Greg Cassese - Hairbrained Awards
As the Hairbrained Awards approach, spotlighting the crème de la crème of the hairstyling world, Greg Cassese emerges as a standout figure. His journey, from a teenager with a flair for cutting and coloring to a master stylist and educator in Soho, is a testament to his passion and ingenuity. Greg's approach transcends conventional hairstyling; he draws inspiration from the gritty essence and architectural marvels of New York City, infusing each creation with a piece of the urban landscape.
Greg's influence goes beyond his chair at Cutler Salon; it extends into the classrooms where he molds the next wave of hairstyling talent. His ability to impart wisdom, coupled with his innovative techniques, positions him as a pivotal nominee in this year's Hairbrained Awards. His narrative is not just about hair; it's about the power of education, the beauty of imperfection, and the impact of sharing one's craft with the world.
Could you guide us through the journey of bringing your Hairbrained Awards video to life, from initial concept to final cut? What does your process look like?
I entered a couple of videos this year and two were nominated. One for dry cutting and one for razor cutting. The razor cutting video was filmed after hours in the salon which is pretty big so the idea was to take the video out of a traditional salon setting and make it look like we're cutting in an empty salon after all the madness of a typical day had left the building. I wrote the voiceover not about the way I cut hair or a "how to" like a lot of videos. But more about the reason I love cutting hair and what inspires me about what I can do for the people who may want to sit in my chair. A little story about what I have to to offer.
The dry cutting video happened more organically. It was filmed in salon before the voiceover was even thought of. Sometimes I have people film me while I'm doing a haircut I like and then I sit down and watch the footage and decide what the voice of the video will be . It may be voice, it may be music, it maybe silence. The film itself has to make me feel something in order for me to want to use it.
As far as the voice over, I'm an educator and one of my favorite voices for a video is the one that speaks to the beginner. I always struggled as a student, it didn't come easy for me. I had to work for it, and a lot of times the people teaching me had the right information but didn't know how to deliver it the way I needed to receive it. I've developed my style of teaching based on the things I struggled with so I always try to be that educator that new talent wants to learn from. The voiceover for the dry cutting video is a reminder for new talent and beginners who struggle. A reminder that there is always more than one way to achieve something and that in time you will find your own technique and your own voice and eventually become the stylist you want to be .
Can you share the toughest hurdle you encountered while crafting your award-nominated piece and the strategies you employed to navigate through it?
I don't struggle to much when making content. Like I said I film and review, and if what I see doesn't move me that means it's not meant to be a video. The main thing I struggle with as an in salon Haircutter is coming up with new things that I haven't already done! It's a process for sure.
How do you stay motivated and continue to evolve as a hairdresser and artist in the industry?
I just genuinely love my craft so as long as I can keep cutting I stay motivated. It's the art form and the connection with the people that inspires me. I also stay looking at other peoples work and techniques and different education . Seeing other people do things a different way than I would gets me pumped and keeps me learning.
Do you have any exciting projects or upcoming ventures that you'd like to share with the Hairbrained community and our audience?
I've always got exciting things brewing. I try to make every year bigger and better than the last and 2024 will be no exception. More content, more hair cutting, and I will push myself creatively the same way I do every year.
In your opinion, what are the key qualities that set a Hairbrained Awards submission apart and make it stand out to the judging panel?
HB is an amazing platform that gives the people of this craft a place to share and create and build off each other. My favorite thing about HB is it gives every aspect of this industry a chance to have the spotlight. It's not just fashion week or wedding hair or cutting. It gives everyone a voice including people in salon which tend to get over looked in media. My main goal whenever submitting something is to make it different. Something that hasn't been done, which I know is no easy task because there are some incredibly talented people in our industry. Congrats to all the nominees.
How can people find out more about you?
Website- www.gregcassese.com
Tik tok coming soon 😉
Join us in celebrating the artistry of hairstyling at Hairbrained, where creativity knows no bounds. To learn more, visit www.hairbrained.me and become a part of the #crafthairdresser community.
