A Shower and a Sink
Fresh, clean and temperate running water is one of life’s basic necessities and it’s also one of life’s most taken-for-granted things that can be adopted in pursuit of happiness, well-being and even wealth.
Let’s take the shower. There have been many great inventions over the years in this category. Most of us shower at least once daily. There is nothing better to clean our hair and bodies. But not all showers are created equal.
Greatest invention #1: The stall shower
Worse invention #1: The shower curtain
Bathtubs were invented to take baths, not showers. Taking a shower in a stall is so much better than stepping into a bathtub and hoping you don’t trip over the side or slide on the bottom which brings me to:
Worse invention #2: The shower mat
Egad. They get moldy, come in awful colors and never dry out because no one puts them over the bathtub side when finished.
Greatest invention #2: Speakman shower heads
Worse invention #3: Shower hoses
What’s worse than taking a shower and the shower head doesn’t have any pressure coming out of it? Speakman figured this out long ago and their adjustable shower heads maximize water flow so you can actually rinse shampoo and conditioner out of your hair.
Greatest invention #3: Single handle adjustable temperature control. Now here is where true science and technology come into play. Each of us has the perfect temperature that our shower must be. A smidgeon either way doesn’t work. What’s also amazing is that how different each of us enjoy the temperature of our shower. The BUB has the handle on middle RED and I have to have mine at middle BLUE.
What’s does all this have to with anything you might be wondering? There is a method to my madness: The salon sink.
Unless you are patronizing a chain salon, the first stop at most salons is the shampoo bowl. Typically a shampoo "girl" gets you situated, tests the water temperature on your head until it is just right and proceeds to wash and condition your head.
But like all experiences, this one differs depending on which shampoo "girl" you get, to how each salon decides which kind of importance to attach to this service.
Greatest invention #4: The head massage
Worse invention #4: The lousy shampoo application
It’s truly ironic. We wash and condition our hair daily with our own fingers. Like brushing our teeth, most of us don’t spend long enough doing it. But when someone else washes our hair, the entire sensation is not only different, but truly enjoyable when done right. A good five minute head massage is worth the price of admission by itself. But too many salon owners miss this opportunity to differentiate themselves and even the shampoo "girls" lose a huge opportunity to earn bigger tips.
Fresh, clean and temperate water truly is one of life’s greatest luxuries when all is said and done. Those that understand this best revel in all its benefits.
Happy Wednesday!
April 29th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
Getting my hair shampooed is my FAVORITE part of going to the salon. I just love the way it feels!
April 29th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
To go back to the bath tube mat!~ I agree worst invention! We have a few un-nameable persons in my house hold who refuse to take the mat off the tube and lay it out!! I just want to throw the mat away!~
But to add to the shampoo massage, if you take your time with how you are handling your client’s not only do you let them know that when they are getting their shampoo and conditioner it is a “perk”, but you are massaging the blood flow to the brain! Creating a stiumulation, and therefore your client’s are relaxed and more HAPPY! This in itself will get them to tip you more!!!! (happy people tip more)
Just a thought!:)
April 29th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
Weird -shower matts – I slipped this morning and wondered if I should get one.
My favorite part of a hair cut isn’t the shampooing, I like the hot shave cream and strait razor to the back of the neck.
April 29th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
It’s not so much the shower curtain that I hate.. but the inside liner..
We put the liner on the outside when when the kids take a bath so it’s out of the way- apparently I am the only one that knows how to put the liner back in when it’s time to take a shower!! Last night my step-daughter yelled “Daddy come here the floor is leaking” no, it was not the floor leaking it was the liner on the outside of the tub! there was water everywhere!!!!!
…at least my floors are really clean!
April 29th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
I try to conserve whenever possible. So , with that said I shut my shower off in between the washing and rinse process. This saves tons of the un-renewable resource we all cant live without, and I can be a little bit more “green” in the process.
When I do work at the salon the shampoo is my favorite service to provide! For the simple feel good response and you wouldn’t believe how many people have “yucky” scalps! Seriously, it’s gross sometimes.
July 29th, 2009 at 6:51 pm
Yes, these tubs can be a problem. Just last month my wife slipped in the tub, perhaps this is the time when one runs out and purchases the mats. I went out to target and found a variety of choices, I went with some that were transparent and look like stones. They were transparent at the store, I think I have to remove them and deep them in bleach, or something powerful that could burn your feet if not properly rinsed! It’s a catch 22.
About the shampooing, I have one shampoo girl that I swear is taking out some deep seated frustrations on my head, I’m just scared of her, thats all.