Salonpreneur Magazine Road Trip -Tones of Beauty
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Earlier this year, along with the rest of the industry, I started seeing marketing for Tones of Beauty. What was this new show? Who would be there? What would it be about? Well, I was fortunate to have a conversation with the Tasha Raymond, Marketing Manager for Tones of Beauty and owner, Jamie Hill, in the week or two leading up and we all agreed a collaboration between our brands would be a great pathway to go down.
There will be a bigger article around Tones of Beauty in the October edition of Salonpreneur Magazine, but I felt it was important to convey my thoughts on this great new show before then.
Our mainstream industry brands, suppliers and media has in the main sat back and wondered why this show was happening, why they needed to go and what they would miss or not by not being part of it.
Several things became clear during my sadly, short time I spent at the event.
Our industry doesn't realise there is a whole part of the salon/hair/beauty 'community' missing at our most frequented events.
That this missing community has a vibe that transcends their space. The sense of real connection and collaboration was palpable. The women of colour represented their supported each other, celebrated each other and spoke of their skillset with confidence and grace.
The professionals I met provide services for clients that the mainstream industry struggles to connect with. Why is this? Because the mainstream - mainly white hair/beauty professionals have not been taught about textured hair or melanin rich skin and how to work with clients that present with 'difference' to what they have been taught.
Tones of Beauty was created to speak to and provide a space for the hair and beauty professionals that speak the language and skills that are not taught in many further education college. There are currently few places you can learn these skills and they are mainly delivered as CPD. This means investment in your education for a client base your business may not have. It means taking a leap of faith. Does this mean that our mainstream salons and solo pros are less likely to take up these courses? Maybe? Is that how it should be? What should the 'norm' be?
The National Occupational Standards were updated several years ago and due to the bureaucracy of regulated awarding bodies, the updated criteria has failed, in many instances, to make it to the curriculum in our local FE colleges as of yet. This means that we are still failing our clients of colour and clients with textured hair as they are still excluded from most salon spaces as they cannot have confidence in someone who doesn't get their hair or could cause damage to their skin through lack of knowledge.
I came away with the realisation that we all talk about Inclusivity, but mainly we are paying it lip service. We all state we are open to and welcome all in our businesses, but truly, how ready are you to provide services to all?
I watched a group of women of colour from across the globe headed up by stage organiser, Lola Maja and Eryca Freemantle of EATOW (Embracing All Tones Of Women) show up big time with style, with grace, with knowledge, with community. I know there's a lot of that we need to emulate across the whole sector. Shift is needed.
The footfall at Tones of Beauty was lower than we'd see at Professional Beauty - it's a new event - it takes time to build momentum - but, those that attended saw a side of the industry that to date has not been fully represented in our world.
Going forward Salonpreneur Magazine will be partnering with Tones of Beauty & EATOW and working towards ensuring that the connections across the breadth of the industry is boosted.
If we open our minds to new information and knowledge it will only enhance us, our businesses and our industry. I met so many amazing professionals that I would never have met and we are now working on projects. As one of the average - middle age, white beauty professional that has had privilege in her world, I have been fortunate to make new connections and have broadened my horizons and watch this space for new collaborations that will bring our worlds together.
❤️🩶🧡💛🤍💚🤎🩵💙🩷🖤💜
Sue Davies
Editorial Director
