During a couple of very hot Texas days, something extremely cool was happening at Sport Clips Haircutsheadquarters in Georgetown, TX.  A photo shoot of the new Sport Clips cutting and styling collection was underway, with five members of the Sport Clips Artistic Team--Stacia Kelly (@scissor_ensemble), Erin Smith (@closecutter), Brittany Burton (@brittanyshearz), Francine “Frankie” Delgado (@frankie_d_fadez), and Tyffani Allen (@T_Fadez7)-- their mentors Julie Vargas, director of career opportunities, and their technical coach and Artistic Director, Julian Perlingiero, all coming together to collaborate on looks that will be taught to Sport Clips stylists across North America.

 “Our theme this year for our collection is classic Americana and a celebration of 25 years of Sport Clips,” explains  Vargas. “Sports is our main driver so we thought it would be fun to really focus on that in the choice of our models, who are all athletes, and in our shoot locations.  We will officially launch this collection and reveal the final looks later in the year.”

 On set, photographer Fumihiko Eguchi was capturing still and video photography, documenting the steps to achieve each look.  Perlingiero, an expert cutter who teaches advanced education around the country, was nearby to direct and guide the artists during their work.

 “Each of these cuts and styles on the models will be turned into a haircutting class, demonstrating how to create these finishes,” Vargas continues. “We first teach our artistic team members who are area coaches, covering different regions, and they will guide the other coaches and the individual teams at our locations in how to achieve these looks. We really want to keep our skills and our techniques relevant and constantly evolving.  We also teach them how to present these to their clients and talk about the different looks and options.”

 Perlingiero has been guiding Sport Clips artists and coaches for the past few years and his focus has been on developing these educators, technically.

 “We incorporated different skills in each of these looks, whether scissor over comb, clipper work, slicing, or shaping facial hair because you need to be versed in everything today, you have to be a hybrid hairdresser,” he says. “You also have to have the right tool or technique for the job.  We see a lot of desire to learn how to line-up outlines, for instance, on natural texture or ethnic hair.  Our education is designed around what we are hearing hairdressers say they need and want to work on and so much of that is coming from their clients.”

 The sports theme will come through in the final images, some of which were shot on a sports field, as well as a strong American-proud esthetic, with a relaxed, contemporary wardrobe of t-shirts, jean jackets, and sports wear.

 “Men are inspired by ball players, like Odell Beckham Junior, for instance,” Perlingiero continues. “He has this awesome blonde mop of hair and men are coming in to get their hair bleached out and permed, especially young men.  They are getting fashion looks; color and texture changes have become very popular.  You will continue to see a cross-over between barbers and stylists because men want something from both schools.”

STAY TUNED FOR MORE TO COME