Curly Hair Salons in New York

Curlisto  or  Devachan ???

I am a curly head that is always looking for the right place to take my precious curly locks.  If I go to a place that does not know how to cut curly hair I will walk out looking like Rosanna Dana, which was a good look in the 70’s or if you are a model for American Apparel .

My first stop was Curlisto that has a monthly seminar at their 5^th Avenue location.  Call 212-997-8800 for future dates and sign up for the upcoming seminars.  Arrive 10 minutes early to get a good seat.  You will be welcomed with a glass of champagne or wine…some grapes, a little cheese.  The presentation will be about 1  ½ hour.  The cool part is if you raise your hand you might be the hair model for the seminar and they will use all of their products for your hair right there on the spot.  At the end of the seminar you will get discounts for hair product and your first hair appointment. 

I did use the discount for my first hair appointment.  The process was a simple wash and conditioner.  Here they cut my hair wet.  After the cut my stylist showed me how to finger comb my hair and how to put the curls up at the top of my head at night to help lengthen the curls in the morning.  They have a great how to video on their website.  Click on

 http://shop.curlisto.com/ to learn about their products and how to use the product in your hair.

My curls are wider at Curlisto

Six months later I went for my second hair cut to Devachan in their Soho location.  In the basement of an office building is a curly haven.  Not a straight head in the house.  I thought that was pretty cool and rare.  My hair was cut and shaped dry.  Much detail was placed on the ends.  I definitely could see and feel the difference.  I enjoyed my rasberry tea while sitting under the dryer, I read the book Curly Girl which was required reading.

Devachan also gives you a savings card to rack up points for Deva curl hair products that you purchase in the salon.

 My curls are curly cues at Devachan

I am going to say that I only get my hair cut every six months.    Today I pay between $100 - $130 for each hair cut.  What you say?!  Where is the frugality around that?  Now for a curly hair person it is all about the right hair cut and style that lasts a long time , which makes all the difference.  I use to pay $50  every other month  totaling $300 + tips a year.    I was sick of trying to find the right place to cut my curls and the stress of always finding a new stylist and not getting what I needed.  Going  to salons that specialize with curly hair only has taken off the emotional stress.  That alone is worth it.  I also save many trips and tips going to so many different salons.

5 Items for $5 Dollars

Go to Lunch Box @ 257 W 34th Street between 7th & 8th Ave. You would not think to go in to this place, yet I am going to suggest you can go into this place when you are being frugal. During lunch hour, pay your $5 for 5 items. You can also pay $1 an item. You will need to get on the buffet line that moves very fast. I also like the bakery at this spot. If you are strapped you can get a hot dog or ham and cheese in a baked bun for $1.50. This is if you are strapped. In the same bakery they have inexpensive birthday cakes or give yourself a red velvet cupcake. http://www.yum34.com

...................................................................You can have your food to stay or to go. If you want to take your food out and weather permitting, walk south one block to the US Post Office on 33rd street and 7th Ave. The steps of this historical building is a nice spot to sit in easy pose, eat and people watch.

Ivan De Leon on the steps in front of the 34th Street Post Office Picture: JORDAN MATTER PHOTOGRAPHY www.jordanmatter.com

How to set your rates as a Freelancer

Sometimes as freelancer working freelance jobs, we get stuck at setting our rate and when we do we seem to question the rate we set for ourselves. It is necessary for me as a freelancer to set my rates for my home business. Here are some tips of how I came up with my rate as a Virtual Assistant, writer, accountant, etc..

Difficulty:Moderately Easy
Instructions
things you'll need:
•Index Cards
•Pencil/Pen

1
Whatever your business is, if you don't already know the going rate for your line of work, research the going rates for your home business. Check out your competitors pricing. You can also check out several websites that will give you the average rate. Try www.Salary.com or www.Payscale.com. Try out their salary calculator to help you get a sense of the going rates for your field.
2
Take into account the many overhead costs of not only the work that you are doing but the cost to keep your business running.
Examples
-Insurance (health, dental, life, property, disability, unemployment)
-Continuing Education
-Taxes ( Federal/State/FICA - both employer and employee. About 35% - 40%)
-Retirement savings
-Overhead costs (rent, equipment, etc.)

