It’s New to Us by Jean Stratton

EXPERIENCE & EXPERTISE: "All salons have a style. The things that I can offer are my style, and as we build a reputation, it develops a level of trust for your salon." Tim Bricker, owner with his wife, Kate Bricker, of B&B Hair Color Studio, is proud of the quality service and expertise his salon offers.

High Quality Color and Hair Cuts Are Focus of B&B Hair Color Studio

There is nothing like a new haircut and color that combine to create a style and look all your own. You walk out the door feeling like a million dollars. Refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready to go!

That is the goal of B&B Hair Color Studio at 49 State Road. "I want to create a hair style that suits the woman," says Tim Bricker, owner with his wife Kate Bricker, of the salon. "A good hair cut can really give you a visual face lift."

Opened six years ago, the salon focuses on color and cuts exclusively, and has built a loyal clientele, from high school students to ladies of advanced years. Clients are primarily women, but men also appreciate the quality hair care available at B&B Hair Color Studio.

In addititon to the expert service at the salon, clients will appreciate its new look. Mr. Bricker is very proud of the brand new "redo", which has opened to rave reviews. "We wanted a cleaner, sleek look that is very functional, and yet still warm and classic. It is definitely welcoming and warm and at the same time absolutely 21st Century."

Mr. and Mrs. Bricker planned the design, which is indeed sophisticated, elegant, and stylish. Wood is a focus, adding to the warmth, and the Brickers also emphasized natural lighting, with sconces and ceiling illumination. "We have full sprectrum lighting as close to natural lighting as possible. In addition, we liked the look of very light cream walls, accented with French rose brown. We are very pleased and happy with the result, and our clients are, too. Their response has been, 'Wow!'"

Both Mr. and Mrs. Bricker are professional stylists, whose experience and expertise was shaped in New York City. "We trained in education and taught color techniques for Redken and L'Oreal, and performed as colorists at Redken's Fifth Avenue headquarters in New York. We have worked with some of the best hair stylists in the world," explains Mr. Bricker. "Now, we are platform artists for L'Oreal, and create techniques for color and style and teach them to stylists throughout the northeast."

Cut and Color

In their very attractive Princeton studio, along with other New York-trained stylists, Mr. and Mrs. Bricker help customers to look their best. Cut and color combine to create an individualized look for the customer. "Both color and cutting are so creative and challenging," points out Mr. Bricker. "They complement each other. The cut accentuates color, and color accentuates the cut."

When determining the best style, Mr. Bricker, who is Vidal Sassoon-trained in hair cutting, notes facial structure, hair texture, and life-style. For example, in our fast-paced society, many clients want easy maintenance today. "People want classic lines and a streamlined look," he reports. "Short hair is probably easier in this regard, as long hair tends to add to maintenance."

Also, he adds, certain hair types are more suitable to short or longer hair styling, and whether hair is straight, curly, fine, or thick are all factors in cut and style, too."

Some people like a textured (feathered and layered) cut which can add volume and lift. Often customers ask the Brickers for advice about a style, and others come in with ideas of their own. "People will come in with their own ideas, and if it's not suitable, we try to guide them to what is the best look for them," says Mr. Bricker. "We want to enhance what is natural, but give it a little more, add a little sparkle."

Fashion Statement

Color is a great way to achieve this. It is clearly a fashion statement today, long past the time when it was used primarily to cover gray. "Color just gets better and better," points out Mr. Bricker. "Every year something new comes along, and the products are so much better and safer. Safety improves all the time. The ingredients in hair coloring are similar to the actual ingredients in the hair. And color can do so much. It can add warmth, and just as you can create texture with cuts, you can also create texture with color. Multi-color, tone-on-tone, glaze — color today can provide shine, texture, and conditioning. Clients like to be able to see different tones in their hair."

It is also important that color suits the individual's skin tone, he adds. "Skin tone definitely underlies the choice of color. There is also hair coloring that can accentuate eye color. All these are part of the equation."

New products appear constantly, he continues, and for many conditions. "We have a product, Power Dose, part of the L'Oreal Serie Expert line, that is a five-minute treatment to make different types of hair unbelievably shiny. Another, 'Extenso' is a smoothing treatment for curly, wavy, or frizzy hair, the first of its kind."

Additionally, if one has had a very bad hair day due to coloring mistakes, a rigorous haircut is no longer needed. There are many corrective coloring products on the scene today.

Heat-Activated

It is very important to use professional shampoos and conditioners for color-treated hair, adds Mr. Bricker, and the use of conditioners generally is strongly recommended. "They keep hair healthy and shiny. There are two types of conditioners: (1) protein for people with fine hair that also creates shine; and (2) moisturizing conditioners for dry hair and that also create shine."

Protection from the sun is another important consideration. "There are products you can spray on that protect hair from the sun, and are heat-activated," reports Mr. Bricker. "Also, when you are going to swim in a pool with chlorine, a good tip is to wet your hair first with water, add conditioner, and the chlorine will bounce off the hair."

Mr. Bricker looks forward to continuing to help his clients look their best, knowing that when people are happy with the way they look, they often experience a boost in self-esteem.

"I enjoy it so much," he says. "I talk to people all the time. Most of the clients are really friends now, and it's so enjoyable that it's not even like a real job!"

B&B Hair Color Studio also does a lot of styles for special occasions, such as proms, parties, and weddings. Gift certificates are offered, and hours are Tuesday through Saturday by appointment. (609) 683-4455. Website: www.bbcolorstudio.com.

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