For decades, hair color education has followed a set script: educators trained by manufacturers, teaching techniques based on the specific products they represent. But what if that system isn’t just limiting the stylist’s creativity, but also the client’s results?
I’ve worked for over 35 years as a hairstylist, educator, color technician, and product developer. And what I’ve seen is this: even the most passionate professionals can feel boxed in when their education is tied to a single brand. That’s why I created *Become A Better Colorist* – a completely product-neutral education system focused on understanding hair, color chemistry, and real-life results.
Today, we only get the truth that our suppliers choose to give us. And that truth is the one they want us to know. Many companies copy each other and then twist the messaging to make it their own unique “truth.” But that truth doesn’t always align with how hair actually behaves or what we do as professionals.
Color should be clear, simple, and fun. But we know it’s a challenge in our industry today. Why? Because every brand says something different. Take gray coverage, for example: some companies tell you to use 20 vol, others 10 vol. Both can be right – or completely wrong – depending on the starting point and the color formula. This creates confusion for stylists and makes switching brands difficult because most have only learned a system, not color itself.
In the end, it’s not about having the perfect color brand. It’s about having an understanding that makes you strong, no matter which brand you use.
Why Product-Neutral Education Matters
Hair color doesn’t behave differently because of a logo. It behaves differently because of the formula, the developer, the hair history, and how it’s applied. When we break free from brand-led messaging and begin learning *why* color behaves as it does, stylists gain the power to:
- Make smarter, faster decisions
- Handle unexpected results
- Customize the color for every client
- Work with *any* brand on the market
In short, we stop copying and start creating.
Break Free from the Brand Bubble
We live in a time when it’s easy to follow. Techniques, trends, formulas, and tutorials flood our feeds. But following is not the same as learning.
True education explains *why* a formula works – and what to do when it doesn’t. That’s the power of product-neutral education.
What Makes You an Expert?
Being able to repeat something you saw on TikTok doesn’t make you an expert. What makes you an expert is understanding *why* it works. What happens in the hair? What happens in the color? What happens when they meet?
And that takes more. Courage. Curiosity. And sometimes, frustration. The kind of frustration that shows up when something doesn’t turn out the way you thought, but when handled right, becomes the starting point of a whole new mindset. A new depth in your professional identity. A new level of mastery.
Knowledge That Delivers Real Results
In my training sessions across Europe and the U.S., I see stylists, teachers, and even color sales reps light up when they understand the science behind a shade. We dive deep into:
- How peroxide actually affects the result
- What underlying pigment does (or doesn’t) contribute
- Why some tones always fade fast
- How to confidently build custom formulas
And we do it without product bias. Because great color doesn’t come from loyalty to a brand – it comes from loyalty to the craft.
The Future of Education
We need to shift from teaching product knowledge to building true craftsmanship. It’s no longer enough to follow a brand’s instructions; we need to understand how color really works, so the knowledge stays valid even when the product or the conditions change.
I believe the next big leap in our industry isn’t about trends or tools, it’s about changing the mindset. When education is grounded in science and free from brand influence, everyone benefits: stylists gain confidence, schools teach more effectively, and manufacturers get more skilled users.
It’s time to stop teaching stylists *what* to think and start teaching them *how* to think.
What was true yesterday may not be true today, and what is true today won’t be true tomorrow. Knowledge is perishable. And knowledge is power.
