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Savings & Rewards Oct 2023 Newsletter

Savings & Rewards Oct 2023 Newsletter

Hello Garbonians! So often we hear, “Prices are increasing!” As a businesswoman, I know the woes and the distress of the need to raise prices to keep operating and I too know what it’s like to get home with one bag of groceries when I paid enough for at least three bags. To disrupt this dialogue about rising prices I want to remind you about our Rewards programs and discounts to help you save when and where you can at Garbo A Salon & Spa. We have several. We have our 20|20 program that saves you AND a new guest money. This program is simple. When you refer a new guest to Garbo A Salon & Spa, and they book an appointment with us, you’ll receive $20 off your next service, and they will receive $20 off their first visit to us. It’s that simple. All it takes is for you to refer a friend. Another way to save is through our A+ Rewards program. This is something you must sign up for. Once you are a member, you start to accumulate points each time you do business with us. Your points can then be redeemed towards AVEDA products or gift certificates that can be used for services. The next time you are in, ask our front desk to sign you up. They'll be happy to enroll you in our A+ Rewards program. Does free haircuts for a year sound good? Your chance to get this jewel of a saving happens when you book three appointments through the rest of this year. When you do, you’re automatically entered to win free haircuts for 2024 (limit eight haircuts for the year). That’s a great savings! At Garbo, we are well aware of the rising cost of living and want to help where and when we can because we care, and we appreciate you. Come see us and get your rewards and discounts started now! Happy Autumn and Happy Savings!
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November Newsletter

November Newsletter

Hello Garbonians! In this season of Thanksgiving, I hope you will allow me a few moments to express my gratitude to all of you. This includes Garbos staff and guests. This season is a double hitter for me because not only will I join people across our country to celebrate Thanksgiving, but its also my birthday season. This year Im approaching a new decade and that along with being in the season of Thanksgiving gives me two reasons to express heartfelt, sincere thanks to my team and guests for the many years I have been blessed to serve Austin and our surrounding community. My heart is truly grateful for working beside my young team. They keep me on my toes more than I would like to admit, but they keep me vibrant and curious. Im convinced curiosity is what keeps us all moving forward and on track in this fast-paced world. I know curiosity, kindness and wonder is good for our brains and hearts. On days when I feel challenged and out of touch with things like Tik Tok, Instagram, WhatsApp, and any other social engagement platform, I am thankful that I get to work in an environment that builds my awareness of these things. While I may not engage in some of it, at least I know about it. Im grateful for the 20-year-olds. They are patient with me, and yes, can work their magic with the latest technology. Im grateful for my seasoned staff too. I wont name names, but you know who they are, and they know who they are…big smiles here! My heart beams with pride because they continue to walk beside me through challenges and triumphs. Im grateful for all our guests, our new ones, and our long-time loyal ones. Garbo would certainly not be here if it werent for you. Together you have positioned me to build an award-winning salon that has lasted 37 years. You made Garbo grow and expand into a second location. WOW! On a personal note, Im grateful for my garden. I get to plant things and watch them grow. It teaches me a lot about life and seasons. I must plant at the right time to have a good harvest and I must nourish my garden for it to sustain the environment and produce. Im reminded too, that sometimes I must trim, cut and dig up to create space for something new to come…then the process starts all over again. Gardening relaxes me and it enriches my soul. I cant leave out the joy and gratitude I have for Charlie, my 9 lb. poodle and all my friends who continually walk closely beside me each day. They make life more breathable and enjoyable on the cold, cloudy days when challenges seem to loom, and adversity seems prominent. When the sun shines bright, they are there to enjoy it with me. I believe with all my heart (because I know from experience) that when I live from a place of gratitude, my heart space is bigger and my abundance flows. My heart is opened to experience greater good and joy, and the joy I experience is on a much deeper level. This season is a time to reflect on goodness and gratitude. I hope you and your family find much goodness and so much to be thankful for that your hearts explode. Happy Thanksgiving Garbonians! I love and appreciate each of you. With much gratitude and joy, Marsha Power
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Ask Charlie - September Issue

Ask Charlie - September Issue

Hello Gorgeous! We all know the summer attire in Texas is shorts, tee shirts and flip flops, and while flip flops can be cool and comfortable, they can be hard on our feet. They expose our feet to the elements and offer no support, which means our feet slide around causing friction and pressure on our skin that often leads to dry skin and calluses. That’s not a good look! Calluses form when our skin is protecting itself from that friction and pressure. Rather than give up the cool and comfortable flip flops my tip is to pay attention to your feet and give them special care, so they won’t look ruff and dry. I talked to Garbo’s nail technician, Ashley Moreno, about what to do. She is an expert on how to care for dry feet and calluses, so I asked her for some professional advice to share for self-care. She recommended these easy steps for caring for your calluses and dry feet: 1) Use a pumice stone or file made for your feet at least once a week in between pedicures. 2) Use a heavy foot cream at night ( AVEDA’s Foot Relief is a great one) and put on a pair of socks. Ashley added that doing a foot balm is good. She said after you shower, you should apply an oil to your feet. After the oil absorbs, then apply a heavy cream and slide your feet into a comfy pair of socks you can sleep in. The next morning remove your socks to see and feel the difference. If you have any questions, you’d like me to answer, please email me at askcharlie@garboasalon.com. Until the next time, “Take care of your feet…so they won’t look … ruff, ruff!”
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Hair Loss Awareness Month

Hair Loss Awareness Month

Did you know August is National Hair Loss Awareness Month? It was brought to my attention the other day by my AVEDA representative, and it got me to thinking how common hair loss is to men and women, but we don’t talk about it because it can be such a sensitive issue. We cannot deny that it is real. In fact, it’s estimated that 56 million people suffer from hair loss each year… 40% of them are women. I can assure you it’s okay to lose some hair each day. According to an article in Harvard Health Publishing it is normal to lose 50 to 100 scalp hairs a day, however; excessive hair loss can be the result of a medical condition, heredity, acute stress, dietary issues, medications, grooming and styling habits, medical treatments, physical damage to the scalp, and the list goes on. Hereditary hair loss with age is the most common. Androgenetic alopecia is baldness. It can be temporary or permanent. Oddly, some women are diagnosed with male pattern baldness, and it seems to be hereditary for both men and women. If you have concerns about your hair loss here are a couple of things to consider that we can help you with: 1. Is your hair thinning because of your styling habit? 2. Is what you’re seeing breakage or new growth? Our senior stylist, Eli Bahsous, explains how you can tell if your hair is breaking off or if what you are seeing is new growth. If your hair is thinning and you’re wanting more volume, AVEDA’s plant based Invati Advanced is our number one product for adding volume to your hair. Invati Advanced is a winner for hair that is thinning, weakening, and breaking off. This month we are offering 20% off Invati Advanced by AVEDA at our Northcross and South Shore District salons. Let’s be real, when we feel good about our hair, we feel more confident, and being confident lends itself to health and happiness. By the way, if you know an AVEDA stylist who wants to be part of a dynamic team, email me at jaybirdjunior@gmail.com. Be happy and healthy, Marsha
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Father's Day 2022

Father's Day 2022

The month of June is all about dads! Garbo A Salon & Spa salutes all dads and father-figures and wish them a Happy Father’s Day! Some dads are majestic. They make things that are missing appear. Some dads are heroes. They save us from all sorts of predicaments. Some dads are wise. They help us understand and see things better. Some dads are funny. They make us laugh even when we want to cry. Some dads are loving and caring. They make us want to be better people. I’m reminded of my dad, Daddy Jaybird. Thoughts of him come up all the time for me at work! I can still hear his advice in my memories. “If your mouth is moving your hands are moving,” he would say. That saying is embedded in my mind. It’s something I often share with my stylists because if we are talking and our hands are moving, it takes away from the service we should be providing for our guests. Our hands should be working for them and not for us to express our thoughts while on their time. Thinking of it makes me giggle with wonder. My Dad may be gone, but his expressions continue to live and have influence. Something else I remember him saying jokingly was, “Running late for work? If you were running, you wouldn’t be late?” Ha!!!!! Happy Father’s Day from Garbo A Salon & Spa! My father was wise, loving and caring. Memories like these keep him close to my heart, and I’ll do something on Father’s Day to honor my sweet memories of him. Whatever your dad or father-figure is to you, Garbo will help you celebrate him with something special by helping you create a fun and enjoyable experience. Most gifts have a short shelf-life but creating memories with fun experiences will last forever. If Jaybird were here now, I would certainly spoil him. I’d drive him to Garbo so he could get a special back facial by Marina. Then I’d make sure he had the best haircut ever, and I’d seal the experience with a manicure and pedicure by Ashley. I’d also include so many kisses and hugs he’d talk about it for the rest of his life. If you are without your dad or father-figure we hope you have warm memories to celebrate. And for those of you fortunate to have the chance to celebrate with your dad, we recommend creating a fun and memorable experience designed just for him. Happy Father’s Day from all of us at Garbo! With gratitude and respect, Marsha
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April 2022 Newsletter

