How can we better ourselves, our team, and our industry in 2024. What’s in and what’s out.

By Kristie Kesic

2023 has come and gone and just like that it’s 2024. At the beginning of every year for myself and my team I like to review the previous year, look at what worked, what didn’t, and I like to make goals for what I personally want to achieve and then what my team and salon wants to achieve. To me this is how I set myself up for success.

From all accounts last year saw quite a big change in our industry. Many embraced it, and thrived, others not so much.

Education was huge but also costly, social media and influencers went to the next level, no one could find staff and the demand and expectations from clients tipped a lot over the edge even forcing people to leave the industry.

All of this got me thinking. How as individuals and as an industry are we all going to thrive in 2024. The reality is not everyone will, and that’s fine.

We all need to have struggles and become uncomfortable because that’s how we grow. I put the question out on socials and to our industry about what we want to see in 2024 and what needs to stay in 2023 so here’s a list for you all.

Educators, let's mix it up and add more hair diversity to our teachings. Let’s see more of how to cut and colour textured hair, let’s see more brunettes, creative colours and to teach how to perfect colour corrections. It’s 2024, why are hairdressers still freaking out over how to do the perfect copper but will happily bleach anyone’s hair without even blinking.

Let’s remember as educators we have a responsibility to grow and mentor so let’s teach technical excellence, especially in colour and leave the somewhat careless anything goes approach in 2023.

For stage presenters let’s remember the privilege it is to be up on stage in front of an audience and lead with, integrity and intent. Let’s remember all those eyes that are looking back at us and through the phone screens and respect the responsibility we have as artists to show them our very best, every single time. Let’s show up as someone we are proud of and be the mentors our industry needs.

Product companies don’t let the number of followers someone has overshadow and outweigh the values you want to lead with.

In with respect. Respect yourself, respect your team and respect our industry. Out with disrespectful clients. We do not need to put up with this. If they disrespect you, your salon, or your team, have the confidence to say no it’s not ok and show them the door.

In with respecting our craft through influencers that are beautiful hairdressers who are doing amazing things and who are professionals promoting professional products and tools. Out with just any consumer on TikTok thinking they are a professional hairdresser and promoting professional products. Leave the consulting and recommending to the hairdressers that know what they are doing.

In with charging YOUR WORTH. Not anyone else’s worth, your worth and not having to justify it. On the other hand, out with over charging. Yes, it may sound contradictive but bear with me.

There are some hairdressers that are overqualified and undercharging and then there’s some that are underqualified and overcharging. They are both extremely toxic for our industry. Know your place. If you’ve got the skill and experience charge for it, if you don’t have those skills yet, educate yourself, better yourself and then charge what you want to be charging because you now have the experience to justify those prices.

If you're charging stupid amounts for inexperienced work you're firsthand contributing to a big negative consumer perception of our industry and it needs to stop.

In with the healthy hair era. Out with bleaching over bleach over bleach.

In with hyping each other up and supporting your friends and colleagues. Everyone needs a hype girl. Out with unhealthy competition.

In with being ok with complaints and criticism. This is how we all grow. Out with questioning your whole career and skill set after having one client complaint.

In with realising not every hairdresser wants or needs to be an influencer. Out with thinking you need to master every single aspect of our industry. Everyone has a purpose and place. You just need to find yours.

Wages. Employees, except to be paid what you are worth. You are only worth as much as you bring into the salon. Do not expect to be taking home 5+ times what you are bringing into the salon and do not back your boss or future employee into a corner asking for such unrealistic money.

Do not use staff shortages as an unrealistic bargaining tool. Bosses do not be scared to say no to unrealistic money expectations. It will only cause you pain in the long run. On the other hand, if your staff are meeting targets and benchmarks, pay them accordingly. Go to them, show them you appreciate them and offer them a wage increase before they must come to you.

Employees be a good employee. Be a team player. if you have a good boss, that respects you and your work, and wants to see you grow and succeed, be kind to them. No one knows the responsibility or hardships of a boss unless they are one yourselves. They are doing the very best they can.

If you have a shit boss or don’t feel valued or respected in your team then don’t winge about it, leave, and find a new salon. There are so many incredible salons out there that will nurture you and your talents.

Don’t allow one bad boss to allow you to think negative about our industry. To be a success the employee-employer relationship must be mutually respectful and be about give and take. If it is one side, it’s never going to work. Employers, respect your team, plain and simple.

In with self-care, out with burnout. Let’s all look after ourselves, our health, and our self-worth. Our clients take so much energy from us so let’s make sure we are refilling our cup.

In with promoting our industry in a positive light. Out with saying how little we earn or how shit our hours are. I believe our industry is truly incredible.

I have had more opportunities, travelled the world and I know more very wealthy, successful hairdressers than any of my university graduated mates. If you are unhappy with our industry or the conditions you are dealing with, instead of winging about it, how about you stand up and be part of the change.

Don’t overwork yourself, make sure you take your lunch break and eat actual food not just drink coffee and make your targets to then earn more money. Money and opportunity don’t come for free; you need to do the work to earn it.

And finally, in with understanding how valuable every one of us is to our industry. Don’t ever think just because you are one person your contribution to your team and our industry isn’t worth something. If we can better ourselves, we will better our team and in turn we then all better our industry.

Here’s to an extremely successful 2024 for us all.

Kristie x @kristiekesic_colourist @cobellecreative