HAS AI BECOME YOUR NEW HAIRDRESSER?
- 7 days ago
- 6 min read
AI seems to be everywhere at the moment, doesn't it?
Whether you're asking it for holiday recommendations, meal ideas, workout plans or even what to wear to a wedding, it's quickly becoming part of everyday life. And, if we're being really honest, we're using it too. So it was probably only a matter of time before AI made its way into the HQ salon!
Over the last few months, we've seen more and more clients arriving with AI generated hairstyles, colour ideas and even personalised hair analyses. Some Stalker’s have even come armed with AI generated colour formulas, 1000% confident they have already found the answer before they've sat down in our hair chair.
It got us to thinking...
Has AI become as good as a hairdresser?
Before anyone panics, this isn't going to be one of those articles where a hair salon declares war on technology! It’s quite the opposite, actually, as we think AI is fascinating. We use it ourselves ,so we can absolutely see why so many of our Stalker’s are using it too.
In fact, we think it can be one of the best tools for helping you discover inspiration and explain what you're looking for. But over the past few months, something has started happening in hair consultations that we thought was worth talking about.
A few years ago it was magazines, then it was Pinterest, then Instagram, and now it's AI… And honestly? We think that's pretty exciting!
We know, we know, you’re probably reading this thinking "Wait... I thought a hair salon was going to tell me AI is ruining hairdressing.” Nope. Actually, we think it's brilliant....when it's used for what it's brilliant at.
This is what we find AI is brilliant at:
-Helping you put your ideas into words.
-Showing you different possibilities.
-Helping you discover styles you may never have considered.
-Giving us a fantastic starting point for a consultation.
We genuinely do love it when you come armed with inspiration to your appointment, whether it's one picture or fifty of them, it helps us understand what you're drawn to, what you're trying to achieve and, just as importantly, and what you definitely don't like!
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INSPIRATION & INSTRUCTION
A picture/video can tell us so much, like the feeling you're drawn to, the colours you love/dont love, the shapes and textures that catch your eye the most, and the things you may want to explore. That is where AI, Pinterest, Instagram and all the other tools we use for inspiration are fantastic.
But there is a difference between saying:
"I love this. Can we create something inspired by this?” and: "This is the formula I want, this is the technique and this is exactly what I want you to do.”
The first quote opens a conversation, whereas the second removes the very part of the appointment where our expertise comes in and AI does not cut the mustard.
Here is where AI struggles:
AI doesn't know:
-How your hair behaves on a rainy Tuesday.
-That your fringe has three cowlicks.
-That your particular hair snaps when lightened too quickly.
-That your medication, hormones, pregnancy or menopause has changed your hair’s texture or behaviour.
-That your curls shrink by four inches once they’re dry.
-That you hate spending more than five minutes styling your hair before work.
-How dense, fine. Coarse or porous your hair really is.
-Whether your hair is strong enough to achieve what you're asking for.
-That your hair has years of colour/thermal/environmental history hidden beneath the surface.
-Whether that exact colour will actually complement your skin tone, eye colour and natural features. (sometimes it changes your skin tone to match)
-Whether you’ll realistically keep up with the level of maintenance tied to that hair cut or colour.
Our list here could go on.. but we want you to be able to finish reading this article by the end of the day!
We're beginning to notice a shift. In some consultations, it can feel as though AI is being trusted more than us Quirker’s, The professional, sitting / standing in front of you. We completely understand why, AI is incredibly persuasive! But we also wanted to explain why that can sometimes make it harder for us to give you the very best advice.
Information isn't judgement - Everyone has access to information now, and that is a wonderful thing. AI has opened up conversations, encouraged curiosity and made inspiration more accessible than ever before, BUT, information isn't the same as professional judgement. We as the professionals aren't valuable because we know how to apply that colour or haircut, we're valuable because we know how, when, why and sometimes even if those colours, or that layer with that hair growth pattern should be used. That's years of education, experience, problem solving and seeing thousands of different heads of hair walk through the HQ doors - That’s the part that an AI simply can't replicate.
A FORMULA ISNT A RECIPE..
We've recently had clients arrive with AI-generated colour formulas, asking us to use an exact mix because ChatGPT suggested it. We completely understand why!
It sounds confident, looks pretty technical, and feels right from an AI, and on paper, it can look incredibly convincing. Where the problem lies with this is that a colour formula isn't a recipe, its just the end result of an assessment that has no maths equation for.
For example, before we even begin thinking about a formula, we're assessing things like:
-Your natural level.
-Previous colour history.
-Percentage of natural sparkles (grey).
-Hair density.
-Texture.
-Porosity.
-Elasticity.
-Underlying pigments.
-Your lifestyle.
-Your maintenance commitment.
-Your budget.
-The health of your hair.
-Medications or hormonal changes.
-Even how your hair naturally grows and moves.
Two clients can ask for exactly the same end result and receive completely different colour formulas and also services because their hair is completely different.
There isn't one "correct" answer, but there’s the right answer for your hair.
AI HAIR ANALYSIS - THE NEXT STOP?
Recently, AI tools have even begun offering personalised hair analyses from a single photograph. They're fascinating, and they are very fun to play with too! (Of Course we’ve had a go!)
They may even become genuinely useful as the technology develops over time, who knows, but today, they're still missing one very important thing...they can't run their fingers through your hair, they can't see how your hair moves or know about that one mischievous strand of hair that likes to rebel against the rest, they can't ask what products you use, or see how often you heat style.
They can't discover that your "virgin hair" actually has three years of box dye underneath it, and they certainly can't build the relationship that develops through an honest consultation.
Because that's what consultations really are. Touch, movement, elasticity, conversation, hair history, questions, none of which exists in a photograph.
SO, WHAT DO WE WANT FROM YOU?
Bring us the AI images, bring us the Pinterest board, or hair album(s) you’ve put together - you know who you are haha!
Bring us the screenshots from TikTok or actors/actresses from your favourite tv-shows, bring us the celebrity photos, bring us all the ideas you've been collecting for months on end, even if they clash a little!
We genuinely love seeing what inspires you, but most importantly…
Bring us your trust.
Because the reason you're sitting in our chair isn't because we know how to mix a kick ass hair colour, or look cool holding a pair of scissors (you know we do!) haha not.
It's because we've spent years learning when to mix it, whether to mix it, how to alter it for your specific hair’s behaviour's, and perhaps most importantly... when to tell you that there might be an even better option that suits you. One person's dream hair can never simply be copied and pasted onto someone else’s.
Hair is personal, and thats exactly why your hair consultation is too.
So we'd love to know… Has AI helped you understand your hair better? Has it given you confidence to explain what you want?
Or has it ever left you confused when a stylist has explained why something isn't quite possible?
We'd genuinely love to hear your thoughts!
Let us debate - You’re all invited!
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