We made a video. Did you see it? If not it will be on this page somewhere. I was a bit reticent about doing it, everyone else in the salon was totally on board. The inspiration was Jess Glynne at The Brits where she unexpectedly removed her makeup while performing her song, Thursday. There is the irony, I have an internet sense check button firmly embedded in my brain. Not everything you put out into the world will be interpreted right. How you meant it might not be how someone else sees it.
This is a video about being yourself and not filtering every photo in order to conform. I guess just having a day off from expectation, in this case Thursday. A day off from covering up, wearing a mask. However I was thinking what if people don’t think we are sincere and it’s just for internet fame. We were going to have a link for a mental health charity to also do some good. However I didn’t want to muddy the water. I didn’t want you to think that we want to be seen to be doing good. Look at us aren’t we lovely. Awful isn’t it! The response we received was heart-warmingly positive, so thank you, it worked. People got it.
Unreality
Why was I worrying? Well I guess a group of hair stylists telling you not to care about how you look might not seem quite normal or even flippant. However the message we were trying to convey was quite simple but the world around it makes it complex. In a world of altered reality be reassured that you are good enough before any filter, blurring, pose or tricksy makeup is applied. Or living through a video game because you find real life too judgmental, another type of unreality.
A Curated Life
We are editing ourselves and lives or rather choosing how we represent them online and the pressure, especially if you don’t remember a world without it is immense. The bar feels like it has been set to show a happy, smooth, bright and sometimes designer existence. The speed alone at which a trend happens or photo is seen or how many people see you is staggering. Remember when you’d buy a new dress to go to party and the people at that party would see it. Now it’s the people at the party, the people on your Facebook, on their Facebook etc. You wear that dress once and you’re already bored! Be more Duchess of Cambridge, wear everything more often. Or become Mark Zucherberg and just have a self imposed defiant uniform. To a degree it feels like we can’t just be. A creative strategy needs to be thought of to take into account the photos that will follow a simple night out. We are all marketing ourselves. Cringe, we all have a personal brand….more cringe.
Unrealistic expectations
The hair industry itself has a hot topic at the moment and that is unrealistic expectations. We often have clients bring in photos that are filtered. Instagram is instant but taking your hair from jet black to platinum blond and keep the condition is not fast or achievable in one go. We either look incapable ( they can’t do it because they haven’t got the skill), like we are fobbing, worse like we are attempting to extort money for a longer process ( this can’t be done in one go) when we are just being honest and looking after the client.
In short we are fair and honest about what we can achieve on your hair without putting it through too much stress. Also in the time we have with you and the what you’ve budgeted for. We try and show you some of our processes in the salon ( on blogs and insta stories) to show the work that needs to happen to achieve a finished look.
Oh and by the way that girl on your insta-feed with the flat tummy holding that special diet tea *, already had that tummy before she bought the tea and in the before shot is just sticking her tummy out a bit. Don’t ever, ever try and be her. She is being paid to promote a product she isn’t even using. It’s unachievable.
Better Keep Up – Better get to the top fast
Everyone else is just doing better. Are they? It’s not real. Well it’s a bit real but it’s an edited snapshot, literally of a life, a tiny moment. Please stop comparing how well or not you are doing in life by comparing it to a moment. You will drive yourself loopy. It all takes work. Those bloggers and Youtubers, with a lux life( have a lot of admin) It takes years to build a following and a day job, while they are trying! Focus on what you want and where you are going and guess what, what it will take to get there. Any snowflakes out there….There aren’t any quick fixes. Reality TV shows are rarely reality. YOu are living real life not a docu-drama.
Be the best you – Don’t try and fit a mould
We still love wearing makeup and for balance making the best of your outside is good. It can help with your mental state. When you are feeling a bit bleugh, putting something pretty on and facing the world can just give you enough oomph to feel a bit better. Lets work with you to create the best you. Your individual look! That’s what makes our job so fun! It’s our job to offer help and advise on our specialist topic hair but we aren’t here to judge.
Turn off the screen and Just Be
So what is your special power? What makes You- you ? What great conversations have you had this week? How much have your laughed? Have you just sat for a bit and done proper F***k all? Like nothing! As long as you want a bit more from life, it’s okay to want more, goals, a purpose and get a good balance. It doesn’t matter if you change and develop, you will and you won’t always get it right, just don’t beat yourself up and worry about it all the time. That does not mean that you’re not good enough now, Who you are right now is enough!
Your Identity is Yours, Have fun
Don’t try and conform, have fun with this body you’ve been given. Stay fit and healthy. Play with fashion and clothes if you want. Make it yours! Have fun with your hair, Oooooh What colour this week?
See You Soon – Love Team WWW.Comb
Rainbow bright in Ruislip
