Hairbrained Articles

4 Essential Ways to Become a Better Hair Colorist Whether you're new to the industry or remember when everyone wanted Kelly Clarkson's chunky highlights, becoming even more adept at hair coloring is a must. Not only is color one of the biggest moneymakers in the salon, but when applied expertly, it builds client retention and loyalty. 1 Continuous learning (and relearning) If there's one thing to be said about the hair industry, it's that it's continually evolving. That means you need to evolve too. Be sure to seek out top educators who can help you break out of creative ruts and stay relevant. In fact, Hb Fest has more than 30 top-tier educators you can learn from! Learn cut, color, extensions, style and more—all at the gorgeous JW Marriott in Palm Desert, September 13-15, 2025. Just sayin'! 2 Learn the Whys behind the formulas Move beyond copying or memorizing formulas and foil placement. Understanding the science behind color will help you customize, troubleshoot and elevate your results and reputation. Foiling Masterclass with Tabitha Dueñas : Learn when—and why—to use vertical, diagonal, horizontal placement. Color Correction with Confidence with Cassandra McGlaughlin : Advanced color theory, chemistry and technique. 3 Master the art of the consultation Whether your client is a ride-or-die or brand-new, asking, "So what are we going to do today?" is NOT a consultation! Find out the hair's chemical history, including relaxers, keratin treatments, past color—clients may not understand that rinse they put on their hair was color, but bleach don't lie. Review inspo images together. Ask your client to describe—in detail—what they like or dislike about their inspo photos. These tactics will help you manage expectations and effectively communicate costs. 4 Document and reflect on your work Consider starting a formula journal or digital portfolio. By taking notes and photos of what worked (and what didn't), every client becomes a learning opportunity. Over time, patterns will emerge, and your ability to make smarter, better and faster decisions will grow. Ready to Master Your Craft? Discover world-class education and take your skills to the next level Explore Education

This Is Why You Forget Everything Master the art of retention and transform your hairdressing education Have you ever binge-watched a series, only to find that a week later you can't remember details or plot points? This phenomenon of forgetting info over time is known as the "forgetting curve." In fact, studies show that when there's no attempt to retain information, we forget an average of 90% of what we learned within the first seven days! So what's a knowledge-hungry craft hairdresser like you to do? Master hairdresser Gerard demonstrating precision techniques Four Ways to Beat the Forgetting Curve 1 Learn in Spurts Since the biggest drop in memory happens almost immediately after learning—within an hour, you could forget up to half of what you just studied!—breaking up courses into smaller chunks and reviewing what you learned after each segment will improve memory retention. 2 Space Out Learning Times Longer gaps in between learning sessions can further help increase memory, especially if you recall what you've learned previously before moving onto the next session. 3 Be Interactive By printing out headsheets, taking notes and following along on a mannequin, you will be actively engaged and more apt to retain information for longer. 4 Try Interleaving Interleaving, or mixing up different concepts while you're learning rather than focusing on one topic at a time, can help improve your ability to tell different concepts apart and make them easier to recall.So, for example, if you're focusing on how to cut a bob →, switch it up and throw in a course on how to style curly hair →. Start Your Learning Journey Today Be sure to check out the wide range of online courses on the Hairbrained Live Academy → And if you want free education (and let's face it, who doesn't?!), then be sure to sign up for FLOW → our Free Lesson of the Week! Save hundreds of dollars a year while getting tons of top-notch education!

Join Goldwell ColorSphere 2025 in Milan, Sept 14-15. Global hair color innovation event featuring workshops, trends & Creative Awards competition.

