Ask The Experts
with
Nick Haynes –
Stylist/Colorist/Men’s Hairstyles
You’re one of the newest stylists at What’s
New. How did you get started?
Of course, I grew up
surrounded by two great hair stylists at home. Originally I thought
I wanted to do something different, but I began to start thinking
seriously about hair in about 2007. I went to school, and I joined
What’s New in 2009 as a stylist.
What made you look more seriously at styling?
It is a real personal
experience for me and for clients. Aside from say, a doctor, it’s
the only other profession I can think of where clients allow us to
physically get close to them. Clients let us into their world for
that time they are here, and you concentrate on them, what they want,
and the expertise you provide. It’s fun to see clients light up
when you’ve created a style on them that looks great.
You’ve quickly developed a clientele in a
short time, would you say?
Yes, it has been very
gratifying and has developed over time via the Internet and
word-of-mouth. Right now of my female clientele, about 80 per cent
of them have long hair. Long hair provides the range of everything
from updos to color to the variety that long hair offers women.
For styling, how do men differ from women?
Men are much more
particular than women. They arrive with a very specific idea of the
overall look they want and the hairstyle they want.
So men come in with more specific ideas about
their hair. But what if it’s not right for them?
That’s where we talk
about it. I listen to what they want, but if they want something
that their hair simply will not do through the cut, the products or
both, I make my recommendations. Together we come up with a style
that meets that client’s needs. They pay for my expertise and
appreciate a style that looks good on them and that their hair will
do, and that they can do at home.
What is popular right now among men?
Right now, I do a lot
of looks that are messy and more aggressive on top. The top is
longer, with short sides that are what we call “disconnected.”
That cutting technique means that we blend it from the bottom up vs.
the traditional way of blending from the top down.
What role do products play with men, and do you have to educate men more?
Products play a big
role in achieving the right look whether it’s men or women. Men
want a great look and quick, easy products to work with to achieve
that look.
What is another difference in men’s styling
that you’ve seen?
For men, I think it’s
more about the overall experience. Women grew up coming to hair
salons and are used to it. Most men grew up going to the barbershop
for a quick cut. Due to that, many men tell me that they’d never
had their hair shampooed by someone else – and they really like it.
Men are not as used to pampering, so the time they spend here is
truly a time they enjoy relaxing and spending on themselves.
What is the biggest challenge in working with men and men’s styles?
I think the biggest
challenge is that some men feel uncomfortable working with products
or certain methods – that they think it’s not “manly.” As
I’ve said before, the easier the product, the better. But here’s
an example where men will go that extra mile to achieve the look they
want: I use a flat iron on some men’s hair to achieve a look they
want. Although they may be uncomfortable doing this at home at
first, once they try, they see how easy it to do themselves.
For
more information about Nick click here
To
see more about styling and a menu of services click here
To
book an appointment:615-890-5020 or click here
