We’re in the thick of hair show season right now – a crazy time when you get to see hair as entertainment and art. You watch the stylists from Farouk frenetically dance as they cut hair, using their scissors and hairspray as a prop. The performance should come with the disclaimer: “Do not attempt this in your salon.” There are fancy updo’s several feet high and hair colors that require sunglasses to view.
It’s all a lot of fun. But how does this really help the stylist when they’re behind the chair? Since we still live in an age when stylists get out of beauty school without any training on texture, I’d trade all the glitz and glamour for a little practical education. Show the techniques that can be used to do a real curly cut. Show some hot trends in coloring curls. Since this may be one of the few times the stylist actually gets out of their salon to see what’s new, give them something they can work with and not just something that looks good on Instagram.
I’m not alone in my frustration. I was sitting at lunch a few weeks ago with several brand managers having this conversation and they were in complete agreement. But they say the booths that get the traffic are the ones with the wildest, most over-the-top presentations. The louder the music and the bigger the hair, the larger the crowd. It seems many stylists come to be entertained, not educated.
Possibly they take some of what they see and are inspired to try new things in the salon. And hopefully, they have one conversation or see one demonstration that reinforces the importance of learning the ins and outs of curls, coils and waves.
Hopefully!
Just got my media pass to Premiere Orlando. Maybe I’ll be surprised.
