A few weeks ago I came across a dossier in one of my Facebook’s friends profile. And on this profile there was a comments left about other hair dressers work. I have been in this industry for over 29 years and by no means am I a judge or critic of someone else’s work or craft. Especially when I have to keep up my own style of hair coloring, hair design or makeup. There is no way to me for anyone to call themselves a master in the art of hairdressing when it is consistently changing and evolving.  Nor are we able to comment on anyone’s work when they are the artist. Do we know what is going through their minds, no we don’t. But on this profile the “Older generation had to put their two cents in”.  Which I think you need to watch out for in this industry the older generation will sell their souls for a chance to get up on a stage to live off the names of dead men. While in the mean time they will offer you a technique on “Dry Haircutting” and a bottle of “SUDS” and tell you it’s the latest and greatest. “It’s going to change the industry”. Those words were spoken by a man who told me he did all of Vidal Sassoon’s haircuts back in the 50″s. These are your old used cars salesmen of the industry. They will say anything to just catch a fleeting moment of their past, the “Glory Days”, while they have not done anything in the past 30 years. Other than open their wallets to receive a few penny’s from a manufacture for speaking their script.  And if you take a look at their work they are quick to “PAT” themselves on the back and tell you your shit sticks.  They have a group and will only pay you a tribute if you do a “VS” hair style. They will paint a picture of how crappie the new generation work is not up to “THERE PAR”.  They are quick to judge others. While their work still has not progressed since the 1980″s.  A wise tongue and a giving heart goes along way in the beauty industry

I do a lot of photo-shoots every month and all year-long. When I am hired, I am told how to style the hair, how to do the makeup.  That’s the story, and that is how I get paid. Kapish?

The above hair style and hair design was done by a stylist, who I don’t know my friends.  The comments said from fellow hairdressers were as follows.

Ian ‘Gav’ Gavet – We are allowing mediocrity to become a legitimate norm… not good.”

Jim Rondeau  – That picture is beauty school. …… and the looser at that !

Cyrus Bulsara –  Messy hair and disheveled hair…are not hairdressing!

Cyrus Bulsara Hmmmmmm. Licenses should be withdrawn like they do for doctors!

Cyrus Bulsara There’s  a whole bunch of charlatans out there, especially in NY and LA who pat each other on the backs and promote this fugly work. If you had shown me some, of this work when I was at Redken, Clairol, Logics, or Wella, I would’ve laughed! No wonder the two top companies are losing share! And hundreds of managers are being sacked! They brought this on themselves!

Frank Fowden Amen! These so called stylists have to produce this rubbish and call it high fashion because it is a complete lack of personal skill they have to disguise.

Tony Dorso You know what I miss about the old days?…..the haircut was the be-all, end-all of all things…..you could conceivably put color in the same category as right along side of it…..dont get me wrong, of course there has to be fantasy work, up-styling, etc., it just seems to me that we studied and went after the haircutting collections that someone turned out FIRST, (as the foundation of all things), and if they happened to do great up styling, etc. too, then it was an added bonus….I hope what I said makes sense…I’m just thinking back here to the way things used to be……….so much nonsense today….

Cyrus Bulsara – Some of this hair is a disaster and even the company marketing people and trade magazine editors, who are all young and new, don’t know good from fugly! I think this is one of the things holding back the industry! I think we have to take back the industry. And some of you Sassoon and other top trained Hairdressers need to start hitting back. We don’t need to name names or hurt feelings just point out and critique. (I guess I will Cyrus, who by the way is a salesman and not a hairdresser everyone)

Now of course these wonderful gentlemen will say, “We didn’t mean that”. But you did mean that or you would have said it another way. Just as I write what I right I will stand behind it. But when the light is turned on in a darkened kitchen they will scatter like roach’s.  But what is said is said my friends. And one day you will pay the price for what you said. Just as I.  Have some compassion my friends. Learn to lead and to motivate my friends. Basically you just do for yourself and your friends. That’s it.  But Charity asks no questions my friends, it just does.  Real professionals would sit back and watch and offer a hint, or ideas to a stylist.  Or wait for a question from that other professional. Notice I said other professional. When you produce a marketable product and you are successful at your craft you have no problem sharing your knowledge. People who feel they need to offer unkind words are normally the ones that are insecure of their work. Know it all’s I say! Being successful is sharing your knowledge with others gladly. We are the secure people. We are seasoned professionals, the helpful. We are the Charity of the profession. We walk the walk and talk the talk! We are the kind.

I would look at this photo and say to the stylist, “What a lovely red color”.  But in my industry a kind word is far away from the present. Professionals take time in creating their own style and with that their is a lot of learning and practicing. But who is to say that if you don’t mimic a Vidal Sassoon style than that is not the way to go. You will find in my industry people will break their backs to do a style that is exactly like a “VS Haircut”. Big Deal, Big Fragging Deal. Do your own thing my friends.  All that time should be spent I feel on perfecting your own techniques. Not reproducing copyright work.  But if you don’t pay homage to the great ones especially the ones who have not done shit in over 30 years you are not going to be anointed by the senior citizens of the industry. People who live off a dead mans name, that’s what they are. Living on the bygone days.  I had a gentlemen in my first film who would charge a total of $10,000 dollars for a dry haircutting class. 10,000 I say to you, for a class. And if you look at the finished work he does it looks like he came from a dog grooming school. His work had no rhythm or reason. Horrible. Another called me and asked if I would help him with a product website, “This product will change the industry Joe”.  I had talked to his money man and he asked if I would send him some examples for a web site. “Sure I said” “But you have to pay me my fee for my time sir”. These guys wanted it all for free, the proceeds from the first film “The Real Hair Truth”  went to people who needed help. Such as websites, books, class’s, blogs and we did them free of charge. But this guy wanted all his shit for free, even after my friend made him a trailer for his website and I even gave him a website for free.  Be careful who you align yourself with in this industry! These people were scam artists. Like the used car salesman of the beauty industry.  We are in an industry that has its own PHOTOSHOP AWARD. NAHA this is a contest who can send in the best Photo shopped pictures and people will get awarded a trophy and be named, “Hairdresser of the year”. And not even be judged in a setting where they do there work in front of a group of Judges.  It’s all a scam. Who can out bullshit who. Take the road less travelled my friends. You will be better off.  Big your fellow hairdressers up, you may not know how hard they are struggling. Have you walked a mile in there shoes?