“We didn’t know we were nominated when we found out we were in the top 20.”

Rachel thanked her loyal customers, whom she has accumulated over the past 28 years, for helping them win.

“I have over 1,000 clients and people come from all over to get their hair done.

“We have people who come from as far away as York and Newcastle and we even have one of our clients, who now lives in France, comes to us when she was visiting her home. She won’t let anyone else touch her. her hair .”

Loyal customer Natalie White, who has traveled from East Bowling for the past four years, said, “I love their hospitality. There is always a good conversation.”

Rachel spent 28 years of her life in hairdressing.

“I started working as a Saturday girl in a salon in Shipley when I was 14. It’s in my blood and my mom owned a hairdressing school.”

Rachel learned the trade from her mother and she now has two daughters, Jess and Hannah, who work for her at Funky and Fresh Hair.

Jess Murgatroyd, who is a stylist, said: “It’s just exciting. We work hard, so it’s nice to have a little appreciation.”

Funky and Fresh Hair has been in Idle for 11 years, seven of them in their current building on The Green.

“In containment, we did everything,” Rachel said. “We were able to have a complete overhaul because of the containment.

“It took us six weeks to do it. Normally we don’t have that kind of time because we’re too busy.”

When the Covid rules were relaxed in July 2020, Rachel explained: “We had hundreds of people who wanted to have their hair done. We were working 18 hours a day from 6 a.m. to midnight. Things were just starting to s. ‘install and then entered another lockdown in November. ”

In addition to Funky and Fresh Hair, the shortlisted finalists were The Lounge, Silsden; Lacquer, Bingley; Seymours Cutting Room, Low Moor; Avenue Boutique Coiffure & Beauté, Eldwick; Coden, Crossroads, Airhead, Bingley Hair and Beauty Technicians; and Halo Hairdressing, Baildon.

Also shortlisted are Mario’s, Chantelle Louise Hair Salon, Hairitage Hair Salon, Hair by Jo, Beau Hair & Beauty Specialists, Blues Hair Workshop, all from Bradford; Creative hairdressing studio, Saltaire; Trinity Hair Studio, Shipley; Toni RB Hair Design and Faye Louise Hair Salon in Eccleshill; Liberty Lounge, Keighley; and Maison de Smith Salon, Scholes.

Ronnie Dunn is a transgender stylist at Super Cuts in Cary.

Six months ago, she underwent facial feminization surgery on her forehead, as part of UNC’s transgender health program.

The results are transformed.

“You feel pretty, you feel beautiful. You feel good about yourself,” Dunn said. “They contoured my forehead, they lowered my hairline and gave me a brow lift again.”

Dr Elda Fisher is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon at UNC and one of 14 doctors who provide gender-affirming surgeries and services to trans men and women.

“A female skull has a very flat forehead that slowly descends into the nasal bridge,” Dr. Fisher said.

Fisher is passionate about helping this community become physically what it is on the inside.

“Being able to make this change on the face is extremely rewarding because they get these benefits immediately,” Dr. Fisher said. “Their mental health is better. As a result, they run less risk of violence in the community.

Patients are generally responsible for the coverage of most services. But Ronnie said his insurance mistakenly covered the cost.

She is grateful.

Over the years, the 47-year-old says she has experienced harassment and discrimination in the job because of her appearance.

The pain left her overcome and ready to give up.

“Especially when you put on women’s clothes, you feel like you look like a girl, you feel good about yourself, and then someone does that and knocks you off your high horse,” Dunn said. Today she says more people see her as a woman.

“This whole program is amazing and it helps us and others,” said Dunn. “Just thank you, thank you Dr Fisher, thank you to his team. Thank you UNC for having this program because it has changed my life.”

The UNC launched its transgender health program in the summer of 2019.

Since then, they have helped over 500 transgender men and women with gender affirmation surgeries and services.

The owner of a downtown Windsor hair salon says he’s been through hell and returned but is set to reopen next week.

