Finally, the kids are back in school!  

That means for the past few weeks, most moms have been busy.  Meetings with new teachers, driving all over town to find the exact school supplies needed, endless shopping for school clothes, exchanging those clothes for the "cooler" clothes, scheduling back-to-school haircuts, arranging carpools, comforting the little ones and calming first-day jitters... whew!  Now it's time for moms to take some time for themselves!

A visit to Kenneth's is the perfect solution.  Schedule an appointment for a relaxing massage, a rejuvenating facial, or a quick pick-me-up manicure/pedicure (bonus: the new OPI shades are gorgeous!).  A new hairstyle, or even just a trim and getting your color refreshed, can also do wonders for your outlook -- and your look! 

Whatever you decide, moms, it's your turn to get pampered!  Take some time for yourself and step away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

BONUS: All products are 10% off for another week!  Visit our Facebook page for coupon.  

With June and July behind us and back-to-school coming up fast, the unfortunate fact is that summer is almost over.  After spending your time in the sun, vacationing in the sand and salt water, frequent trips to the pool and enduring the blistering heat, your hair is more than likely not feeling great.  Your color may have faded to a brassy or dull shade; you could be experiencing frizz and brittleness; or just feel like your hair isn't quite looking its best.  Don't worry, though, this damage is easily repaired!  Just follow these steps for hair repair:

Replace Moisture by Conditioning

Summer heat, the sun, and exposure to such elements as salt water and chlorine do nothing but dry our hair out.  The obvious answer to this problem is to condition in order to replace the moisture that was lost, but don't just trust your normal everyday conditioner -- it may not be enough.  Try a masque like Kenneth's Indulge Masque ($13.50) that will penetrate deep into the hair shaft and leave your hair feeling much smoother and healthier.  Use it every time you wash your hair for a week, then use once or twice a week to keep your hair from feeling dry.

Banish Frizz

Everyone wants their hair to look healthy, and frizziness takes away from the smooth, shiny look that so many people seek.  Getting rid of frizz used to be quite the challenge, but advances in hair care have made it much simpler.  You can opt for a long-term treatment, such as the Keratin Smoothing Treatment ($300) or Express Smoothing Treatment ($100) for results that last 6 weeks to 3 months.  Or try any of our smoothing products, such as the Keratin Therapy line of styling products, shampoo, and conditioner ($14-$59) that will help heal any broken strands of hair and give your overall appearance luster and smoothness.

Refresh Your Color

The sun fades colors, including in your hair.  If you typically have highlights, you'll probably notice that after summer they can appear brassy or yellowish.  Those with darker hair or red shades might feel like their hair lacks its usual depth and shine.  The answer to this is simple -- schedule a visit to the salon!  The end of summer is the perfect time to touch up and refresh your color, and maybe even try something new for autumn.  Just schedule highlights or a color retouch at your favorite Kenneth's salon and you'll be well on your way to having fabulous color again.

Use the Right Shampoo

While you may be looking for body and volume, make sure to use the proper shampoo for your hair type.  If you have dry, damaged hair, you're better off using a moisturizing shampoo in the shower, then relying on styling products and blow-drying to achieve body and lift at the roots.  Since shampoo is rinsed out anyway, it has a more beneficial effect if you look at your hair texture to decide which type to use: Anti-Fade to reduce color fade, Highlights to keep your highlights bright and not brassy, Anti Frizz to smooth hair and reduce frizz, Pure Moisture to add moisture to dry hair, Maximum Fullness for hair that tends to get limp or weighed down easily.

Be Careful When Detangling

Dry hair is naturally more brittle and prone to breakage, so it is most vulnerable when wet and you're trying to comb through it or detangle.  Try the Kenneth's Wet Brush, which detangles hair effortlessly without pulling or breaking strands.

Always trust your Kenneth's professional stylist to get your hair in the best shape possible.  We have in-salon and take-home deep conditioning treatments that can rehab your hair from damaged to healthy in no time!

Check out our Facebook page for discounts and coupons: currently there are special offers for the Keratin Smoothing Treatment and Express Treatment, plus all retail products are 10% off! 

Taking care of your natural nails can sometimes be difficult -- they crack, split, break, and can be weak.  But if you follow a few simple steps, you can get your own nails to look fabulous without much effort!  Establish a nail-care regimen that includes trips to the salon along with some at-home care.

USA Today had a great article yesterday about how to achieve healthy nails and why it's important.  Here are their tips for preventing and lessening damage:

Protect cuticles -- the strip of hardened skin at the base and sides prevents microbes from infecting your nails.  Damage it and you risk infection.  It's OK to push cuticles back gently, but don't cut them.  If you get a hangnail, cut it cleanly with a cuticle scissor, but don't pick at it.  That can lead to infection.