Vagaro Launches Textured Hair Badge to Help Stylists Showcase Curl Expertise The new feature allows clients to more quickly and easily locate salons and stylists who specialize in textured hair services. NEW FEATURE Although the beauty industry has made meaningful strides toward inclusivity—especially in textured hair—it can still be challenging for clients to find hairdressers who are trained and confident in providing textured hair services. That's why Vagaro is proud to announce their recently introduced "Textured Hair" business-type badge, which allows salons and independent pros to easily advertise their expertise in caring for coils, curls and waves. "The ability to easily signal textured hair expertise helps clients—especially those in the Black community—feel seen." — Charity Hudnall, CMO, Vagaro From straight to stunning curls—this client's joy underscores the transformational power of stylists like Mona Baltazar of The Mona Cut, who specialize in textured hair. Thanks to Vagaro's new badge, finding these professionals is easier than ever. Photo courtesy of The Mona Cut The new badge from Vagaro, the leading software for beauty businesses, can be toggled on within a business profile, helping clients quickly identify stylists who are trained and confident in working with textured hair. "Hair is deeply personal, and textured hair requires specialized knowledge," says Charity Hudnall, CMO at Vagaro. "The ability to easily signal that expertise helps clients—especially those in the Black community—feel seen, while also helping to elevate industry standards." Textured hair is varied and requires specialized knowledge, says Charity Hudnall. Photo courtesy of The Mona Cut This effort builds upon Vagaro's recent activation in the UK at HairCon. During the trade show, a dedicated mainstage showcase with Project Afro and a braiding bar in partnership with Braids Gang highlighted the artistry and expertise of textured hair professionals, bringing visibility to both stylists and consumers. This also comes as an increasing number of states are passing new legislation requiring cosmetology schools to teach textured hair education. Several states, including Washington, Vermont, Maine, California, Minnesota, Connecticut, Louisiana and New York, now officially require beauty schools to train across all hair types. As more recognize textured hair education as a professional necessity rather than an optional skill, tools like this badge reflect an important factor in what quality hair care truly means: inclusion, education and accessibility. Ready to Showcase Your Expertise? Join the movement toward inclusive beauty standards. Activate Your Textured Hair Badge

Find Your Flock 🦩 Hb Fest is more than just an education event—it's a gathering for passionate hairdressers to connect, grow, and get inspired. Happening September 13–15, 2025, in sunny Palm Springs, this three-day experience brings together the best in the industry for nonstop learning and unforgettable vibes. ✨ 30+ Classes Look & learn and hands-on sessions with master educators 🌴 Palm Springs Vibes JW Marriott Palm Desert at just $279/night 💰 Group Savings Save up to $130 per person when you bring 3+ friends 🌴 🦩 🌴 Learn from Industry Icons With over 30 look & learn and hands-on classes led by the best in the business, you'll sharpen your skills and see what's next in cutting, color, and styling. @jacobkhan @sonnabrado @danieljosephmuldoon 👉 Swipe to see more educators → @jacobkhan Cutting Specialist @sonnabrado Color Expert @danieljosephmuldoon Styling Master Experience the Magic Join us for hands-on learning, inspiring demonstrations, and unforgettable connections Get Your Tickets Now Elevate Your Learning Want to really take your skills to the next level? Join one of the intimate hands-on sessions and work directly with master educators to refine your craft in a focused setting. We're taking over the stunning JW Marriott Palm Desert, where attendees can stay on-site and soak up the full experience. Bonus: we've secured a special group rate of just $279 per night—so you can stay in style without breaking the bank. See You in Paradise Reserve Your Spot Today FLY IN EARLY, SAVE BIG! September 13-15, 2025 • Palm Springs, CA 00 Days 00 Hours 00 Minutes 00 Seconds EARLY BIRD TICKETS - SAVE UP TO $130

Discover the 2025 NAHA winners across 15 categories including Avant Garde, Haircolor, and Hairstylist of the Year. See the beauty industry's best work.

