My hairstylist knows the intimate details of about every facet of my life, from the person who just ghosted me to the trivial fights I have with my roommate, to the size of my best friend's new engagement ring. Best of all, my stylist has the unique ability to always make me feel better when I leave her chair. Seeing her is a major part of my self-care routine and after the Covid-19 era when I couldn't visit my salon, it feels more important than ever to invest in these in-person relationships (because that's what I have with my hairstylist—a relationship). I know I'm not the only one. According to L'Oréal, Gen-Z is heading to the salon in droves, in search of new technologies, products, and treatments for everything from treating split ends to bond-building hair color, to learning how to do a pro-level blowout, and forming a meaningful relationship with their knowledgeable stylist.
This is exactly why L’Oréal Professional Products is now investing more than ever in hairstylists, colorists, and salon owners. Earlier this month, the group officially opened the doors of its brand-new L'Oréal Academy in NYC, a space for salon professionals to continue their education through masterclasses, training, and events. It's exclusively for L'Oréal, but I got the sneak peek as a beauty editor (perks of the job) to see exactly what the space is like. Because if my stylist can learn new techniques, test new products, and connect with other pros, I reap the benefits in the salon chair.
According to Leslie Marino, president of L'Oréal US Professional Products, the core essence of the brand itself and new center is education. The massive space was specifically designed with hair in mind. Nancy L. Tarantola, vice president of shows and events for the professional products division at L'Oréal, told me, for example, that the lights on the ceiling project a pure white light that won't distort hair color, giving artists the ability to see exactly what they're doing. The Academy also has a mix of conference rooms and breakout areas for collaboration.
Erica Roberson-Peters, vice president of diversity, equity, and inclusion for the professional products division, says that she'll be utilizing the space for events and masterclasses on working with textured hair. "Sixty-five percent of the U.S. population has some form of textured hair," she says, but many stylists aren't taught how to work on anything but straight hair types in their initial cosmetology lessons. Within L'Oréal Professional Product's portfolio of 750 educators across the country, Roberson-Peters brings together brand ambassadors who are skilled in texture to educate in salons, partner stores, and digital platforms. With the opening of the L'Oréal Academy, she'll have a physical space for it all.
Hair artistry is about more than just cutting a bob or painting on highlights; it's a mechanism for art and expression that can only exist if those in the industry are given the chance to grow and learn. And who wouldn't want to be in a career that's rife with so many possibilities? Perhaps I should start taking a course myself…
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.
