Here is an email I’ve received from one of my customers who is confused about all the different salon shampoo washing systems and shampoo bowl designs available on the market.

“I’m opening a new beauty salon and I really love all the new style beauty salon shampoo stations, but I can’t find the design style information anywhere. I have many questions. What salon shampoo washing system style is the best to buy? Should I stick with the traditional salon shampoo bowl design or the new stylish Euro style shampoo bowls? I’m used to the old fashion beauty salon all-purpose styling chair with a sink. What are the pros and cons of buying each different style? Are some more comfortable than others? Do certain models provide for better water management? Is there anyone who can steer me in the right direction?”

First of all I’d like to say that I love these new Euro-style freestanding shampoo backwash units. The quality and styling of the fiberglass base units combined with the tilting porcelain bowls have created fantastic designs. That said, lets talk about the age-old question that I get asked all the time: What shampoo bowl should I buy?

What I tell people is buy the one that will make your salon stand out from all the rest if that’s the fashion statement that you want to make! But be aware of the design pros and cons. Lets talk about the basics of shampoo equipment like water management (water/gravity) and customer comfort. I like to break it down into three styles of shampoo sink design each with their distinct advantages and disadvantages.

1) An Asian style horizontal laying shampoo unit puts 100% of the head and 100% of the water in the bowl with gravity working for you 100%. But speaking from experience, they always seem to be difficult to lay down on (kind of like a big table) and uncomfortable for clients. This shampoo unit probably has the best water management system but not a very big seller, because of the huge lack of customer comfort.

2) So let’s talk about the old fashion American beauty salon with their wall mount shampoo sink. Well think about it, the client is on 45 degrees with the gravity of their head hanging into the sink and the stylist washing from the side. This means lets say 45% of the water with the help of gravity is working with you for water management. But it’s unfortunate that the client’s head is hanging in the bowl or you are holding it. Plus you are forced to stand toward the front side of the shampoo bowl typically wedged against the wall. This causes back strain for the stylist and head strain for the client, but your water management isn’t too bad because the sink is rather large and gravity is somewhat working for you.

3) Now that takes us to the newer Euro style tilting shampoo bowl with more of a sit-up style all in one shampoo unit. These Euro designs are quite comfortable! Basically it’s like, sitting in a chair and this makes your client more at ease plus easier to manage when shampooing. The typical freestanding backwash shampoo unit has quite a few ergonomic advantages for the stylists. First, you can wash hair standing in the rear of the bowl or from either side. This allows the back to remain straight and utilization of both hands can be equal. The bowl will tilt (most units) into the head and shoulders compensating for different heights. Some of these bowls have a tendency of being smaller in diameter so you are closer to your client, which is important for some of the smaller stylist. Most of the bowls have typically a deep neck recess with longer side neck extensions to collect water. This will help your water management with the longer neck extensions since gravity is not working in your favor with this style unit. You will need adequate water pressure but not excessive in combination with good working habits to manage your water around the client. Although, gravity is slightly more of a concern with this style, the advantages of the Euro-style shampoo bowls far outweigh the slight differences from the traditional shampoo units.

To sum it all up, the American market typically trends toward the standard wall mount shampoo bowl (ex. 2) if you don’t have a lot of space and are on a limited budget. But the newer Euro-style shampoo bowls offer huge variety, ergonomic comfort, and provide very economical choices. Plus the fashion statements you can design into your salon are absolutely endless. To be able to offer these Euro-style shampoo systems with porcelain bowls, complete with all the plumbing fixtures installed and a stylish fiberglass non-rusting base at these economics prices is very exciting for us here at Keller International.

If you appreciate silver, then you’ll never go wrong with Gorham. Gorham silver is one of the United State’s oldest and finest silver item manufacturers. Established in the 1800’s Gorham has been able to put a lot of quality products out in the market from then, up until now and the Gorham Silver bon bon bowl is one of them.

