Sarrah Lallier Salon

Inspired. by: Sarrah Lallier is a space for personal growth as well as a networking opportunity.

Angie has been coming into the salon for 12 years. 🥳 Besides the gorgeous hair (and I think she would agree that minus the increased gray, hers looks better now than it did when we first met) we have both learned so much from each other. Angie loves nature and not just a walk around the block kind of nature. Angie thrives when living off the grid out of a backpack. She has been an encouragement and a huge resource in sparking my interest in the outdoors. She loaned me a hiking backpack when I was training for a 20-mile hike and taught me what I would need for the adventure. She's provided insight into travel options and has been that voice in my ear saying that I can try new things.

A while back, Angie shared that her biggest takeaway from me (beyond the amazing hair) was that I normalized the idea of counseling. Wow. I never want to give away the falsehood that I have everything all sorted out. I never want to stop learning and becoming a better form of myself; and similarly inspiring someone else, without even knowing it, might be one of my greatest life accomplishments.

What do you see when you look at yourself?

Such a deep question and one that would bring me so much joy to do a deep dive on physiologically...but let's go a little simpler and focus on its relationship to your gray hair.

When determining if it's time to switch to full gray coverage, I often ask my clients what they focus on when they look at themselves in the mirror. If those 3 gray hairs draw you in like little pesky mosquitoes and you can't not stare at them, then it's time to cover. If you notice the gray hairs but easily divert your attention to something else, then it sounds like you can stay in the world of gray blending.

If you want to look further into what kind of salon services would be included in either category, click on the link in the comments to be connected with my detailed package listing to find which one is right for you.

All ponytail holders are not created equal.

Let's face it. Ponytails are necessary in life. There are many factors we might focus on when selecting a ponytail holder to purchase, but we often don't think too deep on what that ponytail holder is going to do to the health of our hair, because...ponytails are necessary!

Before you get nervous thinking I might say you should never wear a ponytail again, don't stress. I need to wear them just like you. But it is important to know a little science behind hair and ponytails so we can choose the best type of holder for our hair.

Pulling your hair back consistently and in a super-tight fashion, can damage the hair follicles. Over time this can lead to the hair falling out, and even permanent receding hairlines. Wearing your hair pulled back while sleeping is the most harmful because as you toss and turn during the night, you add more pressure to the roots and hair shafts. Utilizing a ponytail on wet hair is a close second. Hair swells as it dries which increases the amount of pressure being put on the hair that is already tightly pulled back.

Whew. Science class complete. Here's the good news: you can easily increase the health of your ponytail loving hair but switching things up. Change up your ponytail look. Maybe a low ponytail one day, messy bun another, twist it and secure with a claw clip after that. Make sure you're not using a tie that contains metal and if you're able to keep your hair a little on the looser side vs. a tight slicked look, even better.

If you're interested in taking a deeper look on what tie is best to buy,
has a great article on just that.

Here's a quick recap of their top picks:

✿Lululemon Skinny Scrunchies (available at Lululemon) as the best scrunchie
✿79 Style 100 Hair Ties (available at Amazon) as the best ribbon tie
✿Kitsch Spiral Hair Coils (available on Amazon) as the best coil
✿Goody Ouchless (available on Amazon) as the best hair elastic

Overwhelming moments of gratitude hit me unexpectedly at times. Not only am I thankful for whatever it is that caught my attention, but I'm also thankful for the pleasant interruption in the everyday task that was at hand.

This morning was one of those times and all it took was noticing the explosion of green on the trees along with all the youthful bike riders WITH helmets 😊 on as they rode to school. What a beautiful reminder that if we lean into these moments of gratitude instead of dismissing them, some of the yuck and worry of the world can begin to feel less powerful.

Maddie Kitchen said something intriguing in the salon that has been processing in my head ever since. As a soon-to-be bride and college graduate, she will be living in 4 different places along with going on a honeymoon all in the next 4 months. I asked her if she felt unsettled, being in a transition period of life without a long-term home base. She easily responded that she felt thankful to feel at home in many different locations. WOW. We didn't talk much further on the topic, but from what I know of Maddie, I believe her centeredness comes from a minimum of a couple things:
1.) Her confidence in her relationship with Christ
2.) Her love for those around her more so than the love of possessions
3.) Her ability to find gratitude in the little moments of life.

Next time you experience something that brings you a little joy, take a second and really soak it in.

We desperately want the sun's warmth in the Spring and easily forget the harm that it causes our hair and body.

Now is the time to prepare.

Just like it's important to check the expiration dates and shelf life of the sunscreens you have in your home, now is the time to check the inventory of your hair sunscreen.

Without the use of a UV protector, you could experience rapid color fading, dry and frizzy strands, and reduced elasticity within the hair which makes it more prone to breakage.

Beyond helping to counteract everything listed above, Davines' SU/hair milk nourishes and moisturizes the hair, making it combable and soft. SU/hair milk can be applied on freshly washed hair and styled into the hair for all-day protection or applied on dry hair before spending extended time outdoors.

Want extra protection from the sun? Grab a hat!

A link to my online store is in the comments below ⤵️ if you find yourself in need of a UV protector or all your other Davines favorites.

If you're bored with your hair, that means your stylist is boring.

😳 YIKES! 🫣 That's a pretty harsh statement, but one that has never escaped me from a class I took many years ago.

There is truth behind it and I never want boredom to be the reason you seek out another stylist.

