TheSalonGuy SIX

Please enjoy TheSalonGuy SIX. SIX questions SIX answers from Industry Icons and top Stylists that will be featured weekly. Please enjoy.

Please Enjoy this new great addition to TheSalonGuy website. Every week I will be featuring SIX questions SIX answers from Industry Stylists that have something to share. I will be featuring Celebrity Stylists, Platform Artists, Creative Directors, Owners and more. Please check back weekly to see who is featured for that week!
This weeks featured Stylist is Eric Charles Mokotoff. Author, Educator and now Salon Owner. Eric has educated for some of the largest companies in the Industry and has seen it all. His experiences gave him the knowledge to write a book called ” The Salon Industry Business Artist”. He has recently become a new Owner and can now apply all of his knowledge that he has learned over the years.

1) Eric, please tell me why you chose the Salon Industry as your career?

Honestly, it was a cop out at first. After I received a masters in classical music I couldn’t wait for a college professorship to open so I opened a few small businesses and traveled the country trying to find myself. At the time when all my resources were gone I thought that salons seemed cool and social places. Knowing nothing about it I enrolled in school to escape a suit and tie and the NYC subway system. I fell prey to the stereotypical view of a hairdresser and thought it was cool. I assisted for free on Saturdays in Brooklyn and a world opened up to me in a salon well ahead of its time. After quitting and getting fired from 13 salons in the first year I was recruited by a top manufacture who helped mold what I am today.

2) You wrote a book called “The Salon Industry Business Artist”. Please explain what a Business Artist is and why you chose to write a book about our Industry.

I wrote my book over the course of 10 years because those 13 salons made me angry. I was promised so many things including education but none of these salons were able to deliver, answer my questions or give me any sort of guidance fresh out of school. My years with manufacturers gave me all the answers I was seeking. During these years the concept of Business Artist evolved. A Salon Industry Business Artist is a salon professional whether salon owner or salon professional who is well and fully versed in both the business and creative sides of our industry. I don’t think anyone without some idea of both skill sets can truly be successful in our industry. A Business Artist can gain a higher level of respect, experience and career path.

3) You have worked for 2 major companies, educated thousands, seen the best and worst and are a very talented Colorist. Where do you see our Industry going and what would you like to see in the future?

I see tons of salons still going in and out of business like wildfire. I see scores of disgruntled hairdressers leaving the industry or striking out on their own be it opening salons or renting. I see a large % of those failing until industry standards and education change. I predict upheaval surrounding licensing and possible deregulation, I see more graduated hairdressers than available jobs, I see tons of misguided uneducated graduates lost but I do see a revolution led by a small band of rebels who are die hard fanatics for making changes in all areas of the industry. I see smaller companies stepping up with great education, independent professionals taking on the big guys.

4) You have recently joined in the social media aspect. What are your feelings on that and do you think it is important for people to use or follow.

I predicted the rise of computers and social media many years ago, even told salons I had worked for to get on board. I love technology and what the future is offering us. Without it success is limited. Social media is the interactive lifestyle between us and our client that allows us to be in their lives as well as their hair.

5) You recently took the plunge and left working as a Colorist and are now an Owner. Congrats on that! Why did you finally decide to make the change?

I was sick of the rhetoric and broken promises. I was disgusted to have a 5 year salary taken away and given straight commission after fighting so hard for the salary business model. I had always wanted my own place and passionately wrote about it in my book. As a father and husband with a mortgage it was time to follow my dream and never look back. I love my journey and my salon is experiencing the roller coaster of instant success and I get to test out everything I’ve ever believed and taught and wrote about. It is non-stop passion, dedication and work.

6) Do you like shaving your head?
I entered the industry with mid-back long hair and as I thinned I sported flattops, crew-cuts and then took the plunge. I love shaving my head. I thank God my head shape is ideal and I just keep redesigning my beard which I’ve had for 20 years and will never shave.
Eric’s book is available for purchase at http://www.haircolorartist.com/

 

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This weeks featured Stylist is Homer Harris. Homer was the winner of my video response to serving wine in the Salon. Homer almost hit rock bottom, then picked himself back up with passion, networking and faith. Please enjoy this touching story and congrats Homer for making a come back!

