The sM Digest Archive

“I believe that all hairdressing should be ethical, sustainable and professional — and that hairdressing is Art!”

—Anne Veck from her ISSUU interview 

As we close out another busy season in our industry, we’ve been taking a moment to look back – at the work that pushed us, the tools that kept us moving, and the small shifts in the way hairdressers build their businesses. It’s been a year of learning across the board, whether it came from better systems, better boundaries, or simply figuring out what actually makes our days run smoother.

“I find that this is something that makes me happy and it all led up to just being playful with hair and doing it with my heart”

—Dennis Lannie from his interview with Modern Salon

Running a business, or even just running yourself, can feel like juggling a thousand invisible things at once. The appointments, the messages, the mental math of how many hours are left in the day. We get it, because we feel it too.

“The editorial world is changing fast. I always say to every hairdresser that aspires to do editorial – you have to realize – that the love that you get from a [behind the chair] client, you will never get from anybody else, in your life.”

—Peter Gray

For most of us, travel starts as a dream… something we save for, plan for, or hope for when things “slow down.” But if you’ve ever stepped out of your routine, even for a few days, you know it’s more than a vacation. It’s a reset.

“I would always watch my Nonna do hair, I remember it was Saturday morning I would wake up at 6 a.m. and she already had her clients. It was just so inspirational because she was creating art, but also making women feel so comfortable in their skin.”

— Ivana Gentile from her interview with City News Everywhere, Montreal

As we move into the last quarter of the year, everything starts to get a little louder. The messages, the appointments, the expectations. This is the season when most of us in the industry are sprinting — long days, full books, and clients wanting in “just this once.”

“In everything we do, we believe in the balance of consideration and effortlessness. True luxury is nuanced and not in your face. We aim to be so secure in our services that the experience feels special while not ostentatious.

Also, consideration is efficiency without ever cutting corners. There is no paint by numbers, so we pause to stop and receive what is already in front of us.”

—Lena Ott from her Forbes interview

Market research isn’t just a big business buzzword; it’s about understanding what your people actually want. 

For a hairdresser, that could mean asking clients if they’d book more evening hours, paying attention to which retail moves fastest, or noticing which Instagram posts get the most saves. For us, it means checking in with you before we build new features, so we’re solving real problems—not imaginary ones.

“I think that hair is a universal language. You could come from any culture and see a hairstyle and you can read it. Session hairstylists work on hair for image, so it takes an artistic and symbolic dimension to do it well. I wanted to speak to experts in the theory of art and symbolism. I spoke about the ideal woman, the ideal image.”

—Laurent Philippon (quote from Grande Maison feature)

Let’s talk about communication. In this industry, it’s more than just words—it’s how we build trust, set expectations, and create lasting client relationships. Whether it’s a quick confirmation text, a clear consultation, or following up after an appointment, the way we communicate shapes every part of our work.