An interesting question: is long hair “killing” the hair industry?

So, in one of the HJ materials , two very famous hairdressers spoke on the topic of the long hair trend and how the trend affects business.

Is long hair killing the hairdresser?

Akin Konizi , creative director of HOB Salons, believes that yes, they are killing.

Everywhere you look, most women have long hair that doesn't have much personality, not even bangs. As an industry, we need to take some responsibility for this. Celebrities set trends, and the economic situation (especially this year - Ed.) is causing people to visit salons less and less.

We promote short, aggressive and bold haircuts that are designed for hairdressers and not suitable for the everyday consumer. Consumers are outraged and opt for ponytails and long hair that they can style at home.

Don't get me wrong, long hair requires no less knowledge and skill in creating images. But the job also requires a variety of shorter hairstyles to keep clients motivated as well as our staff qualified.

I think we now have an opportunity to talk to clients about individual looks - not everyone wants to look like a mermaid with long hair. A lot of people would benefit from choppy bangs, layers, extra movement and volume, and we're the only ones who can advise them on that.

Hairdressers need to know all the basic techniques - grading, layering, texturing - but there may be an entire generation of hairdressers who don't master these techniques, and the industry's skill set is potentially diminishing. If fashion returns to more varied styles and lengths, our staff may be unable to recreate what customers want.

There was a similar crisis in the 1980s, and we dealt with it by creating styles like the wedge. Thanks to our creativity, a new fashion was born with voluminous shapes and geometry, and again everything was connected with hair. We need to re-evaluate services and realize that long hair can cost us our craft.

Cos Sakkas , international artistic director of TONI & GUY, has a different opinion. "It's a myth that long hair is bad for our business, it doesn't mean customers need less care."

Long hair is very popular on the catwalks, streets, social media and red carpets. People like long hair because it is very feminine. Once your hair reaches your shoulders, you can wear it differently every day. Smooth, make waves, tie in a ponytail or bun, make a bun, and so on. Long-haired clients will also spend money on blow-drying, treatments and products on a weekly basis.

Long-haired clients are an important part of TONI & GUY's business and are always present in our campaigns. You only need to look at your clientele to understand how important they are.

Not only short hair requires care, coloring and updating the length. Hair is like a piece of clothing: trousers are trousers, but it's the little details that make them modern with current seasonal trends, be it the shape of the pockets or the pleats.

Long hair can be refreshed through cutting techniques, colors and styles. There are many techniques that are ideal for long hair, such as highlights or balayage.

Every time a long-haired client sits in your chair, you should discuss new wearing techniques and options. Making long hair look modern requires certain skills, and it's no coincidence that there are so few long hair experts in the industry. Like short hair, it is a canvas that can be transformed depending on how the artist works with it.