#vividsandbalayage

[stylists-supporting-stylists]

N E O N ⚡️ L I G H T S . . . . . Reposted from @vividsandbalayage I created this look using @lunartideshair Neon dragonfruit, neon lemon, sea Watch, cyan sky, neon guava + neon lime 🤩🤩 @behindthechair_com @shmeggsandbaconn @marybehindthechair @todyeforofficial @kevin.givens @chrissylan @caitlyn_cummings @haleygable @hair_slayerz @hotonbeauty @stylistssupportingstylists @fuckinghair #btconeshot22_creativecolor #btconeshot22_placement #btconeshot22_unconventionalcolor #behindthechair #hairslayerz #hotonbeauty #neonhair #vividhaircolor #trendyhair #hairporn #neonhaircolor #lunartideshair #stylistssupportingstylists #esteticamagazine #fuckinghair #todyefor #hairartist #oneshothairawards (at Boston, Massachusetts) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cd_yYrMprcD/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[iimdiifferent]

B L O N D E 🌬 @guy_tang Big 9 @redken @olaplex 🧜🏼‍♀️ Lost a mermaid 🧜🏼‍♀️ but gained a #blondebabe 🤘🏽@guytang @redken @olaplex 🌬 #maneaddicts #vividsandbalayage #fckinghair #imallaboutdahair #behindthechair #authentichairarmy #americansalon #modernsalon #saloncentric #licensedtocreate #olaplex #longbeachhair #balayageartist #citiesbesthairartist #citiesbesthairartists #manepainters #hair_artistry #pewterjewelry #balayageombre #manepainters #maneinspiration (at South Gate, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp9zmnuBB6S/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ny1awwvbhquq

[haircolorcollective]

We talk hair, products, and confidence with July’s featured stylist @vividsandbalayage !

I recently sat down with Steph Giffin, a 29-year-old stylist from Hopkinton, Massachusetts to talk about what has been the key to her success, what her favorite products are, and how she proved her doubters wrong! As she celebrates 10 years in the industry, we look back at her journey from being a new stylist with lack of confidence and support to where she is now as a confident, in demand stylist who’s putting out inspiration photo worthy hair every day at Sage Salon in Franklin, Massachusetts. Let’s get to know The Hair Color Collective’s featured stylist for July, Steph Giffin!

 Steph’s introduction to the beauty industry came from her grandmother who owned a salon. Despite her grandmother owning a salon, she was not so keen on the idea of Steph going to hair school. She knew how hard you have to work in the hair industry, but Steph says, “I feel like hair is so different now. She was doing perms for like 20 dollars. Even now she’s like ‘I can’t believe people pay that for a haircut!’, and I’m like well yeah, it’s not 1950 anymore! Times have changed.” Her parents also begged her to go college instead, where she admits she only lasted two weeks before deciding it wasn’t for her and that she was going to hair school. While she may have always had an interest in hair, she says it did not come naturally to her at all. She attributes her success to her unwillingness to give up and commitment to education. “When I first started, I was not naturally good. I was actually really bad. I feel like it’s hard to believe now, but I was horrible. Like I couldn’t cut a straight line to save my life. My first boss at Supercuts, she was like ‘Yeah I just don’t think you’re cut out for this.’ I feel like she was my motivation to be like ‘ok well, I’m not going to suck.’ It literally took me like a year. I was still messing up people’s hair. I feel like part of it was I still had that glimpse of doubt. I feel like the more comfortable you get the better you are. I feel like that’s when you can believe in yourself and actually become good.”

What do you think has been the key to your success? “I feel like it’s kind of a flaw, kind of good, but I feel like I’m either sink or swim. Like you either got it or you don’t. I feel like I never want to let myself fail, so I hate when I’m not good at something. Like, I’m a sore loser. That’s always been my mindset. If you’re not booked. Get yourself booked. Advertise on Instagram. Like I will not fail, and I feel like I’ve always had that in the back of my mind. Even when I started at the salon I’m in now, no one helped me, and I remember feeling so defeated. But I was like ‘Ok I’m not going to not be successful because no one wants to help me.’

