A Paradigm Shift from Beauty Industry Norms
BLOG #1
Hello! That's right, you've found my first hair and cosmetology blog: Scandal Randall™️ The Hairapist! The fact that you've gotten this far suggests a certain level of curiosity. I intend to use this blog to share my experience of a paradigm shift in the way I approach the hair and beauty industry, both as a hairstylist and a hair salon owner.
My Academic Foundation
After graduating with honors from the University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL) with a Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Science and a minor in Psychology, my perspective evolved significantly. This academic journey established a strong foundation for a profound change in how I view the world.
Embracing a Paradigm Shift
This profound transformation is what’s known as a paradigm shift, a concept that describes a fundamental change in how one sees the world (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradigm_shift). My expanded understanding of human behavior and social dynamics profoundly impacted my approach to the beauty industry.
Researching the Client-Stylist Dynamic
My social science background equipped me with diverse research methods. This allowed me to study the client-stylist relationship within the hair salon environment: before, during, and after a hair service. I then focused on how hairstyles became a social phenomenon in clients’ lived realities—a rich area for research and understanding.
Inspiring Your Paradigm Shift
Join me as I explore this shift in perspective in the coming days, months, and years. My insights may provoke strong reactions, but whether you’re a hairstylist or a client, I hope to inspire your paradigm shift within the beauty industry.
Now that I am armed with a deeper understanding of the human condition and how we experience the world, I could no longer ignore how the beauty industry’s large corporations frequently dictate our definitions of beauty, both inside and out. Thus, brainwashing both hair stylists and clients in how we practice our craft in the beauty world. That’s a strong statement, but I will clarify what I mean throughout the days blogging.
From Humble Beginnings to a Hair Stylist: A Journey of Transformation
An Unconventional Path
My journey after high school was not the traditional college experience. Coming from a blue-collar family with limited financial resources, my approach to education differed from that of my friends. I worked while attending school, but I was fortunate to receive Pell Grants that allowed me to enroll in community college. While my friends went on to attend more prestigious institutions, I remained incredibly proud of my community college experience.
A Fortuitous Opportunity
Then, after just a year of community college, an unexpected opportunity arose. I received an offer to become a hairstylist in an affluent area of Houston. This single moment truly changed everything.
Following in Mom’s Footsteps
Becoming a hairstylist felt incredibly natural because my mom owned her own hair salon. I’d spent many years there as a kid, helping out and unconsciously absorbing countless skills. This early immersion made it an easy choice. Now, as an adult, working in a fancy salon would be a stark contrast to my mom’s place, which often buzzed with blue-haired old ladies under dryers, engrossed in soap opera magazines. There was no way I’d let this incredible opportunity slip away.
From Vocational School to Industry Revelation
After leaving community college, I enrolled in cosmetology school. A year later, I proudly earned my hair license and started my career. However, after a couple of years working in various salons and experiencing different industry cultures, my perspective shifted profoundly.
The “McDonaldization” of the Beauty Industry
I witnessed what I called the “battle of the divas-hairstylist” and encountered obnoxious salon owners who prioritized profit over quality service. Stylists often felt like cogs in an assembly line, a concept I termed the “McDonaldization of the beauty industry,” borrowing from sociologist George Ritzer’s “McDonaldization of society.” This phenomenon describes a social process that produces “mind-numbing sameness,” which I observed replicated in many salons, from large chains to smaller establishments.
Feeling Like a Cog in the Machine
I felt uninspired and limited by the routine of simply cutting the latest trends or performing quick, gimmicky services often aimed solely at boosting salon profits. All this made me feel like another cog in an assembly line: hamburger, bun, mustard, pickle, tomato—you get the picture!
The Pressures of “Stress Booking”
Then, to add to the assembly line metaphor, I often observed how “stress booking” tactics negatively impacted stylists’ work. Salon owners, primarily focused on the bottom line by booking stylists back-to-back with clients. Compounding this, stylists themselves would push for more clients, even when it meant their quality of service suffered. This constant pressure led to rushed, gimmicky haircuts and color services.
