ISSE: A New Nerd Perspective

We met Steve Kim during the #SassoonSlumberParty when we toured the Santa Monica Sassoon Academy with 10 cosmo babies from Taylor Andrews Academy. He was finishing up his 6 week comprehensive course and we could tell immediately this Hair Nerd was into serious education. Fast forward a few months and we met up with Steve at ISSE to find out what his experience was like as someone who graduated school a year ago. This is his story…

The city by the water (Long Beach) hosted what I consider as the true “freaks come out at night” bunch! Hairdressers and Barbers! This year’s ISSE experience was filled with seeing old industry friends who knew me when I was nothing, Making new friends when I am still nothing, and meeting who I feel are industry icons making me a nobody feel welcomed!

This years ISSE was different for me, I got to hang with industry professionals who I have a whole new level of respect for and definately a humbling experience. It showed me that in our industry and network we are all one big family, no matter how well known individuals truly are! People like The Hair Nerds, Eden Sassoon, Gerard from HB and ARROJO, Sassoon Academy, Fred Codner from Balay Box (Candy Shaw’s Husband), Hector Rodriguez from BMAC, Jessica Zeinstra from ANDIS, Kenny Duncan from Andis, Brad Davidson from CREW, I mean the list goes on and on! were all on the floor mingling chatting and demo’ing.

Where I felt the most inspiration was throughout the whole process of it all! You could definately feel the love at the Hairbrained teach in! I finally got to meet Randy Taylor a co founder who shoots very documentary style hair photography which is something that brings a unique perspective to our industry. What was most humbling was Randy welcoming me with open arms as I was snapping and shooting photos only mere weeks into this venture. It excited me and Randy to both see the amount of cameras that were brought too this event (even Iphone Cameras) there is always a shot a photographer missed that another individual could bring to the table.

What was exciting for me was seeing industry peers, and people growing succeeding in whatever there wildest dreams are in the world of hair! There is nothing that makes a better feel good story than people who put in hard work and the results come to fruitition for them! What was even more awesome with that is that everyone from beginning there careers, too the middle prime of there careers, and some who are still improving on there legacy were all there to support everyone!

Be sure and follow Steve Kim on Instagram at @Stevienaysayer