Hairdressing is big business in the world of celebrities, with movie stars, singers and even royalty paying hundreds of dollars for a new hairdo that makes them stand out from the crowd.
But is it luck that gets a hairstylist into the pop hemisphere of paparazzi and red carpets? Wouldn’t you love to be able to coif Madonna’s hair or color Beyonce’s stresses?
Jerry Ahern, vice president of education at Gene Juarez Academy, a premiere cosmetology school in the Pacific Northwest, says hairdressers should be able to write their own ticket to wherever they want to go in the beauty industry. But first, they need the education to back up their dreams. Ahern, who has received awards for 25 years of service in the beauty industry, outlines three keys to succeeding in this booming field, which offers not just outstanding job possibilities but also opportunities for personal growth.
Interpersonal relationships build clientele.
Have you ever had a hairdresser who makes you feel like a valued guest? She offers you coffee or tea; remembers the name of your cat, and makes sure you have magazines to read. Chances are, says Ahern, that a hairdresser has “first and foremost a love of working with people.”
A skilled hairdresser doesn’t just cut hair but is intimately involved with both the physical and mental wellbeing of a client. “Not only do we make them look good but ultimately we make them feel good—inside and out,” says Ahern, who is also author of numerous textbooks on cosmetology and manicuring as well as former vice president and president of the National Association of Cosmetology Schools.
It’s all about people skills; being able to socialize and skillfully interact with all types of personalities is instrumental to success in this field. The Beverly Hills hairstylists for the rich and famous know this—they’re usually witty and personable, cutting jokes while cutting hair.
Creativity puts you a cut above the competition.
You won’t get those warm and fuzzy feelings sitting behind a desk or typing in a cubicle. Ahern has worked with hundreds of beauty school candidates and has found that the top students have a passion to express their creativity. It’s not just about hair, it’s about artistic approach and creating a look, whether it’s an immaculate formal style or a funky ‘do.
“You have to love what you are doing. It has to give you instant satisfaction,” says Ahern. “Then it won’t be just a job where you get up, go to work and do your thing, then go home at night.” When creativity is involved, every guest that you come in contact with becomes a part of you.
Success, after all, he adds, is defined not as having a job but a vocation—you actually get paid to do what you love to do.
The science of haircutting.
Is haircutting an art or a science? Both, says Ahern. “Even though hairdressing is an artistic and creative field, it’s all based on scientific and mathematic principles,” explains Ahern. The “science” of the beauty industry shows why the days of trial and error are past and it’s crucial for stylists to have an education.
“Without knowing and understanding the fundamental rules, you can’t learn how to break the rules to express your creativity,” says Ahern.
There is more to a haircut then meets the eye. “The construction of a haircut, whether straight or curved, is based on geometric shapes, almost architectural philosophies,” says Ahern. “With the haircutting techniques which are popular now, you start off with straight shapes, then you mold and design the shape to fit the bone structure that the haircut is resting on.”
Hair coloring is based on chemistry, as well as principles of hue and shade: complementary colors, mixing colors and neutralizing colors.
Whether it’s the lines of a haircut or the basics of coloring, Ahern emphasizes that a solid education in the fundamentals and the artistry of hairdressing is paramount.
“A good beauty education is key; it jumpstarts an individual and allows them to take the creativity that they have and maximize it in the shortest amount of time. Give me a graduate who has these elements going for them and they’ll only be limited by their imagination of where they want their career to take them,” says Ahern.
Hair stylists who want to begin inroads into the exciting profession of cosmetology will want to consider Gene Juarez Academy. Alumni of Gene Juarez can be found at well-known establishments everywhere, from Los Angeles to New York. Each component of this accredited school’s curriculum has been developed to secure a rewarding and lifelong position in the industry, with a program designed to help you not only become certified as a cosmetologist, but to put you in a position to launch your career.
To request free information from Gene Juarez Academy, visit our featured schools and click on request information.
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