should attempt clipper-over-comb with a #1 guard on the clipper, thus moving the cutting action 1/8” away from the surface of the comb. Slows you down, Backs you off a bit. Very forgiving. With a #1 in place on the clipper and a flattopper in the other hand I am tearing it up. Well, not tearing, but clippering away. This combo has made the process safer for me and given me the confidence to go for it.

Below is the link for the flattopper. There is also a link for their “new improved version” the flatliner. I do not like the flatliner as well. Too dark to see hair. Does not feed as well. Handle shape is slippery. Go with the original falttopper.

http://www.amazon.com/Flattopper-Original-with-Level-Beige/dp/B0001B50PI

Growing a goatee - The experiment

Growin’ a goatee

In Puerto Rico every guy has a goatee. We went there. I can home with a goatee as my souvenir. I lasted nearly a week. It was driving me batty. By the 7th night I could not sleep. Itchy, scratchy, drove me nuts. I am not destined to have facial hair. It came in nicely. More dark then white. Comments were running positive. My sons were upset. The little guy thought I looked creepy. The big one was just jealous. At 16 he cannot grow a mustache fast enough. He wants a soul patch. Maybe I can build him one from hair clippings since he cannot as of yet grow his own.

Reminds me about the Gaotee Svaer. Have you seen this thing. Neat-O invention. I saw it at a show last fall. Refer to the link below. Interesting item. Well made. A solution in search of a problem? Maybe. But it would sell in Puerto Rico. Every guy is a potential customer.

http://www.goateesaver.com/

Page views through the roof.

Page views through the roof...
My page at my online book publisher’s web site tracks my page views. Normally I track about 100 page views per week. This past week I was over 640 page views. Interesting coincidence that I was on vacation for the week… doing nothing to drive page views. Someone must have posted a link on a beauty industry related site and I am getting a lot of click through traffic. I checked my http://www.clipperguy.com web site. Click outs from there to my book page are at the same level as usual. There is a slight delay from page views to book sales, so it will be interesting to see if all this additional view traffic results in a higher level of sales. This will indicate if the gateway that is sending the traffic is sending realistic prospects or just traffic. At first I though I might be a featured title from the publisher on their page… that would explain lookie loos… and few real sales.
Stay tuned… the mystery will be solved. Mean while… Go there. Have a look. Buy a book.
http://www.blurb.com/clipperguy

P.S. Since I typed this we are on to the next week... page views are running ahead this week, but not at last weeks level... but definitely ahead of "normal". Hmmmmm? Interesting... Stay tuned.

Cutting my own hair - Chapter 9, sidebar

Cutting my own hair - Chapter 9
I am not alone.
So I have embarked on the cutting my own hair mission. I am having fun. I am learning. I am not alone. Just a short while back I was asked by an family member… Mom’s first cousin’s husband If I could get him a clipper…. He wanted to start cutting his own hair. Or, more precisely, he wanted his wife to cut his hair. So I got him a clipper. Just last week I got a great phone call. He had asked her to cut his hair. She was busy, told him to wait. He was impatient, decided not to wait. He decided to have a go at it himself. Apparently things did not go too well. She did what she could to fix, blend, salvage. Bottom line, she had a good laugh. She told me he has a very short clipper cut for now and it will have to grow in. I am not alone in my efforts to cut my own hair. I am, however, having a bit more cusses. Hope I am not speaking too soon.

Cutting my own hair - Chapter 8

Cutting my own hair - Chapter 8

Vision Quest
So I am all set up in the haircut area in the basement. My hair is clean and dry. I have the bathroom mirror down there with me. The light is good. Problem is, I cannot see my hair. I can not cut the sides with my glasses on. I can not see my head without my glasses. Problem. How am I going to work around this. Upstairs I go to the bathroom. Do I still have a pair of old contact lenses? Do I have any fresh and not outdated solution? Lenses and solution could be my solution. Ten minuets later I am back down in front of the mirror, eyes dry and blinking a lot. I am not used to contacts, but I can see my head and my glasses are not in the way. Who would have thought that cutting my own hair would be such a complicated undertaking? If I was cutting your hair we would have been finished a long time ago and on to something else… which gets me thinking… I have the three world haircutting records for cutting OTHER peoples hair. Is there another record in my future for cutting ones own hair? If there is than I have a long way to go to get my speed up.