Today, I met Elizabeth Griffin, of Michael Angelo Hair Studio—and she caught my attention because she was rocking—I mean ROCKING!—a blonde, side-swept style with a shaved side. Now, I understand this isn't anything ground-breaking (one look at the 1980s and of course we've seen this style before), but this woman was ROCKING it with her pink lips, dark brows and long feathered earrings.
The best part about her look? Confidence.
When I posted her image on MODERN's Facebook, hundreds and hundreds of you commented... some praising Elizabeth for taking a risk, and many others were negative, saying they didn't like her look, or "been there done that..."
The point is, when you take a risk and allow your image to be shared (not just of your own look, but also of work you've created on a model or client), it's a RISK, you're putting yourself and your work out there—and you should NOT feel nervous about sharing, especially in an industry-related environment.
I have no problems with feedback that explains how you, as a professional, would put your own twist on a look to improve it, or explain how it could have been executed differently—but when negativity is involved in a comment, with a potential to hurt someone's feelings or self image, why bother? What do you gain from hurting someone's feelings? Not only that, but you're potentally discouraging others from sharing their work. Please, please, please don't do that!
When I posted a note, following the posts about Elizabeth's hair, reminding our Facebook audience to please use "your professional voices" when commenting, nearly 600 people (so far) have hit "like," dozens of comments have rolled in, and people are speaking out against being a Beauty Bully.
In fact, one Facebook fan, Try Serino wrote: "The difference between critique and criticism:
* Criticism finds fault/Critique looks at structure
* Criticism looks for what's lacking/critique finds what's working
* Criticism condemns what it doesn't understand/critique asks for clarification
* Criticism is spoken with a cruel wit and sarcastic tongue/critique's voice is kind, honest, and objective
* Criticism is negative/critique is positive (even about what isn't working)
* Criticism is vague and general/critique is concrete and specific
* Criticism looks for flaws in the artist as well as the art/critique addresses only what is on the model/page/canvas
—adapted from an article by Judy Reeves
PLEASE REMEMBER: While we encourage your opinions, feedback and thoughts on the images and work shared by our fans, please remember to use your professional voice when commenting. You won't like everything—we get that!—but you don't have to publicly hate it and risk hurting people's feelings. Instead, tell us what you would have done differently or how you would put your twist on it. Please and thank you!
**We applaud Elizabeth's bravery and thank her VERY kindly for being so willing to have her image featured on MODERN SALON's Facebook page. AND, we SERIOUSLY thank our Facebook fans who always encourage others to participate in our ongoing dialogue—even those who don't always love everything we post. We look to you as the experts, but appreciate it when you use your professional voice to comment and offer feedback. THANK YOU!
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