Antoine Greige is the owner of the Antoine Greige Salon and Spa on rue Goyeau between rue Wyandotte Est and rue Tuscarora.

He says the shutdown over the past two months has been more than difficult, adding that it has impacted his business as well as his staff and customers.

“What I’ve heard from a lot of clients, friends, people, whatever, I don’t know what they have against hairdressers, they won’t let us open,” says Greige. “We could go to a bank, deal with them, they can’t come and see us and deal with us. I don’t understand that, but it’s good news that we are opening and I hope God won’t close anymore. never. “

He says the shutdown for the past two months has been difficult.

“We still have our bills, our taxes, our insurance and we can’t pay them,” said Greige. “So that sucks for a lot of us, not just hairdressers, a lot of others too.”

Ontario will enter 2nd step of its plan to reopen on June 30, a few days earlier than expected.

As part of step 2, non-essential stores inside shopping malls can reopen with restrictions, the number of people allowed to sit at a table on a restaurant terrace increased from four to six and outdoor social gatherings can accommodate up to 25 people.

BOZEMAN – A Boss Babe, a Baby and a Pandemic. Joan Dayton managed to see beauty beyond the chaos of 2020. She brought new life to the world and kept a new business alive at Bozeman: Evolve hair design. She shared her story in our latest Rebound Spotlight on Women Business Owners.

“I really want to have an inspiring atmosphere for the clients and for my team,” Joan said.

It’s easy to see that style and skill are two of her qualities when you watch her work with clients behind the chair. In the meantime, it’s clear – strength is another of the qualities that helped this businesswoman survive in 2020.

“It was pretty terrifying,” Joan said. “It was just one of those obstacles you have to overcome along the way. “

Photos provided by Joan Dayton

Unsurprisingly, she talks about the pandemic shutdown that took place on what should have been a happy moment, the first anniversary of her salon opening.

“So many questions,” Joan said. “Everyone is like what we do, what happens when we close and don’t make any income? “

But as for the challenges of last year, that was just the start for this Boss Babe and now busy mom.

At the end of September 2019, she and her husband Alex learned that they would soon become parents. The pregnancy was at high risk and despite their joy, Joan was extremely ill.

“Then the pandemic hit and my waters broke and I started labor 11 weeks earlier so I was flying from Bozeman to Billings,” Joan said.

It was April 16. She then had to move to Billings for eight weeks while her daughter was in the NICU. Four more weeks at Bozeman’s NICU would follow. Somehow, she managed to juggle a new girl and run her business.

“I just went into full survival mode, I’m someone who can handle a lot of things, so the resilience was huge for me,” she said.

Evolve reopened its doors just a month after the birth of her baby girl.

“It was definitely the most painful year of my life, but she got through it and my husband was amazing,” Joan said. “He’s my biggest fan, he does everything to help us all be successful as a family. “

She says that during the process, she learned to communicate better, often checking in with her clients and team members. She says she’s also learned to ask for help and be grateful for the little things.

“I had to let them know, no matter what I was going through, I always kept clear communication,” she said.

As 2021 approaches, she is adding stylists to her growing team, voted in a local poll to be Bozeman’s best.

Joan says it’s great to be where she is and encourages other business owners to hang in there.

“I would say it’s definitely going to be difficult. It’s hard work and you just need to know that it will be worth it if you have the passion that will show itself.

A lot can be said about women who rely on hair ties as if their lives depend on it. He tells you that here is a girl who wants to keep her locks out. She will likely follow a very busy schedule that begins with intense training in the morning. There are back-to-back meetings throughout the day, leaving little to no time for a cuff touch-up. The girl in the perpetual ponytail may have obsessive-compulsive tendencies. She will prefer to keep things elegant and clean, in the wardrobe, the living space and the hairstyles.

