Ron King: The Case for Commission

by The Style King/Ron King on Monday, June 28th, 2010

Ron King has worked as a hairstylist, transforming people’s appearances, for more than 20 years. With a growing celebrity clientele, King travels the world taking inspiration from different cultures and countries. Along the way, he has developed his own “easy wear” style philosophy which plays up a woman’s natural hair texture and pairs it with natural-looking makeup that’s easy to apply. This mantra led him to launch a signature line of cosmetics for women who want to look pulled together but who are are short on time. King has worked with some of the most respected names in the industry, including L’Oreal Professional, Ted Gibson, Eva Scrivo and Rick Wellman.

Let’s face it; in our industry the only constant is change. And stylists are used to adjusting to new trends, products, coloring and cutting techniques, clients, and the list goes on. But when it comes to working on commission and leaving their independent contractor days behind, most stylists resist this change.

Now don’t get me wrong, as an entrepreneur I understand the appeal of working independently. I also worked as an independent contractor and employ several at bo Salon, my first location.

However, as a salon owner, I learned how fulfilling it can be to be part of a team of stylists. So as I prepare to open my second salon, Ron King Salon in the Four Seasons Austin, Texas, and interview possible new employees, I’ve found myself explaining the benefits of working for a larger company as opposed to working as an independent contractor. So, I’d like to share them with you as well.

1. Teamwork

When stylists are working for themselves, they are only interested in making more money for themselves. There certainly is no sense of helping each other out, and everyone is disconnected from each other. As a salon owner, this is not good and it’s not good as a stylist either. Learning from each other, working together and helping each other out only makes stylists stronger. Independent contractors are disconnected from this sense of community.

2. Education

Independent contractors are responsible for providing their own education, which takes initiative and discipline. It also is money out of their pocket. Once they realize all that goes into education, it’s been my experience that independent contractors let this fall to the wayside—and we all know how dangerous it is as stylists to fall behind on education. When time is already set aside for education, by an employer, the stylist is much more likely to take the classes.

3. Marketing & Finance

Other responsibilities that fall on independent contractors are managing their finances by paying their taxes on time, marketing themselves for new clients and providing themselves with healthcare. Working for a salon on commission can provide stylists with all of this, which is a major part of making it as a successful stylist.

Ron King: Try a Gloss or a Glaze

by The Style King/Ron King on Monday, June 14th, 2010

Ron King has worked as a hairstylist, transforming people’s appearances, for more than 20 years. With a growing celebrity clientele, King travels the world taking inspiration from different cultures and countries. Along the way, he has developed his own “easy wear” style philosophy which plays up a woman’s natural hair texture and pairs it with natural-looking makeup that’s easy to apply. This mantra led him to launch a signature line of cosmetics for women who want to look pulled together but who are are short on time. King has worked with some of the most respected names in the industry, including L’Oreal Professional, Ted Gibson, Eva Scrivo and Rick Wellman.

When your clients’ hair is in need of some high-wattage shine and softness, consider a hair glossing treatment or perhaps a glaze. Though both add sheen and smooth the hair and the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, there is a difference between the two. A gloss is in fact more permanent than a glaze, since it actually penetrates the hair’s cuticle, and doesn’t just add shine to the hair but can also adjust its tone, making color less brassy for example. A glaze, meanwhile, just coats the shaft, giving it subtle shine and semi-permanent color for a mere two weeks. If your client just wants to add some shininess to her hair, try a clear gloss or glaze. If they’re trying to bring out more color or call attention to highlights, use a glaze or gloss with color. Both make colored or highlighted locks last longer, can help with the dull effect of unhealthy hair, and cover the hair shaft, thereby protecting the hair.

Although both treatments can be done at home by your client, it is highly advisable to have her stylist do it at your salon. Gloss can be applied to dry or recently washed hair depending and the gloss should be left on hair for approximately five minutes or fifteen, and then rinsed off, depending on the glossing treatment you use. A good tip to ensure the gloss takes is to blast hair with a blow dryer before washing it off. The gloss should last from two to four weeks. For clients who are allergic to most hair products, recommend they try a natural glaze made of products like honey, eggs, or milk which can also give hair a nice shine. Honey, in particular, is effective. Simply dilute it in water and pour on the hair. Advise them not to rinse it off.

