At Pinecrest’s A Creative Look unisex salon, staying abreast of the trends in the industry is the key to the success of the five-and-a-half year old business.

That is the thinking of Linda Sinclair, who is a partner with Taeko Taeko in the operation of the salon in the Suniland South Shopping Center, 12141 Pinecrest Parkway (S. Dixie Highway).

We just got back from a hair show in Orlando," Sinclair said. "We got to see the latest cuts, makeup, facials, what’s in, what’s the hottest for men and women."

Sinclair said it is mandatory for all of her shop’s 10 employees to attend the major shows. In addition to broadening their knowledge about the industry, she said it also allows the staff to bond and get to know each other.

"It’s very important to keep up your education in this business," she said. "A lot of hairdressers are very naive. They think they know it all and they don’t continue their education. But, you’ve gotta go to these shows to see what’s in, what’s out, what products are in, what’s the newest, what’s the latest, the fastest, the less damaging. There are always new things coming out and if you’re not on top of it, you may think you know it, but you don’t."

Something new at A Creative Look, she said, is the process of exfoliating the face with a razor.

"We take a straight edge razor and the face is shaved," she explained. "And what it does is smooth the surface of the face for the application of makeup by exfoliating or removing the dead skin. It’s a service we just started in here."

Another new service is the Japanese mini-massage, where a qualified masseuse gives you a relaxing five-minute shoulder massage while you wait your turn with the hair or nail technician.

A Creative Look offers a complete program of beauty treatment, including hair cuts, permanents and coloring, as well as facials, manicures and pedicures. The shop also carries many different hair care lines, including Ulturna, Sebastian, Image, Professional, Nexus, Evita, Paul Mitchell and Matrix.

"We have a great salon," Sinclair said. "When you walk in here you won’t feel any bad vibes."