The sudden change in the way we lead our lives has also given us the opportunity to try new things. Once upon a time without COVID, I was the girl who lived in her ponytail. I wore it high and tight for Pilates or the spin class. Wear it low and parted in the middle for business meetings, lunches and dinners. The few times I liked the way they fell over my shoulders, I wore a half ponytail on the weekends or for the occasional night on the town.

While the joys of wearing the no-frills pony are abundant, there is a refreshing feeling of freedom and relaxation when letting your hair down. For someone who has lived their entire life with hair ties, this is nothing short of a life transition. We can even assimilate it to this universal slide towards the new normal. The reasons for adopting a new style and new hair care routine also have a lot to do with the change in lifestyle and the arsenal of products available. Here is a list of essentials that have forever changed my mind about ponytails.

It would be a shame to attach strands that smell of the gentle summer breeze. SUN BUM3-in-1 No-Rinse Detox and Conditioner Immediately took me to pristine shores even staying indoors during lockdown. They smell like coconut oil, bananas, and all the tropical and delicious things. It was good vibes in my shower. Detox Shampoo is formulated with apple cider vinegar, blue agave and cocoa to detoxify, nourish and protect strands. Ideal to use twice a week, this fragrant essential cleanses hair deeply and gently so you never want to hide a bad hair day again. I love following a detox wash with a spritz of Leave In 3-in-1 Conditioner, which helps untangle strands. This formula, rich in banana pulp, quinoa protein and sunflower seed oil, also helps protect colored hair from UVA / UVB rays.

When the strands smell and smell like satin flowers, you just let them go. People who appreciate the value of a good scent will immediately understand why an aromatic hair mist is just as essential as an eau de parfum to complement any look and set the tone for your day. FRANCIS KURKDJIAN HOUSE‘S Perfume Wardrobe, made up of the house’s signature scents, played a vital role in giving me a sense of normalcy during pandemic containment. The scents of the set were worn in rotation, depending on the mood. This little act of spraying on a diaper transported the senses to idyllic places despite the lockdown. It was only recently, however, that I discovered the joys of wrapping my mane in Oud Satin Mood Perfumed Mist from MAISON KURKDJIAN. A light scent of violets, Bulgarian and Turkish roses, amber vanilla and Laos oudwood, this scent mist is an ideal garnish for your entire fragrance set. A few spritzes, especially on sunny summer days, bring elegance and irreverence, especially for satin-blown hair.

The right tools are all you need to let down great hair. I have always believed that perfect locks can only be created by those who have dexterity and skill in styling. It was until I got my first one RAINCRY flat brush with natural bristles. Made from boar bristles and natural wood, this conditioning brush distributes natural oils to strands to nourish hair. Using natural bristles helps with color retention and shine. Air cushions stimulate blood circulation while gently massaging the scalp. RAINCRY is a brand founded by hairstylist Feisal Qureshi after a long search for the perfect styling brush. Years of research, experience and product development have made the brand a leader in the professional hairdressing world.

Personalized hair care routines deserve more than a ponytail or a bun. The common perception is that if it’s personalized, it must cost an arm and a leg. BEAUTY FUNCTION, makes personalized hair care accessible to everyone with a fully integrated system that gives customers access to formulations designed specifically for their concerns. The brand’s goal is well defined: to challenge the status quo of your basic shampoo and conditioner to deliver individualized results. The team explains: “There are 8 billion heads on the planet. Call us crazy, but we think it takes more than a couple of formulas to appeal to all of these unique individuals. That’s where we come in. Function of Beauty does it with an archive of perhaps over 54,000 billion formulations, all free of sulfates, phthalates, mineral oils and gluten. “We only use ingredients that we use ourselves with confidence, which is why you will never find toxins or potentially harmful ingredients in our formulas,” the team adds. You will also enjoy taking their online quiz, which will help you determine your unique wording. The added bonus: you can personalize your bottles with your favorite name and color.

