Everyone who knows me knows that I’m a list maker—a fan of Top 10 lists—so I thought it would be fun to make a list of “Ten Things You Should Know About Me.”I grew up in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C. and settled into the Kansas City area with my family in the early-1980s. When I told my parents I wanted to be a hairdresser in 1986, my mom replied, “I’m not surprised because you were always cutting your sister’s Barbie dolls’ hair!” I have twenty-five-years of client, salon, and educational experience, and once owned a popular salon before joining Skyline Downtown Salon in January 2010. I started out in the industry as a make-up consultant in Kansas City, freelancing with Revlon and other cosmetic companies. To further my career as a make-up artist I believed it wise to get my cosmetologist license. I enrolled at Hairbenders School of Cosmetology in Lawrence, Kansas in April of 1986 where to my surprise I discovered the love of hairdressing! My very first salon job was at Headmasters (widely popular with sorority girls and hipsters alike during the 1980s) in Downtown Lawrence, and yep, I’m a BIG Jayhawks fan (I love KU Basketball). I left KU for KC in 1988 where I helped start and eventually own a Plaza-area salon called Moda Bella until 2001 (one of the Skyline owners was once a regular client there – can you guess who?) I’m a color expert, skilled in blonde highlights. If you like your blonde hair natural looking and sun-kissed California I’m the guy for you (Speaking of California, I worked for a short period as a colorist in a salon in San Diego). Beyond the blonde, I employ my color knowledge to help clients get rid of that dastardly grey and I’m a whiz at cutting curls. (You can’t tell because I keep it short these days but my hair is actually curly.) I’ve had countless educational courses over the years; educated in high-end hair care like Bumble & Bumble and color lines such as Redken and Davines. I’ve also assisted with make-up and hairstyling at fashion shows and society events. I enjoy mentoring and training less-experienced stylists on color and cut techniques. It’s fun to watch these young stylists bloom with all their glorious talent! I collect toys! I have thousands of toys, including over 850 Barbie Dolls—the heart of my collection. This vast collection has been featured in various media sources, including CNBC’s “Squawk Box” and Discovery Channel’s “Pop Nation” on national TV. I’m a published author—acclaimed as an “Aficionado of American Pop Culture”—of the best-selling book From ABBA to Zoom: A Pop Culture Encyclopedia of the 20th Century. If you’re playing a game about pop culture and Hollywood trivia, you’ll want me on your team! I’ve consulted numerous times over the years with The Kansas City Star about hair fashions, style makeovers, client relations, and pop culture trends. Early in my career, I was honored when The Star chose me (out of all the talented hairdressers in the city) to be the stylist of their annual makeover contest for the newspaper’s Sunday “Look” section (February 2, 1992).Physical fitness is important to me. I work out almost every day and I’m an avid runner and cyclist. (I am proud to say I completed my first MS150 in September 2010 as a newbie cyclist of mere months…And I did it on a mountain bike!)I’m a nice guy. (And I love animals, too!)