Baby your brittle nails -- age and harsh products can reduce the natural oils that act as a glue and hold the nail layers together.  To counter the loss, apply cream, oil, or ointment to the hands and nails several times a day.  Regularly applying a thick cream (try Kenneth's soy moisturizer) at bedtime for several months makes a big difference.  

Be patient -- fingernails grow about one-tenth of an inch a month, the American Academy of Dermatology says.  Gelatin capsules won't speed it up, but vitamin supplements containing biotin could help weak or fragile nails.  As always, a balanced diet helps as well.

Practice salon smarts -- sanitation is always in the forefront of the nail industry.  Though state health departments regulate salon sanitation, clients should ask about how a salon handles sanitation and disinfection.  (Kenneth's nail services are always sanitary.  Implements are disinfected and sanitized, and anything porous is never re-used.  In fact, you can even take your files and buffer home with you!)

Nail Trends this Season

"It's an inexpensive way to add something to your wardrobe," says Michelle Mismas of alllacqueredup.com.  "For many people, it's become an accessory just like jewelry."  Try one of these trends:

Cracked/shatter-effect polishes -- these specially formulated lacquers create a splitting, geometric appearance on the nail. They're typically layered over a  smooth, contrasting color to produce a more dramatic effect.  All of Kenneth's nail salons use OPI's Shatter, which comes in a variety of colors.

Multicolor manicures -- instead of painting all 10 nails the same color, complimentary colors adorn each nail or one is painted a different color to stand out, often the ring finger or thumb nail. 

Traditional brights and pastels -- these are always in style during the summer, with oranges and blues popular this year, along with more muted greens.  Pastels are timeless options for women who want something more understated, with grayed, sandwashed undertones adding a softer effect.

Nudes and neutrals -- colors that match your skin tone are the polar opposite of the multicolor manicures and bright trends but feel fresh and clean in the summer heat.

USA Today, July 26, 2011.  "Healthy Nails are Within Your Reach", Michelle Healy.

My many years in the beauty business have given me the pleasure to see many fashion changes, from teased hair to frizzy perms, to cuts with beautiful angles carved into the hair.  Hair fashion now has a different twist.  Women still need to have their hair shaped on a regular basis but instead of hearing comments like "that's a great cut" we are hearing (or should be hearing) "your hair is beautiful".  Women are growing their hair longer now and the way to get attention when growing it out or after you grow it out is to make sure when it reaches the desired length and shape the hair is beautiful.  Things that I believe will help women achieve that goal along with a regular shaping of the hair is color, conditioning, and at-home hair care.  

Color adds shine and interesting detail to the hair as we add the length.  Conditioning makes sure that when your hair gets to the length you want it arrives in a beautiful condition.  The use of flat irons and other hot tools has created a need for products that protect the hair like the new Keratin Smoothing Treatments that we are introducing in our salons.  These and other of our treatments help protect the hair from damage as our clients grow their hair out.  

Finally, home hair care.  To protect your hair between visits and to insure your color looks great until we see you again, clients need to use the proper products at home.  I have worked with a chemist to develop products that make sure we have the care of the hair in mind.  When visiting a Kenneth's salon your stylist will make suggestions as to what products in the Kenneth's line you should use between salon visits.

Looking into the future, I see on the runways a re-emergence of a rendition of the 70's shag and also the introductions of the sharp shape and designs introduced by Vidal Sassoon with hair color still being a very important part of all hair designs.  

Change is inevitable and always welcome.

Kenneth Anders

Kenneth's Hair Salons and Day Spas

New Products at Kenneth's: Keratin Therapy for All Types of Hair

Keratin protein is the newest technology in hairstyling to help

achieve a soft, touchable, manageable look that is frizz-free

and easy to style.  Keratin builds a bond around the hair shaft,

taming frizz and giving shine.  Kenneth's has created three new

products that utilize up to 10% pure Keratin protein to repair,

revitalize, and smooth hair: Keratin Therapy Shampoo, Keratin

Therapy Conditioner, and Keratin Therapy Styling Product.

 They are available at all ten Kenneth's salon locations.

Keratin Therapy Products

These are the ultimate for smoothing hair and making it more manageable!  They are totally free of damaging salts and sulfates and are also color-safe, formaldehyde-free, and gluten-free.  They nourish your hair as they cleanse and condition to smooth the cuticle and provide enrichment for damaged hair.  Since these products are so highly concentrated, just like all of Kenneth's professional products, you only need a small amount.

What is Keratin?