When it comes to buying a bon bon dish you are going to have several things to consider, especially when you’re planning to buy a Gorham Silver bon bon bowl. For one, you have to remember that because of the long history that Gorham shares intimately with silver, you’ll need to decide from the start on whether you’ll be opting for a brand new silver bon-bon dish or would rather go for an antique one.

If you’re planning to go with an antique one, then you must be prepared to part with a bit your hard earned cash because even those which have been produced in the late 1900’s can be quite pricey. On the other hand, opting to buy some of Gorham silver bowls latest creations will have advantages of its own. One good advantage would be is that you will be able to find and buy some of their newest creations and designs at reasonable prices.

Whether you are planning to buy an antique or some of the newer silver collections Gorham Silver has to offer, you might want to keep a few tips in mind – especially if you want to save money. Here are some of those tips:

• Check auction sites: There are many owners of Gorham silver holloware items willing to part with their beloved collection for a price. Some of the bigger online auction sites will be carrying antique as well as new models for sale. Prices will generally vary from one site to another which means that you will still be able to save on the model that you like with a little effort on your part.
• Be wary of fakes: Due to its popularity and demand, certain bon-bon dishes have been imitated by other silver companies so be sure to check if all the markings are consistent. You have to remember that depending on the year the bon-bon dish has been created, it will have different markings so you need to learn which marking is present to the year that you have in mind.
• Haggle: While internet or silver shops will generally sell the items as is, dealing with owners willing to part with their collection can make way for agreements on lower prices. Try to check on intermediary sites that are advertising for customers, this way, you’ll be able to contact the customer personally allowing you to haggle to a more understandable price.

When it comes to silver only a few will ever be able to stand toe to toe with the quality and elegance that Gorham silver is able to provide. So when you’re planning to buy a Gorham silver bon bon bowl, make sure you take a look at the myriad of options. Just follow the tips mentioned above to save more and avoid unwanted circumstances.

Bowling is a sport which requires both mental coordination and the physical fit. For beginners, it is usually common to throw a bowling ball and for the it several times in a row. However, even if you are a beginner, you do not need to do so if you have read and followed the right bowling tips and techniques. Here are some tips on how to bowl without rolling the ball into the gutter.

Bowling styles vary differently according to the bowler himself. People usually bowl in the way that usually makes them the most comfortable. However, many common factors which we will be discussing are present among all bowlers which may facilitate the bowling.

Although there are no fixed techniques as to how to start rolling the bowl down the lane, rolling the bowling ball has been categorized into different sections. The first method to roll the ball is to throw it from between your legs and with both hands centering the ball. This is usually a method given to beginners who are learning how to bowl and have yet no contact with bowling balls. This method may later develop to be done with one hand only as the person’s hand power increases. For more advanced bowlers, the common method is to first hold the ball right in front of the body and near the person’s waist level while standing upright and having the other hand hold the bowling ball.

Then, the bowler would take a few steps forward while gradually lowering the ball with a hand in a backward path. The bowler needs to stay cautious so as to not cross the foul line. Another essential bowling tip is brought up here, the bowler needs to get the right foot forward. With practice, the bowler will become more at ease with the entire process and would eventually take the right steps without having to slow down or look the lane.

Afterwards, the bowler continues to bring the ball forward beside his body and rolls it down the bowling lane. Swinging the ball is one of the essential bowling tips. The bowler later uses the wrist and fingers in the right motion here would allow you to spin the ball to let it change direction midway down the lane in order to strike. This action seems unclear on pen and paper, but with time and practice, the bowler could get the hang of it. Another one of the bowling tips you could do is to watch pro bowlers in action and try to learn how they do roll the ball down the gutter.

Another important bowling tip is using the right bowling ball. You need to also keep in mind that the bowling ball needs to be a ball you are comfortable with so you would practice with ease. Go to the nearest shop and start with a bowling ball of a few pounds. Later start adding a pound until you find the bowling ball that suits your swing and would allow you to play with ease; by that, take into consideration the texture as well as the finger holes.

So to help prevent more gutter bowls remember to – swing the ball, use the right bowling ball, and take the right steps.