The Hair Arts of Today

The Hair Arts of Today

From popular shows like Shear Genius to entire websites devoted to hairstyle galleries, the hair arts are a huge industry. Trends that start on fashion runways and red carpets trickle down to the regular people who spend billions of dollars each year on salon services and products. In an industry that's constantly reinventing itself, hair design artists have to stay on top of their game to compete.

Discover trends in the hair arts to help you get a competitive edge...

Trends in Hair Arts

Some hair stylists become famous for styling the beautiful tresses of celebrities, like Ken Paves, the brilliant hair stylist who cares for Jessica Simpson's golden locks. Others become celebrities in their own right, like Kyan Douglas, the grooming guru from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. Either way, top hair artists play a critical role in the interconnected worlds of fashion and beauty.

Most celebrities have a personal hair stylist or preferred salon stylist. Every fashion show, film production or television series involves a team of hair artists. There's also a hair designer behind every photo shoot, music video, newscast, political event, and awards show. Each of these is a showcase of hair fashions and trends. The latest hairstyle of a Hollywood starlet is big news, just as important as what designer she's wearing or how her makeup was done. And like fashion, trends in the hair arts evolve from season to season and never stay the same for long.

Competing in the Hair Arts Industry

Nobody wants "last year's hair". To stay competitive and continually delight your clients, you need the inside track on the latest in hair arts. Here are a few tips on how to fit this into your busy life:

• Track celebrity hair culture – Celebrities are the vanguards of hair fashion. Spend a little time each week checking out the latest hairstyles of the stars. That might mean subscribing to a couple of popular magazines, watching certain entertainment television shows, or following hair arts blogs on the Internet.
• Follow the masters – Follow professional hair arts websites or magazines, paying special attention to profiles of successful hair stylists who are living your dreams – whether that means doing hair on fashion runways or opening up high-end salons. Glean whatever practical advice you can and give it a try.
• Treat yourself – When you travel, or when you can afford it, treat yourself to hair services from the most successful stylists you can find. See what you can learn from watching them work.
• Take classes – You need continuing education to maintain your cosmetology license, but don't just take the easiest or cheapest classes. Look for opportunities to challenge yourself, make new connections, and learn from your role models.
• Innovate – Even if you have to experiment on yourself or your friends and family members, never stop exploring your craft. The fastest way to tank your career is to get stuck in a rut of doing the same old thing. Your clients will get bored and so will you!

From cutting techniques and marketing tools to the latest products, there's always something new to learn. With the right attitude, the work of staying competitive can be the most enjoyable part of your career in the hair arts. The excitement you felt on the first day of beauty or cosmetology school can last forever!

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Sources:
American Association of Cosmetology Schools, 2008.
NACCAS, 2009