Welcome to create with Heidi, I'm Heidi Kaisand, owner of Hen and chicks studio in Conrad, Iowa. And lover of all things creative. Each week here on Create with Heidi, we like to cover topics that educate and inspire you about how people are being creative, whether it's quilting, scrapbooking, food, wool, or just hanging out with others who seem to have their creative Mojo groovin in all the right directions, we are excited to share these things with you. And you know, I love to start our show with a good quote. And I actually found two that I have to share this morning. The first one is, your outer beauty will capture the eyes, your inner beauty will capture the heart. And the second that one's unknown. And the second one is you yourself as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and affection. And that's Buddha. And I chose both of those quotes, because I think there is a delicate balance of self care that, that there is some thing to be said about how we look on the outside does help us feel better on the inside. And I think that all revolves around self care. And so today, I decided to invite Lauren Marts, the owner of shear bliss in Conrad to join us. So good morning, Lauren.
perfectly-pampered
Heidi Kaisand
Lauren Marts
Good morning. How are you?
Heidi Kaisand
I'm feeling quite beautiful this morning, inside and out. So it's good, it is good. But yeah, but you're the one that helps me, helps me look good on the outside. And I thought it would be fun to chat with you more about sort of that self care element. And we are so but but before we kind of get started with that, we're so lucky in Conrad, to have some great businesses on our little Main Street. And Shear Bliss is one of them. And I would love you to tell people kind of what are the services that you offer to everybody?
Lauren Marts
Yes, definitely. Um, so we opened about six and a half years ago on Main Street in Conrad. And it originally just started off with me and Bailey and Bailey offers massage services, and also nailcare. And then I do hair. And then now we have another hairstylist as well. So we do anything from hair to waxing, to coloring, pedicures, manicures, all of the things beauty we love to do. So.
Heidi Kaisand
Yes. And you've recently added in another element with clothes
Lauren Marts
Yes. So it's actually been right at a year. Me and my sister in law, she came to me and she's like, we should open a boutique. And I'm like, you know, there's really nothing around this area for you know, for unique clothing and local shopping. So we opened right at about a year ago. And it's been awesome, an awesome addition to our main street community.
Heidi Kaisand
And you actually refer to that business as Hazel and Dot is that correct? Yep, he's the one.so you've got shear bliss and Hazel and dot and you literally are across the street from Hen and chicks studio. I love it, I could just literally walk out my front door right across the street. I sometimes jaywalk. I don't always go to the sidewalk because it's 10 feet in the wrong direction. And but you're right across the street, which makes it so convenient for me, but it's so wonderful to have all of those services, right in our community and, and right on our main streets. So that is really fun. There's so many different questions that are going through my mind that I want to ask you this morning. And the pandemic has really thrown some of us and I'm personally Of course, I'm gonna say throw myself into this conversation. Is that because we were at home, because at some point you were closed? A lot of us started growing our hair out. Yeah. Have you? Have you seen a lot of changes in people's hair styles in the last year?
Lauren Marts
Yeah, it's actually been really fun. A lot of people who have had shorter hair for years. I mean, they come to me every four or five weeks. So they always say, Oh, I want to change but you know, when you come every four weeks, we cut off the same stuff. So when I was closed for two months, and then some people had to wait even longer to get back into me. I've seen anything from people just letting their natural Gregg grow out which is huge. I love when people can show their natural beauty. I mean, you were one of my transitions for that as well. And it's, it's a fun process. not always easy, but it's, it's been fun. So a lot of people are embracing their gray. And actually a lot of people have just, I mean, it gave them time to say, Oh, I can get over that awkward hump and get to the next hairstyle so Oh, and the mullet. Oh, dang mullet. Boys have the mullet
Heidi Kaisand
isn't that we know about the mullets because my son has one of them. So yes, and you've touched on several things. And I had, prior to the pandemic, I had already made the decision. I think it was actually when I after I turned 50 I made the decision to go natural with my hair color. And you did make that process so easy. Because I'm not sure if I'll say the right term, but you basically transition to the dye color from what I had been doing to my natural colors, so most people didn't even realize it wasn't like I had some big stripe down the middle of my head where my where my hair color was growing, you know, weird.
Lauren Marts
Actually, I've transitioned probably five or six people from the pandemic who are literally have to cover grays every three or four weeks to now they're like, you know what, I can embrace the gray wait 10 weeks without it. So here we go. So
Heidi Kaisand
yes, and and it's it's it That is amazing. And I myself have, have I added six inches to my hair seven inches, I don't even know.
Lauren Marts
And those bangs they finally grew. Absolutely.
