Been a minute...

I know I haven't been keeping up on my blog. Sundays are my only entire day off with no work or school and so blogging really has been last priority. However, I have something new in the works and will post info as it becomes more solidified. Please be patient.

I've been writing scholarship essays, working on a design for a color contest, and my world is still full of hair!

July specials at my school coming soon.

June Specials!!

Sorry I'm late with this post!

Dads & Grads!!! With a haircut, receive a sample of Double Hitter two-in-one shampoo & conditioner from the Paul Mitchell Mitch line for men!

On Tuesdays, we celebrate our respected elders (age 60 or more), receive The Wash House Experience and a style for $5!!

Get happy on Wednesdays with all color services - 20% off.

Man Up! on Thursdays, all mens' cuts are $5...

Call my school's guest services desk at 913-381-5757 for an appointment and ask for me, Kat M....

An amazing journey still...

Completely honesty here, I've been very frustrated at school lately. I understand why certain regulations are in place, but in this instance, these worksheets are geared towards students who attend day classes and I honestly feel we in night school are getting shafted. Rather than get into gross details, I need to address my issues with our Future Professional Adviser and express my concern. I know absences in March have been solely my issue, however there seems to be no way out of my situation, so I need to discuss options. Needless to say, I've had a bad attitude about school and THAT HAS GOT TO STOP. I am working towards an incredible future and I need to keep that as my focus.

So some good things lately...

I am working an awesome job now in a salon in guest services. I took a HUGE chance in applying for this position because the ad clearly said, in all caps, do NOT apply if you do not have salon reception experience. Well, recently I saw a news clip on the Today show on NBC about taking chances to make yourself stand out from the competition when applying for jobs. So, I wrote a kick-ass cover letter, included a picture of a cat on a limb (making a pun on my name, Kat) and expressing my interested and my ability to be a wonderful addition to their staff because I am a cosmetology student. IT WORKED! The next day after emailing my resume and cover letter, I was called for an interview. In the two weeks leading up to the interview, I stressed about hair, make-up, clothing and all the stress paid off. I had a great conversation with the owner and started last week. All I can say is, take chances, they will pay off!!

One other great thing, well, two really... B & I travelled to St Louis in late April so I could attend the Education Pass day with Jason Reyes at the Paul Mitchell School there. While I experienced some negativity (why is travelling for education such a foreign concept?), meeting the guy I consider my inspiration in the Paul Mitchell world was AMAZING! Jason really shows a passion for the industry and had some wonderful things to say about what it takes to be successful. I feel blessed that this opportunity was afforded to me.

May PMTS Specials

May Specials at 

Paul Mitchell the School - Overland Park!

On Tuesdays this month - bring your mother to your appointment and treat her to a complimentary cut when you schedule one for yourself! Or bring your daughter/son with you to your appointment, and both of you can get a haircut for the price of one!

Wednesdays are color specials! With any color service, you receive a complimentary haircut...

Thursdays continue to be our popular MAN UP! men's cuts for $5.

For all appointments, please call our guest services desk Tues - Sat after 9am at 913/381-5757. I see guests Tues - Thurs after 5:15p.

Nails Pin It!

I'm a week late, but my day full-time job has been insane since it's tax season, so my apologies.

This week I wanted to feature some really cool nail techniques but a great news bit was shown on my local NBC news station and I wanted to provide a link to it:


Gel nail polish: Are you getting what you pay for?

I found this to be fascinating because I used to have the ability to grow my nails really well naturally. Ever since getting a shellac/gel manicure in OCTOBER, my nails have been weak and not growing like they used to.

So honestly, I'm just asking you to consider your options wisely.

Short & sweet, I've got another post coming later tonight!

One amazing experience....

I was offered the opportunity to attend my school's Cutting Education Pass with Mike Helm...

