 California, 1918. Source Monday, 21st September - 9:26 PM For those needing to reschedule or trying to book in, there is a significant backlog from the day the studio is hopefully able to reopen in late October. As of this posting, there is availability from January onward. Bookings can be made up to 6 months in advance of the current date and are made exclusively online via this website.
 Reference photo only. Tom does not photograph clients. Having been out on hiatus since early July, I am definitely eager to get back to my studio once it's sufficiently safe to do so. Goes without saying that anyone reading this is also waiting for that day to come. As the entire industry has been shut down for some time, there's been a few articles recently published online that address this situation. One in particular, a front page story that is linked below, is the subject of this post. Unfortunately, none of what follows is, at all, surprising.
 Reference photo only. Tom does not photograph clients. Like the first episode from a new season of your favourite television series, let's begin this writing exercise with a strong opening statement; a thoroughly researched and well-considered observation distilled through an abundance of first-hand experiences. Ready? Cue the theme song and start the title sequence. Here we go. Hair salons that choose to curate and actively maintain a social media presence are pretty much all the same, regardless of their specific focus and supposed difference. There you have it. Now, without any further commercial interruptions, the following post will attempt to validate that statement by asking some important questions. The purpose of which is to shine some light on a fatal flaw regarding that which I believe to be of utmost importance for anyone who finds themselves reading this. That is, getting a damn good haircut.
 Reference photo only. Tom does not photograph clients. Aside from the obvious concerns relating to our current health crisis, I've heard that this website overall presents in a way which gives the impression that I take this whole cutting hair business rather seriously. It has also been commented that much of what is written about is particularly critical. While many seem to inherently understand why this is, I felt it best address this topic for those, particularly new clients, who might have questions or curiosity.
 I am a cutting specialist. Success in this particular endeavour has leaned heavily on a constant and consistent evolution of the tangible skill set which my career relies on. This ongoing refinement has always been paired with a focus which is readily influenced by the area, city and country I am working in. Currently, my practice is aligned with and best suited for women with challenging hair types (or situations) who live with their hair in a natural, low-fuss and low up-keep manner. This is a deliberate directive which offers a much needed alternative for individuals for whom the conventional salon industry does not readily support.  Reference photo only. Tom does not photograph clients. What do most religions have in common - besides the basic tenets of love, kindness, tolerance and compassion? A book. A prophet. Places of worship and of course, loyal followers. While the Curly Girl Method (CGM) isn't technically a religion, it does have at its core a book, literally referred to as a bible, and a 'prophet' of sorts standing behind it. There are indeed dedicated 'churches' (CGM salons) with enthusiastic pastors ardently reinforcing the key message and a loyal congregation who have a very strong sense of faith in it all.
 There are quite a few online groups which offer help and support for people with curly hair. 'Curly Girl Sisterhood Uncensored Australia and New Zealand' is a newer group with a different approach. They are a little more difficult to find at the moment so I thought it would help give them a bit of exposure. I like their statement: "Let this be a comfortable place to seek help and share information with free exchange of questions, perspectives and issues around the Curly Girl Method in a safe, respectful environment. This is the space you come to if you want to talk about curly hair, that isn't always strictly CGM. Sometimes we have to bend the rules to make things work."  Reference photo only. Tom does not photograph clients. Do you subscribe to the notion that ammonia-free hair colours are better and or safer for you or your hair? Does the salon you frequent like to promote that their hair colours are healthy, organic or natural? This post will take a close look at the healthy, natural, organic, ammonia-free hair colour marketing hype and provide some crucial information you're likely missing. To be clear, I do not offer hair colour services of any kind. This information is to help those who get them done.
 "Oh wow, your hair is so dry and damaged. We really need to do a treatment today. It's going to make your hair so much more healthy." No doubt you've heard this nonsense before, and likely paid for it too. Aside from the 'you need to get your ends trimmed every 6 weeks' myth, moisture treatments are another example of hairdressers (and product manufacturers) promoting and selling misinformation. Throughout my entire 30 year career I've seen time and time again salon websites and beauty blogs promoting and talking up the importance of getting treatments. As I have to regularly state in this site's blog, do not believe the hype!  As a 30 year veteran with a highly regarded reputation, I have an obligation to use my voice responsibly. I know people often listen to what I say and take my words or advice on board. Thus it is paramount that any readers know my intentions and how we got here. The decision to forge an independent career path meant I was not indoctrinated by the hairdressing industry or the product manufacturers. This provides a unique opportunity to see things from the outside in. It wasn't long after I started working that I discovered situations from discussions with clients which didn't seem quite right. As a result, I started to define ideals which directly challenged conventional hairdresser thinking and contradicted industry practices.  Without fail it seems, every few years we learn of another hairdresser claiming to have 'invented' a new way to cut curly hair. Funny how it's always an American right? Interestingly, never an Italian, a German or a Dane. Anyway, this time around it's called a 'Rezo Cut' and claims to be salvation for anyone wanting volume and length. As an individual who has been working with curls for over 30 years, these supposed new methods are anything but and certainly aren't necessary to achieve the things they claim to.  Reference photo only. Tom does not photograph clients. Transformation. This is the main theme in Shakespeare's 'The Taming of the Shrew', and the inspiration for this post. One of the greatest lessons we can learn in life is the practice of accepting that which we cannot change and in doing so, find a way to make it serve us positively. Frizzy hair is absolutely one of those things that those who are born with it, struggle to align with. This certainly isn't made easy by the abundance of media, advertisements and products all telling we need to 'fight' it and solve frizziness like some sort of pathogenic virus set on destroying our very existence. Conventional salons, even curl specific ones, often are guilty of instilling an innate fear and loathing of that which many people were genetically born with. These are the same ones who bombard your wallet and your hair with copious amounts of products and time-intensive ritual. It doesn't need to be this way.
