Non-commercial hair

Once again travel and exposure proves to be educational and motivational and inspirational. Just walking the floor at Salon International in London, U.K. has made me a better haircutter. How many shows will you hear me say that about? So often we look at stage work as non-commercial and less than applicable to our daily lives behind a chair. It is easy to dismiss a haircut, a look or a technique as “not my market”. Well then, just whose market is it anyway? It is your market if you want it. We need to be comfortable pushing change if we are to see clients willing to go down a new, inspired and creative road with us. I saw many haircuts walking the floor at Salon International that you would have easily dismissed as non-commercial. You might say, “just a minute, those are show attendees… that is not the haircut buying public”. First, someone cut it for them… so someone WAS a customer. Next, you lead by example… if you will not wear something bold do not expect a client base of bold cuts. There are always those within your client base asking for then new and the fresh. There are those who can be led there. There are those who will need a bit of a push to get there. And, of course, there are those who will never go there. You will never know, unless you get pushing. Find the limits and push the boundaries. It is better for the client to offer up some resistance to your pushing than for you never to have pushed the boundaries.