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May/June 2011

Revered for her breathtaking images and education venues, Vivienne Mackinder, founder of HairDesignerTV.com and Fashion Director for Intercoiffure America • Canada (ICA), recently spent quality time with our Editor-in-Chief, Jeryl E. Spear, on the eve of her ICA Spring Symposium main-stage presentation in Miami. There, amidst the hubbub of last-minute preparations, Mackinder shared five major turning points in her career…ones that could apply to all stylists, whether they work in the fashion haute-bed of NYC, or bend tresses in Anywhere, USA.

Epiphanies sometimes come to me out of the blue and other times after a lot of soulsearching," Mackinder smiles. "Either way, they've always made me more mindful of what I need to do in order to make a difference in my hairdressing and, quite often, for the careers of all hairdressers whom I touch through my presentations, website and teachings."

Looking poised and as pretty as she was 20 years ago, and with new images in hand that took my breath away, I found it hard to imagine that Mackinder hadn't already turned over every stone, thought every thought, did every deed that she needed to do in order to be successful… always. "Life's a journey, you know that and I do too," she reminds me. "Who we were yesterday and who we are today should pale in comparison to whom we should become in the future. I'm a futurist, so I'm always looking ahead and thinking about what's possible to do next and how to make it happen—whatever it is—in the most beautiful way."

1. Focus on Beauty Every Time You Do Hair

2. Be True to Classic Styling Techniques

3. Be a Good Editor

4. Have Two Portfolios

5. Be Courageous