 Keratin is a stuctural protein that is a major component of our skin, nails, and hair.  When Keratin is a key ingredient in hair products, it helps to rebuild the hair structure, forming a bond around each individual follice, which can greatly reduce frizziness, split ends, a rough hair texture, and damaged appearances.  The Keratin that is used in Kenneth's Keratin Therapy comes from virgin wool of New Zealand sheep, so it is completely pure and concentrated up to 10% in each product.

Help Increase the Longevity of Your Keratin Smoothing Treatment

If you have received the Kenneth's Keratin Smoothing Treatment or Express Keratin Smoothing Treatment, you have experienced the amazing results it gives to the hair -- smoother, softer, more manageable hair that is frizz-free and takes much less time to style.  These products are helpful for keeping that treatment in your hair for as long as possible, increasing the longevity of the Keratin bond.  

If you haven't yet purchased the At-Home Keratin Care Kit, or you need to restock, the Keratin Therapy Shampoo, Conditioner, and styling product will replace Anti-Frizz Shampoo, Indulge Masque, and Elixir 11.  

Keratin Therapy: Repair, Replenish, Revitalize

For the next two months, these products are 10% off, with 5% of the purchase 

price going to the Stefanie Spielman Foundation for Breast Cancer Research as

part of Kenneth's partnership with that organization.  Experience these new

products at a discounted rate while contributing to a worthy cause.

Feather extensions are a hot trend right now for all types and lengths of hair.  They can add a subtle touch of color, a difference in texture, or stand out as a bright splash of interest!

You can currently get these feather extensions at all Kenneth's locations in the Columbus area (except for the Academy).  

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Kenneth's Hair Salons and Day Spas at Mill Run and at Kingsdale are now hiring!  We are looking for full-time receptionists with open availability.  Ideal candidates have customer service history and a great degree of professionalism.  The starting pay rate is $10 per hour, and Kenneth's offers excellent benefits and perks.  Please visit the Kenneth's website to apply!

Mother's Day is Sunday, May 8!  

Have you found gifts yet for all the mothers in your life?  They deserve something special, and Kenneth's gift cards are perfect for the occasion.

Video:  Give Mom a Gift from Kenneth's

Moms work hard all year, and Mother's Day gives us a chance to honor them for all that they do.  Whether it's the small everyday things that we sometimes take for granted or the larger gestures that require more time and effort, moms do it all.  A Kenneth's gift card is the perfect way to say "Thanks Mom, I love you".  

Personalized Gift Card Options from Kenneth's

Does your mom love to get her nails done?  Could she use a massage to ease stress and tension?  Kenneth's offers a variety of gift card options so there's something for everyone!  The following are the most popular Mother's Day gifts:

• Tips to Toes: including a Crystal Salt Glow Manicure and Pedicure, this relaxing treat is a great way to freshen up fingers and toes for warm summer weather!  Kenneth's nail services are exclusively luxurious, always sanitary, and of professional quality.
• Quick Renewal: including a Signature Facial and a Relaxation Massage, this two-hour experience will make any mother feel relaxed, rejuvenated, and refreshed.  The facial is beneficial to all skin types, since it includes a customized mask that will address her specific concerns, and the massage is a great way to relax and remove stress and tension from the body.
• Classic Express: all of our favorite spa treatments!  Including an Express Massage, Express Facial, Express Pedicure and Specially Spa Manicure, this package is great for moms who don't always have a lot of time to devote to themselves, but still want a few hours of relaxation and pampering.

You can also customize a gift card with your preferred services, such as a LaStone Massage, customized hair services, or a rejuvenating Signature Facial.  No matter what you choose, you can't go wrong with a Kenneth's gift card!

Convenient and Easy to Purchase -- and Give

Gift-giving is hassle-free with Kenneth's.  Avoid the mall crowds and shop at any of our ten convenient locations around Columbus.  You'll receive our signature packaging with a customized card and gift message -- no extra effort required!  Or, if you're last-minute shopping, or you don't have time to stop by a salon, you can always purchase gift certificates online and either print from home or email directly to the recipient.  

What better way to say "Happy Mother's Day" than a personalized gift card from Kenneth's?

An Exclusive Offer for our Facebook Fans!  

Save $100 on the Keratin Smoothing Treatment now through July 30, 2011.  Just visit our Facebook page for the discount (make sure to "like" our page for access to the Coupons and Discounts section).  Then give us a call at 614.538.5800, set up your appointment, and be on your way to experiencing smooth, frizz-free hair that is healthy and shiny!

Want more details?  Watch the video about the Keratin Smoothing Treatment, including more before and after photos.