Yesterday I abnegated being my own hairstylist. I sought out a student hairstylist at a school of arts and sciences: The Aveda Institute. https://avedaarts.edu/locations/dallas/
The young woman, paired with me by the front desk clerk, was the 18-year old Natalie H., who greeted then escorted me downstairs to her station. After asking me my intention for my tinsel-streaked hair, she jotted down some relevant details, called over her “educator” (a.k.a. a seasoned senior instructor {all students are supervised}), and began her process. Natalie H. disappeared for several minutes to mix the color and collect her tools, then she proceeded to make magic.
The Aveda method includes parting the hair into quadrants, then coloring each quadrant clockwise. After Natalie H. finished, she called over another “educator” to assess her work, who approved her technique, then she disappeared again to clean up her tools.
I waited and surveilled for 30 minutes while the environmentally correct products were processed, watching all the other students and educators in their element. There was even a young woman being celebrated for her graduation from the year-long program, with balloons, cheers, whistles, and an enthusiastic gong pounding.
Once the timer rang, my hair was washed, and Natalie H. trimmed off an inch of my hair, diffused it for a few minutes, and I was on my way.
I’ve never had a student stylist before. I think it was a symbiotic experience: Natalie H. worked on a real person, not her head mannequin, and my hairdo experience came full circle: I’ve had an owner/experienced stylist do my hair, and now a student, seven months into her education.
We all were students once. We all started a profession once. We all learn new skills. Cheers to Natalie H.
Aloha🌺,
Denise