I'd been meaning to write a letter to Winn Claybaugh, the co-founder of Paul Mitchell the School for a bit and after Tuesday's event, I finally did. Rather than explain the whole story, here is what I wrote 

~~~~~

Dear Winn –

Last night my decision to return to cosmetology school and attend PMTS – Overland Park (KS) was validated 10-fold by my attendance to my school’s Education Pass night of learning with Mike Helm. The cutting training was amazing, I definitely rediscovered where I needed to grow more and that the techniques I already had in place where correct and in rhythm with the methods that PMTS teaches.

I have to say though; the part of last evening that really touched me to the core was Mike’s talk about The Andrew Gomez Dream Foundation. I knew a bit about the Foundation through our FUNraising kick-off, but to hear the actual story from Mike blew me out of the water. I am afflicted with bi-polar and live the harsh realities of being un-medicated every day. I have a full-time job, but they don’t offer benefits and I can’t afford even the minimum insurance on my income. It’s a very scary time for me. I understand all too clearly how Andrew struggled and have an inclination of where his mind could have been on that very sad day when he chose to take his own life. I’ve been too close to death myself. I cried along with Mike when he discussed his best friend, and I cried in acknowledgement that I made the right choice to attend Paul Mitchell the Schools because of “the Culture”.

I attended a different school in Fall 2011/Winter 2012 in California. I really wanted to go to PMTS – Sherman Oaks, but I was without a car, and two hours via bus, one-way, with a kit was really out of the question. However, when I returned to the city of my heart, Kansas City, I was unsatisfied with the education I didn’t complete there, and really looked into other options. After touring two other local schools, I knew when I met the personnel at PMTS – Overland Park, that I was “home”. I have learned twice as much in 6 months at PMTS, than the 6 mos. at “that other school.” I am grateful I experienced another method of teaching, etc, but the entire curriculum, the class break-downs, the discovery methods, the giving back… these things at PMTS are far superior.

I just celebrated my 37^th birthday in early March, and I know I am a few years late in finally deciding “what I want to be when I grow up”, but I think 10 years ago I would not have appreciated the education I am receiving now.

There is so much more I wish I could tell you about how much I love PMTS.

I hope that I am able to secure a future in the Paul Mitchell family when I graduate next year.

Thank you very much Winn, from the bottom of my heart.

Respectfully,

Kat Mavis

~~~~

He replied!

"Wow Kat! Your email has made my day and warmed my heart. Thanks so much for sharing.

Let me know how I can support you.

