Supercuts
Supercuts

Supercuts stylists from across North America recently showed off their haircutting skills for a chance to be recognized in Supercuts’ Gold Comb Awards competition. The competition, which was held from January 4 to February 14, highlights what sets Supercuts apart – each stylist’s training to develop their haircutting expertise, and the culture of teamwork in both individual salons and throughout the entire Supercuts community.

The Gold Comb Awards competition was an opportunity for stylists to engage with each other in a new and meaningful way – by focusing on what they truly love, letting their creativity and expertise shine through in a finished haircut. During the competition, thousands of stylists reveled in the chance to showcase their creativity with skills learned through their Supercuts training. They took their sense of teamwork and brand pride to new heights on the private Gold Comb Awards Facebook page, encouraging and celebrating every participant throughout North America.

Supercuts partnered exclusively with John Paul Mitchell Systems for the Gold Comb Awards competition prizes. There were 10 grand-prize winners, each of whom won an all-expense paid trip to Paul Mitchell’s ‘The Gathering’ Show, held in Las Vegas, NV. The competition also awarded seven second-place winners and five third-place winners who each received Paul Mitchell Prize Packages worth $1,000 and $500, respectively On March 16, Supercuts announced the winners of the Gold Comb Awards competition on the Facebook page.

 

#RUReady2? Supercuts Stylists Say ‘Yes!’

Two of the grand-prize winners – Tina Coppola of Supercuts in Sinking Spring, PA; and Julie Spruill of Supercuts in Bellmawr, NJ – agree that the Gold Comb Awards competition was a chance to shine by blending their expertise with skills learned through their ongoing Supercuts training and their own creativity. “As soon as I heard about the Gold Comb Awards, I knew I wanted to be a part of it,” said Spruill. “I knew my team of stylists would be more on board with participating if they saw how enthusiastic I was. I'm all for trying something new as that's the only real way we grow as stylists. There was absolutely nothing to lose, but so much to gain!”

Spruill also enticed a co-worker to enter, and she placed second. “She's a strong stylist but doesn't give herself enough credit,” Spruill said. “I loved helping her find a model, cheering her on as she filmed and then seeing that she placed second. That was the icing on the cake!”

Coppola said, “I decided to participate in order to push myself. I also wanted to inspire other stylists by showing them that this is our opportunity to show off our skills.” Coppola found her inspiration in “the posts by stylists from all over the country participating on the Facebook page. We were all technically competing against each other, but that didn't stop anyone from giving friendly advice or encouragement. And there was an endless amount of support coming from the Supercuts Artistic Director team.  It was like having your own cheerleading squad.”

Jason Brandon, of Supercuts in Lonetree, CO, was another grand-prize winner. He agrees that the teamwork the stylists demonstrated on the Facebook page “was amazing! Supercuts is really just one big family. We’re all there for each other no matter the distance. And it was wonderful to see how stylists pushed each other during the competition. You never know what will happen until you try!”

The support via Facebook, added Spruill, was “so positive! So many stylists were encouraging others to enter, were helping each other with uploading videos and answering questions.” Stylists shared photos from earlier Supercuts contests decades ago, and upbeat videos about their practicing and quotes, “which would just get me more excited about the whole experience,” Spruill continues. “There’s nothing but love on that page. It made our nationwide Supercuts family seem a lot closer.”

The G&C Robins Company is a Supercuts franchise and has 48 Supercuts salons in New Jersey, Maryland and Pennsylvania. Nearly 30 of the company’s stylists participated in the Gold Comb Awards, and seven were winners. G&C also had its own Facebook page for its stylists, where it posted opportunities for stylists who entered the contest to win their own ‘gold comb’ recognition awards from G&C. 

“As a company, we provided all of our stylists with encouragement and support,” said Patti Smith, general manager. “We set up a conference call with our franchises to discuss any reservations they had about participating, and encouraged them to not miss this valuable opportunity to be a contestant and show off their skills. Our education team was available to answer questions. We also provided our stylists with videos of haircutting techniques, practice sessions, and workshops on how to film and upload their videos. In the end, the stylists embraced it on their own.”

 

The Power of the Supercuts Technique

Thanks to Supercuts’ intensive and ongoing training – and the Supercuts Artistic Directors who train each stylist and keep them up to date on cuts and color – the Supercuts haircutting technique is unparalleled in the industry. And, the brand’s education program for stylists provides all of the technical training, inspiration and support stylists need to grow and succeed.

For the Gold Comb Awards, training and technique was center stage. In the competition videos that contestants submitted, the haircut had to be completed within 20 minutes, the styling completed within 10 minutes, and at least one inch of hair removed. Guests had to be adults. Any color treatment had to conform to the Supercolor training standards. Stylists were required to use only Supercuts-approved cutting and styling tools, and Paul Mitchell products.

            “Supercuts has a very strong approach to the foundation of haircutting,” Spruill explained. “We believe that a strong foundation is key to a quality haircut. Once you’ve mastered those foundation techniques you are able to create any style, on any client. It makes sense, and it takes the guesswork out while still allowing you to be as creative as you can imagine. I showcased Supercuts technique and principles to the best of my ability in my style. I think that was a major selling factor” in receiving the Gold Comb Award.

Brandon also attributes his win to his mastery of the Supercuts haircutting technique. “The style I submitted was a long layer haircut with a vertical design (face frame),” he explained. “I was very precise and detailed with the cut, making sure I utilized the full Supercuts haircutting technique. I think the attention to detail is what helped me score high.”

 

Platform Artist for a Day

Working up the courage to film themselves for the competition proved to be one of the most challenging – and rewarding – components of this competition. “It was the best and worst part of this competition,” Coppola recalled. “It was so nerve wracking to film. But I overcame my nerves and just continued to do what comes naturally to me. It felt good to watch my video and see the amazing transformation of my model.”

Participating in the Gold Comb Awards also provided contestants with the chance to be “part of something bigger than the four walls you work in,” Brandon said. The Awards program, Smith added, “provided exposure on a national scale. It was huge for the stylists’ self-esteem to be recognized by the industry for doing exceptional work.”

Congratulations to all the Supercuts stylists who participated in the Gold Comb Awards. An happy travels to the grand prize winners who are heading to Las Vegas August 15-16 for an all-expense paid trip to Paul Mitchell’s The Gathering at the Aria Resort and Casino!  

For more about becoming a Supercuts stylist and the Gold Comb Awards, please visit www.supercuts.com.

GRAND PRIZE WINNERS:

 

2ND PLACE WINNERS:

 

3RD PLACE WINNERS:

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