You may have heard that my new salon at The Four Seasons hotel in Austin, Texas is opening soon. It seems like just yesterday I was writing about decorating it, and now the time to unveil the new location is right around the corner (probably next week)! As you may have read, I was going for a French feel for the interior of it to match the elegant and swanky vibe of The Four Seasons, yet that same Ron King hospitality and unpretentiousness (as well as a heavy dose of chic styling) will  remain.

If you live in Texas, or are in the area, stop by the salon and get a free consultation from me. I will advise you about style and color for your mane and give my expert opinion gratis, in honor of the new opening (I will only be consulting and cutting, however, at the new salon and not at my other salon, Bo). You can then make an appointment with another equally talented stylist or with myself and change your hair up for fall!

Autumn is about new beginnings, after all, and what better way to celebrate that than by styling yourself differently? I recommend getting low lights put in your hair, if you are into highlights, to give your strands depth and dimension. It will also create an attractive contrast between your paler skin tone (due to the seasonal change) and your hair. You can also get a fresh, new cut or any other styling options you’d like to pursue. Longtime and new clients are always welcome as we make new friends but keep the old into fall. Here’s to a great start!

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As a business owner, I often think about how to motivate my employees. Throughout the years, I’ve found that providing them with as much education as possible is key. I fly in educators to teach my stylists new coloring and cutting techniques, I’ve sent managers and receptionists to business classes for them to up the ante. When I was in New York last time, I even took four stellar employees with me to the L’Oreal Institute in Soho. I figured not only would this teach them what they learn in class but also motivate others to be great employees so they can come on another trip.

But while I was in Chicago two weeks ago, I saw something so motivating I never thought I’d see. Alejandro Lopez, the CEO of L’Oreal Professionnel, was presenting their new color line INOA to a group of stylists. During the presentation, he got his hands in the product and started demonstrating how the color line works. The C-E-O! Alejandro is an excellent business man and has literally hundreds of employees that work for him who could have demonstrated the product for him, without having to get his hands dirty. Instead, he did it himself. What a way to show how much he believes in his own company and product! And what a way to show his employees that he’s not afraid to roll up his sleeves and get down with them.

Seeing Alejandro like that reminded me of that new show Undercover Boss, where CEO’s go into their own workforce to see what it’s really like to work for their own company. It makes me think that sometimes I need to put myself in my employees’ place. And as I expand, with the opening of my second salon, I realize that I have to find new ways to train and motivate my staff. I also have to set the example and raise the bar for them, because that’s what real leaders do. 

This week, my goal is to step up to the plate; raise the bar for myself by finding new ways to motivate my staff. Because when I push myself, I push others. I hope this inspires you to push the limits yourself this week. Maybe you go to the gym more or maybe you put in the double the effort at work. Let me know how it goes!

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It’s that time of year again. Flowers are just about to start peeping up and the sun is staying out longer in the evening. Ahh, spring! I love everything that this season brings with it, including my annual spring cleaning. Time to change over my bedding, switch out my curtains and turn over my clothes. It’s like breathing new life into my home. So that’s what I’m doing this week, one task at a time.

I’ve found that the best way to get everything accomplished is to have an action plan. I’ll start in my living room, move to the kitchen and finish it up in the bedroom. Plus, this year I have a couple of new eco-friendly products I’m excited to test out. I find that great smelling, toxin-free are the best way to get me excited about cleaning. I hope they inspire you too, check ‘em out:

Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Surface Wipes

These wipes do it all- they clean hard wood floors, stone, tile and other surfaces. That’s why they travel with me from room to room. But the best part is that I can use these anywhere and not worry about toxins because they’re biodegradable.

Method Kitchen Cleaning Kit

Everything I need to get my kitchen sparkling in one set. I love the combination of scents – grapefruit, lavender and cucumber – and that I don’t have to worry about chemicals from traditional cleaners mixing with my food.

Fruits & Passion’s Cucina Glass Cleaner

This glass cleaner is from a great Canadian brand I discovered on a trip to Montreal (come to find out they have a couple of stores in the states). Anyway, I picked up their glass cleaner and haven’t used anything else since. It’s completely streak free and works on windows, mirrors, glass shelves and more.

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I realized last week that with all of my traveling and planning, I was neglecting something very important: me. The tipping point came while I was in New York City and noticed that my glands were swollen. Right then and there, I decided that I have to start taking time for myself. First up, I got a massage at my friend Eva Scrivo’s salon that soothed my achy body and calmed my overactive mind. 

That massage was an amazing start, but taking time for oneself on a daily basis is imperative, even if it is for only a few minutes at a time. After a hectic day, there’s nothing better than taking the time to care for my body and soul. Not only does it help curb anxiety, it results in being fitter mentally and physically. I don’t always have time to spend on myself, however, so this week’s goal is to take an hour each day to work on myself without distraction, which will be hard but definitely doable. 

One of the relaxation techniques I plan to use originated thousands of years ago in the east. You probably guessed I’m talking about meditation. I go through phases of practicing and find that simple postures and mind exercises give me energy and stamina as well as insight into my life. I often practice a series of asanas, or postures, in the morning that include downward dog, child’s, and camel’s pose.  I usually use these asanas as a stable way to sustain prolonged meditation as they are believed to purify, strengthen, and focus the body and mind. Visualization exercises are also helpful when I simply want to meditate. 

