Unless you live under a rock (and no judgment if you do!), you know The Hunger Games fever is taking over just about everything everywhere. And it’s far more than cheering on Katniss and crushing on Peeta; audiences are digging braids again and are sure to request Katniss’ chic brunette haircolor. Joico Guest Artist Cherry Petenbrink did the color work for the three leads and another 500 extras for the film, and she shared her color formula that transformed the blonde Jennifer Lawrence into a ravishing Level 5 brunette. To fill, apply Joico Vero K-PAK Chrome 2 oz. N6 + 2 oz. G8 + 4 oz. Chrome Activator from scalp to ends and process for 20 minutes. Rinse, apply K-PAK Deep Penetrating Reconstructor for 5 minutes, then rinse again and blow-dry. Next, apply Vero K-PAK Chrome 1 ½ oz. A5 + 1 oz. N4 + 5 oz. Chrome Activator from the scalp to midshafts, process for 10 minutes and pull through ends. Process an additional 10 minutes. Shampoo with K-PAK Color Therapy Shampoo, apply K-PAK Cuticle Sealer for 5 minutes, rinse, apply K-PAK Intense Hydrator for 5 minutes and K-PAK Deep Penetrating Reconstructor for another 5 minutes. For future retouches, apply Vero K-PAK Chrome ½ N6 + ½ N4 + Chrome Activator to regrowth, and apply equal parts Vero K-PAK Chrome N6 + N4 + Clear + Chrome Activator to midshafts and ends. Your client will be slingin’ arrows in no time! Read our exclusive interview with Cherry and see pastel color formulas for Effie Trinket!

Even the best teachers need a little education from time to time. Two-time Stylist Choice Award Educator of the Year Nick Arrojo offers instructors these five tips on making a difference in students’ lives:

Be Consistent: Keep the standards of education and teaching methods the same for each class. Make sure all educators cover the same material and use the same terminology and techniques.

Bite Size Bits: Separate demos and workshops into short, easy-to-understand segments and give students time to learn, practice, master and reinforce each technique.

Stay Educated: Keep up to date with current trends and techniques and find exciting, interesting ways to make them part of the curriculum. Most importantly, be an authority on the classic, foundation techniques.

Out and About: Get involved in your community by looking for charity benefits or other events where students can participate or donate services, it’s great experience for a good cause.

Love What You Do: Passion and commitment to the craft rubs off on students, keeps them motivated, ready and willing to learn, and on the path to success. Learn from top educators when you attend International Beauty Show NYC, April 22-24! Register NOW!

With vibrant, contrasting colors and a sassy, sharp cut, what’s not to love about this look from Wella Professionals Trendvision Collection? If your client is a strong-willed woman with her own definitive style, this could be the perfect look for her this season. To create the color, begin by taking a horseshoe-shaped section around the head and clip it away. Apply Wella Koleston Perfect 4/0 to the underneath section. Next, make a deep zig zag parting throughout the top section of the head, creating four-five triangle-shaped sections. On each section, apply Koleston Perfect 44/65 and Koleston Perfect 66/46 + 0/66 in foils in each section, alternating the formulas as desired. Separate with foil as needed. Now learn the cut to complement this color!

The haircolor trend springing up this season? Pastel blondes! 2011 saw a haircolor revolution take place with more and more celebrities coloring their locks in every shade of the rainbow, and in true spring fashion, the shades are softening up into pretty powdery shades. According to the trendsetters at Schwarzkopf Professional, all kinds of blondes are having a moment this spring and summer—from pure and decadent golden honeys and ambers to soft blush tones. This look, from the Essential Looks Collection for 2012, was created using Schwarzkopf Professional BLONDME Premium Performance Lightener and BLONDME Toning Creams in Ice, Strawberry and Caramel. See more blonde inspirations for spring/summer!

BTC Facebook Fan Danielle recently asked about an early morning bridal party she had on her books that turned into a no-show. “The morning came and went, and they didn’t show up,” she says. “Later that day, I happened to check my email and discovered they had sent an email the night before saying they wouldn’t be coming. I don’t check my emails frequently—is this an acceptable way of canceling an appointment?” Jason Stiller, co-owner of Tres Jolie Salon in Minneapolis, says you must be proactive when running your business and keep clients accountable. “At Tres Jolie, it’s made very clear at the time of booking that we require a 24-hour cancellation. We secure a credit card number to assure we’ll be compensated if such an event should occur,” he says. “Upfront, clear communication is key so no one assumes anything.” However, he does contend that if the bridal party cancelled 24 hours ahead via email, and you neglected to check your emails in a timely fashion, the mistake was yours, not theirs. “That said, any salon needs to weigh the pros and cons of every situation,” Jason says. “Sometimes we have to bite our tongues and smile and do what’s best for guests to keep them coming into our doors.” In the market for new salon software? Receive special pricing on Millennium!