April 2022 Newsletter

Hello Garbonians! I have great news to share! Masks are now optional at Garbo North & Garbo South. The new Austin guidelines, based on the steady decline in positive COVID cases, give me sound reason to believe we are safer than we were before. Hooray!!! We’ve wished for this for a long time and certainly hope things continueto decline. Join me in welcoming our brighter days with joy and gratitude! Thanks to everyone, we managed to get through those difficult days. I want to pause and say thank you to our staff and guests, for adhering to our safety protocols. I know the past two years were highly challenging, but because ofyour diligence and caring spirit, we were able to keep COVID cases to a minimum as compared to other businesses. I’m reminded that as we celebrate brighter daysothers, like the peopleof Ukraine,are having a different experience. Philanthropy has long been part of Garbo’s cornerstone, so we are in the process of putting together a plan to help raise money for humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. For now, let me say, “There is something sweet about what we will be doing, and all you Garbonians will be able to savor the experience.” Stay tuned! One other thing I’d like to mention is April 25th is National Hairstylists’Day. I will be honoring our stylists byletting them know how much they are appreciated!For some of us, there is something about being in our stylists’ chair that gives us permission to open our souls, relax and breathe.We confide in our stylists and when we leave, our hearts are lighter, our hair is fresh and styled and we get to hit the restart button and get on with our life. Ha! I felt something special just thinking about the experience of having someone pamper and care for me. As a stylistfor more than 40-years, and as one who loves to sit in a stylist’s chair and be treated with genuine care, respect and kindness, I know first-hand how special a good stylist can make you look and feel about yourself. Join me on April 25thin saying Happy Hairstylist Day to your stylist, or anyone you know who is in the profession. We certainly appreciate you! Happy Passover and Happy Easter! Garbo North and Garbo South will be closed Sunday April 17th. With gratitude and appreciation, Marsha
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Happy Spring 2022

Happy Spring 2022

Hello Garbonians! February has been an exceptional month and we want to thank all our guests who have taken advantage of our annual special. Even though we are still joyously celebrating our 37th anniversary with our new and longtime guests, I peeked at what’s up ahead for spring and I’ve got to let you know I am so excited! My question is…Are you ready for renewal? We know spring is the time when everything that was once dormant starts to come back to life. Well, the new trends for 2022, are reflecting new life/renewal. Time to say goodbye to neutral colors and say hello to warm, optimistic and friendly hues. As we become more optimistic about moving forward from where we have been the last couple of years, I assure you we will remain watchful, but for now it’s exciting that this year’s colors energetically scream …new life and fun! I can feel a new energy that’s starting to permeate the air with the trends for 2022. The big color trends are bright and exude warmth, optimism, and say let’s be friends. I’m all for saying goodbye dull neutrals, and hello warm and friendly! It’s like getting a big breath of fresh air after taking off your mask. The colors that are popping are, fuchsia, tangerine and cerulean blue. Raspberry mixed with chocolate brown is also making a splash. As for fashion, get ready, the skort skirt (in my day it was called a mini-skirt) is popular. Along with a change in colors and fashions, we are being asked more and more by our guests to change their hairstyle and color. Feels to me like its “be gone Cozy COVID!” Yes, we are hopeful, and we are having fun again with our art of hair, skin and nails. It’s time to recharge and renew! So many reasons to March on into Garbo. Speaking of recharging, we were charged up when we got the news that Garbo won Top 200 Salon for 2021, by Salon Today! Salon Today is a national magazine that focuses solely on the salon business. We were honored to win again for the 11th year in a row and I’m going for a dozen. The award is for outstanding business practices. I want to let you know about something fun we are about to launch. It’s a new monthly feature we’re calling ASK CHARLIE. Each month Charlie will share fun professional tips for skin and haircare. In case you haven’t met Charlie or don’t know who she is, she is my nine-pound poodle and I have taught her well --- so she is now an authority on giving tips. Watch your email for the first issue that’s coming soon. Happy Spring Garbonians! It’s time to recharge and renew! The days will soon be longer and I’m optimistic they’ll be brighter too! With gratitude and much appreciation, Marsha
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Garbo Turns 37!!!

Garbo Turns 37!!!

Happy Anniversary Garbo! I’m excited to announce it’s time for our annual anniversary special at Garbo A Salon’s Northcross location! Our new talent is gearing up and they are extremely excited to provide our haircare and skincare services for $37 each to commemorate our 37th year of service to the Austin community. Our special $37 anniversary price is good for facials, pedicures, haircuts, solid-color root touch-ups and mini highlights (25 foils). And yes, you can book appointments for all of these services for only $37 each! Services are provided by our new talent Monday through Friday during February. Appointments are subject to availability so do not hesitate…Book Today. We fill up fast! We look forward to seeing you for our anniversary special during the month of LOVE. Remember, this is the year to return to balance in our lives. One way to start is to nurture yourself, and we are delighted to help. With love, Marsha Power, Owner
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Balance

Balance

Wow! Can you believe January is almost over? This is the month we make resolutions and dream of what we want to accomplish for the year, but how do you do that when you feel tired, exhausted and stressed out like 2021 left so many of us? I’ve had numerous people comment to me that they are exhausted, stressed and having anxiety. I don’t know about you, but I haven’t had the time to sit and think of a list. What I did do however, is decide on a theme. My theme for 2022 is Balance. I guess you could say my theme was born out of not having the time to think of all the things to make a list because I too have felt the uneasiness of exhaustion. Ha! We witnessed and experienced so much last year; pandemic fears, surges in climate change, wildfires, massive flooding, gun violence, disorder in politics, racial tension, disruption in education (due to virtual learning), and so much more. It’s no wonder we are tired and exhausted. That’s why finding Balance in 2022, is my theme and should be a priority. Navigating through a world-wide pandemic keeps most of us on high alert and for business owners, it requires us to be highly vigilant each day of the circumstances affecting us. Medical experts say being this way undermines our quality of life, but finding balance improves our health. Here are a few suggestions I was able to find and plan to put into practice in 2022 to strike a better balance. These tips are from Essential Life Skills, a website that focuses on personal development. 1. Take care and nurture yourself 2. Know your priorities 3. Be organized 4. Learn to roll with the punches 5. Stay positive Finding balance requires work on our part. I’m the first to admit that to live a balanced life isn’t always easy, but I will assure you of one thing… Garbo a Salon can help you with the first tip. We want to thank you for choosing Garbo A Salon & Spa for your hair and skincare needs in 2021, and we look forward to helping you live a more balanced life in 2022! Remember, take time to nurture yourself. With gratitude and appreciation, Marsha
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John Waters Christmas

John Waters Christmas

I saw in the Austin Chronicle; A John Waters Christmas is scheduled for this evening (December 6th) at the Paramount Theatre. I regret I will miss the performance, but I would love to see it. Particularly the part when he talks about sloppy COVID dressing because I happen to have a few ideas about it too. Waters calls it COVID sloppy. I call it the COVID cozy pajama syndrome. I realize being sheltered and separated from society didn’t lend itself to dressing up, but now that restrictions have relaxed and we are out and about again, I have noticed that some people (including those in professional positions) continue to dress as if they are still at home and not out in public. Has making a good impression gone extinct? This raises a concern for me and here is why. I am in a service business, and our mission is to make people look and feel good so it’s important that we look and feel good too. If we dressed in COVID pajamas with scrunchies in our hair and looked less than professional, I think our customers would question the quality of our service. And it goes both ways. Research tells us that we form impressions of others in less than a second based on our clothing, hairstyle, accessories, and more. Our judgements may not be accurate, but the point is, we form a positive or negative impression instantly, and we react from that impression. Take this for example, and this is totally hypothetical. There is a woman at the airport in pajamas and a scrunchy, and there is another woman dressed more nicely appearing like she is travelling for business. Both are on stand-by. A seat opens. A decision is made on who gets the seat. Does the one who looks casually comfortable get the seat, or the one who looks like she is headed to a business meeting get the seat? Which would you choose? I’m sure airlines have their guidelines to follow in making decisions like these, but hopefully you can catch my drift. My point is, I think the casualness of the COVID cozy pajama syndrome perpetuates a degree of casualness when it comes to customer service for people. At Garbo A Salon, our goal is to help you make a good impression so hopefully you won’t be the one left at the airport waiting on a flight heading to your destination days later than you scheduled. https://www.austinchronicle.com/arts/2021-12-03/mark-the-calendar-for-a-john-waters-christmas/ https://imaginehealth.ie/psychology-first-impressions/
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December Specials at Garbo!!!

