Pounding the city streets of New York as whiffs of cinnamon and cardamom from my tea latte pleasantly surpass the usual city sidewalk stench, my Hair posse and I power step it up to our yearly trade show held at the Jacob Javit's center this past crisp March. Chattering excitedly about all things hair; shears made from alloy steel, carbon combs with varying teeth width and the ergonomics of new powerful blow dryers, we three women veteran hairstylists and one newbie yet passionate male stylist keep each other fresh with insight and ideas. 

Eventually we make our way to the International Beauty Show floor where all the usual loud music and tight crowds beam around us. We take notice the trend of our times, mens hair grooming, and are grateful for scents of sandalwood body wash and bergamot beard wax instead of the previous headache promoting keratin straightener craze with its aldehyde fumes of years past.

After a quick refuel, we head back in ready to challenge our cutting skills in our anticipated hands on class with master DJ Muldoon. A disciplined and focused stylist with modern and creative skills and Vidal Sassoon and Paul Mitchell training, he guided us through precise simplicity. Using graduation techniques “the build up of weight” and layering “to remove weight” we recreated multiple sections and clean cut lines on our mannequins. These tools, tried and true, bring us back to a bustling clientele where the "underground cool kids" continue to bring it forward. Learn. Share. Recreate.