Hair: it’s the ultimate accessory.
It can be as wild as you’d like or as conservative as you need. Either way, hair is another form of self-expression. Whether you’re rocking blue highlights or a sickening ombré, you have your hairdresser to thank. Now, some people might think being a hairdresser is an easy job, but our Real Hairdressers of Atlanta have put in years of honing their craft to make your head look the best it can! We spoke to a few of these amazing “hair artists” about what they like, what they hate to do, and how they unwind after a long day behind the chair!
Chris Williams
Helmet Hairworx Midtown
How He Got His Start: “I was always inspired by hair in the music scene and after deciding not to continue pursuing music I picked up a pair of shears.”
Most Enjoyable Part of the Job: “I get to be creative everyday and take care of peoples images. It’s a power trip, but it genuinely brings me happiness when my clients love their hair!”
Biggest On-the-Job Challenge: “All the late night ‘clientele building!’”
Greatest Strength as a Hairdresser: “I pride myself in my men’s barbering and short women’s haircutting.”
How He Unwinds After a Long Day: “I like to sit in silence for no less than 30 minutes. Maybe play some cards or own some noobs online [playing] FIFA 14.”
Favorite Hair Trend: “I’m loving the Classic men’s barbered haircuts and fashion right now. I’m a dapper dan man, goddamn it.”
What Makes His Salon Great: “We at Helmet truly want you to love your total experience. Start to finish. There’s a million ways to make eggs they say but a lot of people love mine!”
Why People Should See Him: “I have trained with the best and also train other stylists in cutting. I will never stop until you’re feeling your best.”
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Conor Sea
Steve Hightower Salon
Most Enjoyable Part of the Job: “Getting to know my clients while helping them feel more comfortable in their own skin. I enjoy building their self-esteem by showing them new styles and how to take care of their own hair.”
Biggest On-the-Job Challenge: “My biggest challenge would be being time conscious of clients when they are running late.”
Greatest Strength as a Hairdresser: “My greatest strength would definitely be working with long hair and color.”
How He Unwinds After a Long Day: “Spending time with my friends, no matter what my day has to offer my friends can always make me sparkle.”
Favorite Hair Trend: “My favorite hair trend would be ombré. Ombré is a great low maintenance way to change up your look using hair color.
Least Favorite Hair Trend: “My least favorite would be the current fashion mullet. It is a “trendy” cut that every single person is rocking. Be an original trendsetter.”
What Makes His Salon Great: “What sets Steve Hightower Salon and Day Spa apart from other salons is our extreme focus on staying up to date with surest trends and techniques with continuing education. We are constantly taking classes from professionals known around the world!”
Why People Should See Him: “You should come see me because I have the ability to transform your hair dreams into an amazing reality!”
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Craig Smith
Bubbles Salon
How He Got His Start: “Well, honestly, I got tired of being a banker!”
Most Enjoyable Part of the Job: “I enjoy making people look their best when they feel the worst. Plus, there’s getting to know everybody’s dirt!”
Biggest On-the-Job Challenge: “In a salon, you have different personalities, and sometimes stylists come in and they have a ‘God Complex.’ So I guess the toughest thing would be mixing personalities and figuring out dynamics.”
Greatest Strength as a Hairdresser: “Being a listening ear and a therapist to my clients.”
How He Unwinds After a Long Day: “I enjoy spending a nice evening with the love of my life – I love you Matt! – and a nice glass of wine.”
Favorite Hair Trend: “Big Hair. The bigger, the better, I say!”
Least Favorite Hair Trend: “Bowl Cuts, or as I like to call it, the ‘Dorothy Hamill.’”
What Makes His Salon Great: “Our Customer Service and our skill level is the best! Not to mention, I have an incredible boss!”
Why People Should See Him: “Because you’ll get a great haircut and style at a great price, plus the gossip is the best in the ATL!”
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Libby Wyatt
Salon Red, Decatur
How She Got Her Start: “I went to college to become a high school English teacher, and quickly realized that I would be totally bored in such a conservative role. I started working as a freelance makeup artist, and fell in love with the beauty industry. I enrolled in hair school to broaden my opportunities in the bridal beauty business, but ended up falling in love with cut and color, and the rest is history!”
Most Enjoyable Part of the Job: “Getting a new client and changing the way they see themselves. When someone says to me, ‘I don’t know what I really want, but I’m just bored with my hair,’ I take that as a challenge to make them shine. I love to try new things on people – cuts and color that they would never imagine asking for – and making them feel better than they ever have about the way they look. When someone feels beautiful and confident, it shifts their lives in such a positive way, and that makes me feel warm and fuzzy.”
Biggest On-the-Job Challenge: “Finding shoes that are cute, but don’t make me feel like a tragic mess after standing for ten hours.”
