The Chesterfield

PProper use of hair color is usually
the last skill a hairdresser masters. I
have been practicing hair coloring
for over 36 years. I have done
some beautiful color work, but I
am not ashamed to say that early
in my career, I made some pretty
bad choices. Think about it for a
minute, there are literally hundreds
of tubes of different types of hair
color. At my salon Rhett’s, I bet I
have over 200 different shades, not
counting hair lighteners.
Since I mentioned lighteners, let’s
talk about them for a bit. Most
salons use powdered bleach to
blonde their clients’ hair. This is
a product strong enough to take
black hair all the way to frosting
white. Hairdressers that use this
type of product must constantly
monitor the lightening process
and rinse at the exact moment the
blonde tone reaches the desired
lightness. That’s insane!
Our products are milder and made
to stop processing at the exact level
of lightness you desire. We use five
or six cream lighteners to create
different, vibrant shades of blonde.
Occasionally we will need to adjust
a blonde shade slightly. We always
strive for nothing less than perfect.
I probably carry fifty different
shades of blonde toners. These are
pastel colors with extremely mild
chemical compositions. When these
toners are used by a professionally
trained hairdresser, they are
able to turn blonde hair into any
shade; from strawberry blonde,
to champagne, to every shade in
between.
The subject “hair color” is so
involved, I could write about it for
hours and still not cover what a
hairdresser needs to know in order
to work at Rhett’s Salon. When I
hire a new stylist, no matter what
level of experience they arrive with,
I spend 18 months training them to
By
Rhett Costello
be true color artists.
I don’t think it’s a stretch to say
that every woman has had blonde
highlights or at least wanted them.
At Rhett’s, we highlight hair all
day, every day. Our #1 rule applies
to color clients as well as haircut
patrons, so no one leaves until they
are happy!
One of the sharpest girls I ever
trained left me after 5 or 6 years
to open her own salon. I expected
her to have great success because at
the time, her skills were at a peak.
Years went by before she asked to
return. Naturally I invited her to
return, as she had been a star when
she worked for me years before. She
still had a book of clients, but every
highlight she did was identical, and
was using the exact techniques I
had taught her years ago. It’s not big
news to tell you color styles change
regularly. The current trend at the
time was the big, chunky slices
that the hip girls and ladies were
rocking out and we were doing
them like mad. She, on the other
hand, was still doing super small,
weaved pieces that I had taught
her when she was 18 or 19. I say all
this to emphasize that color styles
continually change and you have to
stay current.
More recently, color has taken
a turn to a more natural look
called “Ombre.” Ombre is based
on how Mother Nature naturally
colors your hair. For various other
reasons, natural hair is always
lighter on the ends than on the
scalp. Look at your daughter’s hair
or anyone who has natural color,
the hair progressively gets lighter
from scalp to ends.
My daughter Katelyn and I brought
this new look to Richmond from
New York two years ago. At first our
clients were not that excited, they
were used to coming in to get their
regrowth or roots blonde and now
25
we’re telling
them “No,
let’s make
that hair
darker”.
An Ombre
can progress
smoothly
from a warm
brown to
a beautiful
golden
blonde
closer to
the ends.
Some of our
younger
clients like them more dramatic,
almost no transition from dark to
the light. It took us months to get
our clients convinced, but we did.
Now they leave Rhett’s with the
latest look and the biggest smile.
We also do a lot of total blonde
heads using products that don’t
burn the scalp or hair. The classic
&
Fashion Beauty M C
Rhett Costello entered the beauty industry in 1976 and was quickly chosen to become an educator for his first
employer; a chain of mall salons nationwide. From there, Rhett moved to the international stage as a platform
artist for one of the worlds leading professional hair care companies. Rhett traveled the globe as a guest artist,
from Barcelona to Tokyo, all the while managing his progressive salon. After retiring from the hair show circuit,
Rhett continued educating in Richmond, Virginia with his intensive apprenticeships; he has created his own
competition by training many hair stylists that have gone on the become salon owners. At his present location,
since 1990, “Rhett’s Salon” has become synonymous with quality hair care and cutting edge styles. Following in
his footsteps is his daughter, Katelyn who now creates photographic masterpieces with her “pin-up” hair and
photo sessions.
From 1950’s Frosting To Today’s Ombre
Marilyn look will always be in style.
There is so much more I could say
about color, and I haven’t even
touched on browns and reds! That
subject will have to be written in
another article.
Come to Rhett’s Salon and jazz your
hair up with highlights or the new
Ombre.
Until next time,
(804) 320-1882
9728 B MIDLOTHIAN TPK, MIDLOTHIAN