The hair industry is on the rebound from a horrific blow to its image that began in the early '80s when chain salons began to assert themselves on the market, employing primarily people with little or no artistic aptitude while offering haircuts at bargain (a nice way of saying CHEAP!) prices. Understandably, there are a great number of people who care little (if any) about their image -- "A #2 on the sides and a #4 on top please," or "I'm really in a hurry (right) so how much for a trim and I leave with it wet?" True enough. Presto! For 14$ AND six minutes of your precious time, you look like a idiot -- the fringe or bangs (as it is most commonly referred to) is cut shorter to last longer and the rest is to be left long enough to pulled back. Pulled back? So those particular salons filled certain people's needs. The "Stepford Wives" phenomenon -- everyone looks the same, God forbid we should stand out from the herd! Anyway, before long, everyone was a hairdresser.

Granted, there is a place for folks who need, or want, nondescript "don't notice me" styles for personal reasons I suppose -- perhaps childhood trauma? But these salons gave birth to a particular brand of stylist -- most are color blind (yes, really). They possess no depth or contrast perception germain to coloring hair, let alone the most important avenue of color (tonal value) -- leaving one with little doubt this type stylist can truly address the actual application in question -- in as much the same for haircutting. Dare I say trimming the whiskers on a cat would present a challenge? And, after two or three years, these "stylists" grew weary of working 12-hour days at sweatshop wages and -- lo and behold -- a couple of them would pitch in on some strip center salon or rent a booth (such as at a flea market) in some silly atmosphere where everyone spoke different languages and charged different prices. Their work varied from average to cuts that caused people to say, "I can't believe that you paid for that!"

Consequently, we have over 5,000 salons in Houston, ranging from folks working out of their homes or additions in the back somewhere, to deplorable, dated salons on every corner.

Then, there's the character who thinks that because he or she has an accent from anywhere but the U.S.A., they are then qualified to professionally address your beauty (i.e. hair, skin or color) needs. This is where the nouveau riche fit in! "Sally, he's from Paris; he must be good!"

For the love of Mike! If I hear, "I was trained in Paris," one more time! Well, let's just say, it means so very little in the 21st Century. There was a time when that had merit, -- oh around 1950 thru 1970ish. Now it is simply cliche! The epicenter of all style no longer resides in that zone. Half those Paris-trained buffoons could not assume a position sweeping out a pastry shop if they moved back there. If people view that as a genuine claim to legitimacy in the first place, then those same people should be aware that I personally know of a dozen "Parisians" who are not French at all. Some are Hispanic (who knew?), Syrian, Morroccan or from God knows where. Then, there's, "I'm from England, Scotland, Holland," or whatever! When the rubber meets the road, accents, attitudes and a haughty display of temperament does not a good stylist make! At the end of the day, the work should speak for itself. Please understand I have many clients, employees and friends from "across the pond." The assertation I make is pertaining to stylists with no more than dated claims to training for credibility.

Ask your hairdresser to change your look. Does it come out looking the same? Of course it does. Oh, the length was altered and the fringe was cut shorter, but you get the point. You and I both have watched some asshole somewhere do the same thing on every single client -- a "cookie cutter." Sure, they're busy and make decent money, but so what? You can sell just about anything and make lots of money. The point of all this is that you, the client, are finally wising up! There is a wealth of information out there and people are tired of one-dimensional hairdressers. Consequently tradition has returned and the craft is again being taken seriously.

First you need aptitude, vision and the ability to look to the future -- not in silly monthly trends or fads, but in terms of global acumen. So, as they say, the "creme" will rise and the mediocre will become janitors, clerks, cabbies, topless dancers, oops I mean entertainers -- you know something less "artsy." Thus, mediocrity has passed for the average designer. Stylists will now either be good and expensive or average and cheap. Both will provide you, the client, with exactly what you pay for. Someone asked me recently what made a haircut worth $77. I replied, the client. If you don't see the inherent value of something -- anything -- it will be worth zilch to you. What warrants the worth of a BMW, Vera Wang or Cole Hahn? The client determines the fee -- much like a steak from Golden Corral compared to say, steak at Morton's or Fleming's downtown. The value is in the eye of the buyer -- if you don't see it, it ain't there!

There was a time in the '80s when being a hairdresser meant nothing. But, as I said, the times are a changin' and -- by the end of this decade -- only the strong will survive. Much of this change has to do with you, the client, and the public outcry over insane prices, arrogance and long waits for nothing but average work.

Then, of course, there's the person who boasts of having a three- to six-month waiting list. Bullshit! The truth of the matter is that "Timmy" or "Susie" has grown comfortable with their monthly revenue or they are just simply lazy. There's nothing really wrong with having favorite clientele, but let's face it -- most people today don't just happen to wake up one morning and discover that their hair needs to be done. Most of us have an agenda. My clients, or should I say most any successful hairdresser's clientele, book their next appointment when they check out, securing at least -- tentatively -- their future appointment. So while saying, "I'm booked for 20 years," sounds lofty (hang with me here) they simply don't want to see you, or come face to face with a new challenge either in personality or hair quality. Bottom Line.

Later,

LM