Unfiltered
Social Media, Filters, and the Myth of Perfect Hair
In today's digitally-driven world, social media platforms have become a place where individuals curate their idealized versions of reality. From flawless selfies to perfectly styled hair, the immense influence of filters and editing tools has led to the proliferation of unattainable beauty standards. This is more apparent than ever in the realm of hair, where the quest for the perfect color and style often feels like an endless pursuit of perfection. But behind the filters and glossy images lies a truth that deserves to be uncovered, or perhaps lies untruth that needs to be unfiltered.
Filtered Reality of Hair Perfection
Scrolling through social media feeds, it's easy to get lost in a sea of impeccably styled images, perfect lives- living a beautifully travelled, undeniably perfectly curated to showcase the best of the best. The highlights of a seemingly perfect existence. Not only perfectly dressed, but when we talk about hair, each strand seemingly flawlessly coloured and perfectly styled; never a strand out of place. However, what we may not think about when scrolling is that these images often undergo extensive editing and manipulation before they ever see the light of day. And we’re not just talking about the social media queens of celebrity posts. Filters, airbrushing, and editing apps work together to create an illusion of perfection that is unattainable in real life. And now we, as the “regular life people” have virtually unlimited access to editing tools at our literal fingertips. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to put your best foot forward, to show your highlight reels of your life; but it comes with a cost.
I read something years ago and it stuck with me and I will yell it from the rooftops to everyone, including my kids, to hear. “Don’t compare your behind the scenes with someone else’s highlight reel”. YOU know what goes on in your life outside of social media, you know the hardships, the wins, the losses, the struggles, the downtimes- and just like you, EVERYONE else has these too. So if you’re thinking that every one else has perfection while you don’t, someone else is thinking the same about you!
The Impact on Hair Expectations
The use of filters and editing tools has distorted our perceptions of what constitutes a beautiful life, the perfect children, the adorable pets, the immaculate housing, the lifestyle of the rich and famous, in our very own backyard. Since we’re talking about salon life here; let’s talk about beautiful hair. From vibrant fantasy colors to flawless balayage blends to the perfect icy platinum blond, the images we see on social media often set unrealistic expectations about what is achievable through hair coloring and styling alone. This can lead to feelings of inadequacy and dissatisfaction with our own hair, as we compare ourselves to an unattainable standard of beauty.
Challenging the Narrative
It's time to challenge the narrative that perfect hair is synonymous with filtered perfection. In reality, hair comes in all shapes, colors, and textures, each unique and beautiful in its own right. Embracing the natural beauty of our hair, flaws and all, is a powerful act of self-love and acceptance.
The Importance of Authenticity
As salon professionals, it's our responsibility to promote authenticity and transparency in our work. Instead of perpetuating unrealistic beauty standards, we should celebrate the diversity of hair and empower our clients to embrace their natural beauty. By focusing on enhancing and accentuating each individual's unique features, we can create hair transformations that are both stunning and authentic. Of course, we may use tools, such as clips and hairspray, that help us achieve that perfect image of style, but the use of filters is a world we don’t live in. If we were to nail it down to one single sentence of our goal - it is to showcase each person who graces our chairs in the most authentic, and true to self way. We want each of our clients to realize that their individuality is embraced, loved and welcomed here. And together, we can create something that brings out the light in their eyes.
Embracing Realistic Expectations
When it comes to hair color and styling, it's important to set realistic expectations and communicate openly with our clients. Rather than promising instant perfection, we strive to educate our clients about the process involved in achieving their desired look and the limitations of hair coloring and styling techniques. By managing expectations and fostering realistic goals, we can ensure that our clients leave our salons feeling confident and satisfied with their hair. This transparency and managing expectations is of utmost importance to us; while it is our goal to get you to your goal, we also need to make sure that we are communicating all of the avenues, the invested time, managing upkeep at home and the level of commitment your hair goal may require. And at the same time, maintaining the health and integrity of your hair.
In a world dominated by filters and edited images, it's easy to lose sight of what truly matters: authenticity and self-acceptance. As salon professionals, we have the power to challenge the status quo and redefine beauty standards on social media. By celebrating the natural beauty of hair and promoting realistic expectations, we can inspire others to embrace their own unique beauty, unfiltered and all. Together, let's unveil the truth behind the myth of perfect hair and embrace the beauty of imperfection.
Because everyone is truly perfectly imperfect.
