No, I Don't Cut Hair. I Don't Want to Cut Hair. I Will Probably Never Cut Hair.
Tuesday February 26, 2008
Luckily, in this business, I don't get a lot of hate mail. Some beauty bloggers, I'm told, get inundated with the stuff. But every once in awhile I get an email from someone who questions my expertise because I don't do hair and I don't wield a makeup brush. "Who do you think you are?" These letters usually ask. "What gives you the right to pretend to be an expert in hair and makeup?" Yadda, yadda, yadda. Probably these people are just angry because I think French pedicures are tacky and I don't believe in toner. Still, just as the many "thank you" emails make my day, the random, "get a life" emails can almost ruin them.
Here's the deal: I don't cut hair. I don't want to cut hair. I will probably never cut hair. Ditto for makeup. I am not naturally gifted with scissors or eyeliner, but I am a writer and journalist. I like to read everything I can get my hands on and then sift through the yawners to provide you with the real zingers. I like to interview the real beauty experts and then tell you what they said. Someday, if I feel like entertaining my readers, maybe I'll attend a bang-trimming class and I'll tell you all about it. But until then, know that I'm coming at this from the point of view of the typical beauty editor: We have journalism school degrees on our walls, not beautician's licenses, but we have all the right numbers in our iPhones when we have a question we need answered.
Until then, keep reading and writing into me! I read all my mail.
Here's the deal: I don't cut hair. I don't want to cut hair. I will probably never cut hair. Ditto for makeup. I am not naturally gifted with scissors or eyeliner, but I am a writer and journalist. I like to read everything I can get my hands on and then sift through the yawners to provide you with the real zingers. I like to interview the real beauty experts and then tell you what they said. Someday, if I feel like entertaining my readers, maybe I'll attend a bang-trimming class and I'll tell you all about it. But until then, know that I'm coming at this from the point of view of the typical beauty editor: We have journalism school degrees on our walls, not beautician's licenses, but we have all the right numbers in our iPhones when we have a question we need answered.
Until then, keep reading and writing into me! I read all my mail.
Comments
You go, girl!
Thank you, Danilo!
–Julyne
Honestly, thank you!
And it is so fitting to have you using your journalism skills to bring us beauty tidbits and tips. I for one appreciate the quality of your writing, and the obvious broadness of your knowledge base and contacts list. After all, I can get one stylist’s opinion any time I want that. This is something special.
Thanks again.
Thank you Sarah! I really appreciate your kind words…
Julyne
I like what you write, and learn from your columns. Don’t let the negative e-mails get you down. There are a lot more of “us” than “them”. Thanks for the quality you produce.
You have serious cosmetologist envy. I don’t need a journalism degree to write a great piece. I do need a cosmetology license to practice my craft. you sound like sour grapes.
HI,
I really look forward to getting your beauty newsletter on my e-mail. You really share very useful & practical information. You don’t have to be a cosmetology expert to share your common sense & practical tips. The people who have criticized you, in my opinion don’t have much of a life.
There are people with degrees in beauty & hair who do not know what they are talking about. Over the yrs. when I go to get my hair cut or colored, many times I would never know what would happen. Most of the time I did a better job myself. I also know there are many hair & beauty professionals who do a wonderful job.
No one should knock you or put you down just because you don’t have that certain degree. My husband has no training with hair & many times he was able to cut my hair length & I received many compliments.
You do a wonderful job with this newsletter. I also enjoy looking at the pictures of hairstyles & hair colors. I did love the over 50 beauty info too. Some people who criticize you are probably just jealous. You are very down to earth & do a great job. Judy K. Chicago.
What is cosmetologist envy? A lady I know
went to cosmetology school, and wound up
with head lice for months. Pretty soon
she was shaving her head. I’m pretty
jealous, yeah- always did want to try
shaving all my hair off! You’re not missing
anything by foregoing cosmetology school!
I really like your column. What do you think about face exercises? I just started doing them and I’m wondering…..is this going to do any good?
Gloria
I agree you go girl. I just have one comment though why are they leaving us 60 plus women out of the picture so much. We are becoming the biggest buyers and yet do they think at 60 plus you just curl up and die. We take more time and try to look nice for everyone not just our husbands and boyfriends. If you have any advice where to find info for us older not elderly ladies.
“Cosmetologist envy?” I’ll seriously have to use that one since I really appreciate the art and science that salon and spa pros undertake daily!
Like Julyne, I’m a journalist, and have several sites that source the expertise of professionals. Despite being upfront about that, the inevitable question always crops up: “Are you a stylist?”
Nope, but with more than 5 years with of contacts, I’ll find you one.
In the meantime, Julyne, keep writing. You’ve got a good thing going here and a community that appreciates it, too!
If I wanted to read yet another article parroting the publicity department of yet another over-hyped, over-priced beauty company with under-performing products, then I would go elsewhere. I read your writing, Julyne, because I enjoy your well-researched, informative, fun and BS-free opinion. You tell it like it is. Keep up the good work!
I am a licensed hairstylist and I love, love, love your column because I email it to everyone to verify what I’ve been telling them. Example: I’ve been telling my family, friends and clients to use a boars head hairbrush –to no avail….so when you had that GREAT INFORMATIVE article on the brushes…I emailed it to everyone. Keep up the good work…those other grabby people are just Jealous…so there you have it.