Why do you like working with Evolve? “I feel like they are literally so supportive. Lisa Bean came in and taught a social media class, and I literally love her. Everyone has such good personalities. I feel like they are wicked welcoming. It seems super friendly and very team like at Evolve. It’s just so nice. I like people that are business oriented and know what they’re doing, but can be fun too.

Looking at your Instagram you obviously do beautiful work with vivid colors, but you really know how to rock a blonde too. Is there on thing color wise that’s your favorite to do behind the chair? Honestly vivids are my absolute favorite. The problem is finding the clientele. I know it’s obviously 2020, but I feel like some people are still weirded out, and I know a lot of employers are against it. I feel like a lot of people almost need to be talked into it. They’ll say like, ‘I was thinking lavender, but I don’t think that I can pull that off.’  I wish more people knew they could pull it off, and that they just need to try it.”

What’s one tip you’d give to someone who’s looking to work with vivid colors more? “You kind of have to experiment with colors. I feel like sometimes you’re taught to lift the hair to a certain color, but when you see the color the person’s actually trying to achieve, you’re like, ‘Maybe I should lift it a little bit lighter or a little bit less.’ So, I feel like just play around with it and not be afraid. Don’t be scared. That’s my biggest tip. It has literally been a lot of trial and error, and I always give clients a backup plan. I say, ‘If your hair doesn’t lift, this is what it’s going to be.’”

What color line or lines are you using now? “I love the J. Beverly Hills as my traditional line. I do love some of their vivids. I like their pinks, orange, yellow, and then I love the Kemon vivids. I think it’s Kemon’s light blue. It’s so pretty. It’s great if you can play with some different things. I feel like the consistency of the Kemon makes it really easy to make it pastel.”

  Do you have one favorite color product and one favorite styling product? “My favorite styling product would honestly be the Give Me Clean Hair from Eleven. It’s like the best dry shampoo I’ve ever used. That’s what I use before I curl every single client. I love it, all my clients love it, and I feel like the second they smell it they are like, ‘I’m getting that!’ For color, for my blondes it would be 11NN, and then I am obsessed with all the coppers as well from J Beverly Hills. 7CI makes me be like, ‘Go copper! I want to see this on your head!’”

I think we all have those days behind the chair that make us question ourselves and what we do, but there are also those moments we live for, the moments that make you think to yourself, “THIS is why I do what I do!” Do you have any one moment like that, that sticks out to you and gets you through the tough times? “I had one woman whose husband passed away. I had never done her hair before, but she came in and needed a pick me up. She came back in and dropped a note at the desk for me. She wrote how her hair had changed her life, that I helped put her back together. I feel like it’s stuff like that. I have days where I’m like, ‘Oh my God. I’m getting a new career!’ But then in moments like that I’m like, ‘Wow. I’m so lucky!’ The relationships with my clients, is why I do hair.”

What’s one tip you would give 19-year-old you, that’s just starting out, knowing what you know now? “That things get easier. I always say ‘I wish someone was recording me when I first started.’ I would cry on my way to work like, ‘I cannot go to work!’ I would tell her, ‘If you put in the work, it will get easier, and if you don’t, then you aren’t going to be a hair stylist!’ Also act like the hair stylist would want to have.”

[stylists-supporting-stylists]

CHERRY BOMB🍒 . . . . . Reposted from @vividsandbalayage CHERRY BOMB🍒 @behindthechair_com #behindthechair @beautylaunchpad #beautylaunchpad @joicointensity #joico #joicointensity @bestofbalayage #bestofbalayage @balayagist #balayagist @todyeforofficial #todyefor @hotonbeauty #hotonbeauty @beautyadvisor #beautyadvisor @kevin.givens @haleygable @chrissylan @caitlyn_cummings #redhair #red #redbalayage @american_salon #americansalon @modernsalon #modernsalon (at Boston, Massachusetts) https://www.instagram.com/p/COl5a9JJRVF/?igshid=ymdw0ahy22yy

[stylists-supporting-stylists]