December Specials at Garbo!!!

1. Purchase a Gift Card to receive up to $50* in service vouchers! (*$150+ gets a $20 Voucher; $250+ gets (x2) $25 vouchers. Vouchers are valid for use for services only in January and February 2022) 2. Purchase any Holiday Gift Set - be entered to win a $400 Gift Card! (1 winner will be chosen for each location; to be selected and notified by January 10th 2022 - 1 entry per gift set purchased) 3. Pre-book your next 3 appointments - be entered to win a Year of Free Haircuts* - (1 winner will be chosen for each location; to be selected and notified by January 10th 2022. One entry per person only. *Winner will receive a credit valued at 7 haircuts to use throughout the year)
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Holiday 2021 Specials

Holiday 2021 Specials

Our Salons now have some boutique items; we prefer local, American or Austin vendors. A recent trend scouting trip to NYC has some new items on the way just in time for the Holidays. *Aveda+ Loyalty Triple Points (October 28th – November 6th) *25% off Aveda Retail (November 20th – 29th; excluding gift sets) *Stock up and Save Event (November 7th – 19th) 15% off when spend $75 20% off when you spend $150 25% off when you spend $225
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Garbo and Breast Cancer

Garbo and Breast Cancer

As a survivor of an aggressive form of breast cancer, October is a special month for me personally and for Garbo. October is always Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and our partnership with Aveda allows us to raise money ever October that benefits life saving research. Each year, Aveda launches a limited edition version of Aveda Hand Relief and the proceeds from purchases of this particular product are donated. Who does not hand relief with all this washing and cleaners! Prior to and during my own personal cancer treatment, we as an industry were a bit unaware of the availability of new technologies available to the public to assist through some of the confidence busting aspects of cancer treatment programs. Public information about keeping your hair during 80% of chemo therapy treatments is mostly unavailable through our doctors and nurses. Why? Well, it is not monetized in USA. The unfortunate diagnosis of a loved one or yourself is scary. Who wants additional worries about losing hair during this time or what that does for confidence and privacy during an already vulnerable time where every ounce of confidence and positivity can help your treatment? I wanted to know if cold cap technology would help me keep my hair and relieve that additional stress. Here is what I learned while working with Hair To Stay.org and using the cold cap during my treatments. I kept the majority of my hair through the process and felt empowered to have that result. 1. You need a cold cap after your very first treatment for best results 2. If you make less than 45 k a year sponsorship is available via www.hairtostay.org which also has the most extensive information on all things chemo and cap. 3. Keeping your hair if an option maintains your privacy during your treatments and recovery, it is not all a vanity issue. 4. Cost averaging $1200. 5. Here to help anyone diagnosed with Breast Cancer my personal email is jaybirdjunior@gmail.com Come to Garbo and get some Pink Aveda Hand Relief and support the cause. Happy Pink Awareness month! Marsha Power Owner
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New Spa Services

New Spa Services

September is all about Spa at Garbo Northcross! We are introducing two new combo services; 'Refresh' and 'Rewind'. Reserve a 'Refresh' or 'Rewind' appointment IN September, and if you do so BEFORE September 7th, you will get $40 off. Call us today 512.458.4162!
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Introducing Marina Elizalde

Introducing Marina Elizalde

Hello Loyal Garbonians, I am Marina Elizalde the new Esthetician here at Garbo. You probably have seen me giving hand massages, possibly even greeting you when you walk in, or better yet you have seen me in the treatment room. I absolutely love learning about skin, skincare products, and ingredients. Since, I graduated high school I really wanted to go to school to become an Esthetician, but life had other plans. 2020 was year I decided to go with, or without Covid. I applied to the AVEDA Institute in January 2020, and was supposed to be starting the first week of March; however, Covid made its appearance and things started to look differently. My first day of school got pushed back and my house became my classroom. Despite how different everything was going to be, I still was determine to become Esthetician. Even though Covid made schooling challenging due to restrictions for public safety, I was so thrilled that my 2020 goal of become an esthetician came true. December 23, 2020 I passed my practical exam and was licensed by the end of the year. Fast forward five months and I sent an application on indeed, and just minutes later I was setting up an interview with Marsha. I was and remain super excited to be working at an AVEDA salon. I would love to get know you some more and invite you to spa services in my room. Book a facial with me! Have questions about your skin? Please book a free skin consultation! I cannot wait to get to know you.
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Teachers You Love Giveaway

Teachers You Love Giveaway

Austin Teachers and Friends of Teachers; the nomination driven "Teacher You Love" campaign is back! Enter/Submit your favorite teacher and give them a chance at a $600 package of services and products from Garbo. Garbo believes strongly in our teachers and this is our way of giving back. In addition to an opportunity to win a $600 valued Grand Prize, teachers with ID can take advantage of 20%-off retail all of August. You can email nominations to jaybirdjunior@gmail.com or post on any or on all of our social media platforms. Similar to our previous thank you to nurses, we will honor a teacher by the most nominations or by a drawing (tbd). Thank you teachers, for all you do! Garbo appreciates you greatly!
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What Does Biscuits with the Boss have to do with Garbo?

What Does Biscuits with the Boss have to do with Garbo?

Check out our story, Biscuits with the Boss and Garbo on YouTube at https://youtu.be/V92ouZObHsM. Biscuits with the Boss, and their amazing gluten free bakery items, will be available at two pop-up events in August. The first is Saturday, August 13th, from 4:00pm - 5:30pm at our Northcross location. Our second pop-up event will be Tuesday, August 24th, from 4:00pm - 5:30pm at our South Shore location. If you know anyone looking or fantastic gluten free baked goods, you need to send them the link! https://www.biscuitwtb.com/
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Eyeliner Tips and Hacks

Eyeliner Tips and Hacks

Written by Virginia Acker: I have been doing my eyeliner for quite some time now, but it took me years to perfect. I always get compliments on how perfect my lines are and most people say they could never do it, but I encourage them to try out different applicators. My favorite eyeliner is a dip liquid from Wet N Wild. This might not be the easiest for beginners so trying out a glide on pencil liner might do the trick. Having a steady hand is key for using liquid in my opinion. But practice does make perfect, and in no time those who thought they couldn’t will be able to! A hack of mine and tip for eyeliner is using lip liner! I was given a pink Aveda lip liner as a gift to try out their products and the color was beautiful on my skin! Using lipliner allows you to create a less define line and create a fun “messy” look. I highly recommend trying it out!
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Time for a Haircut?

Time for a Haircut?

Written by Virginia Acker: When it is time for me to get a haircut, I usually go to any Austin salon and ask for the first available stylist. All I ask for is a simple cut with layers. I’m not too picky because I let my hair fall however it wants as long as it has bounce to it! Once I started my internship at Garbo Northcross, I thought “why not” and got an appointment with Meesh (Michelle Jameson), to get a cut before my friends surprise proposal party. Words can not describe how happy I was after the appointment. I had never used Aveda products before, but now I am obsessed. My hair felt so soft and healthier than before and Meesh did exactly what I wanted. I definitely will be a returning client at Garbo salon because it isn’t a regular Austin salon, its a cool salon!
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Business from the Heart: Part 1

