Since its humble beginnings in 1989, NAHA finalists and industry elite have brought this iconic photographic beauty competition to new heights year after year. NAHA continues to recognize the beauty industry’s most talented artists and advance the careers of stylists around the world. Nothing makes us happier than meeting artists we REALLY want to root for… Good people who love the industry, value education and aren’t afraid to put in the hard work.

What one word describes how you felt when you wrapped your NAHA shoot?

Content

How does competing help you as an artist?

Its less about competing, I like quality work that also looks good behind a camera. The ego boost is pretty nice though.

Beyond hair, what other creative outlets do you have?

I wouldn’t really consider myself a creative person, so I’m not sure. I can McGyver fix almost anything though.

Describe yourself in 5 words.

Passionate, anxious, devoted, honest, and introverted

If you weren’t doing this, what would you be doing?

Living alone in the mountains

What was your biggest F-up with a client?

This is going to sound horrible, but I messed up a lady’s hair while i was in school on purpose. She came in, with such a bad attitude, 30 minutes late for her appointment and proceeded to argue with the receptionist. She was scheduled for an all over color a hour and a half before we closed. Well, she wanted a half head foil instead. Its fine, I was pretty cocky and my foils were alright for being in hair school. The lady was so rude to the receptionist that she was crying to the educator who was supposed to check me in. Then she was rude to the educator , myself, and other students around me. When I finally had enough of her attitude, I went to dispense, mixed up some very viscous lightener and proceeded to make the side of her head look like tiger strips. I don’t feel great about that now.

Real life advice to someone entering the world of cosmetology.

It takes three things to be a good hair dresser: Passion, Discipline, and Technique. If you dont have Passion, you cannot have discipline; Without discipline, you cannot have technique. Remember, in hair school, everyone is your “model”, not your “guest”. Its okay to mess up, thats why they signed that waiver at the front desk. Lastly, you should do hair for you. Focus less on being a Day Maker or retail consultant and more on being a Hair Dresser.

I knew i was a Hair Nerd when…

I finally understood graduation.

Evan Erickson