Technical & Creative Haircutting, are they mutually exclusive?
“Hair cutting is akin to sculpting; it involves removing unnecessary elements until the desired shape emerges.” Many hair stylists possess an inherent artistic talent, skillfully sculpting hair into elegant forms comparable to Michelangelo’s masterpieces.
Michelangelo demonstrated an innate talent and passion for art, particularly sculpture. At the early age of fifteen, he created Madonna of the Stairs.
I thrived as a creative hairstylist for my first twelve years as a hairstylist. I leveraged my natural talent to build a large clientele and achieve financial success. However, once I began teaching haircutting, explaining my method was a challenge because… well, I did not have a method! I just whittled away until the shape appeared. To become an effective teacher, I needed a deeper understanding of what I was doing and why I was doing it.
Michaelangelo also wanted to have a deeper understanding of what he was sculpting, the human body. He did not choose to do this because he was to become a teacher, but he was afraid that his work would remain “surface.”
At the age of seventeen, he would sneak into the “dead room” and dissect human bodies. “He propped his candle on the trestle, but it was a considerable time before he could pick up the knife. Swallowing hard, he brought the knife down and made his first incision, studying the layer of fat, then cutting deeper to observe the dark red fibers of the muscles.” Agony and Ecstasy. Why would someone with such a natural ability need to go to such extremes as human dissection?
Could Michelangelo have had an illustrious career as a sculptor without going to such great lengths? My guess would be yes. Would he still have been the “Greatest Sculptor” of all time? Would his masterpiece David be known as the greatest Sculpture of all time? My Guess would be no.
Among talented hair artists, there seems to be a concern that incorporating rigid discipline into haircutting may detract from the artistic aspect. There is a perception that creativity and technique are mutually exclusive. This sentiment can be so strong that it provokes anger in individuals. For instance, on a popular hair site, I illustrated how the same angle would appear differently on two distinct head shapes. The following response shows the hostility this topic can incite:
“No need to make things so complicated. Cutting hair is not engineering, surveying, or indeed brain surgery…I do not give a rat’s ass if you chew it off to get the look, just make sure it looks great when it’s done. It is just hair.”
Why is there a noticeable divide between the technical and creative schools of thought in haircutting? Does acquiring a deeper understanding of a subject diminish one’s imagination? Analyzing head shapes, geometric angles, and formulas can significantly enhance the creative process rather than diminish it. While it may not be essential, this knowledge has the potential to elevate natural talent to exceptional levels. For instance, consider the difference in Michelangelo’s work on the same subject, Madonna and the Christ, which improved notably after years of in-depth study.
After nine years of studying anatomy and learning techniques from the Masters, Michelangelo created the Pieta. Irving Berlin, a renowned 20th-century songwriter, once remarked, “Talent is only the starting point.” Michelangelo’s exceptional talent was evident at the early age of fifteen. He decided to delve deeper than superficial talent, which yielded significant achievements.
Initially, I believed that learning techniques and discipline would restrict my creativity. However, the opposite occurred. I now possess the ability to create in ways I had never previously imagined.
I urge you to deeply study your craft, reflect critically, and question methods like Michelangelo. You may become the greatest hair sculptor of all time.
Kim Weaver Moore