Believe it or not, but we’re officially halfway through 2023. With how fast time is flying by, you may or may not be thinking about all of those lofty resolutions that you set way back in January. Are you still on track or did they fall to the wayside over the last few months?
If you’re feeling a little guilty about not meeting some of your goals, don’t worry—you are far from alone. In fact, studies show that 80% of people who make New Year’s resolutions fail by the start of February.
However, there is some good news: it’s not too late to get back on track. The summer months—particularly June and July—are the perfect time to reignite your New Year’s resolutions and make some progress. And, it seems Sam Villa, Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of Sam Villa and Global Artistic Ambassador for Redken, couldn’t agree more.
“I check in with myself around June/July to access where I am,” he says. “With 6 more months to go, I hold myself accountable for achieving the things that are important to me, both personally and professionally.”
If one of your goals is to improve your skills this year, Villa is here to help with some suggested learnings. According to him, these are the 5 things that hair pros should learn before year-end. Keep scrolling to see what he says.
5 Things to Learn Before 2024:
- The art of internal layering (ghost layers) for texture and movement—almost every silhouette will benefit from them.
- Precision cutting techniques to create clean crip perimeters—whether it’s a geometric bob, mushroom cut or pixie, the perimeter defines and supports the shape.
- One new trend: Don’t get stale. Learn at least one new trend to offer existing clients and attract new ones.
- Finesse natural texture cutting and stylings skills—it’s the responsibility of all hairdressers to be inclusive and skilled at all hair types and textures.
- Revamp consultation skills—all other services will be elevated if a stylist clearly understands what their guest wants and can meet their expectations.
Whether you’re hoping to finally master the perfect curtain fringe, perfect the shag, overcome the fear of cutting curly hair, learn balayage, or take the leap to switch to a swivel shear, according to Villa, anything is possible. “There’s so much amazing live education happening right now, sign up for something that inspires,” he says. “The beauty of being able to experience learning with all of your senses, making new connections, and being able to ask questions face-to-face is unparalleled.”
He adds, “How you go about learning something new is different for everyone, but I do believe being face-to-face with a teacher in a hands-on environment with tools and hair is one of the best ways. You can get real-time feedback about how you’re holding a tool, your body position and execution of the technique. Plus, you have the support of other peers cheering you on.”
For more of Villa’s tips and tricks, be sure to follow @samvillahair on Instagram.
