A precise ”snip, snip, snip” cut through the room as seven hairstylists turned out nearly 50 fabulously coiffed black women.
No, it wasn`t the night before the Miss Black America tryouts.
It was, however, a breakthrough in black hair care aided by a team of stylists at the John Amico School of Hair Design, 8127 S. Cicero Ave., who helped bring black hair into the high-tech world of video imaging.
The New Image Video Imaging System is a computerized method that allows clients to electronically ”try on” a new cut, style or color before making the change.
Hence the recent styling extravaganza at the school, whose president, John Amico, is also founder of the Hair Performers salon franchise.
The models were curled, crimped, colored and clipped to perfection. Then their hairstyles were photographed and entered into the computer to be used for clients to try on later.
”We want to show that black people are being considered as a part of our market and that they are not being overlooked,” said Fred Shephard, Amico`s sales director, who added that video imaging has existed for other hair types for about three years.
Video imaging at Hair Performers salons costs $25 to $50.
”Talking to black clients, I hear that they are tired of the same old look,” said Shephard.
And black men haven`t been forgotten: There`ll be styles in the system for them, too.
