August 17, 2007 (RALEIGH, NC) – For the second year, Samuel Cole Salon in North Raleigh has been voted one of the Triangle area’s “Best Hair Salons” and “Best Color & Highlights” destination in the Best of Citysearch audience poll. Every year the popular online guide to U.S. cities asks its users and editorial staff to vote for the best restaurants, bars, salons, spas, shops and services, then publishes the results. Samuel Cole Salon is owned by hair stylists Jack and Joelle Ray. After seven years in operation, they made many changes to the salon, from altering their hiring and training procedures to bookkeeping and inventory coordination. “We altered anything that wasn’t working perfectly,” Joelle said.

Soon afterwards, their client based doubled, then continued to grow by 50 percent over the next two years. When the space next door to them at 240 Newton Road became available, the Rays leased it immediately and began a major enlargement and renovation of the salon. In July, that effort was well-rewarded when Salon Today magazine named Samuel Cole Salon ‘”First Runner Up” in its annual décor competition, second only to the grand-prize winner, Frederic Fekkai’s newest salon in New York City. A member of the Bumble & bumble network of high-end salons in America, Samuel Cole Salon “is setting the standard for salons in Raleigh,” according to American Salon magazine, which featured it in the July edition.

“It’s a very inspiring, very uplifting salon,” Joelle Ray told the magazine. “It feels good to be here.”

A list of the most popular categories in Citysearch’s nationwide “Best of Citysearch” services list can be found at http://national.citysearch.com/feature/41890 or under their respective category and city.

July 8, 2007 (RALEIGH, NC) – In keeping with their commitment to provide on-going education for their stylists, Jack and Joelle Ray, owners of Samuel Cole Salon in North Raleigh, recently hosted a five-hour Wella hair care class that introduced the salon’s staffs to The Wella Corporation’s new “Wellastrate” and “Voluminate” products. Pamela Mackowiak, a professional service educator with The Wella Corporation, presented the class.

According to Mackowiak, Wellastrate is an effective yet mild hair-straightening, cream based preparation developed to straighten very curly or frizzy hair. Formulated in two versions for different hair structures, it contains Jojoba oil which, Mackowiak says, protects the hair. “Voluminate” is a demi-permanent product (lasting six to eight weeks) that adds volume, texture and natural movement to hair that couldn’t otherwise hold hairstyles.

“Wellastrate works as a curl reducer and as a excellent means to tame unruly hair, making it more manageable” Joelle Ray said. “Yet it’s not as intensive or as expensive as the Japanese Silk permanent hair straightener, which takes five-hours to complete.” (The Japanese straightener is only available at Samuel Cole Salon, not Salon Moxie.) “Voluminate” is “great for those who want more style options,” Ray said, “but it’s not a long-term commitment like a permanent wave. And it can be used on color-treated hair.”

According to the Rays, every stylist at both salons receives regular in-salon professional training such as this class, as well as continuing education from instructors at Bumble and bumble University in New York City, a graduate school for hairdressers. The classes and workshops are mandatory for both salons’ staff.

May 22, 2007 (RALEIGH, NC) – FirstChair.com, a website devoted exclusively to new salon and spa professionals, has asked Joelle Ray of Samuel Cole Salon, in North Raleigh, to contribute to two expert-advice articles for the site’s readers.

According to Ray, who co-owns the salon with husband Jack Ray, one article addresses the interview process for a new stylist who is trying to find the best salon “fit” for his or her talents and interests. Among other “Interview Guidelines,” Ray offers: “The best interview should be a process. It is hard to sum up a salon from just one meeting. Ask to come in to observe the salon when clients and stylists are present so that you can evaluate the “feel” or culture of the salon. Remember: An interview isn’t just something you sit through. You need to participate. Prepare and ask good questions. “

The second article is a “Do’s & Don’ts” list for first-year stylists, offering such gems of wisdom and experience as “Do: Be a sponge. Observe then emulate successful stylists’ good habits. Pay particular attention to the “superstars” in the salon then do what they do,” and “Don’t: Get discouraged about re-dos. If clients call back to ask for modifications it means they feel comfortable enough to contact you for a ‘fix.’ It’s normal for this to happen early in your career. Thank them for giving you the opportunity to make them happy.”

FirstChair.com and its companion annual FirstChair Yearbook and Success Guide are produced by Modern Salon Media, a leading publisher of magazines and websites serving the professional salon and spa industry. Sister publications are Modern Salon, Salon Today, Process and Renew magazines.

April 18, 2007 (RALEIGH, NC) – Samuel Cole Salon, an upscale hair styling salon in North Raleigh owned by Jack and Joelle Ray, recently hosted a Sebastian Professional hair cutting class, which gave the salon’s stylists the opportunity to learn new, updated haircutting techniques and to study Sebastian’s “Evokative” line of hair care products.

The six-hour class was part of Samuel Cole Salon’s mission to continually offer its stylists advanced educational opportunities. Conducted by Sebastian Professional senior design artist Doug Hutto, it included hair-cutting demonstrations, hands-on experience advanced razor cutting for the stylists, and extensive information on the use of the Evokative line, a new collection of hair care and styling products that were designed to produce “soft, touchable, luxurious hair,” according to the company.

“We are committed to keeping ourselves fresh and inspired as artists by investing in excellent education,” said Jack Ray. “We strive to always offer top education and training to our stylists, which in turn benefits our clients. We love the energy that comes from a day of training like this.”

Founded in the 1970s, Sebastian Professional is known for its trendsetting hair styling concepts and innovative products, such as Cellophanes, Shaper Hairspray, Potion 9, and Molding Mud.

February 20, 2007 (RALEIGH, NC) – Samuel Cole Salon, an upscale hair styling salon in North Raleigh, recently hosted a Colors of the World seminar presented by the Wella Corporation, one of the leading international beauty supplies.

Colors of the World is a comprehensive program designed to help salons build their hair color business. The seminars focus on developing stylists’ coloring skills while supporting the salons with merchandising materials and other business planning education. They are offered in local markets throughout the U.S. as well as in Wella’s studios in New York and Los Angeles.

The seminar presented at Samuel Cole Salon was one in a series of classes in Wella’s advanced color curriculum. Pamela Mackowiak, a professional service educator with Wella Corporation, conducted the seminar.

“It is quite an honor to host this innovative educational event,” said Jack Ray, who co-owns the salon with his wife, Joelle. “We strive to always offer our clients the best, and continual education is a defining element of our culture.”