This month's edition of Beauty Bylines™ allows me to introduce you to Jason Backe, President and CEO, ted gibson beauty,
Clairol Color Director and Celebrity Colorist. Obviously, he's got multi-tasking down to an art! I met Jason a few months ago at a Clairol event in Chicago. He is completely charming, funny, accomplished and yet, thanks to Midwestern roots, so grounded. Jason gives us great insight into how to get the look you want from your hair colorist.
Beauty411: Jason, you have an incredibly successful career. I'm a firm
believer that success doesn't happen by accident. What are some of the
lessons you've learned along the way?
Jason Backe: Wow. That’s a
great question and I agree with you 100% success doesn’t happen by
accident. In the 15 years I have been building my career as a colorist,
trust and believe I have definitely learned some great lessons. There is
a wonderful little book called The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz.
In it he lists: be impeccable with your words, don’t take anything
personally, don’t make assumptions and always do your best. Those
four things pretty much summarize the way I want to live, work and play
Beauty411: You started out in the Midwest, hailing from Minnesota. Did you
always know/dream that you were headed for New York?
JB: NO WAY!!! When I was
a little kid in Northern Minnesota, I fantasized of moving to the big city and
having a home on the lake – back then my idea of the big city was Duluth.
In my twenties I began my career in Minneapolis. Once I became established, I
was sure I had made it and was more than content. It’s only because
of Ted Gibson that I ever left Minnesota. I told him I would try NYC out
for a year. I had never even been to New York before except for a half day
excursion to the Statue of Liberty and the World Trade Center with my family
when I was 9 and then the exact same excursion when I was 20! The day I moved
to NYC I couldn’t believe it took me so long to get here and that it
would be a very long time (if ever) that I left.
Beauty411: Women have such a connection with their hair stylist/colorist.
What is your advice on how best to handle it if you (the client) aren't happy
with a service?
JB: Always be honest. I was
quoted in Allure magazine one time (to the horror of my mother) saying “The
last thing I want is a woman to leave the salon saying “Jason totally
fucked up my hair” – hehe and it’s true. Beauty is
individual – what I think is spectacular you may think is less than
lovely. Because of that I try not to take it personally when someone doesn’t
like what I did for them. I know all of my work is beautiful and if my
guest doesn’t think so, it’s ok. I’ll change it into
something else I think is beautiful that she thinks is beautiful too. If
you are working with a colorist who doesn’t listen or isn’t open to
your feedback, move on.