20 Minutes with Ira Pop Sage

By Louise May

Ira Pope Sage is a Las Vegas-based hairdresser who first began his professional career in his hometown of Michigan back in 1994. A former stylist at a Robert Cromeans Salon until 2012, Sage joined Paul Mitchell and travelled all over the world as a Global Educator, specialising in haircutting.

Throughout the years Ira’s work has been awarded and recognised by prestigious publications. He was named top hairdresser by Vegas Life Magazine in 2002 and 2003, listed as a top 50 Platforms Artist by Be Mag in 2007, and was featured on a Winn Claybaugh Masters CD. In 2021 Ira became a Southwest Hairstyling Awards Finalist for Asian Hairstylist of the Year and Hairstylist of the Year, and was honoured with the Uncensored Beauty Icon Award by Midwest Hairstyling Awards, that same year as well.

Ira has captured the industry’s attention for his expressive and functional shapes, which he gives credit to his “Clock Cutting Method” – his signature approach to haircutting, which explains why the foundations of creativity begin with thinking inside the box. Inspired by the idea of time, clocks and measurement, Ira’s visual approach simplifies the haircutting process and opens up the mind to a whole new perspective of haircutting.

“Do everything with happiness, passion and love” are words Ira lives by and which are guiding his present trajectory.

Our Editor Louise May spends 20 minutes getting up close and personal with the legend Ira Pope Sage himself…

Tell us what you do in the industry today.

Currently as I’m sat answering this question, I am a booth renting, behind the chair hairdresser and I’m at chill quaint off the Strip salon here in Las Vegas. I teach 1on1’s here at the loft I live in, I do in-salon classes and share my perspectives at hair shows. I guess now a days I’d have to add that I create haircutting content, and will soon have subscription education available.

To help us get to know you a little more, would you share a little about your upbringing?

I was made in the Philippines, yet born and raised in Greenville Michigan. I was raised with an older sister (Erlinda) and a younger sister (Samantha), by my factory-working parents (Alicia and Ira). Being the only boy and middle child, I was given decent freedom to explore and find me along the way.

How did you first get involved in the industry?

When I was 11-12 years old, I was into the white kid skater look, which kinda had emo bangs, side part with spiky textured hair on the part. I’d go to the hair salon in my small town and ask the pretty hairdresser girl for that skater look, it never quite looked like I wanted, but the pretty lady would ask if I liked it, and I would smile and say yes thank you pretty hairdresser! I’d then go home and cut into my haircut and make it what I wanted... I did that about three times until I decided I’d do the cut from beginning to end all myself.

I also then switched my hair goals from the white kid skater look to a more black kid ethnic look. Fun fact, my siblings and I were told our grandfather was a black Ethiopian man, so I felt I was getting to my roots. Only four years ago I find out nope no Ethiopian grandfather, he was Filipino.

Either way, I have always been very attracted to shape, so I was very inspired by Johnny Gil bi-level shapes and Bobby Brown's Gumby shapes. Also, like 3rd Base, shaved graffiti in hair was very cool to me! So that all said, by 13 years old I were cutting my own hair regularly pushing the wicked faded shapes and Jordan Jumpman, or football helmet with my numbers carved into my hair.

I’d use paper harder than writing paper yet softer than cardboard, draw the image, cut it, put two side tape on it and then put it to my head as a stencil! My friends couldn’t believe I did my hair myself, so by 14 I started cutting their hair to prove I did it all myself! I loved cutting their hair, but I wanted to be a lawyer when I grew up.

I lived just off a lake, and the house between my lake and the next lake was amazing! It had the pool, full-court basketball/tennis court, a Porsche, and pretty girls at their pool! They were lawyers and I wanted that lifestyle, so lawyer me up! In my sophomore year of high school, this salon owner (Jeff Hall) saw my girlfriend and I at a gas station, he complimented me on my hair, and my friends hair and asked if I was planning to be a hairdresser and told me what school to go to if I did choose hair.

Fast forward to my senior year of high school, I had to decide if it was lawyer or not. Which meant running cross country due to scholarship offers or simply having fun playing football with my friends! Cross country started two weeks before football, so I started up too! Then first day of football practice I gave a buddy a ride home. Stopped at a stop sign, saw this beautiful home with two beautiful cars and a boat parked in the driveway. Said to my friend check out that beautiful place and he said oh that’s Jeff Hall’s house, the hairdresser that saw me at the gas station. It was at that moment I decided I was going to play football with my friends, become a hairdresser and have fun for the rest of my life!

What achievement are you most proud of in your life or career?

I am most proud that I’ve accomplished a big goal for me, have the respect of my peers! Last year the Midwest Hairstyling Awards honoured me with the Uncensored Beauty Icon Award, which is, “For the artist who follows the road less travelled; the one who paves their own path. This artist knows no boundary and is willing to break the rules to tell a story with their art. They make it possible for others to go against the norm. This artist will not be out in a traditional box; they won’t be censored. They are the epitome of Uncensored Beauty. This category will not accept submissions and will be nominated by Hair Awards USA Style Council members.” So, was so grateful to be awarded for my weirdness and always just being me!

If you weren’t doing what you do now, what alternative career would you consider?

