Meet a talented hairstylist, Gina Guercio Beckmann. I asked her questions that I was curious about.
Thirty-nine
years ago, Gina Guercio Beckmann started as a hairdresser. She was 17. (Oh my,
did we give away her age!) She is married with three kids.
I have to
admit upfront, that Gina has been my hair stylist for many years. She
encouraged me to try red in my hair and I was delighted, although my husband
was dumbfounded when he first saw me. Literally didn’t say a word.
Later I
tried purple streaks, (see photo on left) and then pink highlights. When I came in for my
appointment, she always sat me down and asked me what I wanted and what worked
best for me. I loved that because, in some respect, I became the creator and
Gina was the sculptor. A great relationship.
Gina owned JAG
Hair Salon in Dutchess County for 25 years and is currently a stylist at Vanity Hair
Studio.
I asked her seven questions about best ways to take care of our hair.
How should
I come prepared to get the
best color and cut?
Pictures
are good. They speak louder than words. Sometimes it’s hard to express what you
are really looking for so that’s where the pictures come in. When I look at
what you bring in, I will tell you if it is feasible. I will also suggest what
direction would work best based on your hair texture and color. And I also
discuss creating an individual look for you.
Can my hair really look like the photo I cut out?
No
hairstyle is really wash and wear. Remember the haircut in that photo you bring
in is set for the photo. It is perfectly placed to get that great look. I will try
to be realistic in explaining what is possible. I will never promise what I think I can't deliver.
How should I handle summer hair?
This
weather is great for wavy and curly hair. That hair texture loves humidity. You
can use product to prevent frizz. For those with straight or finer hair, you will
find that products can be your best friend.
Going into
a chlorinated pool? Don’t go into a pool that has been recently shocked. It
will turn hair that has been colored into a multitude of different colors,
including green. Usually wait 24 hours before going in. Remember to wash your hair
afterwards to remove the chlorine.
Also,
important to note: the sun bakes the chlorine into your hair and acts as a barrier
when trying to color it again. There are no clarifiers to help remove chlorine
once it is baked in by the sun. That is why it is important to wash out the chlorine
as soon as you can using a clarifying shampoo. If you haven't washed out the chlorine try deep conditioning treatments to help remedy the problem.
Is there a hair trend happening now?
There are
several trends we are seeing: the very natural look and waves are back. We also
are seeing pixie cuts and bob cuts as well.
Biggest
issues clients are coming in with after 3 months of no hair care.
1. Dealing
with their roots. It’s no problem when someone comes in regularly to get
their roots done. But because they have
not been for so long, this may not be considered a retouch because of the
amount of growth. What they need is a
color correction, which takes more time and can be more costly.
Another
issue is coming in to change their grey with a color and highlight, what we
call a dimensional color. This may take up to two sessions depending on where one starts and where you want to be. So, consultation is extremely important.
2. Do-it-yourself
color. Women come in having tried to do it themselves. It may now require a
color correction to get the color to where they want it to be.
3. Condition
of the hair. If you haven’t been using a better line of haircare products,
your hair may be dry or lack luster. It may require extensive conditioning.
How do I
choose products to use for my hair?
It is
important to use better line of hair products to prevent the color from fading
and give the hair that beautiful healthy look. Over-the-counter hair products have fillers
and less conditioners. This is true no matter what they say when they promote
the products. I suggest using those products that are used in hair salons. At
Vanity Hair Studio the primary line we carry is the Schwarzkopf product line.
Thanks to Gina for sharing her hairstyling advice. If you have other questions you would like the answers to send them to me, Terrie Goldstein, at publisher@excitingread.com.
Visit Gina's Instagram page for great hairstyles and color.
Vanity Hair
Studio
404 Manchester Rd.
Poughkeepsie, NY
845.485.2000
Open Tuesday through
Saturday
Visit Vanity's Facebook and Instagram pages
Visit Gina's Instagram page for great hairstyles and color.