Andrea Riklin Certified Haircolorist                                        Who Am I?     I am an Organic Salon System Certified Haircolorist, former hair color educator, hair color specialist, and stylist who has been doing hair in San Diego for over 15 years. Background: I have always wanted to help people feel better about themselves which is why I obtained my Bachelor's Degree in Psychology.  I started working at a domestic violence shelter and quickly realized that having people have a positive image about themselves required a change not only on the inside, but outside too.  I wanted to be able to help people do both and since I had always had a flair for hair, I decided a career in the beauty industry would be the best of both worlds (aren't hair stylists Psychologists anyways?).    I have always loved everything about the beauty world from hair to skin and makeup, but my favorite by far was always being able to change my own hair color.  My passion for everchanging hair color led me to pursue a corporate career as a Salon Service Educator with the Wella Corporation.  For over 6 years, I worked closely with some of the world's top colorists at regional shows and hair events.  After awhile I missed working in the salons where trends were being created every day so I decided to return to work behind the chair. Why I went "green":  I have worked with many collegues who have become too sensitive to all the fumes and chemicals hair stylists are exposed to on a daily basis.  Many of them have had to quit working as a result of skin irritations that could not be cured.  Although I personally used products that didn't have the overpowering smells and chemicals, I was surrounded by others who did.  I was constantly getting colds, sinus infections, and skin rashes from breathing in and working around all those harmful fumes and chemicals.  I decided getting sick from doing what I loved was NOT what I wanted.  I opened The Hair Lair Salon in May 2007 and slowly evolved into using products to safeguard not only my health, but the health of my clients and the environment.   For more information on the "bad" stuff in your hair care products, please feel free to download the document below (provided by Onesta).   Harmful Chemicals For more information on The Hair Lair, please email andrea@hairlair.com