Nick 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 US 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.
LOOKS THAT WILL NEVER BE STATIC....
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 guidance to evolve looks that will never be static.
FRIZZ WILL BE ACCEPTED...
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 different patterns, the whole look then is unstructured and unexpected.”
Gender barriers too are shifting. Androgyny is taking hold as traditional perceptions of male and female are, as Arrojo comments “blurred, beyond blurred.“ We’ve seen the barbershop trend happening for women now we 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 is a big deal, we are desensitized. The election has put us over the edge. We are approaching a time of total transparency.”
CHANGE COMES IN THE SPRING...
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 which 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, dimension as tones vary. Shades like shocking pink which 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.
THE END OF THE ESTABLISHMENT...
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.