Remember that the company or individual that hires you to do freelance work does not have to pay for all of the above when they hire you on a freelance basis. It is a way to justify your rate
3
Take the total $ amount for your going hourly rate that you found during your internet research and add 5% - 15% to cover your overhead expenses. I'm advising that you add the overhead charge because if you start negotiating down it is my hope that you do not accept less then the industry rate because if you do, then you would be under earning.
4
Use index cards to create a cheat sheet of the various rates you have for the various things you do in your business. Having this near the phone or your computer helps you stick to your rates and have confidence when quoting over the phone. Remember though if there are many things involved, write down what the client needs then let them know you will get back to them so you can add up everything you will be doing for them. This way you can take time to think about how long it will really take for you to do the job and allot in enough time and how many hours to charge.
Tips & Warnings
•Evenutally I came up with $25 hour - $35 hour rate for my Assistant work. I also focused on finding my niche in the an industry that would pay at that rate. Usually at the top Executive level who does a lot of traveling and could use my services remotely.

•Use time management when taking on freelance jobs. You need to allot enough time to work for various employers, have some down time in between.

•Remember the rates may vary for each freelance job.

Resources
•Salary.com

How to Create a Spending Plan

It's time to dream big, set goals and actually reach them.

A spending plan is not a budget. Why? Because a budget can be limiting where as a spending plan allows you to set a goal then adjust your plan as you more forward towards that goal.

Difficulty:Moderately Challenging
Instructions
things you'll need:
•Excel Spread Sheet (optional)
•Lined paper and pen


1. If you have no idea as to what you spend, start writing down what you spend on a small writing pad. Write the date and all the items you have purchased that day, even money you may have contributed. Whatever money came out, also write down whatever money came in. If you have an excel spreadsheet start in putting your information. You will want 3 months of numbers to work with. If you already have a system for yourself where you keep track of your money you will be able to take the money on your reports and place them into the upcoming categories in step 2.

Another way to tally up numbers is if you have kept your receipts; sort them by month and date. Prep them to use for Step # 2.

2. Make three (3) columns on paper and label them by month. In the first column , list on the left hand side all the way down the page the following categories:
- Spiritual (includes donations, self nurturing, self improvement, etc.)
- Rent
- Utilities (includes: electric, gas. Etc.)
- Auto ( includes: car payment, insurance , gas, repairs, permits, etc.)
- Food ( includes: eating in, eating out, snacks)
- Clothing (includes doing laundry, cleaners)
- Personal care
- Independent care (if you have kids or pets, et c.)
- Education
- Entertainment
- Personal Business ( includes postage to pay bills, computer supplies, etc.)
- Vacation
- Savings
- Debt repayment

3. Tally up your #'s or receipts to fit into the categories above for each month. You can use your bank statements as well, yet keep in mind you want to create a simple system for yourself that you enter your numbers consistently in some kind of format so you are not overwhelmed when working with your spending plan.

4. The numbers of what you have really been spending will be what you entered into each column. When you total up all the numbers of every row, you will get a total. Subtract that total from your salary after taxes. If you have some money left over great, if not you will need to look at where you can trim.

For some people, they may be spending in one area too much, such as food out or too many coffees. Sometimes even in personal care. One might be obsessed with buying hair products. Where ever there seems to be some over spending look into that area to make sure it is not escapism. If it is it may be a great idea to stop buying so many hair products and put that into vacation.

Tips & Warnings
•If you would like to know the average amount you spend either by category or on a monthly basis you divide all your totals by the number 3. For the average monthly expenses it would go like this: Jan - $1,313 Feb - $1,207 March - $1,345 Total all 3 months = $3,865 Divide $3865 / 3 = $1,288 $1,288 would be your average monthly expenses If you would like to break it down by category it would go as follows Personal Care Jan - $3.45 Feb - $43 March - $35 Total up all three months for the category of Personal Care Your total would be $81.45 Divide $81.45 / 3 = $27.15 $27.15 is the average amount you spend on personal care. What do you do with that information? You take $27 as the amount you will spend monthly on personal care. It is best to use $27 and not pinch, not deprive yourself. That is the average of what you spend so don't try to do less and to live within your means try not to go above. Yes you could pinch and do without, yet it is best to take care of yourself and not deprive yourself, and it has been my experience if you want spend more than you have to earn more. There is no real way of getting around it.