When Chrystofer Benson’s grandfather suggested that he become a stylist in 1992, the then 18-year-old jock thought that it was a loopy idea. “I appeased my grandfather by visiting a nearby beauty school, where I immediately realized that I would be surrounded by beautiful girls,” Benson grins. “After I enrolled, it didn’t take long for me to discover that my true attraction was all the possibilities and challenges of doing hair. It has been an amazing love affair ever since.”
The evening that I spoke with Benson, he was ending a one-month hiatus from travel and work, although it soon became clear that this überpassionate beauty pro‘s defi nition of “time off” was quite different from the average joe or joette.
“I use the month of November to concentrate on my creativity, work on my skills, decide which new avenues I want to pursue with hair, and to shoot my NAHA collections,” he relates. “It’s really a 24/7 proposition. When I wake up in the middle of the night with a great idea swirling around in my head, I flip on the light and write it down before it recedes back into my subconscious. I’m constantly looking at things that I admire and then figuring out ways to incorporate certain elements into my hair and color designs. I also do a lot of soul searching, trying to discover new ways to be a better teacher and student. All of these things inspire me for the classes I teach and when I’m planning shoots—especially NAHA, which is such an exercise in creativity.”
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| Chrystopher Benson |
Benson originally brought attention to his work through competitions, which began while he was still in beauty school.
“For the first six months as a student, I admit that I was just coasting,” Benson laughs. “Then I entered a competition that my uncle had won years before. Everyone expected me to win too, but it didn’t happen that way. That lit a fire under me that’s still hard to describe.”
More competitions and many wins followed Benson’s career wake-up call.
Within a couple years after graduation, his competitive activities landed him a position as a local educator for a leading product brand, which was followed by many promotions in rapid succession.
“In 2004, I joined Matrix—first as a lead educator for the company’s academy and now as one of seven Matrix Artistic Directors,” says Benson. “The synergy that we create as a group is nothing short of mind-blowing. Do I feel that I’ve earned my current position? Absolutely.
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| Art Director: Chrystofer Benson; Photographer: Joseph Cartright; Hairstylist/Haircolorist: Chrystofer Benson; Makeup Artist: Merrill Hollis; Fashion Stylist: Jersey |
Do I feel like one of the luckiest stylists on the planet? No question! I never take my career for granted. I feel that every day I must earn my success by improving my skills and value to our industry.”
Speaking of Benson’s skills, he surprised me by relating, “I don’t think there are a lot of techniques that I would consider to be truly revolutionary or advanced. To me, it’s really about mastering the fundamentals and then stretching and bending these core skills in interesting ways. This is truly what guides my personal style, which I view as progressive with an edge, strong, bold, and vibrant.
“Despite being known for color, I never want to be limited to one area of hair work,” Benson continues. “I strive for greatness in everything that I do in terms of my career. In recent years, for instance, I’ve had a strong focus on styling, a skill which I’ve worked to perfect—and am still working toward perfection.
Despite working behind the chair at Salt Lake City-based Salon Tantrum four to eight days a month and constantly being on the road the majority of the year, Benson has also found the time and resources to help launch a new company—Visionary Icon—with photographer Joseph Cartright.
“It’s a collective that provides photographic education for hair to stylists around the country,” Benson explains. “We limit our classes to 12 people. Over the course of two days, we take our students through the entire photographic process and ensure that they leave with a clear direction, storyboard and enough information to hold a successful shoot of their own. They also get hands-on experience by assisting me with two photo shoots. It’s an incredible, empowering experience—one that I want to share with every stylist who’s as excited as I am about putting their best work in front of the camera.”
(MyMatrixFamily.com) (VisionaryIcon.com)
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