Ron King: Tips For Keeping Strands Safe During the Summer

by The Style King/Ron King on Monday, June 7th, 2010

Ron King has worked as a hairstylist, transforming people’s appearances, for more than 20 years. With a growing celebrity clientele, King travels the world taking inspiration from different cultures and countries. Along the way, he has developed his own “easy wear” style philosophy which plays up a woman’s natural hair texture and pairs it with natural-looking makeup that’s easy to apply. This mantra led him to launch a signature line of cosmetics for women who want to look pulled together but who are are short on time. King has worked with some of the most respected names in the industry, including L’Oreal Professional, Ted Gibson, Eva Scrivo and Rick Wellman.

Many of your clients will be taking seaside romps this summer, which might seem like a good idea, but it can wreak havoc on their hair if it’s not properly protected from the sun and surf. Just as UVA and UVB rays can damage skin, they can also zap hair of moisture and color, leaving your clients with fraying ends and weakened hair overall, from the cuticle to the inner part of their strands. Doling out a little advice on the importance of sun protection in hair care, which will keep their locks luscious, is imperative. Read my tips below for some summertime inspiration:

- Use shampoos and conditioners with UV protection. Although not a perfect solution for sun-damaged hair since they rinse off, they will aid a bit and any additional help in the fight against hair damage is worth trying.

- On the other hand, using styling products with sun protection built into them is ideal since they are left to soak into the hair. Advising your clients to use products, leave-in conditioners and sprays might be their best option, with an SPF of 10-15 and applying generously before heading out for some fun in the sun.

- Wear a hat. As simple and old-fashioned as it sounds, hats not only protect your hair from the sun’s harmful rays but also shade your facial skin, which everyone could use. This will absolutely guarantee complete sun protection, and there are many stylish hat options currently, with a wide-brimmed, straw hat being perhaps the most protective and fabulous one.

- If your clients are wary of trying hair products with built in sun protection or don’t want to sport a hat, suggest they make their own hair SPF. An easy way to do so is to dilute 2 teaspoons of regular sunblock with an SPF of 25 with a cup of regular water. Using a spray bottle, then spray the hair while it’s damp and style as usual. This solution can even be reapplied throughout the day for added protection.

- Protect the scalp from peeling and damage. The scalp is one of the most common places for a sunburn but the solution to this problem is easy… Simply have your clients apply sunblock to their part when they are outdoors.

- Have them avoid sun-activated lightening treatments. Whether it is a homemade concoction involving lemon juice or a store-bought spray, these contain alcohol or peroxide usually, which will cause hair to dry out even faster throughout the summer.

- Moisturize, moisturize. A little bit of sun damage to hair is inevitable during the summer but have your clients combat this by conditioning daily in addition to using a weekly deep-conditioning treatment. Recommend using one with protein or keratin, which will strengthen hair.

- If possible, minimize the time spent in water as well. I know this is a tall order during the warmer months, but salt water and/or chlorine will wreck the quality of hair through prolonged exposure just as the sun would. Clients should keep tabs on this, opt to wear a swimming cap or simply keep their head above water when possible.

- Finally, if they are using hair care products with UV protection, have your clients use a clarifying shampoo once a week to prevent the products from leaving a residue and building up on the hair shaft.

Ron King: Complexion Perfection

by The Style King/Ron King on Tuesday, June 1st, 2010

Ron King has worked as a hairstylist, transforming people’s appearances, for more than 20 years. With a growing celebrity clientele, King travels the world taking inspiration from different cultures and countries. Along the way, he has developed his own “easy wear” style philosophy which plays up a woman’s natural hair texture and pairs it with natural-looking makeup that’s easy to apply. This mantra led him to launch a signature line of cosmetics for women who want to look pulled together but who are are short on time. King has worked with some of the most respected names in the industry, including L’Oreal Professional, Ted Gibson, Eva Scrivo and Rick Wellman.

Perhaps more than any other makeup in your cosmetics arsenal, products for the skin, like foundation, concealer, tinted moisturizer, and primer, are the most important. Think of clear, clean skin as a perfectly blank canvas on which you can apply whatever makeup you wish. The key to creating that pristine canvas and make up beautiful skin is to even its tone out. Keep in mind, depending on what look you are going for, that the idea is to make your client look like she isn’t wearing any makeup at all.

To erase dullness and make your client appear younger, advise her to exfoliate daily or even weekly with face scrubs, microdermabrasion, chemical peels, beta alpha hydroxy pads or any vitamin A products. If she hasn’t been staying on top of this, make sure to exfoliate facial skin before applying any makeup. A quick face wash with an exfoliating cleanser should do the trick. Without any type of exfoliation, foundation won’t glide over skin smoothly.

