Why Great Hairdressers Never Stop Learning. Lessons from New York City, Davines, and a Commitment to Excellence
If there’s one lesson I’ve learned throughout my career, it’s this.
The moment you believe you’ve learned everything is the moment you stop growing.
As the owner of The Parker House on Main, a luxury hair salon in Franklin, Tennessee, I believe one of my greatest responsibilities isn’t simply creating beautiful hair. It’s continuing to grow so every guest who trusts us receives the very best of what our industry has to offer.
Our guests deserve more than yesterday’s techniques.
They deserve fresh ideas, refined skills, elevated experiences, and a stylist who is constantly learning.
If we stop investing in ourselves, eventually our craft becomes stagnant.
Hair trends evolve.
Fashion changes.
Products improve.
Client expectations rise.
Culture shifts.
Creativity never stands still.
Neither should we.
The Best Inspiration Doesn’t Always Come From Behind the Chair
People often assume education means learning another haircut or another color formula.
Those things certainly matter.
But some of the most valuable lessons I’ve ever learned didn’t happen inside a salon.
They happened while traveling.
For me, inspiration comes from architecture that’s stood for more than a century. The texture of weathered brick. Fresh flowers spilling from neighborhood markets. Luxury fragrances. Street fashion. The smell of espresso drifting through an Italian café.
It comes from watching thousands of people navigate the New York City subway, each expressing themselves in a completely different way.
It comes from chasing down New York City’s famous fruit pastries, discovering hidden coffee shops, wandering neighborhoods without an agenda, and simply paying attention.
Creativity has a funny way of finding you when you leave your comfort zone.
Why We Went to New York
Recently our team traveled to New York City for advanced education with Davines.
Of course we learned new techniques.
But what impacted me most wasn’t just what happened inside the classroom.
It was everything surrounding it.
One afternoon we explored Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
We discovered incredible Italian coffee, authentic New York bagels, iconic pizza, local markets, hidden boutiques, and neighborhoods overflowing with artists, designers, photographers, entrepreneurs, and creators.
Every block felt different.
Every storefront had personality.
Every conversation sparked another idea.
Even our subway rides became part of the education.
Each stop revealed something unexpected.
A mural.
A fashion trend.
A beautifully designed storefront.
A conversation between strangers.
An architectural detail.
All of it reminded me that inspiration is everywhere if you’re willing to notice it.
What Davines Reinforced
One of the highlights of the trip was learning more about the incredible history behind Davines.
Their commitment to sustainability, craftsmanship, intentional living, and timeless beauty isn’t simply a marketing message.
It’s woven into every decision they make.
That reinforced something I’ve believed for years.
True luxury isn’t loud.
It’s thoughtful.
It’s intentional.
It’s consistent.
Whether you’re creating exceptional hair or building an unforgettable guest experience, excellence is always found in the details.
Unexpected Lessons Outside the Salon
One experience had nothing to do with hair, yet everything to do with mastery.
We spent time at Un Culinary, where an extraordinary chef, someone who has prepared meals for two United States presidents and a pope, guided us through an unforgettable culinary experience.
Together we made handmade pasta, traditional meatballs, fresh biscotti, and an incredible grilled Caesar and endive salad.
Watching someone who has spent decades perfecting their craft was incredibly humbling.
Every ingredient had purpose.
Every movement was intentional.
Every technique had been refined through years of practice.
I couldn’t help but think about hairstyling.
The same principles apply.
Great work rarely happens by accident.
It comes from discipline, repetition, curiosity, and an endless desire to improve.
A View That Changed My Perspective
Throughout the trip I stayed at The William Vale in Williamsburg.
Each morning I woke up overlooking Brooklyn, the East River, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the Manhattan skyline.
Looking out over one of the most creative cities in the world served as a daily reminder that growth rarely happens inside our comfort zones.
Sometimes the biggest breakthroughs come when we intentionally place ourselves in environments that challenge us to think differently.
That mindset is something I wanted to bring back to every guest who walks through our doors at The Parker House on Main.
Because continuing education isn’t about collecting certificates.
It’s about creating better experiences.
It’s about listening more carefully.
Seeing differently.
Serving better.
Growing continuously.
And ultimately delivering results our guests simply can’t get from someone who stopped learning years ago.