1) Homer, please share with us a little bit about your background as a Stylist.
Started back in 1991. Was an educator for “National Hair Care” in the mid 90′s where I did in house training on color theory and technique. My focus has always been on cut and color and pushing the limits on what a particular color line can do or finding different ways of applying color and highlights.

2) Recently you went through some hard times and was ready to give up and move on from the Industry. What helped you get through it and comeback stronger than ever?
Yeah that was a really scary time for me financially and emotionally. What got me through it was friends I’ve met through Redken and people I’ve known for years. Took some time off and decided to regroup. So far I’ve been going to a lot of classes from other manufactures to get a sense of what people are doing. Completely changed my cutting style with the help of Phil Stone over at ReWiredHair and in terms of business knowledge Eric Charles Mokotoff and his book “The Salon Industry Business Artist” is a must read. I’m also exercising and sleeping more to bring a sense of calm and happiness back into my life. Looking back it made me a better person because things tend to work out no matter how daunting it may seem at the time. My future goal is to become and educator for a company or as an independent.

3) What advice can you give to Stylists that are having a hard time with their career and feel like they are not growing.
The best thing is go to a class and practice what you’ve learned on a mannequin that day. There is so much free or inexpensive education out there. Or take inventory of what you really want to do in this field and how to get there. A lot of people are willing to help and talk to you on how to achieve your goals. My Redken distributor has been very helpful in terms of getting me answers and providing education. Also you might be in the wrong salon and not living up to your full potential but try to think things through and not jump to hasty conclusions that can’t be undone. No one wants to see you fail and if you want it bad enough you’ll find a reasonable way to get it.

4) What inspires you?
Music, sketching, old black and white Hollywood photos from the 40′s and 50′s., reading biography’s of my favorite artists, laughing with friends and riding my motorcycle inspires me by giving me peace to enjoy life. Inspiration can be found everywhere if you open yourself up to it.

5) What would you like to see happen in our Industry that will have a positive impact.
I’d like to do away with “State Board”, train people like it’s done in Europe and have a more standardized hours in America. If I moved to California why do I have to get more hours to get a license there? We also should receive college credit in cosmetology
and make it a two year program with more focus on science and chemistry in terms of composition of hair and the chemicals that we use.

6) What is your obsession with Kermit the Frog?
Ahh you’re talking about my Facebook profile! I’m a silly guy and like to joke around. Grew up watching “Sesame Street” and “The Muppets” so Kermit reminds me of happy times when I was a kid. I try to capture that feeling of unlimited, child like imagination and focus it on creating something new that will fit a client. Yes I know it’s odd and kooky but Hair Stylist are a very unique, interesting bunch.
It’s not easy being green.

 

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This weeks Stylist and great Friend is Celebrity Stylist George Ortiz. George is the Lead Hair Stylist on Project Runway and has a long list of Celebrity Clients, Covers and Photo Shoots. Watching him work is like watching a sculptor. He has such grace and finesse when he works and it seems effortless. Please enjoy this weeks SalonGuy SIX with George Ortiz.

1)How did you decide to get into this Industry?
At the risk of sounding CRAZY, I decided to get into the industry from an epiphany I had one very dark, depressed morning. I was contemplating suicide because I had just had not been truly happy in such a long time. If you asked anyone in my life at the time they would say they hadn’t any idea this was going on with me because I never spoke about it. I had everything, a great home in East Hampton, a great Boyfriend Lots of friends and a wonderful job that was created for me by one of NY’s best Restaurateurs. All I knew was that GOD had to show me a sigh that day or It was going to be OVER!!!
Well needless to say the sign was loud and clear! I had a blocked memory of my beloved Mother’s hands showing me how to cut the back of her hair when I was about 8 yrs old. My BF said I let a a monster yelp! but all I remember is waking up in bed with a new focus and determination! That was 2004 and my life changed dramatically almost immediately!