Every appointment (no matter how long you've been seeing me), I ask how you like your hair and if you're interested in any changes. I might offer a simple change then or suggest one for the future. I always welcome photos that excite you and never shy away from sharing my opinion of a look or even admitting whether I have the skillset needed to execute it.

What is a toner? 🤔

A "toner" is one of those words within the hair world that everyone has heard of, yet most clients don't know what it actually means.

Let's simplify.

A toner is a gentle color used after a lightening service that makes a color look classy and blends any imperfections.

A toner can:
-neutralize brassiness
-add complexity to blonde shades
-brighten color
-enhance shine
-extend the life of a lightening service

There is no need to worry about whether you should ask for a toner or not in my salon. I will suggest it if I think it is needed to meet your hair goals and will always allow you to make the final decision.

Unprecedented times.

Remember that phrase from the pandemic? My brain almost exploded during the thick of it every time it was mentioned. I'm still cringing a bit thinking about it. But if anything has been learned from that moment in time, it's flexibility, prioritization, and the need for creativity.

Meet Laura. A physical therapist assistant. She loved her job. After 14 years of working with the same staff at a retirement community, her coworkers had become family (and we're talking about that amazing, rare family where everyone truly cares for each other). They powered through marriages, babies, and the pandemic together, supporting each other and their patients well.

It wasn't until 2023, that Laura found herself experiencing unprecedented times. The company she worked for brought in a contract company to take over the therapy department. There were options to stay, but she and her work family agreed the terms of the new contracts weren't strong enough.
*Here comes flexibility, prioritization, and creativity.* 😎

Laura turned to working contingent at multiple facilities. Ironically, she now works mostly at her old location. With no benefits, she has to manage her money differently but has found the income is stable and the hours flexible.

What inspires me most about Laura's journey is that she isn't settling. Will she eventually get a full-time job with some sick days and better health insurance? Probably. But in the meantime, she's being creative with her income and flexible with her options. This summer, Laura plans to provide childcare for a friend. Once again, not her dream job, but it will fill her income needs, allow her to spend time with her children, AND help her meet her goal this year of moving her body more.

Is there anything in your life that needs more flexibility? Allow yourself the space to process it. I would never wish a job loss for anyone, but I believe Laura would agree that after the initial shock and scrambling of options, she's found peace and a slower-paced life along the way.

When was the last time you checked the temperature setting on your hot tools?

It's difficult to know where to set the temp of your favorite tool, especially when manufacturers incorporate a wide range of options.

We could get technical and talk about the variables involved when determining the most ideal setting, but you know me. I like simple.

Here's my simple solution:

1.) Set the temperature to the middle of your range.
- Example: If your flat iron reaches 450*, set it at 225*.

2.) Try the median temperature on your hair- making sure it has been prepped with a thermal protectant first.
-If you ARE able to get the curl or straightness desired in one attempt, then awesome! Next time, try dropping the temp by 25*. Continue repeating this process until you no longer get your desired result with one pass. You now know you need to go to the previous higher temperature.
-If you AREN'T able to get the curl or straightness desired in one pass, increase the temp by 25* and try the next section. Keep increasing the temp by 25* increments until you can do so successfully with one pass.

When I find myself getting tempted to drastically raise the temperature without cause, I try to compare my hot tool with an oven. We all know how hot 450* is when baking cookies. Is that kind of temperature necessary for something so delicate as my hair? The answer is always no. 😊

This is the real beauty when receiving a low-maintenance color. Longevity.

Meet . Lindsey prefers to get her hair colored 3-4 times a year. Because she keeps her overall color similar to her natural shade, her grow-out is flawless. Does that mean she's stuck with boring, one-dimensional color? Of course not! Lindsey loves to change her look each time. Depending upon the season, she might want to add lighter shades around her face, throughout her whole head, or change the tone of her ends to jazz things up.

Are you still unsure if a low-maintenance color is for you?

Check out Lindsey's before and after.
Can you tell which picture is the before?

🤫The one with the blonde streaks 🤫

Wear a reusable shower cap!

The thought of shower caps take me back to my childhood. With 4 girls in a 1-bathroom house, there was a lot of bonding time happening in the bathroom. My mom always wore a shower cap if she wasn't washing her hair and now I know why because I do the same thing!

Frizz can be caused my many things. A few of those sources are humidity, heat, and hot water. Think about the steam in a shower. Even if you're not getting your hair wet, it is being exposed to both humidity and heat while you're washing your body. All your shower-induced frizz can be reduced by simply wearing a shower cap.

Add a reusable plastic shower cap to your next Amazon or Target order. For less than $3, you won't be disappointed.

What’s the key 🔑 to reaching your hair goals?

A killer consultation.

All clients begin their hair journey with a digital consultation. After scheduling an appointment with me online, you will receive a text (time permitting) with a link to the consultation form.

The form does many things.
~Ensures the appropriate time is allocated
~Makes sure I can meet your hair goals
~ Gathers basic data like birthdays (so I can send you a little something special when the time comes 🎉🤫)
~Gives me an idea of your budget so I can make sure to respect it

What happens after the form is filled?

More communication!
I text you with any further questions and verify:
~Time & cost investments
~Location of my salon
~Where you should go when they walk in the door.

Final step before I begin working on your hair:
In-person consultation!
~We will talk further (I strive to do more listening than talking)
~We will look at pictures and color swatches to make sure we're on the same page
~I will answer any questions or concerns you might have

Are you ready to reach your hair goals? Click on the website in my bio to begin.