How do I become motivated like you??

It has been my absolute pleasure for the first two and a half years of my career, educating and leading countless classes at Paul Mitchell The School, Salt Lake City. Entering this great industry with minimal knowledge of anything beauty related (minus what I saw on the first season of ANTM ), I’ve had the opportunity to develop many skills that have attributed to my successes as a hair dresser. Best part of all my memories so far all lies under the roof of the Paul Mitchell school. It has been a dream of mine to become an internationally recognized hairdresser/educator/and creative coach, and I can now say that that very career path is beginning to unfold every day.

From the beginning of schooling, I always watched the Paul Mitchell Artistic Directors on stage, continuously being inspired to think ‘out of the box’. With that, I developed the mindset that anything is possible. And I sincerely believe and think that every day. Who says you can’t color hair ultra creative in the salon? Who says my clients won’t want part of their head shaved in salon reality? Who says I’ll never use fingerwaves, pin curls, and roller sets outside of school? I was told going through school that I’ll probably never use fingerwaves outside of the school, or even on the clinic floor! I dedicated 2008, my first year in the industry learning how to fingerwave hair on my own, due to the lack of knowledge on this lost art of classic hairdressing. Now, with my Vintage Suppression collection being recognized internationally, what do I have to say about my school experience with fingerwaves? The moment anyone begins to tell me something isn’t realistic, or possible, where do you think my mind goes?. . .in to a creative, solution-oriented, “I’ll prove you wrong” state of thinking. And if not on my salon guests, then in my photowork. It is our jobs in hair dressing to constantly dedicate our time and energy to educating ourselves, otherwise we dilute the craftsmanship of possibility in hair.

While educating at the school, I’ve constantly worked on eliminating the words never and always, asking the future professionals to mention to me if they catch me saying them in class or on the clinic floor. Wouldn’t you agree that it’s hard to eliminate them from our vocabulary? But once never and/or always enter a sentence, what will they do to our thoughts? They build a prison of barriers that inhibite our ability to think creatively AND problem solve. Especially in the minds of new learners. If I say, “This volume is always mixed with the highlift series,” what have you immediately done? Smashed any thoughts of ‘out of the box’ thinking. From this point on, the learner will now have a block to discover maybe mixing the highlift with a level 6 red to create a more powerful lifting red series, unlikely possible with out that aid. The power of always and never, as you see, can and will prevent the idea of possibility. If you are in a learner setting, and you hear either of those words, I would like to ask that you simply forget the mention and learn your information while attaching it to the idea of possibility. I contribute this thinking process as a high percentage of my successes.

You always fall for the same guys/girls that treat you horrible!
You tap the door frame 17 times before you can take a step through.
You desire to only use mechanical pencils, .7mm in diameter and feel EXTREMELY uncomfortable if unavailable.
You continuously click the back of a pen while intensely concentrating.
You only drink out of a glass once.
You use the word ‘like’ every other word in every sentence spoken.

Have you noticed two different types of ‘habits’ these examples can fall under. I will take it upon myself to categorize them under, conscious and subconscious habits. Now, because I have no PhD or formal education on this matter, I would like to state that this is just me, Steven Robertson, speaking from my own crazy thoughts!

Let me briefly explain my definition of conscious and subconscious habits. Conscious habitsare those at which one is aware and knows the habit is happening, almost every time the event occurs. Take mine for example. I 99% of the time, do not drink out of a glass more than once. I realize that I perform this ridiculous act every time I grab a new glass. Even if I just set the glass down. I also realize that this habit is very wasteful and am currently working on changing my ways. Most of the readers, like yourself, are now experiencing a basic human subconscious habit; curiosity. Curiosity of why on Earth would I possibly use a new glass, every time.

subconscious habitsare those that the possessor, you and I, are unaware of. Unaware of certain patterns or rituals performed on a fairly regular basis. subconscious habits will almost always remain as long as you are physically/mentally able to perform them. Until pointed out by your friend or another outside party, you may never know it exists. Some can be changed, like unknowingly clicking the back of a pen, now realized when pointed out by those irritated (even though they do it themselves. And why wouldn’t they, or you? It’s so calming!). Once pointed out, you’ll slowly begin to notice when and where you begin clicking, at which time you can choose to address and change, or continue to do (cause who’s it really bothering ). Some are a little bit more difficult to control once pointed out, like curiosity. For those of you who are grinding your teeth and ready to lose control, I have a creepy thought in my mind that the water (or any liquid) on the rim of the glass that I just set down has now collected dust, or some other impurity making it ‘dirty’. Hence, grabbing a new glass. Once again, I would never endorse this habit, it just is.

