24. Ruth Roche on the Future of Hairdressing Education: Mentorship, Skills & Staying Creative

So I kind of want to couch this in...

I've been thinking a lot about this conversation, and we both have this real passion for education.

You're down in the weeds.

Of course, I'm not a hairdresser, but I've been around it my whole career, and I see how powerful it can be.

And I feel in the current moment that...

When I think about the larger challenges of the industry, I think one is lack of mentorship because of the shift to independence.

People aren't around other people in

large numbers.

That's a problem.

And dotted line from there to I think we have one of the larger, more worrisome education deficits that I've ever experienced in the industry, meaning that people are coming into the industry and moving through their careers with less education than ever, especially less meaningful education.

And I want to kind of start with getting how you think about that.

And am I on track? Am I off? You got some nuance you want to add?

I think it's really hard right now.

For hairdressers, for hairstylists, because there's so much education, yet you can't...

How do you know what's the one that's going to help you? You know what I mean?

Yep.

I think that's the hardest part.

And, you know, you talked about mentorship.

And I, you know...

I'm so lucky to have had my experience with Trevor Sorby and Vivian McKinder, you know, as like right when I right out of the gate, you know, I know that that doesn't happen for most people.

But now you have to seek out a mentor.

You have to seek it out.

And

there's value in it and just know there's and know there's value.

Yeah, like, you know, sometimes, I mean, I've been around for a long time, and sometimes I know when I'm talking to someone who's just starting out, I know that they think that I'm old, and that's okay.