Prep the face for foundation or tinted moisturizer next by plumping up skin with a primer with SPF (if you don’t have primer on hand, a moisturizer with an SPF of at least 15 will do). This will leave your client’s face moisturized and primed for the main event, the makeup!

Before applying the foundation or tinted moisturizer, make sure the shade of the product is just right for your client’s skin tone. If you’re having a hard time selecting a color, mixing together two shades of foundation might help. The idea here is to blend, blend, blend the client’s makeup to perfection. Apply liberally on the areas where it is needed the most, along the cheeks, chin and nose. A few dabs of a creamy concealer on top of the foundation should be patted, not rubbed, under the eyes and on any blemishes.

Next, you might want to prep your client’s lids even if she is not going to be wearing eyeshadow. An evened-out eye area brightens and opens up the whole face. Apply an eye primer to brighten eyes and make eye shadow last longer. Again, be gentle when dealing with the eye area as it it is often a prime aging spot and a very delicate area.

Bring back some color to the face by applying bronzer or a creamy blush or both. If applying bronzer, use a large, fluffy brush to place the color where the sun hits naturally. The forehead, cheeks, and nose are all fair game. For that dewy look, apply the cream blush on the apples of cheeks.

Finally, set the entire face with a powder, though this step can be removed from the process if you want to keep the fresh, dewy look you just achieved. This will make the makeup underneath last much longer. Again, use a big brush to sweep some type of neutral or sheer powder over the whole face and voila, you’re done!

The New Updo

by The Style King/Ron King on Tuesday, May 25th, 2010

Ron King has worked as a hairstylist, transforming people’s appearances, for more than 20 years. With a growing celebrity clientele, King travels the world taking inspiration from different cultures and countries. Along the way, he has developed his own “easy wear” style philosophy which plays up a woman’s natural hair texture and pairs it with natural-looking makeup that’s easy to apply. This mantra led him to launch a signature line of cosmetics for women who want to look pulled together but who are are short on time. King has worked with some of the most respected names in the industry, including L’Oreal Professional, Ted Gibson, Eva Scrivo and Rick Wellman.

With prom, wedding, and graduation season currently in full force, your clients probably have been asking for modern updos. They key to creating a contemporary hairstyle for a special occasion is to keep it on the less structural side, maybe even a bit messy. Gone are the days when romantic hair meant having long, flowing waves. The new sensual styles of 2010 have a more urban spin on feminine hairstyles, with purposely roughed up texture on traditionally soft styles.

Alexandra Wang

Beautiful updos ruled the runways and two stood out to me as being both accessible and flattering for a range of ages and hair types. Messy side braids have made a return though the look is more glam than girly. This hair trend has been spotted on the runway at both Alexander Wang and Miu Miu and is absolutely doable for a special occasion. If your client’s hair is too short, you can even easily add extensions to create the braid as length is imperative for this style. Both fishtail and french braids are in style for the season but keep the style a little tousled for the romantic effect and make sure to start the braid at the neck rather than at the head. I could definitely see this look being ideal for a casual summer wedding if done right.

Miu Miu

Another styling option, which would be great for a girl attending her prom, is the messy ballerina bun as seen at Bottega Veneta’s Spring 2010 show (headband optional). Again, the idea is to rough up a traditional and stuffy hairstyle and infuse it with a certain subtle playfulness and movement, which keeps the style from being too child-like.

An offshoot of the ballerina bun is the top knot, which has been seen on hipsters the world over for a while now. This can be a casual look but also works great for more adventurous girls with a tougher personal style for prom or other festive occasions. Again, the perfection of these styles can be found in their imperfections, so the more texture the better. Also, where you position the updo is important as well. The top knot looks very current when it is directly on the top of the head. Dressier top knots and buns placed in a similar fashion were seen at a recent Lanvin show.

Skin Solutions for Your Clients

by The Style King/Ron King on Monday, May 10th, 2010

Ron King has worked as a hairstylist, transforming people’s appearances, for more than 20 years. With a growing celebrity clientele, King travels the world taking inspiration from different cultures and countries. Along the way, he has developed his own “easy wear” style philosophy which plays up a woman’s natural hair texture and pairs it with natural-looking makeup that’s easy to apply. This mantra led him to launch a signature line of cosmetics for women who want to look pulled together but who are are short on time. King has worked with some of the most respected names in the industry, including L’Oreal Professional, Ted Gibson, Eva Scrivo and Rick Wellman.