2) Did it take you long to move through the ranks and progress to become a Stylist when you first started?
I have been very fortunate that as soon as I set fourth on my new found venture, things just fell into place and I had the eye and hands of whom I call my Guardian Angels instantly!
Garren and his agent (now mine) Jim Indorato and New friend Tim Rogers. These 3 people helped me propel higher and faster than anyone else in our business in a very long time. I came easy to me and with every strand I found fulfillment and I have never let go.

3) Being A Celebrity Stylist is a dream to many Stylists in the industry. What advice can you share with people to get there and is it all glamor and fame?
Glamor and fame is only witnessed from the outside. There is no difference between doing the locks of a Princess, celebrity or an everyday woman. Treat everyone in your life as a KING and Queen and you will have found my secret. I’m not PERFECT but I am genuine and I understand my aesthetic. My most fulfilling moments are the abused women and children that find refuge in safe havens across America. I am proud to help them realize what kind of KINGS and QUEENS they truly are and deserve to be treated as. Charity and passion GO hand in hand ( SECRET #2).- My 2 heartfelt charities are” Real Beauty Real World” which deal with breaking the cycle of violence for women and children Across America and the other organization I work closely with is “The 7 bar foundation”, which deals with Micro Finance for single mothers under the poverty line around the world giving them a hand up not a hand out!

4) Why did you decide to not work in a Salon and work for yourself?
Well there are just so many different facets of this industry that I was just finding my niche. I couldn’t find joy in a salon environment, even if it was THE BEST SALON IN NYC!! I’m just a different animal lol. In order to grow I had to do it MY way, not to say I will never return to the Salon environment. Its just I would prefer GEORGE ORTIZ on the door IT WILL HAPPEN!

5) Who is a Stylist that you look up to and should everyone have someone to admire and have as a role model?
You know, I believe that it is much more important to dissect and comprehend what the word aesthetic means to you. Find a way to embrace it and work from there. I cant teach ANYONE how to do hair but I CAN show them how to create for themselves while still following A KEY’s inspiration. I don’t follow anyone else’s drumbeat but as far as admiration of essence in certain Hairstylists is concerned,I would have to say that I adore GARREN!!! ORIBE!!!! ORLANDO PITA!!!! and FREDRICK FEKKAI!!!! duh!

6) What is something that always comes to mind that you laugh about after all these years?
It doesn’t fail!!!! EVERY TIME I think I have all figured out the universe reminds me that I’m not driving! That just cracks me up all the time!! Thank you Salon Guy for finding interest in a once very lost kid!

 

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This weeks Featured Stylist is Anthony Lombardi, Stylist and Owner of Anthony Roberts Salon and Stylist on the hit Reality TV Show Jerseylicious. Anthony has seen it all and is one of those guys that truly know the Salon Industry inside and out. On the show, he isn’t too far off from who he really is as a Stylist and Owner on his normal day to day operation. Please enjoy what Anthony has to say.

1) Anthony, the hot topic right now is straightening. Some safe, some not safe. I recently learned that you are an Educator for a straightening product. What are your thoughts on straightening services?

Straightening the hair can be life changing for some women. it totally makes such a difference for women, who have to blow out their hair, flat iron it just to go out and have it curl or fizz up. now with straightening, they can cut the “doing hair” time in more than half. I use and educate for 100% formaldehyde free products that truly work and the outcome is beautiful straight hair and they are safe. i would not use any products that were not safe for my clients or myself.

 

2) Switching color lines can be a difficult process. What would cause you to change lines and what do you look for in a new color line?
With color you have to make sure of two very important things, that the color is good & the coverage is great. so when choosing color lines or making switch that is what i look for. also i want to make sure that the ingredients are safe for the client & the hair.

3) You recently remodeled Anthony Roberts Salon. What advice can you give for Owners looking to remodel their Salon?
Keep it clean and simple. go with a little modern trend, but not too much because as quick as trends come in they go out.

4) How often should there be a price increase in the Salon?
Usually its when the product companies raise prices, then we have to as well to keep up.