PONY GOALS‼️ . . . . . Reposted from @vividsandbalayage PONY GOALS‼️ @gooddyeyoung @behindthechair_com @beautylaunchpad @stylistssupportingstylists @hair_slayerz @todyeforofficial (at Boston, Massachusetts) https://www.instagram.com/p/CMFTVrOp2uc/?igshid=18223svjfvs3s

[stylists-supporting-stylists]

I’m B L U E ‼️ . . . . . Reposted from @vividsandbalayage I’m B L U E ‼️ @pravana Ah! So weird that Christmas is over !! Are you setting goals for yourself for 2021⁉️ @oneshothairawards @behindthechair_com @kevin.givens @marybehindthechair @shmeggsandbaconn @haleygable @chrissylan @caitlyn_cummings #btconeshot2020_creativecolor #btconeshot2020_unconventionalcolor #btconeshot2020_mannequin #behindthechair #oneshothairawards (at Boston, Massachusetts) https://www.instagram.com/p/CJcKpQHJGzZ/?igshid=14jsshuqq4ftk

[stylists-supporting-stylists]

How’d I do with the pinch?! . . . . . Reposted from @vividsandbalayage How’d I do with the pinch @mickeycolonjr ?! This was probably one of my fav hairs I’ve ever painted using @pulpriothair semi’s @behindthechair_com @saloncentric @modernsalon @beautylaunchpad (at Franklin, Massachusetts) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGN3qk4Jl66/?igshid=jykthlpprhzp

[iimdiifferent]

B L O N D E 🌬 @guy_tang Big 9 @redken @olaplex 🧜🏼‍♀️ Lost a mermaid 🧜🏼‍♀️ but gained a #blondebabe 🤘🏽@guytang @redken @olaplex 🌬 #maneaddicts #vividsandbalayage #fckinghair #imallaboutdahair #behindthechair #authentichairarmy #americansalon #modernsalon #saloncentric #licensedtocreate #olaplex #longbeachhair #balayageartist #citiesbesthairartist #citiesbesthairartists #manepainters #hair_artistry #pewterjewelry #balayageombre #manepainters #maneinspiration (at Long Beach, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/BmfZEdUFjdw/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1atnqi8db28rp

[iimdiifferent]

Finally 😍 blonde life 🧜🏼‍♀️ Lost a mermaid 🧜🏼‍♀️ @guytang @redken @olaplex 🌬 swipe to see the switch ✨#maneaddicts #vividsandbalayage #fckinghair #imallaboutdahair #behindthechair #authentichairarmy #americansalon #modernsalon #saloncentric #licensedtocreate #olaplex #longbeachhair #balayageartist #citiesbesthairartist #citiesbesthairartists #manepainters #hair_artistry #pewterjewelry #balayageombre #manepainters #maneinspiration (at Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center) https://www.instagram.com/p/BmfXRjWFAjY/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1m5eeebpc3lrx

[iimdiifferent]

Lost a mermaid 🧜🏼‍♀️ but gained a #blondebabe 🤘🏽@guytang @redken @olaplex 🌬 swipe to see the switch ✨#maneaddicts #vividsandbalayage #fckinghair #imallaboutdahair #behindthechair #authentichairarmy #americansalon #modernsalon #saloncentric #licensedtocreate #olaplex #longbeachhair #balayageartist #citiesbesthairartist #citiesbesthairartists #manepainters #hair_artistry #pewterjewelry #balayageombre #manepainters #maneinspiration (at Long Beach, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/BmfWqgGlQ7K/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1lhkyqyzj7der

[stylists-supporting-stylists]

Knot your average SPOOKY SZN👻 . . . . . Reposted from @vividsandbalayage Knot your average SPOOKY SZN👻 do you have your Halloween costume picked out ‼️ I created this lewk using @lunartideshair on @vpfashion_official 22” human hair seamless extensions I love how thick these extensions are ! So easy to color & style, I’m obsessed ! The neons and pastels from this line are Amazing ! If you haven’t tried lunar tides what are you waiting for ‼️ Styled using @leafandflowerhair ✨Cbd phyto molecular oil, cbd 7 minute blowout + cbd instant frizz remedy @behindthechair_com @beautylaunchpad @american_salon @modernsalon @todyeforofficial @kevin.givens @chrissylan @caitlyn_cummings @haleygable @hair_slayerz @hotonbeauty #behindthechair #beautylaunchpad #uniwigs #vpfashion #hotonbeauty #neonhair #vividhaircolor #trendyhair #hairporn #fuckinghair #americansalon #modernsalon #neonhaircolor #hairbrained #leafandflower (at Boston, Massachusetts) https://www.instagram.com/p/CV-2Pk4Jmqn/?utm_medium=tumblr