When regular facials just don’t cut it for your clients, it might be time to consider adding microdermabrasion to your roster of services. Microderm, as it is often called, refers to related cosmetic procedures now commonly used in day spas, doctors’ offices, and medical spas. It can treat clients for the purpose of scar removal, acne, dark patches and sun damage. The procedure is not very painful, doesn’t require an anesthetic, and can be a very lucrative service. It is usually sold in packages, or a series of sessions to the tune of $750 and upward.

Microderm has come a long way since the days of simply using abrasive crystals on skin. The growth of the microdermabrasion treatment industry has led to newer innovations and currently there are several options available on the market. The current trend in the industry is using a wand with a roughened surface on the client’s skin, which is usually carried out in conjunction with facials. Choosing which microdermabrasion machine to use may seem daunting but the results are only consistent when used by a well-qualified aesthetician, so make sure your staff is properly trained. The skin needs to be analyzed beforehand to determine the proper settings, depth, and number of treatments needed. Also, be certain your client knows and is fully aware of the fact that it is only a cosmetic procedure and won’t permanently improve skin conditions.

Crystal microdermabrasion involves the traditional treatment and utilizes small crystals in the exfoliating process. Although this kind of microderm is still used frequently, there is presently a trend away from it. Diamond microdermabrasion uses a diamond tipped head to abrade the skin. In both the traditional crystal and diamond microderm, dead skin cells are removed from the face. This is also the style of microdermabrasion most commonly used in spas, sometimes in conjunction with a chemical peel. It is also the kind you might want to consider for your own salon.

If your client faces the problem of aging skin, it might be wise to advise her to consider Botox instead, a widely known and popular prescription medicine composed of purified protein that works by blocking nerve impulses to the forehead muscles and improves the look of frown lines between the brows. Some upsides to this procedure include no recovery time, no surgery, and best of all, there are real, concrete results that are visible relatively soon.

Often, forehead lines in particular have the effect of making women look tired and unapproachable and this can be easily taken care of safely, quickly, and affordably (at $400 each visit). Within days after receiving Botox injections, your client should start seeing results and will continue to for up to four months. Another plus is that Botox, in small doses, will not change your facial expressions or appearance. Be sure to inform clients that individual results may vary, however, and that only a physician should administer it. To get around this, but also offer botox as a service, I’ve teamed up with a local dermatology center to administer the treatments to my clients. Discomfort is additionally usually at a minimum, as the performing physician should numb the area first before injecting the Botox. The procedure should take about ten minutes and is known as a “lunchtime” procedure because it is so quick and easy. Side effects may include localized pain, infection, inflammation, tenderness, redness, and or bleeding bruising.

Ron King: Three Makeup Trends to Try

by The Style King/Ron King on Monday, May 3rd, 2010

Ron King has worked as a hairstylist, transforming people’s appearances, for more than 20 years. With a growing celebrity clientele, King travels the world taking inspiration from different cultures and countries. Along the way, he has developed his own “easy wear” style philosophy which plays up a woman’s natural hair texture and pairs it with natural-looking makeup that’s easy to apply. This mantra led him to launch a signature line of cosmetics for women who want to look pulled together but who are are short on time. King has worked with some of the most respected names in the industry, including L’Oreal Professional, Ted Gibson, Eva Scrivo and Rick Wellman.

Whether your client’s hair is naturally sun-kissed and streaky or she’s more of a bottle blonde, come spring and summer most women lighten up their locks. While brightening up their mane can do wonders for the face (creating a halo-like effect around it gives everyone a softer look), it is just as important to adjust their makeup accordingly to better suit their coloring. With all the cool new makeup trends on the market and with the warmer seasons coming up, now is the perfect time to show your clients how to switch up their makeup palette. Here are my top three spring makeup trends to show your clients.