XOXO, Winn Claybaugh"

~~~~

I LOVE MY SCHOOL!

Pin It! Color and Texture

 So week two! Chemical services - that to me is color, perms and straightening... this week I wanted to show you one pin and one pic I found.

I *love* this peacock color formation. I think the best part for me is that her base color is still natural and neutral. And with the guest having a blonde canvas - so easy to play with! I would love to play with Pravana Vivids to create this look sometime.

So below I have a gorgeous beach waves look that *can* be created using a soft perm. When rolling perm rods, they need to be placed off base, meaning no curl starting at the scalp, kind of a grown-out look. With a long layer cut - you too can be beachy without all the daily re-curling too!

April Specials at PMTS!

Earth Day is celebrated every April 22 and this month the specials at my school focus on personal renewal! Celebrate spring by refreshing your look and make an appointment to see me after 515p on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.

Tuesdays in April
Earth Day event - Receive a complimentary T3 Experience with any cut and style service. This Wash House experience features the cleansing elements of Tea Tree with a shampoo and conditioning service, head massage and optional hot towel facial towel imbued with the scent of Tea Tree. Paul Mitchell's Tea Tree comes in three varieties, the original Tea Tree, Energizing Tea Tree with Lemon & Sage or Relaxing Tea Tree with Lavender Mint.

Wednesdays
Hooray for Highlights! $10 off your highlight service when scheduled on a Wednesday. Whether you are looking for sun-kissed highlights, or bold lowlights, we can work magic on your hair!

Thursdays
Man up! Gentlemen, style isn't born... it's groomed! Treat yourself to a men's cut for $5. Try our men's hair care line, Mitch and step out as a big hitter this spring!

Also, we wanna help our young ladies look beautiful this spring, so please look out for the school's "Queen for a Day" prom styling event... I'm sure this will be on a Saturday (and I won't be there) but I know some wonderful Future Professionals who would love to help you look fabulous for prom!

Pin It!

Welcome friends! 

Tonight I start a series of weekly blog posts based on fabulous pins I find on Pinterest. This fast growing site allows a type of "digital hoarding" that I totally dig for both inspiration of my future career and my huge hobby & craft habits. So I wanna share with you things I adore related to my future career as a cosmetologist.

So I want to show you a fabulous cut I am in love with:

 What I love about this cut is how it helps to focus on the color elements (a totally different post!), and its very flattering to her face shape. This is an excellent example of how a haircut can help define your most flattering features and pump-up your personal style.

When it comes to styling an up-do when you have fringe (or for you still in the last century "bangs"), sometimes I believe simple is best. The Beauty Department featured this wonderful casual but classy up style using the current trend of top-knot buns. (I <3 this site, it's what I'd love to be when I grow up.)

So friends, next week, I'll show you something beautiful with chemicals - color and texture! And maybe when I'm not so short on time I can write more thoughtfully. 

Catch ya on the flipside!

Pin it baby!

So after a brainstorming session with my bestie, I have determined the weekly pattern for my Pin-It posts.

So the first week will be Cutting & Styling - this includes cuts, braids, up-dos, things not involving chemicals because.....

Week 2 is chemical processes - fun with color, perms (they are coming back!) and straightening. Admittedly, I need to learn more about chemically straightening hair, but that's part of the reason behind this blog - DISCOVERIES!

Week 3 - Nails - natural, gel polish, enhancements, cool tips & tricks and designs

Week 4 - Make-up! I love make-up... I had an addiction to buying make-up, fortunately, I've been too broke to indulge, but oh my, I love the ideas I've been seeing and can't wait to share!

Week 5 - This will be the posts on "care" - hair care, face care, implement care (hot tools, make-up brushes, hair brushes, etc).....

You like?

Pinterest Crazy

Hi, I'm Kat & I'm addicted to Pinterest. There are so many wonderful ideas blossoming from the minds of so many creative people! So I think I might put those addictions to use by sharing some of my favorite pins here, on a weekly basis, rotating topics.

At my school, to cover all four important areas of expertise learned by a cosmetology student, we rotate our concentrations on a weekly basis. The four my school uses are - cutting, coloring, texture and make-up/nails. I actually want to separate make-up and nails into two separate weeks, since I think they are equally important as individual disciplines.

But where do I fit in hair care? Or styles? I don't want to have too many topics to lose track of. In school, texture includes hair drying, straightening and curling techniques, so can updos, braids, etc be added to texture? Or alternately - link cutting and coloring, chemical curling and straightening together as under one category (name ideas?), styling with blow dryers, straightening/curling irons can be added to updos, etc as "styling"? There are so many topics I love, but I wanna share my fabulous finds in a streamlined manner.

What are your thoughts?

For Kelly

Here's a few examples of concepts!

Spring Specials at Paul Mitchell!

Did you know that Paul Mitchell has now developed a dry shampoo? Ask me about it sometime!

March Specials!
Tuesday "March Madness" - Bring in a friend or loved one and receive a cut and style, two for one! Also included, a stress-relieving head massage to soothe away your end-of-winter blues.

Wednesday "Color Me Beautiful" - Spring into style with  a new or refreshed color! With your color service, receive a complimentary cut and style.

Thursday "Man Up" - Cut and style for the gents, only $5!

Please call the Guest Services desk at my school for an appointment! 913/381-5757

Choosing a mentor...

So part of the education you receive at Paul Mitchell the School is a process of defining who you are and who & what inspires you. That includes doing research on a person you consider an inspiration, a Mentor. Well, my tentative choice was confirmed by a simple "like" to my comment on Facebook.

I was a giddy school girl when a comment I made to this individual's status update was given a thumbs up by himself!! The fact that he took the time to read comments on his Facebook page, always shows humility & gratitude...

Jason Reyes inspires me. His story is amazing and I can't wait to learn more about his journey to become a national Advanced Academy educator for Paul Mitchell

Good things to be had....

I am really enjoying being in the evening classes at PMTS. I like the schedule better where I it's "all business" (ie: theory, pow-wow, specialty class) on Monday and then Tues - Thurs is all guest services. It seems to be better for my friends who want me to provide their hair services and the it's much less crowded so I feel that I am getting more of my education. I've had some lonely moments because I miss the ladies I used to hang out with in day school - but that's what the Book of Face is for, right?

So this Audrey Hepburn quote struck a chord today because I realize that while I am going into an industry that is based upon vanity, my whole motivation is that I want a job where I can make my guests feel as beautiful on the outside as I know then to be on the inside. For a more personal reason, I like being creative in a medium where I see the instant results of my work. That's always been my frustration with my sewing, it took so darn long to get it to look the way I envisioned it, so I'd get frustrated, but the project away, lose interest and walk away. You simply cannot do that when you have a guest in your chair & I'm perfectly okay with that!

So I am working on my honors cutting & color book. My biggest hangup is I don't have a printer to print out the assignments I'm completing. All in due course, I'm planning to buy one with my income taxes return. 

So soon, I will have March hair specials at my school! Stay tuned!

February Specials!

Sweetheart Days!On Tuesdays, share a haircut & style with your sweetheart or best friend for the price of one!!

Fight the Frostbite!On Wednesdays, treat your hair to a winter escape... Schedule an Awapuhi Keratriplex Treatment for $20

Man Up!Style isn't born, it's groomed! So men, get your style on and get a haircut for $5! ($10 for Phase 2 Future Professionals)

Call the Guest Services desk at 913/381-5757 and ask for an evening appointment with Kat M on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday!

Time to reflect and grow

So I need to start using this as a forum for my discoveries and exploits as a "Future Professional" in the cosmetology business. One thing I can say for sure, I made the right choice (finally!) to go back to school and make this my career. I think the education I received in California definitely got the fire fueled, but I am so happy I made the decision to attend Paul Mitchell here in the KC metro area. I have had so many "a-ha!" moments and the techniques and methods of learning have clicked so much more, that everyday at school is enjoyable.

So what do I blog from here? Do I focus on the education and discoveries? Do I post on trends and tips? Help dear readers... I want to write what you want to read.

XO-
K