Escaping the Sameness
What’s more, there was the burnout from constant product pushing was undeniable. I felt a true dumbing effect. I realized I needed more. So, I returned to college, completing my community college requirements while still working. Of course, I had too specialize in a field of study, so, I chose to go to the University of Houston Clear Lake to study human behavior: Behavioral Science with a minor in Psychology. I graduated with honors, consistently maintaining academic excellence while becoming an honors social science researcher. At this point, what once made perfect sense about the beauty industry simply didn’t anymore.
Daring to Be Different: My Vision for Hairdressing
A New Vision for Hair Styling
Looking back, the traditional hair salon environment often bothered me. After college, with a broader understanding of life, I knew I needed to be a different kind of hairstylist. I dared to create a truly personalized salon experience for each client.
Introducing Behavioral Haircut Color Science (BHCS)
For the past seven years, I’ve developed an educational concept called Behavioral Haircut Color Science (BHCS), which I’ve trademarked as “Scandal Randall™” to make it memorable. BHCS describes the “method to the madness” behind a successful collaboration between stylist and client to achieve the perfect look for their “right now.” As for the name “Scandal Randall,” it was a nickname I got in my 20s—a story for another time! But for now, who doesn’t want to feel a little scandalous after a great haircut?
Transforming Perspectives with Social Sciences
So, graduating from the Human Sciences and Humanities department at UHCL was crucial for me. My studies in social sciences, specifically behavioral science and psychology, deepened my understanding of a wide range of topics. These included social science research techniques, women in society, cognitive psychology, social psychology, and psychobiology and much more. Crucially, I also took advanced writing courses to effectively communicate about human behavior, emotions, cognition, and interpersonal relationships. This knowledge ultimately transformed my perspective on the beauty industry.
Blending Behavioral Science and Cosmetology
And, to clarify on the disciplines: while psychology examines individuals, behavioral sciences study the psychology behind behavior and interactions between people. For example, I’ve extensively researched the client/stylist relationship before, during, and after a hair service. Furthermore, I’ve researched how a client’s hairstyle affects their social environments. With this understanding, by focusing on how the haircut or color style becomes a positive social phenomenon in my clients’ lives—is something to be explored, celebrated, and study! Note: what I observed also when researching a client’s “lifeworld“—their lived realities—can be messy and complex.
Redefining Beauty: From Trends to “Hairapy”
Beyond Trends: Seeing Inner Beauty
I genuinely wanted to help people see their inner beauty. So, I aimed to better understand their needs and not just mimic the latest hair trend, like “The Rachel” haircut from Friends. Throughout the years while working, I frequently heard clients refer to their hairstylists as de facto therapists. Moreover, my goal was to become their “hairapist” during “hairapy” sessions-pun intended. Please note: I use familiar terms to describe unfamiliar concepts, avoiding psychological jargon for clarity.
A Holistic Approach to Beauty
Ultimately, my degree has broadened my mind beyond a vocational skill. I studied so many interdisciplinary fields like sociology, anthropology, and neuroscience to name a few. This wealth of knowledge provided me with a deeper insight into human behavior and promote well-being. By combining my 30 years as a licensed cosmetologist with my behavioral science and psychology degree, I offer a truly holistic approach to my clients’ beauty needs. Specifically, I gain a better understanding of their individual preferences, personalities, and emotions. This, in turn, helps me create looks and styles that go beyond basic technical skills.
The “Method to the Madness” in Action
This unique combination is what truly sets me apart. I invite you to read my Google reviews to see what clients are saying about the “Method to the Madness” when experiencing my Behavioral Haircut Color Science (BHCS).
In Summary: Redefining the Beauty Industry
My journey from humble beginnings to a hairstylist with a behavioral science and psychology degree has been one of continuous learning and evolution. My blog aims to inspire others to shift their perspective in the beauty industry. Change is the only constant in life, and the next hair service might just be about changing everything.
Introducing Behavioral Haircut Color Science (BHCS)
This is precisely why I created Behavioral Haircut and Color Science (BHCS)—to educate both hairstylists and clients on the method of truly collaborating to create the best look for their “right now.” I’ve trademarked this education as Scandal Randall™ (SR) to be memorable! I believe it offers a unique and valuable approach to hair care that prioritizes individuality and well-being. Coming soon: a curriculum for BHCS!