Another example may include you experiencing, perhaps even today, when a friend during casual conversation begins to announce a ‘secret’ if you will, and abruptly slams to a halt with the following phrase choices, “I’m not supposed to say anything.” or “I can’t tell you yet.” or the best one of all, “Never mind.”

Can you control your eager curiosity to know the rest of the answer? Not really.

Have you ever pointed out such habits to a friend or family member? And in return, what situations have been brought to your attention? Before I move on, I would like to point out that if you really tap a door frame 17 times before you are able to walk through (or any other ‘like’ habit), I would like to extend to your realization that it’s okay at this time to begin to relieve yourself of this demon as it is wasting your day’s time, and others.

It was brought to my attention once, I believe during a recent photo shoot, of a pattern Janae Johnson and myself saw ourselves falling in to. A styling habit. One that kept occurring, and on the same model. Let me introduce you to the first photo we took of Bailee. Try to search for both the concious and subconscious habit before you read the finish to the entry!

Bailee - Lunatic Fringe 'Shades' Collection

As you have already noticed, Bailee is beautiful. Great features. Flawless skin. Slender, long body. And able to model like a pro! It’s models like her that you want to surround yourself with. Pretty much anything you do, considering balance and shape, will look good on them. Refer to Relationship blog entry on how to do so. The idea for the whole ‘Shades’ collection was inspired by the very photo, superimposed in the background (located behind Bailee); hence the giant ball shape, for lantern shade, and braid for ‘on/off’ switch! Great collection featured in Paul Mitchell’s Cut and Dry magazine and a featured collection found at behindthechair.com.

Bailee - Lunatic Fringe Earth-Toned Collection

Bailee - 'Vintage Suppression' Collection

Third, we have Bailee looking full profile, all antique styled featuring a full forward pomp, backward moving fingerwave set, exploding in to a fury of texture. Soft eye make up, with a dark lip. Unique, handmade clothing and neck piece, all balanced in beautiful post-edited framework.

Bailee - Lunatic Fringe 'Breakthrough' Collection

Lastly, we have Bailee appearing from space in this explosive texture photo. With smooth body airbrushing, a hint of Photoshop, and a voluminous forward fringe and bursting side texture, Bailee owns this frame with her curious facial expression and limp body movement.

Now is your time to decide on the 1) conscious habit and 2) subconscious habit.

Conscious habit was that we were completely aware of the amount of times we featured Bailee in our works of art. Wouldn’t change it for anything. Love her! Subconscious habit was. . .our overwhelming, yet hidden desire to put a large ball or shape on the top of her head, as well as having some sort of tail, ball o’ curl, or brush of texture coming out the EXACT same side of the head. Coincidence? Perhaps. Some people just look good with large shapes on their heads! What can I say? Once our subconscious habit was brought to our attention, we immediately filled the room with laughter. Laughter that we never saw it. Laughter mocking our similar, yet different, pieces of work. After the rolling laughs we began to reevaluate how we approach our storyboard development and are now more aware of making sure new techniques get displayed in upcoming collections. All it takes is ONE ‘Ah ha!’ moment to change your thought process. Try it when you’re in a rut. You’ll leap right out immediately. Analyze your range of work. Do you notice similar patterns that you follow? How can you change them? Have a friend look at your portfolio! Do they notice something you missed?

You can even take this as far as your clientel is concerned? Is your cutting approach following similar ways? Are your guests leaving with beautiful, yet oddly similar heads of hair? I know mine where until I applied this aspect to my salon-life.

Give it a try and evaluate your conscious and subconscious habits in varying scenes of your life. What will you find?

Photo Credits (from top to bottom)

Shades Collection

Hair: Lunatic Fringe Artistic Team http://www.lunaticfringesalon.com

Make Up: Suzanne Agis

Photography: Justin Grant http://www.justingrantphotography.com

Earth-Toned Collection

Hair & Make Up: Lunatic Fringe Artistic Team

Photography: Jonathon Nickels

Vintage Suppression Collection

Hair: Steven Robertson and Janae Johnson of Lunatic Fringe Salons www.stevenrobertsonhair.com

Make Up: Paula J. Dahlberg http://www.paulajdahlberg.com

Wardrobe: McKell Maddox

Photography: Mitch Meyer http://www.mitchmeyerphotography.com

Breakthrough Collection

Hair: Lunatic Fringe Artistic Team

Make Up: Paula J. Dahlberg

Photography: Mitch Meyer