Greatest Strength as a Hairdresser: “I have a great eye for what cuts and color will bring out someone’s best features. Dimensional color is my specialty and my first love, so I guess that would make haircutting my mistress. I was trained at Bumble & Bumble in New York for razor cutting, so I can rock those effortlessly cool, textured haircuts, too!”
How She Unwinds After a Long Day: “A stiff vodka drink and some herbal remedies at home with my dog and boyfriend are always in order.”
Favorite Hair Trend: “My favorite would definitely be ombré. This gets some heat as being tired, but I love the challenge of keeping it fresh and blended. It’s a great, low-maintenance way to experiment with color that, if done correctly, can be so gorgeous. A close second would be the closely cropped, longer on top, prohibition-style haircuts on men. It’s so easy to stay in a box with short men’s haircuts, and this is a great way to keep it professional and super sexy at the same time.”
Least Favorite Hair Trend: “My least favorite would definitely be the fashion mullet. Leave it for Euro-trash and Japanese teenagers, please and thank you.”
What Makes Her Salon Great: “We are very diverse, relaxed and love to have fun. No matter what your style, age, persuasion, etc., you will love us at Salon Red Decatur!”
Why People Should See Her: “I will make you look fabulous while we laugh and have an awesome time together, and you will never, ever be bored with your hair. I believe in changing my clients at least seasonally, even if it’s a slight change. Oh, and also my assistant, Maurice, has magic fingers in the shampoo bowl and is pretty easy on the eyes!”
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Timothy Hays
Salon Red, Candler Park
How He Got His Start: “My original career path just wasn’t fulfilling anymore; I wanted to do something fun and creative, a job where I could just be me. I literally saw a hair school while I was out one night and thought, ‘I could do that.’ And it turns out I’m really good at it.”
Most Enjoyable Part of the Job: “I really enjoy teaching and passing on knowledge. Whether it’s teaching a class to newer stylists, or showing a salon guest the best and easiest way to deal with her bangs, I love to see the look on their faces when I explain or show a technique to someone, and they get it.”
Biggest On-the-Job Challenge: “Sometimes you have a guest who has really long hair, and she just wants the tiniest bit cut off, and there’s really no way to make that into a really great haircut. Getting a long-haired client to understand that getting a haircut once a year won’t make it healthy-looking or beautiful is really a challenge.”
Greatest Strength as a Hairdresser: “I really take the time to listen to my client so I really understand what they want before I start cutting. I hear tons of horror stories from new clients about how their previous stylist just didn’t listen to them. Listen up, people! It’s the most important part of my job.”
How He Unwinds After a Long Day: “A Kraken spiced rum with Barq’s root beer, and a night of board gaming. My partner and I are proud nerds and enjoy all things geeky, from Star Wars to Doctor Who.”
Favorite Hair Trend: “My favorites for men are pompadours and slicked-back styles. I think the idea of adding a part into a man’s hairstyle helps add a certain element of sophistication. My favorite for women is big, bouncy hair, which never goes out of style.”
Least Favorite Hair Trend: “As far as my least favorites go, I’ve never been a big fan of women with curly hair flat ironing all that gorgeous curl out of their hair every day of their life. Curls are beautiful!”
What Makes His Salon Great: “Salon Red is an upscale salon, but without the stuck-up snootiness you might experience at other high-end salons. I feel like our guests and our employees genuinely enjoy themselves when they are here. And we don’t judge if you come to your appointment clad in sweatpants.”
Why People Should See Him: “I really care about how my guests feel while they’re here and I also care about teaching my guests how to make their hair look great every day, not just when they walk out of the salon. I guarantee you’ll have fun in my chair and leave with a fantastic haircut.”
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Toni Middleton
Helmet Hairworx
How She Got Her Start: “I started experimenting with my own hair, then I started doing my family and friend’s hair. I went off to college to appease my parents, soon after I started doing hair around campus. I knew school wasn’t for me and ultimately hair was what I wanted to do. I left college after one year and enrolled in cosmetology school.”
Most Enjoyable Part of the Job: “The most enjoyable part of my job is seeing a client’s face when they love their hair. Their confidence immediately skyrockets.”
Biggest On-the-Job Challenge: “Staying current. The hair world is ever evolving and as a stylist you have to stay on top of current trends and techniques.”
Greatest Strength as a Hairdresser: “My greatest strength is listening. Clients want to be heard and they want to know that you understand what they want.”
How She Unwinds After a Long Day: “Often times, some coworkers and I will go next door to El Taco and grab drinks after a long day.”
Favorite Hair Trend: For women, the balayage ombré. For me, the undercut.
Least Favorite Hair Trend: For women, long hair on women over 50. For men, shaggy hair.
What Makes Her Salon Great: “We have a group of crazy talented diverse stylists. At our salon we’re truly a team/family and our clients can sense that when they come in. Our clients get very comfortable very fast.”
Why People Should See Her: “I love doing hair and I pride myself on giving clients what they want and that’s amazing hair!”
(photo by Brian Hughes)