Here is my list of my top 10 reasons why mannequins can rock your haircutting education. The stronger your relationship with your mannequin(s) the stronger your skills and the bigger your success in the hair business will be.
#1 - Mannequins are always up for "it"... whatever "it" is. Today a cut. Tomorrow a color, Too much color. Too short a cut. It does not matter. Your mannequin is ready, willing and able to go for it. Tomorrow they will go for it or some other "it" again. With enthusiasm.
#2 - Mannequins do not post negative reviews on YELP! No luck. No problem. If and when things do not go too well... and that will happen, your mannequin is O.K. with it. Not complaints. No criminal charges to be pressed. No need to apologize. Mannequins know you are trying new things and breaking new ground. They understand their role in the equation.
#3 - Mannequins can have multiple haircuts, same day. If you still have the energy and the creativity mannequin is game. If that bob is crooked, cut it again. Just a bit shorter the next time. See if you can get it even. See how short it gets before you finally do get it even.
#4 - Mannequins will wait quietly as long as necessary. A waiting room full of mannequins is quiet and serene. If you run behind because you are slow at this stage of your career, it is O.K. Mannequin will wait, quietly, patiently. Mannequins will not talk smack about that last cut you gave them while waiting in the waiting room with other mannequins. They will just smile like the Mona Lisa and wait their turn.
#5 - Mannequins are clones - Mannequins are the ultimate referral senders. Every mannequin has a mom, a sister, an aunt, a niece, a gramma and all of them are genetically identical. In theory if you do the same haircut on the next mannequin it will look exactly the same. This consistency is great for learning, great for measuring progress and great for identifying challenges. The first thing you do when you finish off a mannequin is grab another. I have never seen the same mannequin look any different when they came out of the box. I have never seen two mannequins look the same once cut. We keep trying.
#6 - Mannequins have no prior bad experiences to color their receptiveness to your creative inspiration. They are always O.K. with road testing the next big fashion trend. They have no flashbacks of bad hair style decisions from their past. They have no memory of colors that did not work. Their prom up-do did not fall before the end of the first slow dance.
#7 - Mannequins do not have to sign the liability release. Do not ask. Do not reach for the pen. Reach for a hot iron, reach for a sharp scissors. Reach for some improperly mixed lightener. Have at it. No worries. If things go well. Great. Take a few notes and move on. If things go badly, try something else. No apologies needed. As long as you are learning, so it goes.
#8 - Mannequins will stop by your moms house so you can show off your work. If and when you create a masterpiece, and you will, eventually, you will want to show it off. Put your thumb in the hole at the base. Raise it high above your head and wave it around for everyone to see. Yes. You will do that, and you should. Prop mannequin up in your car and drive her over to mom's house. No, you can not use the HOV lane just because mannequin is along for the ride. Mom will be impressed. Yous little sister will be jealous. Aunt sally will be eager to queue up to be the next head you get your hands on. Show them off. Parade them around. Let them have their day to be the celebrity. There is no telling how things will go tomorrow. Tomorrow you might want to hide her.
#9 - Mannequins will sit still for as long as it takes. How long did it take you to wrap that perm? How long did it take you to put in that entire head of foils? How many times did mannequin need to get up to go to the bathroom? Nice. Mannequins will endure the agony of your slowness early on. They will be happy to stop and rinse ans start over from the beginning when things go awry. patience is in short supply on the stylist side of the cosmetology school equation at times. Never an issue for mannequin.
#10 - Mannequins do not grow out. Mannequins play for keeps. Your masterpiece can live on forever. If you nail that cut or slam dunk that color you can keep it forever as a testament to how far you have come and how talented you now are. A bedroom shelf of mannequin masterpieces can be a strong testament to a worthwhile cosmetology school experience, investment and endeavor. Keep the great ones. Keep the crummy ones, too. Later on you will look back and appreciate your educational journey and the powerful role mannequins have played in your early experiences and later success.
Grab a mannequin. What are you waiting for?
Happy hair-doing.
Ivan
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