 Quite a few times I've been asked, "When did you become a curly hair specialist?" I had to stop and think. Well, I don't think that I am. I'm a cutting specialist who focuses on challenging textures of hair. Does that make me a curl specialist? For some, I suppose so. That said, literally one of my very first haircuts almost 30 years ago was on the fine ringletted curly hair of a co-worker. For some reason, cutting those curls dry just seemed to make sense, so I did. While absolutely inexperienced back then, I did keenly understand the challenges the texture presented as a direct result of my personal experience and frustrations. People were open to trusting me because I had curls myself and thus started the long road to proficiency that continues to this very day.  Reference photo only. Tom does not photograph clients. Many think a lack of photos online solely relates to my position of being opposed to social media - something which I've been vocal about in several interviews. While that is true, it's only a minor part of the much larger topic presented here. Overall, this entire notion of client photos resonates to the very core of my professional philosophy and therein, continued success here in Australia. In fact, many of the posts on this websites blog cover a wide range of topics that all contribute to the positive reputation that I have established.
 Reference photo only. Tom does not photograph clients. "I just need a good haircut." This is something which has been stated countless times at the start of a client consultation. While this certainly is a reasonable request, it is often an emotional one too. A lot of that has to do with what appears to be a notable difference of opinion. It's fair to say that every single haircut a client had prior to sitting in my studio, their hairdresser thought that they had performed a good haircut. If you're reading this right now, chances are you probably disagreed with that assessment. This is exactly where the frustrated and at times emotional plea for a good haircut comes from.
 Often I'm asked, “You’re so booked out, why don't you train up an apprentice?" The short answer is this: quality hairdressing isn't something which can simply be taught, certainly not within a few short years. The road to proficiency is a long one, particularly for gaining real skill with anything other than similar, conventional, easily managed hair types. Generally speaking, most people (including a high percentage of people currently working in the industry) know little about what it takes to become a refined and mindful hairdresser.  Reference photo only. Tom does not photograph clients. There are a lot of people searching for information about the Curly Girl Method or Deva Cutting. Unfortunately, what once started out as an empowering movement now has transformed into something which many think is an overly obsessed cult. As a result, I do not advocate for the method and have developed an aversion to much of it.
 Reference photo only. Tom does not photograph clients. The decision to not sell retail in my studio was well-considered and thoroughly researched. The consensus here overwhelmingly indicates that one of the most annoying aspects of an experience at a conventional salon is being sold products at the culmination of a service. There are numerous psychological studies which directly explain why there is specific resentment surrounding this long standing practice. It largely comes down to the following.
 Reference photo only. Tom does not photograph clients. Many of us desire a product, service, or even pharmaceutical tablet which can provide us with exactly what we want, precisely when we want it. We regularly go to see various professionals with the hope that they can offer us the necessary cure-all for whatever our situational needs may be. For hairdressers, a question which is asked regularly is "what specific product [or brand] would be best for my hair?" The question presented is a fair one. A client is asking for advice or guidance from someone they view as a professional. Unfortunately, the answer I provide usually isn't one they were hoping for.
 I believe that a great haircut is one which can grow out really well over an extended period of time. The equates to months, not weeks. As covered in the last post, a great cut should always encourage the shape and texture to naturally fall into place, looking great with minimal effort from a client. Unfortunately, most hairdressers tend to perform a cut which only looks good if styled with professional skills, products and effort.  Reference photo only. Tom does not photograph clients. Without a doubt, one of the most common complaints women have after a visit to the hairdresser is, "my hair never looked as good as it did when I left the salon." This exact sentiment has been echoed repeatedly in every city I've worked in across the globe. After hearing the same thing over and over again, a committed hairdresser should always aim to dissect and resolve the issue. The following opinions on the matter actively influence the principles I adhere to within my practice today.
 Reference photo only. Tom does not photograph clients. Part three of three. Regardless of skill, intention or communication, things will not always result in every client being completely happy. Life is easy when we get a win, but no one wins all the time. The greatest lesson in life both personally and professionally is to accept that this will happen. In fact, it is a necessary part of development. While early in life we often fear failure or mistakes, with time we learn that these situations are essential to our growth. In fact, we must relish these opportunities to learn and use them for forwarding momentum. Through the last two posts, I laid out the key principals of my practice: communication and transparency. It is with this final topic, satisfaction, that the three are all tied together.
 Part two of three. Hairdressing, particularly within the conventional salon environment, is an industry geared largely for the monetisation of a woman's beauty needs. Under the guise of being a professional, product pushing and up-selling via emotional manipulation is key to meeting the bottom line. For a traditional salon owner, these principals are often the foundation of their business model. Creativity is wielded as a less than subtle means of distraction. This approach does not, by default, serve or benefit a client's best interests and is therefore seen as unethical.  Reference photo only. Tom does not photograph clients. Part one of three. Effective and honest communication is an essential ingredient to every successful relationship we have in our lives, whether personal or professional. Neglected or broken-down communication is largely the reason we as humans find ourselves in challenging situations with those we regularly engage with or care about. The effects of poor communication are unfortunately demonstrated quite profoundly and painfully at the hair salon. Most women relate to their appearance, particularly their hair, with a profound psychological and emotional connection. Therefore, it is absolutely vital for a hairdresser to develop and maintain their communication skills in order to establish and promote a productive client relationship.
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