Note From the Editor: Man's Best Friend
I usually write this column after I skim through all of the pages one last time before sending the issue to the printer. It helps me reflect on the issue’s key themes and messaging our editorial team is trying to convey.
As I reread the pages in this issue, I got more and more excited as I flipped through. This month—if you couldn’t tell from our adorable cover model styled by Rob Diaz for Esquire Grooming—our focus is the male client. This is one of our favorite topics to explore because the editorial opportunities are so vast. From marketing advice to nailing the consultation, trends, techniques, retailing and communication, we cover it all.
These past few years, our annual men’s issue has become more engaging than ever as men continue to embrace styles that require them to use more hair product and have more frequent visits—making them the ideal client.
Salon owner and Aloxxi platform artist Marco Pelusi says he’s seeing more men getting hair color services, too.
“They might not want to swap formulas, but men are open to talking about hair color,” Pelusi says on page 78.
“The challenge is they will seldom bring it up first. You need to start the conversation.” And now, men are even embracing the blow dryer (see page 44 for techniques and blow-drying effects).
“Amazon is taking over retail, Ralph Lauren just closed on Fifth Avenue, and who would have thought that, five years ago, an app would come along and completely rearrange the taxi industry?” V76 by Vaughn founder Vaughn Acord told me during our interview featured on page 66. “It hurts, but it’s happening. What’s not going to go away is a person touching a human being and giving advice and direction—and guys are looking for that.” See more consultation tips on page 48.
One of my favorite pieces in this issue begins on page 60. It tells the story of groomer Richard Silvestro, who suffered a major hand injury that almost cost him his career. But he persevered, and his innovative cutting techniques and customized tools—along with a hell of a lot of willpower—allowed him to sustain a healthy career.
“Education and knowledge is an integral part of our industry,” Silvestro says. “If we keep this up, everyone will be walking around with good hair and groomed beards and mustaches. It’s a domino effect I will be happy to be a part of.”
- Alison Alhamed, Editor in Chief