Business from the Heart: Part 1

Some of you already know me well, as we have shared stories, friendly conversations and cares together over the last 11 years. To others of you, reading this may be our first introduction and I look forward to the day we meet in person within the walls of Garbo or the world at large. I welcome you all to this blog post and to hopefully the many others that will continue in the same vein, as I explore what it means to Build and Maintain a Business from the Heart. My name is Jonathan Jones, and I am the Director of Garbo Inc. (aka: Garbo A Salon & Spa, Garbo A Salon). It is story time! As a young child, I had a great uncle that ran a little barbershop in Ballinger, Texas. His quaint little 5 chair barbershop in a historical downtown district, complete with old brick roads, was a place of memorable joy for me. I was born in Austin, Texas, growing up just 20 miles Northeast in the little farm town of Hutto, Texas, population 634. Quarterly at a minimum, my family would make the four hour drive from Hutto to Ballinger to visit my Great Grandmother and the rest of the family. Our visits always included a trip to the family barbershop to clean me up with the best haircuts. My mother was military and never let my hair get too long as a child. I can remember the smells first and foremost when I think of the old barbershop. Walking through the doors, you are instantly met with the radiance of boot polish, barber elixirs, shampoos and shaving creams. The shop had a 2 seat shoe-shine station in one corner and each chair was always turned away from the mirrors during service to allow the customer to view, through an all glass storefront, the beautiful historic town and people out and about shopping. My great uncle insisted on experience. He went above and beyond to provide exactly what his guest needed within his realm of hair care and personal care knowledge. I was treated to this type of experience, even though I was family and he could have let the experience go without fault and provide just a haircut. Consistency in that experience was important to him. Every guest, every time; including me. From the moment you walk in, he has his attention on you. The aromas in the air blend. He welcomes you to one of his chairs. He doesn’t just cut hair. He doesn’t just trim beards or give shoe shines. He provides his craft for full service before letting the guest leave happy back into the world. He converses and builds relationships with those in his chair. He helps them relax and unwind and enjoy the moment. That is his magic as I experienced. That is the magic of a well run business from the heart that I would later come to understand. Services at his barbershop included a complementary neck and shoulder massage; provided with the coolest machine I remember in my youth. A glove like device strapped to the back of the hand of the barber provided a vibration which would massage your shoulder and neck stresses away. The shampoo that followed was always my favorite and the precision of his haircuts was impeccable. The service always concluded with a piece of Juicy Fruit chewing gum, but maybe that part of the experience was just for me. I remember the sense of pride he took in his craft and the level of service he provided, the heart he put into developing relationships. He was so much more than a barber, to so many including me. The reason I lead with this story, is because that was my first memorable experiences provided by the beauty industry; an industry that I can proudly say I have now been part of and loved for the last 11 years. My Great Uncle displayed heart and built relationships and trust as a foundation of how he did business within his community. He made lasting friendships and acquaintances and helped many people feel their best. The way he approached business was from a place of heart and love. When I first came to Garbo and met Marsha Power, a story for the next entry, I found a company and a leader that were based in principles of Love, Consistency, and Integrity and an establishment that when entered, filled you with welcoming warmth, the radiance of the blended aromas of Aveda and newfound memories of joy within the walls of a beauty salon waiting to be made. Beyond that was the heart and drive at Garbo to serve extraordinary experience and build relationships with longevity with those in our community as part of the philosophy and founding vision of Garbo. I was ready for a new journey when I met Marsha, and Garbo came at the right time. I was ready to learn to run a business from the heart firsthand … to be continued.
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Social Media??? Which One?

Social Media??? Which One?

Written by Alex Perez; Garbo's Social Media Manager: In today’s age, social media has quickly become an important tool to have when looking for clients or finding a place of work. It is now easier than ever to type in a simple “Austin salon” and find hundreds of excellent hairstylists in the area. Utilizing that to your advantage is almost necessary these days to achieve a successful business as a stylist. But don’t look at it as a daunting task, it can be fun and inspiring! As the Social Media Manager at Garbo A Salon, I am here to walk you through setting up your social media accounts. What social platform do I focus on? Instagram! Instagram is the most visual social platform and great for stylists to be able to showcase a very visual service. With features like reels, and the endless options in stories it's super easy to make your before and after photos really pop! Instagram has also become a visual blog in some cases, in the sense that you can be vulnerable and very personal with your following. This opens up the option to be more open about your craft and the ability to base content off of that, such as behind-the-scenes videos, or funny videos about the life of a hairstylist. Instagram is the perfect place for a stylist to not only showcase their work but also build up a following that will translate to the chair. :) Thanks for reading and stay tuned as I answer more of your burning questions about social media!
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Meet Garbo's Assistant Manager - Amber Kotecki

Meet Garbo's Assistant Manager - Amber Kotecki

Written by Amber Kotecki: Hi everyone! My name is Amber, and I am the Assistant Manager for Garbo A Salon! My hair journey with Aveda started about 16 years ago when my mom took me to my first Aveda salon in Chicago to get my hair chopped from my mid back to just above my collar bone. Although I was 9 years old and cried (RIP to the long hair I’d had in my then 9yrs of life), I had an amazing experience. I remember the staff members being super nice and inviting, and talked to me during the process. Fast forward to present day, I have found the same excellent service that I’ve seen at other Aveda salons between Chicago and Austin holding up to standard at Garbo A Salon & Spa. After a series of events landed me in Austin in April, I was grateful to find Garbo and have an opportunity to work alongside some fantastic people! The members of the Garbo community have helped make my transition from the Midwest to the South so amazing. Not only have I gained more knowledge about how to treat my hair, but I’ve also gained more knowledge of restaurants to eat at, cool spots to check out, and of course where the best shopping is!
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What are PFAS?

What are PFAS?

PFAS...What are they? Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) - Chemicals found in most makeup; manufacturers use them to increase water and moisture resistance. Mascara, long lasting lipstick, eye shadow, and foundations often have PFAS included in the ingredients. They are nicknamed 'Forever Chemicals' because they don't break down and are NOT biodegradable. They are required to be listed on an ingredient list if included in a product, look for "PERFLUR". These 'Forever Chemicals' enter our bodies through the delicate skin by eyes, mucous membranes, and our lips. We ingest the chemicals by licking our lips or daily wear of makeup items. PFAS are linked to certain cancers, thyroid disease, liver damage, and known reproductive issues. This entire class of compound are found in work places and our drinking water. What is a solution? Throw away all of those 'long lasting' claim products and buy Aveda! Aveda Makeup is 100% Cruelty Free (Never Animal Tested), 100% Vegan, 100% Solar & Wind Manufactured, Naturally Derived & sourced using sustainable farming practices. Aveda Makeup is 100% PFAS Free! Visit any Garbo location, or order that fresh new set of makeup online: https://www.aveda.com/locator/get_the_facts.tmpl?vanity=1&SalonID=4923
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Virtual Consultations Available Now!

Virtual Consultations Available Now!

We are always looking for ways to expand the level of service we provide at Garbo. Throughout this last year, we realized we had an opportunity to enhance the options for consultation that we are providing our guests. Our team worked to develop and create a system allowing Virtual Consultations as a new service for our Garbo guests. No longer do you need to make a separate trip for a consultation before scheduling a "Big Change" service. With a Virtual Consultation with Garbo, you can save yourself time and stress with optimized booking and a clear and concise price before you schedule and book your services. Consult on anything from Color, Cuts, Waxing, Nails, Facials, or any other beauty services you would like to enjoy with Garbo. Call us at either location today to setup your Virtual Consultation and check out the video below for more information and what to expect with our Virtual Consultation. We look forward to talking to you soon! Northcross: 512.458.4162 Southshore: 512.520.5660
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Welcoming Virginia!

Welcoming Virginia!

From Virginia Acker: "I am ecstatic to be apart of the Garbo team as their social media intern. As an upcoming senior this fall at Texas State, I will be focusing more on what path suits me best. With that said, I felt it was necessary to step out of my comfort zone in the restaurant industry and use my skills in the media world. The CEO of Garbo, Marsha Power, and her team have made me feel so welcomed and I am excited to grow with them. They believe in teamwork and spreading love between themselves and their clientele. It is rare to come across a genuine business. My given role will be to oversee Marsha’s social media accounts. My goal for her is to keep her pages up to date and bring in traffic to hire more Garbonians and to help Aveda sell their eco-friendly products. My personal goal is to receive positive and negative critiques, from all managerial positions at Garbo, to successfully represent such an amazing establishment that Marsha has built. I am lucky to be given her trust and I look forward to all the projects coming my way".
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Mother's Day Lip Balm

Mother's Day Lip Balm

Garbo lip balm FREE to all the MOMS on Mothers Day weekend. What's it good for? Making your lips feel wonderful obviously! Apply over fully lined lips with a lip liner for glossy look or put over that hard to remove long lasting lip stick to make it easier to remove! Other uses? Helps with stuck zippers, wild eyebrows, dry cuticles, rough feet, tight finger rings removal, soothes mosquito bites. This Garbo lip balm is also your lip sunscreen and our gift to you. HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY
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The Spa is OPEN!

The Spa is OPEN!

Hello Garbonians!, We are so happy our Spa services are fully open! Yes a mask is worn by your service provider and shields upon request. Back facials? Get your backs ready for the summer! Our faces need microdermabrasion's, peels and waxing to get ready for summer activities. Our sunscreens are top of the line and skin care a must in the Texas Sun. Pedicures? YES PLEASE! Book now @ Garboasalon.com/book-now Blonde is dominant this summer and Garbo has your Aveda Color ready! Satin pillowcases available to keep your hair and faces wrinkle free. We are looking forward to your visit! Northcross is open 7 days a week, and South Shore is open 6 days a week (Closed Mondays for Education). Yours in service, Marsha Power www.garboasalon.com Northcross: 512.458.4162 Southshore: 512.520.5660
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Local Austin salon opts to require masks in absence of state rule

Local Austin salon opts to require masks in absence of state rule

The mask mandate is now a standoff of sorts between city and county leaders and Attorney General Ken Paxton. Paxton threatened to sue Austin and Travis County if local mask mandates were not rescinded.

