Kevin Sanders has always wanted to help others look and feel their best. As the owner of Salon International in Mount Pleasant, he has a knack for bringing out the beauty in his clients.
At age 21, Kevin enrolled in a cosmetology program at Jordan College, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. H lerned while attending school that hair is not only about creativity; it is also about “reading” clients and enhancing how they see themselves.
“It’s more than just doing hair; it’s also educating clients about how to maintain their look,” he mused.
After arriving in the Lowcountry in 1989, Kevin spent a few years perfecting his craft in downtown Charleston before opening Salon International in Mount Pleasant in 1992. Today, the salon specializes in hair styling and color; makeup lessons and professional makeovers; hair loss therapy; and special occasion beauty. Kevin has also styled hair and makeup for television, namely, Makeover Mondays on Lowcountry Live. His clients tend to stick with him; Kevin has been working for years with many of the tresses he has snipped.
Kevin’s newest endeavor, the arrival of Polished, a private hair care line, is the beginning of what he anticipates will be a venture in helping clients achieve total beauty.
“This is just the beginning for Polished,” he declared. “It’s the initial launch. Naturally, the products will evolve. For example, I want to add makeup to the line.”
The Polished hair care line enhances the natural beauty of each client’s hair, with an emphasis on shine and manageability. The secret is in how each Polished product is b;ended specifically for the client’s hair type.
“The Polished products will help normal and chemically treated hair as well as add shine to brittle, lifeless hair and overworked hair,” said Kevin.
Different formulas will include the “Nirvana” shampoo; the “Brilliant” shampoo and conditioner; the “Cobalt” shampoo and conditioner; and the “Luminous” shampoo and conditioner. Polished will also offer gel mousse, hair spray, and the best-selling Argan Oil.
“I sampled these products for myself ?? I’m confident in their abilities,” said Kevin. “After 21 years of owning Salon International, I feel spiritually and mentally prepared to make this happen.”
Kevin makes it a point to listen carefully to his clients’ ideas about their own hair ?? however, he’s also not afraid to offer suggestions.
“I am very picky about color and Kevin is one of the best I’ve ever seen,” remarked Janie Skatell, one of Kevin’e regular clients. “I wanted both highlights and lowlights and thought I knew what color I wanted to achieve. Kevin recommended a variation on what I thought I wanted, and was absolutely right. He is an expert! Trust his opinion.”
“If clients aren’t exactly sure what they want in terms of style, I make suggestions and I ask what they don’t want,” Kevin said. “Most people want something manageable. I show my clients how to do their hair. I give them advice they can use at home.”
Keep up with news on Polished by visiting the Salon International website and blog at www.SalonInternationalofCharleston.com and www.PolishedHaircare.com.
Click on “Kevin’s Blog” for hair care trade secrets, photos, and updates on the Polished products.
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