Soft, bouncy and textured beach hair is to be highlighted and let go, even when staying at home. My lifelong bane has been loose hair, which left the bun or ponytail as the only other option. KENRA PROFESSIONAL Sugar Beach collection is a sweet and sweet solution for hair that looks lifeless. Infused with Hawaiian cane sugar, this shampoo and conditioner duo creates texture while keeping strands hydrated and bouncy. Unlike most salt based texturizers, this formulation creates an airy and light feel. This is an ideal two-step system for wearing easy side-swept waves. As part of the brand’s commitment to stay sustainable, this Sugar Beach collection is packaged using recycled materials from high-risk areas or 100% Ocean Bound Plastic.

The frizz should be released. During the lockdown, sales of hair masks soared as many of us discovered personal care as a way to improve well-being. Concrete example : COCO AND EVE’s Like A Virgin Hair Mask, which sold during quarantine and saw a phenomenal 200% increase in sales. The five-in-one treatment uses raw virgin coconut to soften, strengthen, repair and add shine to strands. This miracle ingredient also works wonders for promoting a healthier scalp. Fig and shea butter act as a detangling agent that does not weigh down the hair. Linseed Argan Oil treats split ends and tames frizz, transforming hair into radiant shine.

SM: What are the three hair products you can’t travel without?

CALIFORNIA: I always take a moisturizer. I also really like these face and eye masks – the ones from Iceland. And Color Wow Shampoo in travel size. I am a simple guy.

SM: Your recent viral parking lot haircut for Kim Kardashian West got me thinking about modern customer service expectations. How can salons raise their standards to meet modern customers?

CALIFORNIA: Customer service is about making someone feel like their needs have been met. Great customer service goes beyond that, you almost have to learn their love language; do they want to feel cool, sexy or confident? I also love finding out who their alter ego is and what their ultimate hairstyle would be. When Kim wanted to go blonde, we talked about it for a long time, including how she didn’t want the shade to be too yellow, which turned into a conversation about creating a new kind of blonde. that had not been done. before.

SM: What’s your favorite hair trend right now?

CALIFORNIA: For me, there is no longer a specific look, there is rather change and people want to change their look every day. I’ve always had a natural urge to push the boundaries with hair and individualize the experience. Over the past two years, more and more people recognize my work because of who my clients are. It also coincided with the social media culture that constantly demands new looks.

SM: You described your creative process as a collaboration with your clients and you drew inspiration from your environment. But, once the look is set, how do you go about bringing it to life?

CALIFORNIA: If I’m really honest, I tend to work better under pressure. If I have too much time, I tend to think too much. So even though I’m not caught up in the process, I plan ahead. I prepare a project making sure I have the inspiration for the look, hair and products I need and an understanding of the overall vibe. But it doesn’t always work. I was hired to work on one of Jennifer Lopez’s music videos and the vision was all about black and white hair. But when I got on set Jen walked in and said she wanted the look in her own color. So we had to make it work with just two hours before the first take.

SM: What’s the biggest mistake people make when it comes to styling their hair?

CALIFORNIA: I always want people to express themselves and that’s why I love what I do; when someone wears a look with confidence and you can make it stand out, it’s pretty magical. I don’t like it when people don’t reach their full potential.

SM: Which beauty look do you think should come back in style?

CALIFORNIA: I really like the look of Marilyn Monroe. It must be done very well, otherwise the curls of the roller may look a little “granny”, [but the style] it looks so good on a platinum blonde.

SM: What trends can we expect in 2020?

CALIFORNIA: The color options are really changing as Kim’s chocolate brown. It is very difficult to get a cool brown because there is usually a red undertone. Luxurious hairstyles are also making a comeback.

SM: When you’re not working or traveling, what would we do for you?

CALIFORNIA: Gym.

SM: We read that your very first “client” was your mother. What is the best advice she gave you?

CALIFORNIA: There was a time when I was going to be either a hairdresser or an actor. When I said this to my mother, she asked me if I could act like the Prime Minister and how could I make a different impression. I think that’s what stuck with me; always thinking how I can stand out from the crowd.

Editor’s Note: This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.