Meantime, local businesses are trying to do their best with mask policies in the absence of a state rule.

It's masks on at Garbo A Salon near burnet and West Anderson Lane in north Austin. “We do require masks when you enter and that's our rule,” said salon owner Marsha Power. She says her customers voted overwhelmingly to keep the restrictions in place. “I did survey out guests and 86 percent of them wanted to continue the mask,” she said.

This comes one week after Governor Greg Abbott’s announcement. “I am ending the statewide mask mandate,” he said last week to applause.

But at Garbo A Salon -- where the employees come into close contact with every client every day -- few people think it’s safe yet to go without masks. “The vaccines seem to be a real issue. The younger part of our team, not, very few of them have been vaccinated at all,” Power said.

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations, which oversees businesses like salons, says that while masks are not required -- they are strongly encouraged. It also says that businesses are within their rights to require people to wear masks on their premises.

Power says about 30 percent of salons closed permanently in the last year, but her business is doing ok for now.

That’s one more reason to keep the masks on and the virus out. “The stylists are good. We've kept the masks, we're still doing temperature checks,” she said. “I don't think my team wants to work without the mask. We're too close to people.”

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CBS KEYE

CBS KEYE

KEYE news stopped by Garbo Wednesday to talk with Marsha about our salon policies and our work to keep our space and serivices safe during Covid-times and the lifting of the mask mandate statewide. Please enjoy this brief segment and know that all your services at Garbo are provided with the best practices as recommended by CDC, TDLR, and our local health officials to help keep your time with us as safe as possible. 

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Safety is a Luxury - Masks Remain

Safety is a Luxury - Masks Remain

As you probably know, Governor Abbott announced as of March 10th, there will no longer be a statewide mask mandate, and businesses will be allowed to operate at 100% capacity.

At Garbo A Salon, safety continues to be our focus for our guests and staff.

We will continue to require masks and a temperature check to enter the salon. We will however, eliminate our FORMS at check in.

Garbo will continue to follow strict cleaning protocols for your safety.

We thank you for respecting our practices and look forward to serving you soon.

Better days ARE coming!

With gratitude,

Marsha

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Good Leadership & Garbo Holidays!

Good Leadership & Garbo Holidays!

Good leadership has never been as important as it is right now. Our families require good leadership, our businesses thrive on it, organizations depend on it, and good leadership is essential for our communities to remain vibrant. Never before, in my lifetime, have we dealt with so much at one time. We’re in a global pandemic, there is civil unrest in our country and we have an economic crisis on our hands. As a business owner, I question my own leadership. Am I perfect? No. Am I real? I like to think so. Good leadership builds an inspiring vision and good leadership motivates a team to accomplish its goal.

For years, my vision for Garbo A Salon has been to make our business a well respected leader in our industry...to offer guests a place to come and leave feeling they have been cared for. In order to accomplish this I knew we had to have the best possible team, so we clearly focus on education. Garbonians have access to the best training. This helps us fine-tune our talents and builds confidence in our ability to serve our guests with exceptional care. In this season, exceptional care means we continue to follow high COVID-19 protocols to keep you and each other safe. It means showing our guests compassion and love during a time when creating safe-space is the norm. It means listening to our guests and appreciating the opportunity we have to serve you. It also means we try to be the best we can be for you each day!

For me leadership is about helping Garbonians be self-leaders in their craft. Each day we work on establishing our culture that says, YES WE CAN! Our work as leaders is to replace fear with love. It’s very motivating and it’s beautiful for me to watch Garbonians share this culture with each other. It’s a vibe that can’t be denied and shows itself in the way we honor our guests.

AND speaking of guests, Garbo A Salon could not have lasted over 30-years without you, our guests. Your support and walking beside us in good times and not so good times made us an industry leader. People often think leadership is about strength coming from one person, I say it’s about strength coming from all of us with a common goal...to have peace, success, health and love!

As we move forward, let’s count our blessings, show love, be good leaders, seek happiness and be grateful. Garbo has been blessed in love with two babies due soon, and FIVE marriages in 2020! Blessings are all around and if you search for good news, you will find stories of people helping strangers, dog rescues and so much more. Look around for what’s right with the world and you will find that compassion and love exist and leadership is needed to keep those at the forefront of our daily lives, especially in these times.

Garbo will enjoy our Halloween Costume Contests (be sure to vote today on our social media or in salon for your favorites), Friendsgivings and Thanksgiving, along with a busy December celebrating cultural holidays from around the world.

With love and heartfelt gratitude,

Marsha

P.S. Our gifts sets have arrived! Find something special for you, your family and friends. Call for Curbside, purchase in-salon, or online @https://www.aveda.com/salon/GARBOASALONANDSPA

Book Your Holiday Appointments Now! https://garboasalon.com/book-now

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Changes Are All Around!

Changes Are All Around!

Change is all around us. We just stepped into Fall, the election is around the corner, we continue to deal with the pandemic and all its affects on our employment practices and our social lives, our nation lost one of its most highly respected and powerfully influential women, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and I’m left wondering how do we manage so many significant changes at the same time and not get dizzy? 

 
I wish I had a universal answer that fit for everyone. The answer the fits for Garbo A Salon is simply this...to always practice fairness in equality and to seek to live in a higher state of consciousness. We know changes are taking place and they are very challenging for many of us, so our goal is to offer our guests an experience that brings a bright spot into their world!
 
Garbo is committed to serving a diverse clientele with different budgets. When making your appointment, our guest services person will visit with you about style and preferences for your hair and make a recommendation for your hair type and budget. We offer various price levels for cuts($37 to $100), and have multi-texture hair services available. 
 
What’s Happening
 
Seasonal fashion and hair styles normally change this month. Pink is taking over the runways. For a look, click on this link.
 
October is a fun month for us. We let the little kid in us come out to play and we dress up for Halloween. We want to invite you to have fun with us during our annual Halloween Costume Competition. You’ll vote for your favorite costume, and the staff member who receives the most votes wins $100. We will have a winner at each location.
 
As we continue to go through changes, please remember our goal at Garbo is to add a bright spot in your world. Let us turn on your light! It is our honor and pleasure to serve you with great care. We appreciate you and your business!
 
In gratitude,
Marsha
 
P.S. Curbside pick-up is still available at both locations. Just call us, OR book online and shop AVEDA at www.garboasalon.com. We encourage everyone to get your vote out this year. You can determine the location to place your vote by clicking here, and click here if you need to register to vote first. 
512-458-6162 North
512-520-5660 South
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SHERO - Ruth Bader Ginsburg

SHERO - Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Ruth Bader Ginsburg was on the federal bench for twenty-five years. In 1993, she became the second woman ever to serve on the United States Supreme Court. Throughout that time she has continued to be a leading voice for gender equality, women's interests, and civil rights and liberties.

It's hard to imagine her voice and wisdom is gone.
 
"When I'm sometimes asked 'When will there be enough (women on the Supreme Court)?' and my answer is: 'When there are nine.' People are shocked. But there'd been nine men, and nobody's ever raised a question about that."
Ruth was as good as it gets for a hero and Shero but has passed the baton to other people willing to champion equality.
 
As we move on as a nation in mourning let's try and do so with the grace and style she had.
 
Marsha Power 
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September Newsletter

September Newsletter

Hello Garbonians!

We want you to know we have been working hard to return to our pre-COVID level of service.

As you know, we restricted and held back on some of the services we normally offered to ensure safety. I am pleased to share we have not had any in-house transmissions reported. As a result, (with high safety protocols still in place), I am thrilled to announce we are now offering more services.

Guests can now book appointments for hair and lash extensions, facials, waxing, manicures and pedicures, as well as haircuts and color. Facial services will start in October! We are happy to move forward into our new phase of serving you!

The pandemic has taken its toll on our industry. It’s been reported that 30% of Austin salons have permanently closed so we are ramping up our Rewards Program to reach men and women who are looking for a new salon to make them look and feel beautiful!

Do you know someone? If so, we ask that you sign up for our Rewards Program and take advantage of our referral benefits. The next time you are here, we will give you $20 off your service, and the guest you refer to us gets $20 off their service. 

