A Teacher Of Change

by George J. Miller

Martin Parsons has just joined the ranks of hairstyling icons like Vidal Sassoon, Irvine Rusk and Paul Mitchell to receive the NAHA Lifetime Achievement Award in Las Vegas on July 13th, 2008.
Find out why this “Teacher of Change” has become the focus of all this attention!

"I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN HAIRCUTTING IS TO PROPORTION THE LENGTH AT THE TOP IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE LENGTH ON THE BOTTOM. THIS CHANGE IN CUTTING TECHNIQUE HELPS STYLISTS WORK FASTER TO ACCOMMODATE DROP-IN HAIRCUTTING THAT IS POPULAR AT MANY SALONS ALL OVER THE WORLD."
Martin is truly a legend in his own time. His Masterful techniques have helped to change the way our industry serves its clients every day. With his friendly manner and his willingness to help, Martin makes you feel more important than he is. He is a respected and humble man all at the same time. Want to learn his techniques in your own home? Check out his two NEW DVD COLLECTIONS, RHAPSODY AND INGENUE, and see how his techniques really “work” for you in the salon every day.

George: I'd like to start with a personal question: are you right or left handed?

Martin: Well I am left-handed, but I teach with both hands and work with both hands, but I do favor my left hand for my own cutting. But since I do so much teaching, I am used to changing hands to show people that are right-handed my techniques.

George: You mean you are ambidextrous to a point?

Martin: If have the discipline to teach all kinds of people, it´s only natural that I have to use both hands!

George: What type of music do you enjoy?

Martin: I'm inspired by the peace and quiet of nature, so I own a large piece of natural property that I use to inspire me. But in terms of music I use all kinds. Usually when I am listening to music it has something to do with my shows or in my work. I am not usually on my ipod listening by myself.

George: I've heard people say that you are a “Teacher of Change” Can you tell me what that means to you?

Martin: Back in the day, people would always make an appointment for hair services of any kind, but then young people started to just drop in. And it´s so common today to do walk-in services that there was a demand to create a cutting technique that would allow stylists to cut faster, better, and more accurately. In response to this change in our clientele´s needs and demands, I developed a way to cut hair that's based on certain points of balance, which causes you to see the face in a different way. I think the most important thing in haircutting is to proportion the length at the top in relationship to the length on the bottom. This change in cutting technique helps stylists work faster to accommodate drop-in haircutting that is popular at many salons all over the world.

George: How does it make you feel to be given the NAHA Lifetime Achievement Award, an honor that has only been given to the likes of Irvine Rusk, Paul Mitchell and Vidal Sassoon?

Martin: I was speechless! I don't do competitions, I don't do much editorial work, or have that much exposure in the trade magazines. My recognition in the Industry is based on my performances. Somehow I was so excited about educating that I've been able to come up with techniques that everyday hairdressers can relate to because these simple techniques really work. To be recognized for that by such a prestigious group is really surprising and exciting to me. I don't compare myself to others and I never say that I have to do this better than that, or I have to do that better. I've never been like that. I'm just so involved in everyday hairdressing and the design of putting things together and making haircuts work for each face. it's different from what a lot of other people do every day, and it makes me really proud that people think, “Wow this guy deserves an award!”

George: And I would like to add, a very much-deserved award! I understand you have just launched two new DVDs. Can you share with our readers what they can expect?

Martin: I do a real variation of hair. Our DVDs are based on a very simple philosophy. We teach simple techniques about how we section hair, how we assemble, how we tease, how we pin for height and volume, how we smooth the hair to get extra-good finishes. All of that evolves into some really easy-to-learn and easy-to-perform ideas of knotting the hair, lacing, tying, wrapping, and folding to create really special effects in a logical way.

George: In your own words, what is the importance of hairdressing to you?

Martin: What young hairdressers and even those in my generation have to look forward to is that the longer we're in this Industry you see your career evolve. When you´re young, you want to be great, you want to be every kind of hairdresser, you want to do everything in the bright lights. But you find, as you mature in this industry, that there's so much more to a successful career than that. And that is realizing your importance to your community. The styles that you create affect your community and that your attitude about hair and fashion really impacts each person that sits in your chair on a daily basis. So in the big picture of life, I think that hairdressers have one of the best careers and one of the best opportunities because their life changes every day. It grows, our clientele changes, every situation becomes new and as you go through life, you realize how much people need your understanding and your caring as well as your expertise. I think that is the key to what hairdressing is all about. What I tell all hairdressers is that we all belong to the same “Hairdressing Nation.”

George: Now I better understand why NAHA has obviously chosen you for their Lifetime Achievement Award! Thank you Martin!

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