Light & Lovely

Pastel eye shadow (inspired by the ’70s) reigned supreme at the spring/summer 2010 runway shows and is an easy trend to incorporate into your client’s look. Light shades like lavender, baby blue, and light green are especially flattering and versatile (lavender with brown eyes and blue or green on hazel eyes looks gorgeous). The key when selecting appropriate eye shadow is to keep the client’s individual coloring in mind. For fairer skin, try pastels with a bit of shimmer to add more interest to the face while darker complexions can get away with deeper-hued shades. Remember when picking an eyeliner to pair with pastels, that you want to stay away from matching the liner to the color of the shadow to avoid looking dated. Keep the look sophisticated and streamlined with brown or black liner on the top eyelid, drawn close to the lash line and maybe extending a bit out if they’re on the daring side. (I’m a makeup artist as well as a stylist and one trick I love is to line the top lash line with black liner and go over it with the pastel shadow.) Finish the look with sky high, flirty lashes by adding a lengthening mascara.

Partner this soft look with non-matte, dewy skin. You can get the effect by mixing a regular foundation with facial moisturizer or by simply using a mineral tinted moisturizer, like my own Mineral Sheer Tints. Highlighting sticks and strategically placed shimmer on the face create luminosity and help to achieve that sunny glow also. Rosy blush or bronzer and tinted lip gloss complete the face.

Go Nude

Another stylish makeup trend to update your client’s beauty routine is to have her try nude lip colors. Inspired by the mod ’60s, shades of nude lipstick and gloss (and clothing for that matter) were on the runways recently, and the look is perfect for those who prefer a more natural look. For lots of drama, go for a smoky eye in black or grey, which will offset the nude lip color. Keep blush to a minimum. For a simpler face, you might want to pair nude, glossy lips with tawny colored blush and light eye makeup (mascara and a neutral eyelid).

Bold & Daring

If your client prefers a more exotic face, take a hint from Dolce & Gabbana’s spring/summer 2010 show and go for loud, ethnically inspired makeup. Dark red lips were paired with bronzed cheeks and precisely lined black eyes. Accordingly, D&G was inspired by their native Sicily and the bold, sexy makeup popular there. Although the look is seemingly simple enough to achieve, instruct clients to proceed with caution. Be sure the red lip color is perfect for your client’s complexion and that the whole look is very precise and neat. It is also best saved for night or special occasions since it is a bit much for everyday wear.

Above all, have fun doing your clients’ makeup and remember that simply suggesting new makeup colors is a great way to drum up retail sales.

Ron King: Heels Made for Working

by The Style King/Ron King on Monday, April 26th, 2010

Ron King has worked as a hairstylist, transforming people’s appearances, for more than 20 years. With a growing celebrity clientele, King travels the world taking inspiration from different cultures and countries. Along the way, he has developed his own “easy wear” style philosophy which plays up a woman’s natural hair texture and pairs it with natural-looking makeup that’s easy to apply. This mantra led him to launch a signature line of cosmetics for women who want to look pulled together but who are are short on time. King has worked with some of the most respected names in the industry, including L’Oreal Professional, Ted Gibson, Eva Scrivo and Rick Wellman.

Appearance is everything, especially in the salon industry. Conveying a fashionable and pulled-together look is important to the integrity of the salon and our credibility as a hairdresser (we are in the business of style, after all). Having a chic, polished staff entices clients without saying or advertising a word. Who wants their hair done by an out-of-touch lout, anyway? In my own salon, bô, I require all the women to wear heels at work in an effort to portray a professional and stylish image. Although they can be uncomfortable when we’re on our feet all day, there are suitable options I often recommend to my stylists that I’d like to share with you.

Air Miranda Pump from Cole Haan - $198

Cole Haan and Nike, for instance, have joined forces to provide designer-style footwear with sneaker-style comfort to the masses. Although the Cole Haan Air line includes ballet flats, gladiators and the like, the majority of their offerings are fashionably conceived heels that fit in easily at the workplace or on the street. Don’t let the Nike technology infused in each shoe fool you. These heels are sophisticated classics in a mostly neutral color palette, making them perfectly versatile. I always tell my female stylists to invest in a classic pair from this line that will go with everything because their price points are a little high.

Another trend in the shoe industry is that older brands, like Aerosoles, which are not usually associated with high style, are upping their fashion ante. Aerosoles was created in 1986 as the comfortable brand of shoes. Since then, they’ve realized that merging comfort with style is the way we wear shoes now. Though still a bit more on the conservative side, you can find cute wedges and heeled sandals here that are also price-right.

Oracle from Aerosoles - $79

Also consider the style of heels, as some are more comfortable to wear than others. For the colder months, the seemingly everywhere bootie (or shoebie, as we say in Texas) is a good option because it has a sturdier construction. I also recommend wedges, which give the look of heels but offer much more support than stilettos. In the summer, open-toe wedges or maybe even a nautical espadrille are super-cute and capture that warm-weather feeling.