If you haven’t done so already, please sign up for our newsletter and blog. You’ll find we include beauty tips and savings on products and services. So sign up at www.garboasalon.com so you don’t miss out.

Do you know a deserving mom or teacher in need of a little special care? Nominate them Garbo’s A Day of Beauty. We want to honor our under-served women hero’s who could use a little “me time”. 

You can fill out a form the next time you see us and let us know why your nominee deserves to win. We will select one winner each week and will spotlight her in our newsletter with her story, a picture, and provide her with a beautiful complementary Garbo experience.

We thank you for your continued trust in us to serve you! Garbo appreciates you and I do too,

Marsha

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A Taxed Industry

A Taxed Industry

The Salon industry has lost 30% of its Salons and Spas to Covid-19.

Garbo is fine but our client base is changing.  New clients are coming in and some of our regulars we dearly miss have not yet returned.

My industry has a big financial hardship when it comes to tip taxes. We match all income taxes; however, the income tax on tips is a heavy burden on small business. Imagine paying taxes on money you never earned, or that was not collected as revenue. That happens every day in my industry.

We need Congress to pass the 45B FICA TAX CREDIT to Salons and you can help.  This movement gained traction about 3 years ago, but to date has not been approved by Congress.  Restaurants have had this Tax benefit for years and our industry runs parallel to the restaurant industry in terms of providing services and how our employees get paid. Your voice can help tremendously. Please visit https://p2a.co/f3AYIL1 to sign the petition and learn how you can get your voice to your representatives.

Onward to Fall! Garbo is busy with education and marketing and we do expect an uptick by November! We recommend syncing your calendars and setting those appointments so you have one less worry this fall/winter season.

Our September promo is “Buy 2 regular sized Aveda products” and “Get a FREE travel size” product. 

You can also be entered to win a $250 Garbo Gift Card if you pre-book your next 2 appointments. Entries will be accepted until 10/31 and a winner will be chosen the first week in November.

We are grateful to all our guests coming in to our very safe (no Covid-19 transmission in Salon to date) and many happy smiling faces!

We are open 7 days a week with open spaces we would love you to fill!

September is fashion forward month.  Remember all the very thick fashion magazines come out this month. AVEDA is featured in this month’s Vogue magazine with our new botanical hair bond builder products. A treatment costs $50 normally and will be offered at $35 all month. Give your hair some love.

In gratitude,

Marsha Power

Garbo A Salon & Spa

512.458.4162

info@garboasalon.com

 

The salon industry is collapsing, but a federal tax credit tweak could help us | Opinion

As the second-highest tipped industry, salons should receive parity with the restaurant industry in the tax code, but they do not. We need Congress to apply the 45B FICA tax tip credit to salons.

 Paige Garland

Guest Columnist

As lawmakers struggle to come to a stimulus package agreement, the salon industry is coming to a collapse under the weight of the current economic crisis. The 45B FICA tax tip credit would give our burdened industry a lifeline — if only it were included in the stimulus package. As of today, it's not. There are over 1.2 million salons in the United States, and the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in hundreds of thousands of salon owners and stylists who are now out of work. For those who are still operating, revenues are down over 50% in the first half of 2020.  Between February and April 2020, the number of jobs at employment-based salons dropped by 84%, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  Only 93,000 people were on payroll at employment-based salons in April – down from 569,000 in February. This represents the fewest number of salon jobs in well over five decades. In June, salon jobs remained 200,000 (35%) below pre-coronavirus employment levels.

Business is nearly dead and tourists aren't coming like they once were

As a salon owner in a historic building in downtown Memphis, my business has been far from spared from these sobering realities. In June, our service revenue was down 90% from last year. Our service menu has had to be severely trimmed down due to capacity restrictions and social distancing mandates, and the increase in COVID-19 cases has continued to contribute to a decline in business. Our tourist clientele is obsolete until travel becomes a reality again. I fear that if this path continues, in order to survive, at best we will have to change our business model and strategies, and at worst we may become one of the statistics I previously mentioned. 

How the tax tip credit would work to help us

Like my salon, 83% percent of salon businesses have fewer than 10 employees. These small businesses, owned 60% by women and 34% by minorities, employed a workforce of roughly 1.3 million professionals. Salons are the hardest hit, and last to reopen. Like many woman-owned businesses, we have been forgotten. We are watching the collapse of the beauty industry.  But there is a solution that would extend a much-needed lifeline — by allowing access to an existing credit in the IRS tax code, the 45B FICA tax tip credit. In 1993 Congress passed the 45B FICA tax tip credit allowing restaurants to claim a dollar-for-dollar tax tip credit on the employer portion of FICA taxes that businesses pay on tips that employees receive directly from their customers. Because restaurants do not earn revenue on employee tips, it makes sense to receive a credit for the taxes they pay to facilitate reporting those earnings to the IRS. As the second-highest tipped industry, salons should receive parity with the restaurant industry in the tax code, but presently they do not.

I have always allowed our team to accept tip income, and in doing so I am paying an incredible price. Over the years I have paid out thousands of dollars in taxes on money my business never saw. In a business my size, that is proportionately a very large sum that could have been allocated to education or other improvements in our business to help create an even more sustainable future for my employees and my family. Today, a temporary retroactive application of this credit would be a lifeline to survive.

Paige Garland is owner of Rachel’s Salon & Day Spa in Memphis.

 

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Corona Cozy

Corona Cozy

Corona Cozy?

Who would have thought we could enjoy so much time off? After all, we are a over-worked and under-payed society and we’ve given way to Corona cozy. As I prompted our tribe to get out of COVID-19 clothes and start working to open more space for guest bookings, I realized we have created a hybrid work life. We now have more time in cozy isolation.

Each day I check our books for availabilities to make sure our stylists are available for guests, or check to see if letting them stay home is a better choice. This is something new since COVID, but I see an expiration date coming soon. In the near future, I see our stylists being fully booked. Why? It’s simple. Who wants to look and be Corona cozy forever?
Who wants their highlight of the week to be a trip to the grocery store forever? Put down your screen of choice and book your appointment .
 
Hair, skin and nails will once again be part of our daily lives to lift up our spirits and get us back into the game of life and the jobs we love. We miss that life, but improvements are emerging.
 
I get to conduct a beautiful orchestra called Garbo everyday.  Each player gets to enjoy on and off time. The sounds we dole out are everything from classical to hipster modern. It's beautiful music! As we blend Corona cozy with our strong work ethics, quality work and guest-focused service, we are able to rest, play and work in harmony. We are forging ahead!
 
See you at Garbo soon. We are safe and continue our high protocols with sign-ins each visit for tracking. No in-house cases have been reported and we are happy to make you look and feel amazing. You help us too. Garbo is socially alive and we ask you to get out of your pajamas and come play with us!
 
In gratitude,
Marsha
512-458-4162 Northcross 
512-520-5220 South shore
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Things to Consider: From Marsha...

Things to Consider: From Marsha...

FAKE IT TILL YOU MAKE IT!

Smiling under that mask is important! A new study from researchers at the University of South Australia has confirmed the very act of smiling can trick your mind into a more positive state. There really is something to that aphorism from the 70’s.

 

GET OUT OF THOSE PAJAMAS!

The slobbish-chic has got to go to the curb with the COVID blues. I know...impressing your cat or private bubble might not be your thing, but science shows when we think we look great, we do better and are more confident.

 

MARSHA RECOMMENDATIONS:

Dress up for Zoom.    Clean inside your car!   Sanitize your steering wheel and gearshift!   Smile under that mask!

AND yes, book your hair and nail appointments now!

 

Don’t forget our August sale ends the 31st. There’s still time to take advantage of 20% off Aveda and SkinCeuticals products.

We got this! Smile. Be happy! And, look fabulous!

 

From the heart,

Marsha 

Www.garboasalon.com

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Gratitude and Giving Back

Gratitude and Giving Back

Gratitude and Giving Back!

Garbo is up to something good. I’m happy to share we are on the upswing!
Our team is healthy and safe and we are so grateful to our guests for their trust and support.

Look around for joy! It's a gift ready to be unpacked. Our daily focus on fear can be put behind us when our thoughts are focused on abundance and joy. Silly? Not really, I challenge you to spend some time in gratitude and watch what happens.

My advice is to look past what you fear and focus on the positive results that await you at the end. For instance, I see Garbo full of happy guests and our team working in gratitude, not fear. Jonathan sees full parking lots. He notices the small things and celebrates. My point is, look in your mind and see a future where we are all done with fear, blame and judgment. See a time where all Americans are safe and happy. We’ve gotten so far off track, but our future can be bright if we turn on our light and spread goodness in thought and deed.