Sincerely,
Doreen
Thank you for your guide in beauty, I try to practice some of your advices, (the ones that are perfect for mem of course). Mónica from Ecuador (SA)
Cosmetologist envy? Is that a hairbrush in your pocket or are you just glad to see me, Connie?
Here’s the thing - does anyone really believe that, in order to be the right person for her job as editor of Vogue magazine, that she spends her weekends cutting hair at a discount salon across the bridge in Brooklyn?
Did Diana Vreeland do manicures for extra pocket money and to boost her editorial cred? How about Grace Mirabella? I wonder if she did bridal party makeup jobs in order to keep her standing as an editor?
Anyone who has read Allure magazine for any length of time knows that editor-in-chief Linda Wells can’t even paint her own toenails, for heaven’s sake.
Since when did having a cosmetology license, professional makeup artist’s certification, manicurist license or any of the above qualify a person to know what’s hot, what’s good, what’s bad what’s happening in general in the world of beauty, fashion, hair and even lifestyle?
Nonsense!
Julyne, you do an extraordinary job of disseminating the latest and greatest information about many aspects of beauty, without making women feel as if they must be stick-thin, blonde, tall, all legs, young, Botoxed within an inch of their lives, or in need of cosmetic surgery while they are still children. I admire and respect your writing and say pffffffft to any of your naysayers!
Paula
Wow, you guys are awesome! What wonderful comments. Thank you.
To answer some of your questions…
Elaine, I have an entire section devoted to Women Over 50 Beauty (see here: http://beauty.about.com/od/spassalons/Beauty_Over_Age_50_Beauty_Tips_for_Women_Over_Age_50.htm)
Gloria, some people swear by facial exercises. The NY Times ran an article a few weeks back about it and said many doctors dispute claims that it works. (See the article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/29/fashion/29skin.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=facial+yoga&st=nyt&oref=slogin) But hey, Western medicine ain’t all that, so if you like it, I say keep doing it.
Connie, I do have cosmetologist envy! I wish I was naturally gifted with scissors. But alas, I’ll have to stick to my keyboard for now.
Thanks again, all!
Julyne
What you wrote needed saying. I know some writers and an editor and they all believe that their degrees do help them to write “great pieces”.
Thanks for the info you send!
Steph
I, for one, greatly appreciate your “over 50″ tips. All through my 30’s and 40’s everyone thought I was much younger. Then I had female health issues, and the doctors gave me depo-lupron shots. I aged almost 20 years in 3 months,(and gained 20 pounds). I was devestated. Two years ago I looked 32. Now I’m 49 and I look at least that. I’ve had to totally rethink my style. I just want you to know that your writing has been a great help to me. Keep up the good work.
Julynne,
Hang in there, please! I need your information and enjoy reading your articles. There is so (too) much information out there about makeup, hair cuts, cosmetic surgery, etc. I don’t have time to find the gems. You take that work out of the process for me so that I can read the heart of the matter.
Thank you for what you do. I’ve never been disappointed with not getting enough information from you.
I appreciate your your journalism degree, too, by the way. Not only does it give you the sense needed to scan other articles, but it also means I will understand what you’ve written.
BTW, I meant to mention the name Anna Wintour as the Editor of Vogue Magazine in my comment #15, above.
One additional comment: I often wonder why it is that, no matter what hair type one happens to have, each client in a salon on a particular day will have the exact same product pitched to them, with that product described as the lifesaving product for that person’s hair.
Could it have anything to do with the “spiff” or bonus programs offered to stylists who push product? Those who sell, succeed. It’s more about the extras and the bonus money for the stylists and not much at all about the individual, his or her needs, hair type, cut, color or anything else.
Paula
I enjoy reading all the info that you have found. I think it doesn’t really matter about a degree or license. What really matters, is what is working for the real person. Either hair, nails, makeup, etc… I enjoy reading it all. You have to find out what will work for you.
all u haters - note that she said “we have all the right numbers in our iPhones when we have a question we need answered”
how many of u have iphones???
I just wanted to say that as a licensed Cosmo girl, I am glad to see someone who can put our beautiful craft out ther for others to see and appreciate! Sometimes when I tell people I am a Hair Stylist they give me a look as if obviously I didn’t have the brains to go to college! I would have to say that I am a little jealous of you! I do have the gift with scissors, but my writing skills could use a little work! I want your job! (lol) And I think that possibly that could be a source of the hate mail
they want to write about what they love and they are jealous that you already have the gig!
Keep up the good work!
Sarah
People need to keep their rude comments to themselves. I believe you are doing a great kob Julyne. Keep up the good work.
I wanna say thanks for the info on makeup. I dont have alot of timeon my hands being a mom of 5 small kids. No time equals barely any time for makeup and no time for makeup tips or lessons. what I can read in a short time that you provide helps me keep on track and up to date on alot of beauty sections! Thanks for making beauty an easy task in my daily grind! Keep it up.
To thoes of you believe that julynes blog is full of usless garbage.Why are you reading it? Either you signed up for the beauty news letter or your searching it online. If her info bothers you… don’t read it. Personally i love getting the newsletter. Keep up the great work and keep the newsletters coming, i love reading each one!
It’s better that you have a journalism degree and are not a super professional makeup artist because its easier to understand what you’re saying and you don’t recommend stuff that is totally outside of the average reader’s skillsets.