10.06.02
I drove to Chicago and back this weekend. Previous to this trip, the furthest I had driven alone in a single stretch was to Des Moines, which is like two hours away.
I went to see pretty hair things, which I actually did see.
I learned about how each product line's hair system is so much better than the others out there, and that the way other people cut hair was wrong and outdated.
Michael O'Rourke, founder of, and platform artist for, the Sexy Hair line, was my introduction to Sensation 2002. He, and a frightening team of colleagues, cut an array of frighteningly overstyled and product saturated choppy cuts, that seemed to greatly displease all of their recipients. One guy was the gayest man I have ever seen, another wanted to look like Fabio with a perm but got it wrong somewhere, and the last guy did all of his cuts with clippers. Even the long ones, like past the shoulders. And did I mention that Mr. O'Rourke was a complete and utter potty mouth? I honestly believe a hazy streak of blue was hovering around his airspace the entire time he was speaking, which was the whole entire time.
The next crew of hairdressers worked for Farouk, the company that makes Biosilk, if you've heard of it. They were there to demo the new Farouk product line. BadAzz haircare. They also seemed to be there to amaze and tantalize the audience with their tattoos and long hair, oh, and the two of them cutting, drying, and styling a single woman's hair, simultaneously, working together in perfect concert. There was also some Flock of Seagulls reminiscent styles, and an equally frightening amount of hair product used on each model. I'll bet that any one of the models used this day for demo purposes probably had to shampoo her hair out ninety times to get all the crap out of it.
Redken showed some interesting cuts and styles, but the fantastic color applications and results were absolutely amazing. That definitely gave me some ideas, even if the questions I wanted answered weren't even addressed. I really wanted to learn how to optimally use the new product "smart wax."
And the day was wrapped up by a 1.5 hour presentation by a motivationally speaking hairdresser that makes kajillions, and donates all of his profits to charity because he's so rich. He shared with us how to better ourselves, and offered up business building strategies.
Did you know that when you have a client in your chair, you should suggest chemical services, like a perm, or some hightlights, to augument the style you are creating? And then you should suggest other add-on services, like eyebrow waxing. Afterwards, you should sell them retail products, and show him/her how to use them to replicate the style at home. If someone says they like their haircut, ask for referrals, and then promptly rebook them for their next appointment. Once your books are full, and your pockets dripping moolah, raise your prices and get pants with bigger pockets.
Boy, none of that sounds like common sense to me. Or like anything I've been doing since day one behind the chair.
Pretty much, I didn't learn a whole lot, except for some ideas about texturing hair and applying color, and my distaste for motivational speakers was strongly reaffirmed.
The one bright note in the entire affair was watching all of the good little hairdressers there scamper out and buy each speaker's books and tapes, or the exact product groups used and sold by each of the various product line representatives, who had each grouping of products lined up and neatly prepackaged for consumer consumption.
Admittedly, I did buy some Sexy Hair products, because the scary man with the scissors that liked to say, "shit," a lot said that the Healthy Sexy Hair products were good for all of the crappy things that my hair does.
And he was right-o.
What's in your head?