Steven Robertson, a hairstylist for Lunatic Fringe Salon, spoke to us about being a member of the successful, growing salon. The Lunatic Fringe Salon team was recently awarded with the Salon Team of the Year Award at NAHA 2012, which is a testament to the cohesive, member-oriented style of their salon.

With their NAHA title, an upcoming 13-year anniversary, and opening new salon locations, the Lunatic Fringe Salon’s team members have plenty of reasons to celebrate. Learn more about Lunatic Fringe Salon and Steven Robertson in our interview!

BANGSTYLE: Tell us a little bit about Lunatic Fringe Salon. What is the best thing about working at the salon?

Steven Robertson: Lunatic Fringe is about to celebrate its 13-year anniversary! I’ve been here for five years, and I’d have to say opportunity within the company is one of my favorite parts of its culture. I’ve been able to take on a position behind the chair, work along side their marketing team, and be a key member to their artistic team. There’s never a dull moment!

BANGSTYLE: What was the opening process of Lunatic Fringe Salon (Salt Lake City location) like?

SR: I haven’t been around long enough to understand the process of opening a location. They’re currently in the process of opening a new location in the heart of Salt Lake City; between the redesigning of the location (and soon to be all the locations) to hiring a new staff to setting up education for the new managers and receptionists and filling it with beautiful guests, I can’t imagine having to handle such a task! I’ll stick to doing hair for the time being!

BANGSTYLE: What do you think Lunatic Fringe Salon is best known for?

SR: We are known to our guests for an exceptional guest experience from beginning to the shampoo to the Take Home tools to recreate their style at home. We are known in the hair industry as a culture of education, team, passion, opportunity, and business.

BANGSTYLE: How do you promote Lunatic Fringe Salon to generate new business?

SR: I work alongside our creative director and photographer, Fumi Eguchi, to create upcoming collections for local and national press, as well as have a large personal presence on the web and social media. Social media is my second highest driver of new guests, next to referrals from my current clientele!

BANGSTYLE: What are Lunatic Fringe Salon’s biggest strengths?

SR: Educating their team members with top-notch cut, color, and style education as well as supplying each stylist with business coaching along the way!

BANGSTYLE: How would you describe the ideal client?

SR: I think the fun part of our industry is that every guest is different! Sure, there are traits that could be ideal in a new situation: flexibility, kindness, and openness to change. But the exciting part of each guest experience is that it can be approached new and fresh every single time!

BANGSTYLE: Tell us about what it was like winning the Salon Team of the Year category at NAHA 2012—preparing for your entries, finding out you were a finalist, hearing your salon’s name called, etc.

SR: We tried a different approach this year with our team entry. Like I said in our acceptance speech, Lunatic Fringe Salon has entered for I believe is seven years now. This year, we selected stylists to complete a particular look, each on a separate day. This allowed for focus, as well as not having too many opinions and changes taking place on a full day of five looks. Watching the nomination video and seeing our salon come up first in the Team category was so stomach-dropping exciting! I was on the phone with our owner, Shawn Trujillo, when it happened! And hearing your name for the winning entry in indescribable!

BANGSTYLE: What makes Lunatic Fringe Salon stylists work together in such a good team?

SR: It’s been bred into our company’s culture since the beginning and part of our whole company’s team members. I would dare say, if you’re not team oriented, you won’t be working here very long.

BANGSTYLE: What about Lunatic Fringe Salon are you most proud of?

SR: I heard once our owner, Shawn Trujillo, say that once you open a business, you have to understand that you are now responsible for other people’s lives. And that’s what I love most. They’re in the business for us. To supply us a long-living career!

BANGSTYLE: How long has Lunatic Fringe Salon (Salt Lake City location) been open?

SR: The location I work at is the first location, which will be celebrating their 13 year anniversary this month!

BANGSTYLE: What are your goals for Lunatic Fringe Salon?

SR: To help establish an artistic presence nationally for the Artistic Team.

BANGSTYLE: What are some color, cut, and style trends many of your clients come in for?

SR: Most of my clientele is bob-length hair or shorter. So I have been doing a lot of Sassoon-inspired cut/colors.

BANGSTYLE: What hair trends do you see on the horizon?

SR: Block color placement is making its way back! For structured styles, less textured styles.

BANGSTYLE: What would you want to see happen in the beauty industry in the next 5-10 years?

SR: More growth!

BANGSTYLE: What constitutes a good working team?

SR: The willingness to want to help the people you’re with grow.

BANGSTYLE: What are you doing to push the boundaries in the hair industry?

KO: Education and discipline

BANGSTYLE: Words to live by—hair motto?

KO: It always works out!

BANGSTYLE: What made you want to become a hair artist, and how did you get started in the industry?

SR: I accidentally fell into the hair world when looking for a trade-job to help pay my way through college. I ended up loving it, and here I am!

BANGSTYLE: Who/what inspires you?

SR: Photography and fashion!

BANGSTYLE: What is your signature hairstyle, and how has it evolved?

SR: Structured, linear, short pixie cuts, and strong bobs.

BANGSTYLE: What do you specialize in?

SR: Cutting and bridal styling. Random, I know 

BANGSTYLE: How long have you been working in the hair industry?

SR: Five years

BANGSTYLE: Any career highlights you’d like to mention?

SR: NAHA Salon Team 2012, editorial publications in Launchpad, Modern Salon, American Salon, Estetica, Canadian Hairdresser, etc., New York Fashion Week.

Check out the Lunatic Fringe Salon BANGSTYLE profile!