Heidi Kaisand
Well we're gonna talk more about those bangs right after a commercial break. We're having fun talking about self care with Lauren marks from shear bliss. And we'll be back right after this. Welcome back to create with Heidi, this is Heidi Kaisand from Hen and chicks studio. And we're talking with Lauren Mart's from shear bliss, also in Conrad, literally across the street from Hen and chicks studio. So you could spend a whole Girl's Day on Main Street and come and get your nails done and have a massage, and get your hair done, buy a little clothes. Come you know, buy your quilting supplies, go down the street, get some flowers to take home. And goodness gracious, you'd have just a fabulous girls day in Conrad. But right before the break, we were talking about the how the pandemic has changed our hairstyles and growing things out. And I do have to say, Lauren, I, I haven't had long hair since I was in college. As a busy mom, it just made sense to have shorter and shorter hair, because I didn't have the time to take care of it. But I even look back at photos from a year ago and say, Oh, so much like what was I thinking that that short? was even you know that good? And yeah, I I've learned embraced hair pretties as we call them in our house. And the bangs have been the hardest I always the hardest, aren't they?
Lauren Marts
And you have given those a good world? Yes,
Heidi Kaisand
there it is. And they're almost there almost long enough to tuck behind my ear almost. But it's got to be kind of a joke, or a funny at the store. Because when you're quilting, your head is down. And, and you know, I'm looking down at the cutting mat. And that bang piece hanging in my eyes is just not gonna cut it. And so one night, it happened to be at home and I was sewing. And I was like, Oh my gosh, I mean, I was resisting getting the scissors out. You know, it was almost at that moment didn't do that. We know Lord doesn't want me to get the scissors out. Oh, and so I grabbed the first thing I had which was a red clothes pin. And I stuck it in my hair. And then I did a funny Instagram post. And so but you know that clothes pin in all seriousness was exactly what I needed. It was holding my hair back. So I
Lauren Marts
thought you know
Heidi Kaisand
well and so I started wearing it well then my staff back in October for bosses day, but dazzled a whole set of clothes pins. So everybody has their buddy zap bedazzled closed pin and it works so well that I don't even notice that I've got it and people you can see people are like, What is she had her hair and in fact on one zoom call when I realized that I still had it I you know, I usually tried to take it out before I you know do something professional like beyond air. And I had taken it off and all of a sudden I realized it was in my hair and I said I said oh let me take out my my clothes pin and the woman on the other end said Yeah, I was trying to enlarge my screen and figure out what that was in your hair. And so
Lauren Marts
new trends. Yeah, exactly
Heidi Kaisand
they might, my customers have embraced my new fashionable trend. But I had to love it because the girls got went shopping and got a much more fashionable, pearls styled clip that I can use. So I look a little more normal. But I have not completely retired my bedazzled clothes fits because I have them everywhere, because you never know when you might need that. That quick hair pick.
Lauren Marts
So I love it. I love it. Okay, so
Heidi Kaisand
one of the things that also that has been coming up is about hair care. You know, am I supposed to wash my hair every day? Is it is it good to not wash your hair every day. And then also, even though I used to be that customer that literally put my put you on my calendar and I was in your we would have your schedule? How often? And I think about this, I think how often should I come in and cut off frayed ends or So tell me a little bit of what you think you know that haircare should be for, I guess any length of hair, but obviously I have long hair now.
Lauren Marts
Definitely when when you're trying to grow it out, like I said, a lot of my clients were like, Oh, I have short hair, or like you I like style. So they would come in every five or six weeks. So for you now when you're more in, you don't care that it's longer, a lot of my longer hair girls will go even 12 weeks. So you know that's getting a haircut four times a year just to kind of get those, you know, those ends off. And it just kind of depends, like I said, if if you are in more like this is my style. And this is what I like I see anybody from four to six weeks to, you know, 10 to 12 weeks. So you're probably more in the 12 week. 12 week range, I would say.
Heidi Kaisand
All right. And so then and then what about that daily care? Should I be? Should I be washing it every day? Is that good? Is that bad? My girl? No, my girls have the opinion that like I should be using a hairdryer that that's not good. Yeah.
Lauren Marts
Oh, okay. So So I love styling tools. Mostly because like if I I'm warm, like if I were to go to bed with my hair wet like it is stuck in my head. So although like flat irons and blow dryers, they can be damaging on your hair. Having the right heat protector is huge. We sell hair protective that he will protect up to 450 degrees. So you can still get the good style you want. But also protect your hair because that's huge. Because I mean, when we're flattered, and we do all the things like guys have it so easy. They have no idea what goes into being a woman. But it's all about having the right, the right heat protectant and things like that. But I don't know who made dry shampoo, but they are a godsend because I also don't have time to blow dry my hair every day. I hate that I literally dread washing my hair. So I love a good dry shampoo. And it's good to let your natural oil be on your hair. Because a lot of people like oh, I get greasy. So I have to wash it every day. And it's just a vicious cycle of you know, are you putting store bought stuff on your hair? And that's what's making it oily? Or are you using too on professional care and, and things like that? So I personally would recommend people trying to go every other day at least some people every three, but like I said Find yourself a good dry shampoo and it will like it will change your life.