For those die-hard heel wearers, take a few things into consideration: Go for a chunkier heel, which can do wonders for feet. If you must select a truly high heel, go for an adorable platform heel, which automatically offers more support. Kitten heels are another option, though they aren’t my personal favorite look.

Finally, when picking out heels, choosing the correct size is imperative. No matter how seemingly comfortable a heel may be, if it is too small, large, wide, or narrow, your feet will be suffering and the shoes won’t look right.

Ron King: The Green Salon

by The Style King/Ron King on Monday, April 19th, 2010

Ron King has worked as a hairstylist, transforming people’s appearances, for more than 20 years. With a growing celebrity clientele, King travels the world taking inspiration from different cultures and countries. Along the way, he has developed his own “easy wear” style philosophy which plays up a woman’s natural hair texture and pairs it with natural-looking makeup that’s easy to apply. This mantra led him to launch a signature line of cosmetics for women who want to look pulled together but who are are short on time. King has worked with some of the most respected names in the industry, including L’Oreal Professional, Ted Gibson, Eva Scrivo and Rick Wellman.

Though sustainable living has seemed to be the trendy buzzword among the style and beauty crowds for the past few years, it seems our industry has really taken to it and made some great strides in going green. Since it’s April, and Arbor Day is around the corner, I thought I’d share with you some of the most innovative and eco-friendly professional products I’ve been using lately.

By now, I’m sure you’ve heard of L’Oreal Professionnel’s new breakthrough color line called INOA. Short for “innovation, no ammonia,” INOA has managed to make permanent hair color a little greener by taking ammonia, one of the harshest chemicals we work with on a daily basis, out. Instead, they developed a new technology called ODS (oil delivery system) that coats hair with a layer of oil while coloring it to maximize the effectiveness of the formula without ammonia. One added bonus for us as stylists and colorists is that INOA has also eliminated nasty odors. If you haven’t tried INOA yet, test it out—your clients will love it.

Another eco-friendly beauty breakthrough I’m starting to use in my salon is called Bio-Lights. Created by my friend and New York-based celeb stylist Rick Wellman, this system is a green alternative to traditional foil highlights. He recognized the negative effects aluminum has on the environment (aluminum is one of the top materials filling up landfills and can take up to 500 years to decompose. Foil also produces emissions of carbon dioxide contributing to the negative effect of global warming) and also wanted a softer approach to highlighting. Enter Bio-Lights, a highlighting system that trades in foils for 100% biodegradable cotton pads that mimic the shape of foil. And since the cotton pads react in a non-accelerated temperature, Bio-Lights also reduce the risk of baking any color brand into hair.

We all know that formaldehyde in beauty products has a bad rep. Some countries, like England, have even banned the use of the ingredient in treatments and have forced companies to be innovative and go a little greener. La Brasiliana, makers of fabulous keratin treatments infused with collagen, offers a new formaldehyde-free treatment called Spuzzi Zero. This treatment combines their original keratin and collagen formulation with lavender oil and aloe vera. It’s also a great money-making service because Spuzzi Zero is sprayed on to hair so the actual salon process takes much less time. Typical treatments last just over two months, comparable to traditional keratin treatments, but luckily the company makes shampoo, conditioner and styling products to help extend the life of a treatment.

Now, this last beauty product isn’t reserved just for beauty professionals; clients can get in on the action also: mineral makeup. Typically in powder formation, it’s very often comprised of finely ground natural ingredients, without any chemicals, dyes, and preservatives, that are considered to be less irritating and healthier for skin than traditional makeup. They also contain a higher level of SPF and aid in achieving that light, sparkling glow that is usually not obtained with heavier skin makeup. This is exactly why I wanted to make my very own makeup collection—Ron King Cosmetics—a mineral line. I love that it’s a green choice in that the byproducts of chemicals used in making traditional makeup are simply not an issue since it is usually void of harmful man-made ingredients. The products are ethical choices that are as kind to your skin as they are to the earth. Most of them have SPF 20 and contain traces of vitamins A, C, and E along with Gingko Biloba and Ginseng for a naturally beautiful look, providing antioxidants and nutrients to your skin. They also have light-diffusing pigments that help fade facial lines (and what woman doesn’t want that?).

I hope this post inspires you to go a little greener at your salon. If you have any other green tips, leave them as comments here—I’d love to hear them!