 Since the decision to no longer offer colouring services, I'm regularly asked for referrals from clients. This can be a challenging request because if there's one area of hairdressing where things can easily result in disappointment, it's with the application of chemicals. Therefore, I do not offer a general referral. That said, I'm always happy to discuss clients colour needs when I see them. If there is a clear situation where I can offer assistance in regard to a specific colourist or where to potentially find one, I will absolutely oblige. Even then, it's largely difficult to unequivocally recommend an individual or salon as one can never truly be sure of a colourists motivation or intentions and if they are aligned with a client's best interests. Therein lies the trouble as many colourists operate from a place of creativity first and are less concerned about sustainability or suitability.  The decision to focus on being a haircutting specialist came down to why I chose to be a hairdresser at all. Quite simply, it was the enjoyment that came from making people happy. As years have ticked by, it has become abundantly clear the women who consistently have the most difficult and frustrating experience visiting a salon are those with curly, wavy, thick, fine or otherwise challenging hair. The kind of hair which leads one to search Google (curly hairdresser Melbourne) trying and find someone who can successfully work with it. As one whose job it is to help create happiness, working primarily with those who have had a tough time being happy seemed to be the best use of the skills and experience I have acquired. As I too have challenging hair, learning early on the importance of a good cut was paramount to success early in my career and paved the way for where I've largely ended up today. Becoming a specialist hairdresser has relied heavily on putting in the time, investing in personal development and having the right intentions along the way. Intentions which support happy clients and career longevity.  There are many things the salon industry promotes which are often nothing more than an attempt to monetise a woman's desire to look and feel good. The idea that hair should be cut every 6 weeks is one salon recommendation which is completely ridiculous. If a hairdresser cannot design and execute a cut which can support the growth which occurs in just 6 weeks, they simply aren't very skilled or are attempting to have a client visit frequently purely for financial gain. With all but the very very shortest of cuts, designing with growth in mind alleviates the need for such regular maintenance. Too, with a longer interval between cuts, a client has the opportunity for greater control over changes in style.
 Actively questioning and deconstructing what we do is a crucial part of personal and professional development. Often this can mean having to sort through contradictions and concepts that were picked up and adhered to long ago. Professionally, one that comes up with regularity is face shape and the relation to hairstyle selection. It often begins with an individual feeling as though because of 'x', they can't or shouldn't have 'y'. This falls into an area of absolutes that I'm quite firmly against.  It's no secret that I loathe social media. It contributes little to society and has been shown to have a multitude of negative effects both in culture and individual lives. That said, I have been pondering how to possibly engage in a way which would actually contribute something useful rather than blithely serving up vacuous self promotion. What there is to work with is the experience and perspective of an almost 30 year career and how that relates to full-time private practice. Many in my chair have listened to (or politely endured) numerous rants over the years and thus, this blog will attempt to flesh out those concepts with considered critical reflection and analysis. I'll aim to cover a few common topics with hope that those who have questions will benefit. Also, it will provide an avenue for something I enjoy...writing! All up it will likely just be a highly opinionated reference about the industry, society, life and how I attempt to operate within it to make people happy and live better lives. |