I love plants so maybe I’d do something plant related! If I could simply pick what I want, I’d choose music, as it was my first love!

Three things you’re passionate about:

A = practicing. I practice being nice when no one’s looking. I practice finding the positive out of things. I practice cutting hair regularly in hopes to accomplish more knowledge, understanding to put me in the path with the least amount of resistance.

B = making me proud of me. I feel it’s super important to focus on making me proud of me! Since July 3, 2022, I have only taken cold showers. Since I have no filter on my shower, hot water opens pores in our skin and all the harmful chemicals in the water being passed into our bodies. There are many benefits, but for me the biggest thing is the belief in me it gives me! I need as many reminders that I can, as much as possible!

C = music. Music was my first love. I love how it allows and ignites emotions. I love how much watching live music inspires me in so many ways! It can often open my mind to see things different than I did before hearing and feeling it!

Describe your ideal Sunday:

Wake up like 8am next to my girlfriend (Missie) and dog (Mr uncle Louie) . Share, express and practice loving activities with Missie. Go to the park and get my walk and workout sorted. Come home shower, go get brunch and come home to watch my Chicago Bears beat the packers! Have a delicious dinner with Missie, and then go to a concert with Missie and friends! Oh, cannabis is legal here so the whole-time bong rips would be sprinkled through that glorious day.

What’s on your bucket list?

Honestly as corny as this sounds, to teach and vacation in Australia is on my bucket list! I love seeing places I’ve never seen before and sharing my perspectives with new people! Makes me feel I’ve had purpose and I’ve done good with my time.

Craziest, funniest, or most unusual thing you’ve ever done?

Wow so many things to pick from to answer craziest, funniest, or unusual things I’ve done... I’ve certainly had sex in most places you could think of to be crazy, including on top of a random Prius downtown Las Vegas since Missie doesn’t like Prius drivers.

Ok it’s Halloween, I’m going to go with when I was 38 my best mate D.J. Muldoon (Geeza) and I were at a Cut Copy concert at a theatre. I noticed there were steps to stage on the side, so I decided to run up them, jump on stage give Dan Whitford a high-five then continue to stage dive to spread open crowd. Funniest part is months later I checked hashtags and found footage that someone filmed and posted of me saying “no he’s not part of the band!”

Pets or no pets?

Funny story about pets! In 2015 I was single and thinking maybe it was time for me to get a pet! I saw a dog on Instagram that looked super cool, so I screenshot the dog two different times saying to myself I want a dog like that! Then I kind of started to switch from wanting a dog to a Sphynx (hairless cats). then in 2017 Missie comes into my life accompanied by this adorable Chinese crested yorkie mix dog, named Louie! he looks a lot like the dog I took pics of if he was mixed with the hairless cat, since Louie is a hairless dog!

What’s playing on your Spotify right now?

The Chemical Brothers - Electronic Battle Weapon 7... Lcd Soundsystem is my favourite band ever. I have an exploding disco ball tattooed on my chest and it says “Dance yrself clean.” Lcd Soundsystem aways has a disco ball on stage and “Dance yrself clean” is my favourite song from them.

What was your nickname as a child and how did you get it?

Well, my full given name is Ira Pope Sage Jr. Yeah technically I’m the third... and the second would have been cooler than junior but whatever... So, my dad would call me poop or pooper since I was a kid. So, you can imagine when I was running track and my dad was yelling go Poop! Or you can do it Pooper, it was very confidence building as a teenager.

If you could leave this industry having achieved just one thing, what would that legacy be?

If I could leave anything with this industry it would be my Clock Cutting Method properly in schools for new students to be able to learn this “hooked on phonics” like way. I created my own method utilising time as the guidance for cutting hair. It helps many hairdressers gain a different perspective on how to cut hair.

What’s something interesting or quirky we might not know about you?

I am born on February 29th so I’m a unicorn! Currently I’m 11.5 years old! I think this is why at 5’7” I don’t have short man complex cause 5’7” at 11.5 years old is pretty tall truly…

If you could invite 4 people, living or passed, to a dinner party at your place, who would you invite?

Nikola Tesla for answers. Dr Sebi for answers. James Murphy for music. Dave Chapelle for laughs.

Do you have a motto or signature life philosophy?

Be like electricity, find the path with the least amount or resistance. When I heard that is why electric bolts go left right left right again, that blew my mind! That’s what I want, I trust I will work 24/7 365 to get it, so it’s not about lazy it’s about ease and enjoyment!

What does contentment mean to you?

It’s mega to me! It’s something I’m always chasing after! When I’ve experienced moments of it, it seems so mentally relaxing !! I guess it’s like the frosting on the cake, most of the matter is cake, with a little frosting! So much time and practice(cake) doing the right things return little bits of contentment (frosting.)

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I would have fallen in love with myself sooner! I think it would have made lots of my years easier and more purely pleasurable!

What makes you laugh?

Laughing is one of my favourite things to do! I love watching stand-up comedians, I’m not the sensitive type and I think comedy has no boundaries!

What’s your greatest fear?

To become dependent upon others to live. I have trust issues, so the thought of being dependent on someone is scary!!

What is your greatest indulgence?

My greatest indulgence is getting high and eating sweets! I love dark chocolate!