Elena Lavagni , founder of Neville Hair and Beauty talks business with reward system, Trebbly. In this video she explains why putting the customer first is key to her success and how Trebbly is helping develop rewarding client experiences.
Trebbly
Personality Matchmaking
Elena Lavagni reaveals why personality matchmaking clients and stylists is key to a successful business.
Studying psychology at university taught me firsthand the importance of understanding an individual’s needs and tastes and business is no different. In order to provide a good service to our clients we need to understand them and their needs. Once we have this understanding we can do what we love doing and what I call personality matchmaking. For those wondering, I don’t run a dating company on the side, rather I try to pair each client with a stylist whose personality will resonate with them. Personality matchmaking is a key aspect of the business for me. I truly believe that enabling a great rapport between the stylist and the client will create great results and will ultimately make the client feel good and happy.
I like to spend time developing relationships with my clients and learning more about them, it allows me to create suitable matches to give each client the experience they deserve.
Personality is the first point of call when it comes to hair stylists and I take that into consideration from the recruitment process. The first thing I ask my receptionists before interviewing a potential candidate is - what’s their personality like? 99% of the time I am look for something different. Ultimately, we can only teach the hairdresser how to do hair and the craftsmanship behind it. Their personality is a result of their personal journey and life story. Providing the match make was a success, the stylist will give you their heart and their soul. I am so lucky to count such a vast number of hairdressers from my team whose personalities can click with anyone.
Sleeping Beauty
My resolution this year is to go back to basics and be better at the simple things - sleeping, eating and moving. I truly believe that this can make us happier, healthier and more able to achieve our greatest desires.
Terrifyingly, two thirds of adults claim that they are sleep deprived and experts say regularly getting less than seven hours a night can seriously affect our health, concentration, productivity, and appearance. The health and beauty of our hair and skin, of course, relies on good sleep too.
Here are my top ten tips for sleeping better so you can look and feel fabulously refreshed and alert.
- Stop all tech-related activity 60 minutes before bed, especially using devices that omit stimulating blue light. Oh and absolutely never take them to bed! The bedroom is for sleeping reading and romance.
- Deep sleep or REM, which makes up about 20 percent of our time in bed, is very beneficial for our health. Sadly not everyone achieves it. Lowering stress levels, avoiding alcohol, snoring partners (!), uncomfortable beds and overheated bedrooms will help.
- 90 minutes before bed start lowering the lights – Quiet and darkness stimulate the sleep hormone melatonin.
- Establish a sleep routine and repeat it every day – These habits tell our brains and bodies that it’s time to turn off. I personally take a bath, wash my face, brush and floss my teeth, and do some reading. Meditation helps many people too.
- Stop drinking caffeine after 3pm and always avoid alcohol in the hour before bed.
- Our bodies like habit - Try to keep your bed and wake up times the same every day where possible. It’s tempting to sleep more at the weekend but don't. This upsets our body clocks and will actually make you feel less rested.
- Regular exercise promotes good sleep. We were built to move but many of our modern jobs involve sitting for hours, so making extra effort is essential. My office is at the top of 8 flights of stairs and I often have to run up and down them (usually in heels) many times a day. I love pilates and yoga and have a very energetic little boy who I chase after a lot.
- Breathing properly can reduce stress, improve sleep quality and enhance our physical and mental health. Download Pranayama and Headspace apps to try it.
- Visualisation helps clear and calm the mind. Imagine a shining light and beginning at the top of your head envision it scanning down your body to your toes where negativity departs through your feet.
- Essential oils are one of the most powerful and proven natural remedies to help aid sleep. I spray This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray, £18 onto my pillow at night. It's a powerful blend of Lavender, Vetiver and Wild Camomile.
Shop my favourite bedtime treats here:
The Truth About Patch Tests
I think it’s safe to say that we probably all feel the same about patch tests - They’re a bore!
Because with work, family, friends and endless to do lists, it’s difficult enough to find the time to get our hair done at all, let alone to make additional salon trips for patch tests in the days before - Especially when the majority of us have probably never had an allergic reaction in our lives.
I get it. I really do. We all want to look fabulous and to make that happen as quickly and efficiently as possible. Life is busy!
The most common allergen, paraphenylenediamine or PPD, is found in over 99% of permanent hair dyes. And from cases of rashes and hives, to hospitalisation and even fatalities (a poor 19 year old Parisian woman had a near-fatal reaction in only November last year), 5% of people suffer negative reactions of some kind to hair colour.
These reactions often occur when the sufferer least expects them – Did you know for example, that we can all develop new allergies at any stage of our lives? Moreover, hair colour formulations are tweaked constantly to modernise them and make them kinder to our hair, the downside being that a product that doesn't irritate you now, may - frustratingly - do so in the future. It’s inconvenient but true! Safety therefore, should be at the forefront of all our minds when colouring hair both at home and in salon.
You may or may not be aware that it has been a legal requirement for all hairdressers to carry out patch tests prior to colour services. Reputable salons will never guarantee your appointment until that test has been done.
So let’s face it, while patch tests are far from convenient, they are essential and continue to save lives worldwide on a daily basis. Perhaps, just perhaps, next time you are asked to book in for one, swap your irritation for reassurance that you are using a reputable salon that is fulfilling its legal requirements and puts your safety first.
Patch tests should be booked at least 48 hours before the colour appointment. A pea-sized quantity of the colour formula will be applied to the back of your ear or nape of your neck. If you subsequently experience a reaction of any kind, notify the salon immediately so that you can be advised on the correct procedure.