Heidi Kaisand
And I have used that before and I had forgotten forgotten about it. I there might be a can underneath the sink. I should get that out. Yeah, I might have to might have to get that out. And the other thing that I've noticed with long hair, of course, is the brushing that like you know, I mean, like it gets tangled.
Lauren Marts
Yes,
Heidi Kaisand
more. And so, you know, are we are we supposed to be I don't even know what Disney character it might be that you like, or should we be coming in a certain number is an area that comes a certain number of times before we go to bed or something like that?
Lauren Marts
No, not necessarily, I think I mean, I love that there's a brand called wet brush and I love that, especially for the longer hair. It helps with the tangles. My daughter is five and she has a war to comb through her hair. So that's perfect. Perfect for her as well. But dang when we're in Iowa and I just walked to the post office earlier and my hairs come back and your hair's a mess. So I just like to keep a little pocket one in my purse. Yes. And all the things are in place.
Heidi Kaisand
And now that we're in this season of stocking caps and you know the coal and all the hoods and all that the static becomes a problem. And is there a product or anything that we could do or what what do you do to kind of control that static?
Lauren Marts
I have a protein spray that I like to spray in my hands Or sometimes I'll even just spray a little bit of hairspray on my hands. I do have some people who like get a little travel size of liquid. Oh dryer like dry, dry or softer, liquid current. And apparently that helps. I have not tried that. But that is that's the word on the street that that does that help. So you can try that out if you want to and report back
Heidi Kaisand
Sounds good. Sounds good. And and then I do have to just comment on the mullets again and how they're coming back when when Henry got his first perm, and I said something about having perms he kind of looked at me like you've you've had a perm before mom. And so I had to go pull out the 1980s you know, college photos of my hair, and I posted one and somebody said that they always dreamed of having their hair that big.
Lauren Marts
They literally look like they're like out of a Billy Ray Cyrus music video. Like I can't even take any of them seriously. I know. Oh, like I can't. I know.
Heidi Kaisand
And I always say it's a great expression of creativity. And it's one hair cut away from having that good. No shortcuts. So we're okay. I'm okay with it. Well, goodness gracious. We're having fun Lauren, we're gonna take a quick commercial break and come back and talk a little bit about clothing. Welcome back to create with Heidi, this is Heidi Kaisand. And I'm talking with Lauren Mart's from sheer bliss and Hazel and dot two businesses that are located right across the street from Henan chicks studio in Conrad, and Lauren, you do definitely help us take care of, of our outer beauty. And we've been having fun talking about hair and all that kind of good stuff. But you know, there's more than just the hair and the nails and all that we also have to look good with our clothes. And you know, there's so many different styles out there in your business, Hazel and dot, what kind of clothing Do you focus on?
Lauren Marts
You know, when we me and my sister in law first started this a year ago, we decided like, you know, a lot of times you go to a boutique, and it's like, Oh, I love that. But I'm not paying $80 for a sweater. So we wanted to make something that, you know, clothing that we both like, we have very different styles. So it's good. But also affordable clothing too, because I mean, in Conrad, you have to go to Waterloo or Ames or Des Moines to go I mean to really go shopping. And so we wanted to bring, bring that sense of fashion to small towns, he didn't have to travel as much. So we actually we have anywhere. I mean, we have all ages, we literally had probably a 65 or 70 year old woman in here yesterday that was shopping and she bought three tops, and we have high school kids too. So we really carry a wide variety from, you know, petite people, and we have plus size clothing. So we're really trying to accommodate everybody and make them feel good. Actually, we just had somebody last week she posted and she was a plus size woman and she just she thanked us she goes it's so hard to you know, because I'm close and I feel good and not just frumpy and, and to thank us for bringing stylish clothes in their size. And so that made us feel good.
Heidi Kaisand
Isn't that good? I hear that what you're doing is our goal is being achieved. So in this current, I'll say climate that we have with shopping now do you you have people can walk in to shear bliss? And hazel and dot? If you want, say located in within shear bliss, yeah. Are there other ways for people to shop for your clothing?
Lauren Marts
Yeah, so we actually we created a Facebook page are actually the group it's called Hazel and dot botique VIP group. And that's where I mean, we post all new inventory in there. And we've shipped to people we've shipped to New York and Texas, and we've shipped all over. So people just we will post new clothing pretty much every other day. We're posting new stuff, and you can shop right on there as well on our Facebook page, or come into the store and shop in person as well. So
Heidi Kaisand
Oh, you know, and you know what's going through my head we got to brainstorm together because we ship all over from headed chick studio, we should be putting an advertisement for Hazel and dot and your clothing in our outgoing packages. Because you never know we might be able to combine clothes and quilting all for everybody around the world.
Lauren Marts
And you send people over my way from the retreat center all the