I hear this question most frequently these days. Whether it be from a cosmetology student, stepping out of school to begin their journey, or seasoned professionals behind the chair for years, this seems to be at the fore front of everyones mind. And how could it not be? We are a evolving species of artists, honing a craft that we create with our hands and our minds, and providing a esthetic beauty to the world that everyone can appreciate and celebrate. So how could we not be constantly striving to find out the next big move in hair.
My response to this question has changed over the years of my experience in this industry, but I have noticed a sway in my thoughts, that have been more consistent as I disect the question on different planes. At this point, I will break it down the easiest way I know how. Honesty and relateability.
We are at a place in our technical craft that everything has been done. Its been re-spun, re-packaged, re-coined in phrases and terminology, and re-delivered in many different directions. But when you really observe the technical side of things, it's all been done. Whether it is texture or precision, razors or shears. It has all been introduced, experimented with, and presented.
As I always say, " We are not going to re-invent the wheel at this stage in the game, but what we are changing is the inter-connectivity that can reach the masses on a wider scale than ever imagined before."
This is the "game changer". The internet, todays SmartPhones, Facebook, Twitter, hairbrained.me, all these resources are opening doors for stylists, educators, students, and artists to be able to share ideas, concepts, and what works for them in their worlds. Thanks to YouTube, we can now watch a haircut filmed in California in Japan, or Romania. We can converse via email and text messaging about dynamics, about marketability, about relatability to our specific demographics in our own worlds. All thanks to the internet.
Rogue, pirates, welding shears in their hands, and beautiful models in their chairs, can now, broadcast to an audience only available before through a corporate, brand name channel, is now washing away into a sea of information, that we can watch, download, and share, all at the click of a button. Information is only valuable once you share it with someone else that can apply it to their own world, and find success with it behind the chair.
I hear the criticism of the "free information" that is now flowing across the web, and I see the fear in the eyes of the very people that have tried to preserve this archaic way of information ownership, but the bottom line is, we will always be able to establish a value, and ultimately, a price tag for the information we are sharing. But the difference will be in accessability. I have no intention of creating something that everyone will want, but no one can afford. The success will be in the masses, not the price tag attached to it. Now I am an entrepreneur, so if you think for one moment, I am missing this "profit" piece of the puzzle, you are sadly mistaken and missing the big piece of this puzzle. If you see it, then you are excited, hopeful, and can believe that there is something out there for you that will be affordable, translateable, and relateable for you, the professional, the student, the style enthusiast.
So I say to you know, embrace the wave of change, as it is inevitable. Read between the lines, and discover that there is more for you to build your career on now more than ever. Continue to grow, continue to learn, and most importantly, continue to Share. The next big move in hair will be just what Andy Warhol had said it would be. " Everyone in the world will be famous for 15 minutes." What are you going to do with your 15 minutes? I am going to make as much noise as I can, so after I am gone, this movement will continue to grow stronger and bigger than I could ever be. It's about the hairstylist, the information, and the Process. The Process. Big Love, Chad
