Hair stylist or life artist?

As insignificant as it may sound, bad hair has the potential to affect your whole day, because how we look colors the way we see ourselves.

by Johnny G — 

Who among us has not experienced a bad hair day — or bad hair days? As insignificant as it may sound, bad hair has the potential to affect your whole day, because how we look colors the way we see ourselves. Beginning the day feeling less than our best can throw everything a little bit off. Sometimes, before we realize it, our irritable mood or low energy can begin a negative ripple effect among our coworkers, families and friends.

Hair has the power to do all that? It does not have to — but it can. Our hair can play a big role in our lives and in the lives of the people around us, too.

Hair stylists have the unique advantage of seeing their clients’ attitudes shift dramatically, simply by adjusting someone’s hairstyle to better suit their personality and by teaching them how to maintain the new style on their own. Just one visit to a good hair designer can cause spouses, children, friends and colleagues to notice great positive changes in the personalities and outlooks of the people in their lives.

There are lots of titles for the people who cut hair: barber, cutter, stylist or designer. But what about life artist? It takes thoughtful consideration of every aspect of a client’s life for a stylist to design a look that truly flatters the client and makes them radiate with confidence and positive self-esteem.

Things a life artist will take into consideration:

• The current chapter in a client’s life story — Are they experiencing a divorce? The loss of a loved one? A new job? A pending marriage? Cancer recovery?
• The client’s lifestyle — Are they on a very fast pace? Do they have a fixed amount of time to spend on their hair daily? Are there any physical limitations affecting their ability to style their hair?
• Proper products and tools for each client — Is the client inclined to shift to a new brand of products? Is it possible to make better use of their current products? Are there budget considerations?
• The client’s physical appearance — What are the shapes of the client’s face, head and body? How will a new cut or color affect their natural hair, skin and eye tones?

Styling hair is about much more than just cutting and coloring. A life artist has the ability to touch hearts, bringing out their clients’ own natural beauty. Most importantly, though, by uncovering external beauty, they can offer their clients radical new perspectives about their own wonderful, yet sometimes forgotten, inner beauty.

Tips for healthy looking hair

Daily blow-drying, overexposure to the sun, curling irons, and overuse of chemicals can add up to damaged hair. Here are a few quick tips to keep your hair beautiful and healthy looking.

• For shine — Eat a balanced diet rich in vitamin A (carrots and tomatoes), folic acid (spinach), zinc (meat and shellfish) and fatty acids (salmon or flaxseed oil).
• For strength — Use mild shampoo every other day. Never use a brush on wet hair — use a wide-toothed comb.
• For style — Avoid alcohol-based gels, sprays, etc., opting instead for water- or oil-based products.

Johnny G is an internationally known hair designer, specializing in cuts and color. 480-991-4005 or hairbyjohnnyg@hotmail.com.

Reprinted from AzNetNews, Volume 24, Number 6, December 2005/January 2006.