Honing their skills

What happens in Vegas...comes straight back to Marco.

Justifiably, that is, in the case of four local hairdressers who recently returned from a 5000-strong convention put on by Matrix, a national hair product company seeking to dominate the market.

The foursome, all hairdressers at Rick's Island Salon & Day Spa at the Esplanade, were Sasha Popoff, Andrea Montroy, Diane Trzyna and Debbie Walsh.

And, while they professed to have had a good time after hours, each said the information gleaned from the three-day convention was highly informative and practical.

"We learned a lot of custom coloring," Montroy said. "We were able to buy some of it before (a new product) comes out, so we can already play with it."

Trzyna said in the couple of weeks the foursome had been back at work on Marco, she'd indeed done just that, experimenting with new foil placement techniques for coloring.

Owner Rick Popoff, who footed the bill for the foursome's trip, said it's imperative for his type of business to stay in touch with trends.

"If you don't go, you don't learn, and if you don't learn you don't stay in touch," he said. "There are new techniques emerging all the time."

Photo by QUENTIN ROUX, Marco Eagle

Hairdressers Diane Trzyna, clockwise from left Debbie Walsh, Sasha Popoff and Andrea Montroy, take time out from their duties at Ricks Island Salon & Day Spa after returning from a convention in Las Vegas.

Not to mention fashion swings.

"The fashion now for hair is bright reds," Tryzna said. "Also, it's not all-over highlighting any more, but veils of color that blend in with mediums to darks. It's all about creativity."

Walsh said there are subtle differences for different age groups, with older women generally preferring their hair a little shorter, and younger women a little more bold when it comes to experimentation in length.

For Trzyna, Sasha Popoff, Walsh and Montroy, the Vegas visit was a true case of work and play.

They attended intense day-long classes, but were able to take in the town during their spare time.

Based at the legendary MGM Grand Hotel, they walked The Strip despite 106-degree temperatures, and also made a point of visiting historic Freemont Street, home of 10 casinos, 10,000 slots, 60 restaurants and the sensational Viva Vision screen with its light and sound shows.

As for gambling at the tables, all the women would reveal was that their fortunes at games such as craps and blackjack was "interesting."

Now, in the interests of their chosen professions, the four hairdressers at Rick's will concentrate on applying their knowledge of new techniques to their customers.