Hairdresser Spotlight: Gabby Allen @strawberricurls From Blogger to Hairstylist to Educator Gabrielle Allen's path to becoming a sought-after hairstylist and educator was anything but traditional. What started as a passion project sharing natural hair tips on her blog evolved into a multifaceted career that has touched nearly every aspect of the beauty industry. The Natural Hair Movement Pioneer "I started off when the natural hair movement was super new, sharing tips on Twitter and Tumblr," Gabby recalls. "I was trying to be helpful and share what I figured out about my own hair." Her online community grew rapidly, with a popular Sunday night discussion called "Natural Hair Chat," during which she interviewed stylists and shared insights. "I was trying to be helpful and share what I figured out about my own hair." Finding an Unexpected Path Initially planning a career in tech, Gabby's journey took an unexpected turn when her pastor suggested cosmetology school. "I was vehemently against this," she laughs. "I was like, 'I do my hair for fun, but I don't want to do that.'" Nevertheless, after a year of uncertainty, she decided to pursue cosmetology and quickly distinguished herself, becoming known as the "natural hair girl" in her class. "I was vehemently against this. I was like, 'I do my hair for fun, but I don't want to do that.'" An Accelerated Journey Her career accelerated quickly. Within a five-year span, Gabby graduated from cosmetology school, did instructor training with Paul Mitchell, worked with professional hair companies and even opened her own salon, Shades Studio – which she funded entirely out of pocket. "I'm very much a hands-on experience learner," she explains. "I don't do too much research before I just delve in and figure out the rest." "I'm very much a hands-on experience learner. I don't do too much research before I just delve in and figure out the rest." Empowering Other Stylists View this post on Instagram A post shared by Salon Owner | Stylist Coach (@strawberricurls) One of Gabby's passions is helping other stylists succeed. She offers virtual classes on topics like creating salon membership programs and increasing income. "I understand how hard it is to accumulate this knowledge," she says. "That's why I share so much free content online." The Next Chapter In that vein, Gabby is focused on her next big goal: opening a cosmetology school. And while she is still learning how to accomplish such a feat, she is approaching it in the same manner she has her entire beauty career. "I was in the same place before I opened up salons," she muses. "I just did it. I'll simply learn how to do it along the way." "I was in the same place before I opened up salons. I just did it. I'll simply learn how to do it along the way." Creative Freedom What drives Gabby is the creative freedom the industry provides. "I'm unemployable in traditional nine-to-five jobs," she jokes. "If I'm not able to have my creative energy, I can't really operate well." Her advice to aspiring stylists? Don't be afraid to reach out. "Nine out of ten times, the professionals you admire are way more down-to-earth than you realize. They're super cool and helpful." "Nine out of ten times, the professionals you admire are way more down-to-earth than you realize. They're super cool and helpful." A Journey of Passion Growing from a blogger sharing natural hair tips to a multifaceted hairstylist and educator, Gabby's journey proves that passion, resourcefulness and a willingness to learn can transform a hobby into a remarkable career. "If I'm not able to have my creative energy, I can't really operate well." Follow Gabby on Instagram Explore Education Events

@rogermolinahair A Journey of Passion, Persistence and Purpose From musician to master hairdresser, Roger Molina's journey is a testament to the power of passion and a love for learning. Funnily enough, Roger's story doesn't begin in a salon, but rather on the road in the late '90s, cutting hair for his bandmates with whatever tools were available—and we mean "tools" in the loosest sense possible. From Band Life to Hair Life "I was cutting hair with the worst tools possible," Roger recalls. "I had one pair of scissors that were pretty good, but I could never find them, so it was always like, 'What do I have around here? Oh, a broken bottle? That'll do!'" "I had one pair of scissors that were pretty good, but I could never find them, so it was always like, 'What do I have around here? Oh, a broken bottle? That'll do!'" Finding His Calling And while Roger enjoyed the creativity of cutting hair, it wasn't until a friend remarked on his ability to connect with people, and suggested he become a hairdresser. "And I half-joked, 'So you're telling me I've got no skill or talent?' And she responded, 'Nobody' has talent when they start hair." This advice sparked an obsession. After enrolling in cosmetology school, Roger began "borrowing" mannequins from his hair school to practice, cutting them multiple times and sneaking them back. "I would cut them like seven times and put them back—like nobody's gonna notice," he remembers with a laugh. "I would cut them like seven times and put them back—like nobody's gonna notice." Mentors and Influences While Roger is blessed to have had many mentors, such as Ira Pope Sage, DJ Muldoon and Sam Villa, he says Hugo Urias truly helped shape his approach to hairdressing and education. "Hugo taught me that education is about them, not you," Roger says, explaining that ego has to take a back seat. "It's about their experience. You're here as a teacher to make everyone feel special and validated." "Hugo taught me that education is about them, not you. It's about their experience. You're here as a teacher to make everyone feel special and validated." Philosophy and Teaching This philosophy extends to his current mission of inspiring young hairdressers. Roger believes many emerging professionals make a critical mistake by specializing too quickly. "A lot of up-and-coming hairdressers want to specialize in one thing right away, like balayage. But trends change rapidly." Instead, he advocates for mastering fundamentals and embracing lifelong learning. "Whatever your biggest blocker is, that's what you should focus on first," he says. "Remove that rock in your water tube, and you'll be amazed how much force comes behind it." Creative Vision Roger's passion for creative content makes learning fun—and this has helped him to win two Hairbrained Video Awards for his visionary stop-motion videos. Looking forward, he wants to use miniature art sculptures and animated characters to demonstrate hair techniques. "My goal is to create content that makes a child think, 'That's awesome! I want to be a hairdresser!'" "My goal is to create content that makes a child think, 'That's awesome! I want to be a hairdresser!'" Follow Roger on Instagram Explore Hairbrained Events