5) How has being on Jerseylicious helped your business?
Jerseylicious has been a wonderful experience for me as well as Anthony Robert Salon. It has brought us so many terrific clients. the show has showed how we are personally and professionally and how talented me & my staff are. Its been a blessing and I am so thankful to all the clients and fans

6) I know how much of an Italian food lover you are. Explain the difference between “sauce” and “gravy” and what is your secret to making a good one?
Sauce vs. gravy…..its really how you were brought up. what your parents, grandparents, & great grandparents called it. I really cant give you my “secret” ingredients, but having my recipe handed to me from my mother who was taught by her mother is what really makes it special and delicious!

 

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This weeks Featured Stylist is Benjamin Jay. A young, talented, inspirational and dedicated Salon Owner, Stylist and Educator. Ben has a true passion for what he does and a commitment to his Staff to provide them with a great working environment which is built on growth, motivation, education and inspiration. Please enjoy this weeks Featured Stylist.

1) You are a young Salon Owner and you are one of those Owners that just get’s it. How the heck did you become so knowledgeable and organized?
My parents actually started our salon in 1980. When I was 15 they let me start working in the salon and I started on the customer service/business side of the business with my father. That’s given me a different perspective on things I think. In addition to that, you have to surround yourself with what you need in order to get to where you want to go. “You are what you eat” doesn’t just apply to food, I think it has more implications for what you feed your mind and I try to study great businesses like Apple and mentors like author Simon Sinek. You also have to build a team with people that are going to support you. I have two in my salon, Christian Awesome who is our cutting genius and Megan Wohler who is our color genius, that push me and keep me going more than anyone, and it’s quite the motivator when you have people close to you that have that kind of confidence in you and your vision and I couldn’t do what I do without them.

2) What keeps your Salon growing on a consistent basis?
I’d say it’s our Successful Lifestyle mentality. There are three levels of dedication in our mind; Jobs, which no ever cares for or makes money in. Careers, where you can be successful, but the ultimate pairing of work and life is committing to this industry as a Lifestyle. Everyone has heard of “work/life balance” but balance is created between two opposing forces. For us and our industry when those aspects of life work together and in unison, we find life more rewarding. In addition to that, 2 years ago when the economy was slower (never use the economy as an excuse for slow business) we took three steps forward. We streamlined our education program, focused on our systems, and went through our service step by step as far as the experience we felt we needed to create in order to succeed.

3) Tell us about your education and affiliation with Paul Mitchell.
Early in my mother’s career, she had the opportunity to work in New York as she was going to be a part of the launch team for The Crimpers. At the time, Paul Mitchell was the Artistic Director for the company and she trained right underneath him. Once it was my time to decide on school, I waited until Paul Mitchell The School Chicago opened and I was the 1st student to sign up. I knew that since Steve and Terri Cowan are the owners there that it would be the absolute best school option for me. More recently, I’ve started what I need to in order to become a JPMS salon associate, but it really all goes back to mom and Paul working together and us taking on the Paul Mitchell line when it came to Chicago in 1982.

4) How did you choose your career path and decide to commit to a branded culture?
I think most guys that grow up in a hair salons don’t ever intend on going into the business and I’m the same. I didn’t find my passion for it until I was already working in it. In terms of culture, I always say we’re not a Paul Mitchell salon, we’re a Benjamin Jay salon that carries Paul Mitchell. I think PM provides great inspiration for education, branding, and salon set up, but you can’t just copy it, you always have to make it your own, otherwise it isn’t authentic.

5) What has been your biggest accomplishment in your career?
This past year has been big, our salon was a Top Ten Paul Mitchell salon in Illinois, we started Benjamin Jay Academy to share our education and branding ideas with other stylists and owners, and I got featured in some Paul Mitchell publications and on BehindTheChair.com. I have to say though, that the thing that I find the most rewarding is and always will be seeing people on my team grow. I have one young lady named Tori right now who is growing faster than anyone on our team has in 10 years and I’m just trying to keep up with her! I also love when I get students who tell me that the HAIR LOFT ltd is where they want to work.

6) What is your favorite hobby and why?
We just had one of the worst snow storms Chicago has ever seen recently and we had to close the salon for a couple of days. It was absolutely killing me to not be working! I do enjoy movies a lot though, they have the ability to show you experiences and worlds that would otherwise be impossible. That’s the magic of the movies.