We’re redefining success during this pandemic.

Success for me looks different these day. My team has suggested we give back to our community by holding a benefit for out-of-work Austin restaurant service providers. We want to know if you have a favorite we can contact? If so, submit your name and story to jaybirdjunior@gmail.com. Deadline is August 31st.

We will read your stories and select the top five. If your submission is picked, your favorite service person will receive hair services for six months and you will be gifted $100 in Garbo credit.

Gratitude and Giving Back is our focus. Why limit your gratitude? It might be for your neighbor, nurses or someone else. Do you have any thoughts on who we should focus on for our next campaign of giving?

Our team is here in service for you, and our 20/20/20 campaign is doing great!
You get $20 in your Garbo account for sending us a new guest...who also gets $20 off first service and 20% off Aveda! You can call in your orders for curbside too. This ends August 31st.

We’re grateful we are open and rebuilding our company with our lovely Garbonians!

In Loving Gratitude, 

Marsha

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Pink Is My (New) Favorite Color

Pink Is My (New) Favorite Color

Last October, the color pink didn’t mean anything to me. What a difference a year makes! I had been walking around with blinders on about breast cancer - I falsely believed that it only affected women who were more endowed than I am. I got mammograms done regularly, but I didn’t take them that seriously. After my personal experience with breast cancer this year, I realized that so many people around me have also been affected, and I am now taking it a lot more seriously.

With my initial diagnosis, I saw a cancer specialist who recommended that I get 24 chemotherapy treatments, as well as a mastectomy. Needless to say, I was scared at the prospect of such a lengthy and invasive treatment plan. Thankfully a client recommended that I get a second opinion with a breast cancer specialist named Dr. Debra Patt. After evaluating my case, Dr. Patt felt that I only needed 4 chemotherapy treatments and a lumpectomy, along with radiation. What a relief!  

Dr. Patt is a champion of women and has gone to bat for us, even testifying before Congress to advocate for cancer patients (you can watch her testimony here, starting at the 2 hour, 25 minute mark). My treatment team also included Heather King - the best surgeon in Austin, in my opinion. These two women made a significant difference in my recovery. Though their reputations preceded them, and once I met them I knew that I was in the best hands in Austin. I am so grateful that my clients led me to both of these amazing women.

All this is to say that the color pink has become a really big deal to me. If you walk into Garbo, you’ll see a lot more of pink this year. I – and the Garbo world by extention – now have a lot more awareness about breast cancer, the importance of regular screenings and good doctors, and awareness about cold caps (which you can read about in my previous blogs). Through Garbo, I have and will continue to spread these messages near and far.

For the month of October, Garbo will be asking for a $1 donation for with each service to subsidize funding for cold caps for women earning less than $40,000 per year, through Hair To Stay.

We will also be accepting $5 donations for a chance to win a gift basket containing zipline tickets, theater tickets, an organic bottle of wine, salon services, salon products, and more.

As always, thank you for your continued support of Garbo and myself!

Love, 
Marsha

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Too Hot to Handle

Too Hot to Handle

Along with my body, my hair got weak after chemotherapy and radiation. To combat that, I am using Aveda’s Invati shampoo and conditioner in addition to getting botanical deep conditioners at the salon. I am also taking Viviscal hair medicine to promote growth. I highly recommend Viviscal, but if the cost (about $50) is too steep, I would also recommend Biosil for $25.

Dry skin has also been an issue for me, but Aveda’s Beautifying Body Moisturizer really helps – it feels lovely going on and smells nice too! Skinceuticals also has great options – try their Daily Moisture or Emollience!

Need a hot body? Check out Practical Fitness and request a private session with Jeff or Grace – personalized attention with no paparazzi!

My favorite summer services are back facials...and pedicures of course. Send me a private email at jaybirdjunior@gmail.com to receive an offer for a half price summer facial!

We also have a wonderful promotion coming up: all teachers will receive $20 off a service of their choice during the month of August. Gotta give our teachers some love!

Stay cool!
Marsha 

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Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day

What a gift the Garbonians are to me and our guests. Happy Father’s Day to all!

As we all honor our dads, Garbo’s dad was Jaybird and he was the best in my book. Jaybird’s business style has carried over. Two of his quotes that I see myself using are: “If you were running you wouldn't be late,” and: “If your mouth is moving, your hands are moving!”

My dad’s pride of ownership and work ethics both hold true for me. Just like him, I know it's the people that matter, not the things or the dollars. If they are cared for, the dollars come.  

He also liked to say to me over and over, “if your head wasn't attached you would lose that too!” Dad, I still haven't mastered that.

Garbo’s other dad is Jonathan Jones. I have never known such a loving father, well...since Jaybird. I adore Jon and am proud to manage Garbo, Inc. with him. It does take a village and we are a loving one.

Hats off to Jaybird and Jonathan, my two favorite fathers, and all Garbonians’ dads.

Happy Fathers day!

Love,
Marsha

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Last day of radiation!

Last day of radiation!

32 treatments, and I didn't miss a day. My last treatment was scheduled for yesterday, but it almost got pushed back when the machine went down due to the previous night’s storm. Fortunately, the Texas Oncology team called me back in so I could finish on my scheduled day. Hallelujah! I just need a few months to kick the tiredness and I will be back on track! Thank you to all my angels near and far for holding me up during this experience. 

As I’ve mentioned in my previous blogs, spreading the word about cold caps has become a mission for me. My latest recommendation is the PAXMAN cold cap (plug-in) which is, to my knowledge, only available at Texas Oncology midtown. Worth checking out for sure!

I’m enjoying getting back into the swing at Garbo, where we are offering multiple great deals for our wonderful guests. Stop by or call either location for details!

In loving service,

Marsha Power

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It’s Getting Cold In Here!

It’s Getting Cold In Here!

Marsha is continuing to fight - and win! - her battle with breast cancer. Now on the other side of her chemotherapy treatment, she is happy to report on her successful use of cold caps. Marsha’s main goal in using cold caps was to learn about them firsthand, so she could educate our Garbo guests about options for those facing chemotherapy. The bonus for Marsha was keeping 80% of her hair, which also allowed her to maintain privacy about her diagnosis in public.

If you’re considering using cold caps for your chemo treatment, you’ll need to know a few things. The caps, outfitted with dry ice or electric cooling mechanisms, keep your scalp at -32ºFahrenheit. That’s right, negative thirty two degrees! You will be wearing the cap for seven hours each time you receive a chemo treatment, so you will have some long days in store. Finally, you’ll want to start planning early because you must have the cold cap with you before you begin your first chemo treatment.

To find out more about cold caps, we recommend the following resources: hairtostay.org, paxmanusa.com (electric caps), and penguincoldcaps.com (manual/dry ice caps).

Feel free to contact Marsha at jaybirdjunior@gmail.com with any questions about her experience.

Love, Garbo A Salon

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Namaste, Marsha Power

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Ring the Darn Bell

Ring the Darn Bell

Hallelujah?

Why, oh why Every darn commercial, TV talk show, etc. is talking about the return of cancer… well you don't have my permission dude! Am I better after triple negative invasive ductal carcinoma? Yes I am. Spiritually it has been a shakeup, but I am returning to love. Mentally…oh my goddess, how lovely my friends and family have been! Did I just live in a bubble and not realize how wonderful my life and business were? Thankfully, they have survived my meltdown and treatments. I truly am in awe of the goodness around me.

Am I better? Yes, because I see and feel more love. I thought if I gave it, I wouldn't need anything back so I stopped expecting any…Once I needed it, boy, was I showered in everything one person needs to survive, thrive, and beat it!

Still can't say the C-word...I actually named it Bob. Now, on to radiation and healing. By July, the stories will be about travel, teamwork, love, friendships, and my 1949 pickup! With updates from team members, I hope!

Stay tuned for fundraising at Garbo for hairtostay.org. This next part below will only be useful to hairdressers- it's the instructions for my after the cold cap care.

Love, Marsha

Namaste

Frequently Asked Hair Care Questions:

Q. How long do I continue with the limited washing?
A. At least two days afterwards, then keep it to a minimum, and use below
body temperature water on your scalp for as long as your hair is still shedding.  It can be 1-2 months after chemo depending on the condition of your hair.

Q. How long until I can blow dry?
A. You can blow dry your hair with cold air but not with heat mode on.
Except, if you have long hair you can use heat on the long lengths, but NO
heat direct to the scalp for a few months after chemo.
 
Q. How long until I can color?
A. At least 6 months after your last chemo.   If you want to color sooner you can color your hair using vegetable coloring with NO Peroxide or Ammonia based coloring kits 3 months after your last chemo.  It takes 6 months after your last chemo for your hair follicles to Fully recover from chemo.

