1. HAIRINNOVATOR
MEET THE DISRUPTOR
A CONVERSATION WITH
NICK ARROJO
N
ick Arrojo likes to shake things up. He is essentially a
disruptor creating a distinct yet different vision for hair
in the 21st century. Though celebrities have certainly
availed themselves of his talents he prefers not to trade on famous
names or even mention his seven-year stint on TV’s What Not to
Wear, rather his focus is on the future and how individuality will
be expressed as we move forward. He is a charming presence, of
course as hairdressers are expected to be, but he is a leader too
—of his dedicated, talented staff at three salons in NYC—Tribeca,
SoHo and Williamsburg —and of trends—notably pioneering the
new American Wave—a fresh, modern approach to what used to
be called a “perm.”
A native of Manchester, England, Arrojo started his hairstyling
career in 1983 at Vidal Sassoon. He then transitioned to Wella
International and Bumble & Bumble before he opened Arrojo
Studio in downtown Manhattan in September 2001. But the
Arrojo brand is recognized throughout the U.S. not only for
the edgy, contemporary, precision-based cuts but also for the
products, a complete line that lets consumers and stylists recreate
the Arrojo look outside of his salons.
But rather than simply shipping his products off to the salons that
integrate them into their approach to hairstyling, he offers hands
on guidance, free inspirational education, traveling, as he puts it “on
a campaign tour,” to cities like Los Angeles, Chicago and Syracuse.
Professionally dedicated to a culture of excellence and integrity,
he educates the next generation of stylists, his Ambassadors who
have adopted the Arrojo product, offering them wisdom and
styling direction to evolve looks that will never be static.
As a visionary, Nick Arrojo, looks ahead to observe that hair
color will be less garish, more textured with greater movement,
“unkempt frizz will be accepted as we embrace massive
individuality.” Color coordination will erode; pants will no longer
have to match tops. Patterns will prevail, juxtaposed playfully. The
feeling will be sportier, he notes that he is seeing men in suits with
smart, sport shoes rather than oxfords: “Sportiness is part of our
lifestyle, we’re seeing it in fashion now as the sense of things matching
precisely is changing. Different colors mix it up with diverse patterns,
the whole look then is unstructured and unexpected.”
Gender barriers too are shifting. Androgyny is taking hold as
traditionalperceptionsofmaleandfemaleare,asArrojocomments
“blurred, beyond blurred.“ We’ve seen the barbershop trend
happening for women, now we’re seeing the disintegration of
gender in clothing as self-expression takes hold. “Today everyone is
a TV star. There’s Instagram, Snapchat. People expose themselves
—the good, the bad – there are no secrets. Nothing seems to be
a big deal, we are desensitized. The election has put us over the
edge. We are approaching a time of total transparency.”
Change in a radical way occurs every three years, Arrojo finds.
And change occurs most often in the spring, a time for new
beginnings when everything becomes fresh again. In terms of
hair, he believes, “we are saying goodbye to the smooth, sleek
looks that have prevailed for decades. We are moving in a more
natural direction not fighting to go against the grain with hair.” Curl,
texture, movement is made possible by technological advances,
specifically Arrojo’s new American Wave product that reinvents the
“perm” for the generation that’s seeking disruption in self-expression:
“People will dial it up more as they get used to the look.”
There will be more luxury in color, it won’t be too bright or too
pastel, it will all be painted; artistry will change the way color
lights the face, Arrojo forecasts. There will be layers, shading and
dimension as tones vary. Shades like shocking pink that have been
in for the past few years will be replaced by a more authentic color
that may have drama but in a different, more complex way.
3
fm
2
The Hairstylist who veers away from the conventional
HAIRINNOVATOR
By Lori Simmons Zelenko
Arrojo’s new American Wave product
reinvents the “perm” for the
generation that’s seeking
disruption in self-expression.
“It seems we have elected a renegade,” Arrojo comments.
“Change then is coming. TV is already becoming less important—
‘who needs TV?’” he asks rhetorically. A disruptor himself he looks
to the future and hopes to see an end to the “establishment,” a
loosening of hair, of course, but that is emblematic of an overall
change, a shake-up of the political class certainly but also of the
way we’re going to be living, looking and thinking
http://arrojonyc.com
TOUSLED AND FUN Purposefully
unruly is the season’s new code says
master hairstylist Nick Arrojo,
TV veteran of What Not to Wear.
Arrojo’s American Wave will assist those wanting more curl,
texture, and body,
American Wave is Arrojo’s
very own and very modern
approach to what used to
be called a “perm.”
Nick Arrojo cuts
with precision,
and is busy
shaping the
future of
American
hairstyling.
fm
This natural and easy
style is the result of
Arrojo’s precision cut
and his new
American Wave
exclusive product
designed to
create a
beachy look.
fm fmJanuary 2017 January 2017