The Stylist Choice Awards 2012 Educator of the Year, Sam Villa, knows how to give classic curls a modern “twist.” And with Sam’s advice, a few products and some trusty irons, your clients will be turning heads this prom and bridal season! Here’s how you get the look. First, section hair and spray both sides with Redken Spray Starch 15 to protect hair from heat and add hold. Use your Sam Villa TEXTUR™ iron to create impressions down the hair shaft, either overlapping down the entire shaft or randomly imprinting. Work your way around the entire head, imprinting sections as you go. Next, take small sections of the textured hair, twist it and wrap around a small marcel curling iron with the iron pointing down—make sure to tuck the ends in the spoon of the iron. Twist the iron upward, slip a pin in the curl and slip iron out. This will hold the curl in place and protect fingers from burns. Once the entire head is curled and cooled, remove the pins and rub a couple drops of Redken Glass 01 between hands to break up curls to soften the look. Want to learn more curly tips from Sam? Sign up for his “Natural Curls: Tips, Tricks and Solutions” Webinar Tues, April 10th!

Need a break from the traditional curl-and-pin updo? Try this look—a low, structured bun that looks stunning on a client with multi-dimensional color. BTC Facebook Fan Maurya Torgerson says the look is super popular in her salon for wedding season, and here’s how she creates it: “I start by prepping the hair with Kenra Platinum Dry Shampoo and a light back-brushing. Then I take a 4-inch section in the center-back of the head and create a smooth, ballet-style bun, using an elastic and bobby pins to hold in any loose edges,” Maurya says. “Then, in a way similar to doing a French braid, I start pulling pieces and bring them to the opposite side, pinning as I go. Next, I apply Kenra Platinum Silkening Gloss to my hands and gently pull back the top sections to create a soft and natural look, pinning it where the hair meets the bun and concealing the pins under the bun. I finish the look with a healthy dose of Kenra Platinum Volume Spray 25.” See 4 more ways to create this look!

Sam Villa is constantly on the go, traveling far and wide in search of new cutting inspiration. Recently, he hopped the pond to get inspired by London street fashion and spotted lots of disconnected haircuts with chewed fringes. His salon-friendly rendition utilizes triangular sections to achieve this multi-textured, disconnected look. Here’s how it’s done: Begin in the nape area with a large triangle section in the center, elevate vertically and cut horizontally with Sam Villa Signature Series 7” Dry Cutting Shears. Isolate an oval umbrella section in the crown, then a triangle section in the fringe area from the high point of the head to the corner of the eyes. Connect two areas with a horseshoe section. Isolate the left and right front side areas. Elevate back center area vertically and cut horizontally. Overdirect the left and right side areas to the back area and connect into the horizontal line of the back area. Elevate the oval umbrella section diagonal with entire section pinched to center and point cut for a soft edge diagonally. Weave and cut with blending shears throughout the haircut to achieve your desired texture. Finish with Redken Wax Blast 10 and blast dry for a choppy, satin/matte finish with body and dimension. Now, check out Sam’s “Bardot” cutting how-to!

Dear Beth: Many of my heavily-highlighted clients are ready to ditch the foils in exchange for a subtler ombré look. I’m having trouble creating a natural, ashy, dirty blonde shade for the roots; they keep coming up gold! Any suggestions?

Beth says: I refer to ombré as “lit from within.” The goal is a deeper root and highlights that look as if they have grown out from the scalp. I recommend you do what I do with these cases—allow the root area to begin to take the appearance of a shadow. Do not apply an all-over formula. Instead, use a cream, acidic demi-permanent shade like Joico Vero K-PAK Chrome equal parts B6 + G8. Slice significant strands of hair and place them in foils at the part, about three inches down on each side and in the back. Wrap some of the strands just from the root to about one third or three quarters of the way down the lengths, omitting some of the ends. This promotes the “grown out” ombré look, and the technique works like a charm! Win a trip to New York City to meet Beth Minardi!

Long-locked ladies like Maya Rudolph, Stacy Keibler and Kelly Osbourne were beside themselves (hah!) at the Oscars, opting for stunning side-swept waves and curls. With its popularity on the red carpet, this over-the-shoulder look is sure to be a hit come bridal and prom season because it’s a great way to show off a gown while still making a strong beauty statement. To create this Oscar-worthy wave, apply a styling cream to damp hair from roots to ends. Blowdry the hair with a round brush to ensure a smooth, polished finish. Once the hair is completely dry, create a deep side part. Starting at the back of the head, use a styling iron like the domed FHI Heat Platform Iron to twist sections of hair all in one direction. Pull all the curled hair over the shoulder opposite from the deep side part to complete the modern yet Old Hollywood glam style. Check out the Platform series irons from FHI Heat!