Q. How long until I can get it trimmed or cut?
A. You can trim your hair a little at a time - so no great chunks of hair
off - surprisingly the roots do not like this!  3 months after the last treatment for a good haircut otherwise a trim is fine.

Q. How long does the follicle continue to be fragile after all of the
treatment is complete?
A. At least six months

Q. When can I go back to using my normal deodorant/ antiperspirant.
A. It is not recommended that you use deodorant with Aluminium as an
ingredient. But if you are going to use such a product it is best to wait
until after six months. The reason for this is, aluminium is a binding agent
and is transferred all over the body, including the scalp.

Q. Can I get my hair wet in the shower? Can I stand under a rain shower
faucet in my shower?
A. Heat is the thing to avoid. So If you are washing your hair, keep the
water cooler than body temperature. So to answer the question it will be
best to use a wall shower head where the water is not falling direct on your
scalp whilst its hot water - unless you like cool showers??

Q. Can I wear it in a ponytail?
A. Yes, just be careful not to pull on the roots - it takes six months
before the hair follicles fully recover.

Q. What about clips to keep it out of my face or put it up?
A. Yes, again avoid putting too much strain on an individual patch of hair.

A note on hair shedding:

Hair shedding is normal; Cold Cap Therapy works by protecting the young to medium hair follicle bulbs against the chemotherapeutic drugs. The chemotherapeutic drugs accelerate old hair follicles to shed early, thus hair shedding (plus natural hair shedding occurs). Please also remember everybody's metabolism is different, so hair shedding can happen at different times. It can be heavy or light and start and stop for over a month after chemo, so stay on the same hair care regimen and follow the after-chemo hair care recommendations that were emailed to you.

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POST CHEMO AND CHEMO BRAIN

POST CHEMO AND CHEMO BRAIN

I never really understood pregnancy brain, so at my age chemo brain is new and scary. Younger people discount my age and wisdom too quickly, so vying for position is an interesting dance. They will win this round as I can recognize that I’m experiencing a little malfunction. But trust me, it's not as much as the tech addicted millennial, little old lady in the shoe, or the ever growing earbud-wearing rudies of all generations.

But... it's daunting. The brain we learn to rely on. The mind /brain lies to us about everything. The heart is my only truth… good thing it’s Valentines week. Love is real.

Meditation is seeping back in and offering a much needed rest from my mind. I am contemplating offering a new meditation class in May - email me at jaybirdjunior@gmail.com if interested.

I am having my hair done on Tuesdays by Ava - she offered doing my COLD CAP CHEMO hair with old school sponge rollers. She is 18, but she knows how to use them! You must be gentle, gentle on the hair. Our stylist Liz Lamb says to treat it like fine lace – a good way to put it. I also continue to have facials mostly for hydration and relaxation.

Happy love bunny month, lovebirds.

Love, Garbo A Salon

Best Of Award winning

Open 7 days a week in 78757

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram

Namaste, Marsha Power

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CHEMO CHRONICLES: 1 WEEK AFTER MY 1ST TREATMENT

CHEMO CHRONICLES: 1 WEEK AFTER MY 1ST TREATMENT

I had my first chemotherapy treatment last week, and the chemo itself wasn’t too bad. The treatment lasted 2.5 hours, complete with a sassy nurse who administered the drug.

My chemo experience was dwarfed by THE COLD CAP - a contraption that will allow me to keep my hair. The cold cap process was a seven-hour ordeal, after my precious friend Carol Augusto sought out 60 pounds of dry ice and prepared my four freezing caps to -32° F. With an ice chest, a pair of gloves, and a lot of stamina, Carol followed the 21 page instruction manual to a T. She put on the first cap like a pro! The caps have to be changed quickly, every 20 minutes, so it was a lot of work for my dear friend. I was a little whiney, so she firmly told me "don't be a p***y." Well, that made me laugh and realize it was no picnic for either one of us.

My BFF Brenda helped too, and took me home for two more hours of the cold cap treatment. She loves me dearly and started nervously patting my (heavy, frozen, painful) head, but she did at least try to stop when she realized that it was more painful than reassuring for me!

All in all, it took two days for my head to feel unfrozen!

These cold caps have been used commonly in Europe 20 years, they have up to a 90% success rate, and they are fairly affordable. Most women learn about these caps too late, because you need to start them with your first treatment. I was blessed to know about them immediately through my connection with Debra Neill, who owns our Aveda distributorship. She and Carol Augusto, Executive Director of Serious Business (the most amazing Salon Conference in the Nation), are my SHEroes!

I certainly will pay all of this goodwill forward.

Even though the only real side effect I felt on the first day was my frozen head, I have to say the after effects of chemo ain't no picnic. The second day was the worst – I had nausea, a migraine, chills, and neuropathy. All of this is still going on today, 7 days later, but is getting better. I do love my job, but I came back too early so I will probably pull back a bit more. I will see the doctor today to check in and figure out my new limits. My goal is for my body to renew by August (the doctor says it’ll take a year), and then I can resume my normal schedule.

In the meantime, I feel like I’m finally turning into the princess I was meant to be! All of these sweet people are doing so many things for me. I am used to being the helper, not the one being helped, so I am enjoying this new role and learning some great lessons from my friends and my Garbo tribe.

At Garbo, we are in the throes of our ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL with $33 deals - check them out! Along with the regular facials I’m receiving to combat my newly dry skin, my new can't-live-without Aveda product is the Tulasara Oleation Oil. It’s really a face product, but it’s great on your hands too. I want to bathe in it!

Our company is built on love, education, kindness, respect, customer service, and teamwork. If you visit Garbo and you have any issues - good or not - email me at jaybirdjunior@gmail.com.

Love and Peace,

Marsha Power

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FIRST DAY OF CHEMO

In another week, I will post about my experience after my first chemotherapy treatment, but I’m currently fretting that my guest list is limited to two. How am I going to get my Penguin Cold Cap representative (this saves your hair, ladies!), two personal friends, and myself all situated for this new experience? I think chocolate for the nurses will help!

Stay tuned for more about the Cold Cap. I am shocked to find out that health care systems in many countries around the world provide these caps for women undergoing cancer treatment free of charge or at greatly reduced costs, but we don’t in the US. I believe that’s because we need more education about these caps and what they can do, and that is something I intend to change. These caps have a high success rate – up to 90% of women who use them keep most of their hair during chemo. I am excited to have the opportunity to use the Penguin Cold Cap during my treatment!

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PURSES AND MR. MILTON

PURSES AND MR. MILTON

Everyone is telling me I need to learn how to relax, which is pretty hard for a Type A person. What do people do to relax? Retail therapy maybe?

With that in mind, I found myself at Stein Mart and successfully found more black pants to add to the 40+ pair I already have. From there I went to the purse department to find a new purse, wallet, and an evening clutch for the Human Rights Campaign’s gala this weekend. Suddenly, I heard a familiar voice from behind me saying “That sure is an ugly blouse.” Mr. Milton himself emerged from the racks to upset the purse cart and re-evaluate all of my already made purchase decisions. I held my ground as he questioned my picks, and allowed him to adjust my everyday purse choice to another bag that I really did like. But when it came to my evening clutch, let’s just say my taste and Mr. Milton’s did not mesh well. The final purse tally was Milton: 1 purse, and Marsha: 2 purses, which seems fair to me. From there, he ushered me to the shoe department. I left with two new pairs of shoes, all ready for Spring, handpicked by Mr. Milton. I’m wondering if this retail therapy thing is working out for me!

If it wasn’t clear, I really did enjoy running into Mr. Milton – he sure did make the experience much more interesting!

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WELCOME, ALI!

WELCOME, ALI!

Ali the alligator recently joined our team from New Orleans. Four Garbonians picked her up at a gift shop to bring home to me to cheer me up. She’s already taking on a life of her own!

Ali is taking her job seriously – she’s already learned how to shampoo, she’s growing out her beautiful hair, and she’s making product recommendations… We know that our skin dries out in wintertime with indoor heaters and drier air, so to add moisture I’ve always personally loved Aveda’s Beautifying Composition Oil. Well, Ali’s favorite is Hand Relief, and I can’t help but agree with her – it’s great for keeping our skin soft and supple.

Ali is also serious about her status as a new Texan, and is begging us to take her on a trip to the Capitol, which she thinks is a pretty big deal! Keep an eye out for Ali on Garbo’s social media, in the salon, and anytime you’re out and about in Austin. She’s excited to make Austin, and Garbo A Salon, her new home!

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