BenjaminJay.com
Facebook.com/BenjaminJayAcademy
theHAIRLOFTltd.com

 

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Please welcome our first featured SalonGuy SIX Celebrity Stylist, Adam Livermore.

1) Adam, you work with one of the most Iconic HairStylists in the Industry, Oribe. What is that like and how did you get such a great opportunity?
About 2 years ago, Oribe designed a beautiful line of hair products and launched an online community for the stylists and salons who use them. The web network is called Oribe.Pro and its a brilliant way for all of us to stay connected with each other and share product knowledge, techniques, ideas, and of course share our work. I joined up and posted a few of my books, and Oribe (who is himself a member of Oribe.Pro) saw my work and asked me to come to Paris couture fashion week with him for the Armani Privé collection. Now I work with Oribe Haircare as an educator, I work alongside Oribe many of his of fashion and celebrity jobs, and we also share the same US agent at Oribe Agency.

2) What advice can you give to Stylists that want to work on Celebrities, Models, Fashion Shows and Events?

It’s not as if there’s a job posting and you can go and fill out an application unfortunately… you have to find your own way to those jobs and it’s a different way for everyone. I think its all about self promotion and networking. You have to discover the photographers, stylists, models, and makeup artists who’s work inspires you, and you have to contact them and start working together. Get your book going. Get a release from your photographers and start promoting your work… You have to be your own publicist. If I had a great shoot, I would write a press release about the collection and send it with thumbnails to every editor I could track down on Google. When my book was starting to look good, I branched out of Minneapolis where I lived at the time, and started contacting photographers here in New York to take it to the next level. I spent a lot of time and money doing this, but the experience I gained at those shoots and the pictures that are in my book from those trips were well worth it. I just kept networking and networking.

3) What was your most exciting Celebrity styling moment and why?
Well, a really fun one was the Vanity Fair Hollywood Issue cover that just came out. Oribe and I worked with Anne Hathaway, Jake Gyllenhaal, Ryan Reynolds, James Franco, and Jennifer Lawrence. The shoot was amazing… everything was 30′s Hollywood with bias cut dresses and tuxedos and a beautiful set. These actors are THE young powerhouses in Hollywood right now, and they’re all so funny… we all just had fun together. It was a great, lighthearted mood on set.

4) Is new York the place to be if you want to make it big in our Industry?
That depends on exactly what you want to do in our industry. If you’re interested in editorial fashion work, New York is a great place to be because there are lots of great models and photographers here. But with the fashion world being so celebrity driven now, L.A. is also a good place to be. There’s a lot of advertising and campaign work there too partly for the same reason. If you’re strictly behind the chair, New York is certainly where you’d be able to demand the highest price for your salon services… I’ve seen haircut prices close to $1000 and color services upwards of $1500 here in Manhattan. So it all depends on what you like doing best.

5) What is it like working in a Salon part time and the other time working on Celebs and traveling?
I LOVE it, but it can be exhausting. It’s not at all like when I was behind the chair full time and I’d work all week and have the weekend off. Now I work when I have work to do and relax when I can. For example, during fashion week last September here in New York, I did Molly Sims’s hair in the morning for a show, then had a 10:30am call backstage for another show, then that afternoon I was in the salon getting wigs ready for a music video shoot with Jennifer Lopez… We worked all that day and straight through the night getting wigs ready for the shoot, and then I went straight to location for my 5:30am call time, and worked all through that day at the shoot. Then I went home and passed out! Oribe and Judy (his amazing assistant) do this kind of thing all the time.

6) You have awesome dreads! Is that all your hair and what is the upkeep?
HA! Yes it is all my hair, and the great thing about it is the LACK of upkeep. I color my hair once in a great while, but I never have to style it obviously, and I get a salon service MAYBE once a year to maintain the organization of my dreads. It’s so great… I never have a bad hair day and it’s ridiculously easy.
Adam Livermore
Three Squares Studio
444 West 17th
New York, NY 10011