[iimdiifferent]

I love a Balayage in virgin hair 😍 @joico #blondelifelightener @redken @olaplex 👌🏾 #fckinghair #imallaboutdahair #behindthechair #authentichairarmy #americansalon #modernsalon #saloncentric #licensedtocreate #olaplex #longbeachhair #balayageartist #citiesbesthairartist #citiesbesthairartists #manepainters #hair_artistry #pewterjewelry #balayageombre #balayagehair #maneaddicts #citiesbesthairstylist #longbeach #downey #whittier #picorivera #longhairdontcare #guytanginspired #guytanginspo #hotonbeauty #hairinspiration #vividsandbalayaged (at Long Beach, California)

[iimdiifferent]

Lighting is key 🔑 swipe to see the HUGE difference lightening has its effect on haircolor🦄 @guy_tang @le_balayagebag @joicointensity @matrix #fckinghair #imallaboutdahair #behindthechair #authentichairarmy #americansalon #modernsalon #saloncentric #licensedtocreate #olaplex #longbeachhair #balayageartist #citiesbesthairartist #citiesbesthairartists #manepainters #hair_artistry #pewterjewelry #balayageombre #balayagehair #vividhair #citiesbesthairstylist #longbeach #downey #whittier #picorivera #vividimagination #guytanginspired #guytanginspo #hotonbeauty #hairinspiration #vividsandbalayaged (at El Pescador No. 5) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp8FkSOhvhC/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1bli72agfx6jg

[iimdiifferent]

Lighting is key 🔑 swipe to see the HUGE difference lightening has its effect on haircolor🦄 @guy_tang @vividandbalayaged @le_balayagebag @joicointensity @matrix #fckinghair #imallaboutdahair #behindthechair #authentichairarmy #americansalon #modernsalon #saloncentric #licensedtocreate #olaplex #longbeachhair #balayageartist #citiesbesthairartist #citiesbesthairartists #manepainters #hair_artistry #pewterjewelry #balayageombre #balayagehair #vividhair #citiesbesthairstylist #longbeach #downey #whittier #picorivera #vividimagination #guytanginspired #guytanginspo #hotonbeauty #hairinspiration #vividsandbalayaged (at Long Beach, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/BpBYd1YhIFi/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=r61hca9s06uc

[iimdiifferent]

Lighting is key 🔑 swipe to see the HUGE difference lightening has its effect on haircolor🦄 @guy_tang @vividandbalayaged @le_balayagebag @joicointensity @matrix #fckinghair #imallaboutdahair #behindthechair #authentichairarmy #americansalon #modernsalon #saloncentric #licensedtocreate #olaplex #longbeachhair #balayageartist #citiesbesthairartist #citiesbesthairartists #manepainters #hair_artistry #pewterjewelry #balayageombre #balayagehair #vividhair #citiesbesthairstylist #longbeach #downey #whittier #picorivera #vividimagination #guytanginspired #guytanginspo #hotonbeauty #hairinspiration #vividsandbalayaged (at Long Beach, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/BpBYLUmBWVs/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1k6x8urf0h7c4

[iimdiifferent]

🌬 she a cold bih’ 🤘🏽#vidsoritdidnthappen #fuckyourfilters #thisisreallifefolks #maneaddicts #vividsandbalayage #fckinghair #imallaboutdahair #behindthechair #authentichairarmy #americansalon #modernsalon #saloncentric #licensedtocreate #olaplex #longbeachhair #balayageartist #citiesbesthairartist #citiesbesthairartists #manepainters #hair_artistry #pewterjewelry #balayageombre #manepainters #maneinspiration (at Long Beach, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bmfacu7F5dZ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ezm44jwbg391