Going to the gym is simply another form of meditation for me. The feel of a good workout and the energy and strength I gain from it is intoxicating. It has also given me more discipline in my everyday life. I lift weights regularly, which does wonders for my self esteem, and plan to work out on the cardio machines more. 

When I’m more in the mood for pampering myself, I’ll head to my salon for a mani/pedi or a massage. Just the act of someone rubbing my tired feet and hands or back and the sensation of touch from another person is very relaxing. Having neat, clean hands and feet also gives me a sense of pride and security in the way I look, something very important in my industry.

Pedicures = heaven

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You know how they say that a contractor’s house is always under construction? He never has the time or energy to do his own home repairs? Well, that’s me! Except that I’m a hairstylist and I haven’t had time for a haircut. Can you imagine? So that’s my goal this week, to get one! 

Now, you have to understand, most hairdressers don’t cut their own hair. In fact, I don’t know any that do more than a little trim of the bangs or touch-up on their own head. I’ve been traveling and running around all over Austin, so I think I get a pass. But the other reason I have put off getting a haircut? I’m never sure whether to go scruffy or smooth!

In person, I like the scruffy look. It’s edgy and trendy, but I don’t think it translates well through the camera when I do TV segments. On camera, I like the smooth look. It comes across as clean cut and professional, but a little boring in person. What do you think? Comment below and tell me what to do!!

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I’m just about fed up with having all my clothes dry cleaned! Now, I realize that it may be considered a luxury to have your laundry professionally cleaned, but I beg to differ. Here’s why and here’s what I’m promising to do about it starting this week…

When I go to pick up my clothes, I never know what I’m going to get. I’ve had so many pieces ruined through dry cleaning. Buttons cracked, the collars have faded out or (even worse) haven’t been cleaned, I’ve even had clothes shrunk! And that’s just talking about the service. Not to mention when I get home and wear them, I’ve broken out in rashes from the chemicals. Plus, as a beauty professional, I love and cherish my colognes. The chemicals on my shirts from dry cleaning very often interfere with the scent of my colognes.

Enough whining! My goal this week is to start tending to my own laundry. The irony in all this is that I have tons of tips, tricks and products to wash my clothes beautifully. It’s just laziness that keeps me going to the cleaners, so all of you who want to join in my plight here are my secrets:

It starts with getting undressed at night. Instead of throwing them into my laundry bin, I hang and air each piece like they did in the olden days. The next day if they need to be washed, I hand wash them with Seventh Generation Delicate Care Laundry Detergent (love that it’s scent-free!).

IF they only need to be ironed, here’s how I do it. For collars and other ares, I never use starch. Instead, I use Miss Ellen’s Best Press Spray Starch Alternative in Citrus Grove because it’s chemical-free. Or, for pieces that don’t need that crisp, starched look, I use Mrs. Meyers Clean Day Ironing Spray.

Some other things to keep in mind… Before hand washing or ironing, roll a lint brush over the entire garment to get rid of those little pieces that get stuck to clothes throughout the day. Clean your iron! They get gunky and can leave residue and stains on clothing.

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Happy Monday! As you know, I like to start the week off by setting a goal for myself to keep me focused. Last week, I promised to hit the gym in the morning before work – which I stuck to! So, this week, I figured why not stay on the health kick??

I’m based in Austin, TX and I love the food here! Mexican, barbecue, cupcakes, fried pickles.. absolutely delicious, but notice the problem? Everything is so heavy and fattening and, even worse, way too high in sodium. (consuming too much salt increases blood pressure and puts us at risk for heart attack and stroke.) So now that I’m back in my gym routine, this week I’m going to cut down on sodium and stick to salads and other meals that are vegetable-heavy.

One of my favorite healthy things to eat is the Asiago Lemon Shrimp Salad from Leaf, a restaurant in downtown Austin. Now I know some of you don’t live in Austin, but check out their menu and see if you can make some of their salads at home. For my NYC friends, Chop’t is  a great option with very creative salads to choose from! Or, for those DIY’ers, try this Grilled Chicken Salad I found on allrecipes.com:

Nutritional Information

Amount Per Serving Calories: 567 | Total Fat: 46g | Cholesterol: 43mg

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Lately it feels like my life is running on super-speed! I’ve been traveling for work just about every week this month and it’s all very exciting, but my schedule has been turned upside down. Needless to say, so has my fitness routine! I’ll finally be back in Austin for a full week and plan on taking advantage. So my goal this week is to re-focus on my health. This means getting back to the gym and eating right. 

Starting tomorrow morning, I’ll be hitting the gym before work each day this week. And, just to make sure I don’t play hookie, I’ve already scheduled sessions with a trainer. I like working out in the morning to start the day with positivity, plus it gives me all the energy I need for long days at work. 

One other way I stay at the top of my game is by returning to my normally healthy diet. When I travel, I eat every meal out in a restaurant and allow myself to indulge in pasta or steak. But now the party’s over! It’s back to fish and veggies! And since I have a sweet tooth, I’m going to stop eating baked goods and get my sweet fix with something much healthier – dark chocolate. This is a great option because it contains tons of antioxidants and can actually help lower blood pressure. Don’t believe me? Click here.

So check back with me later in the week and I’ll update you on how my old routine is going. In the meantime, tell me what your goal is this week!!

Check her out! Do you know who that is? It's Marilyn Monroe, pumping iron and working on HER fitness! Love this picture!

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