It’s easy to think that growth is about collecting more knowledge.
More formulas. More techniques. More terminology.
But the truth is:
You don’t grow by knowing more – you grow by daring more.
And that’s where many get stuck.
The more we learn, the more afraid we become of making mistakes.
The more color services we perform, the more comfortable we get with what usually works.
We become experts at what we already do – and forget that growth requires stepping out of what we already know.
The best colorists I’ve ever met all have one thing in common:
They dare.
Everyone says they want to grow – but then they don’t show up
I’ve been teaching for over 25 years. I’ve met thousands of hairdressers.
Almost everyone says the same thing:
“I want to learn more.”
“I want to get better.”
“I want to truly understand color.”
But when the training is actually available – they don’t show up.
The most common reasons?
-
“It’s the wrong day.”
-
“I have clients.”
-
“It’s a bit too expensive right now.”
-
“I’d love to – but things are just too hectic at the moment…”
And sure – sometimes that’s true. Life happens.
But sometimes, it’s something else:
Fear.
It’s hard not to know – especially if someone’s watching
We hairdressers are creative, driven, and proud.
We want to be the best at what we do – and we’re afraid to show when we’re not.
I often hear things like:
-
“I don’t dare to go if the salon next door is going too.”
-
“I don’t want to sit there and feel stupid.”
-
“I’ve been working for 15 years – I should already know this.”
But you know what?
You’re not alone. And you don’t have to know everything.
The one who never dares to show what they don’t know – will never move forward.
We want to grow – but we don’t want to plan
Something I’ve noticed more and more in the industry is this:
We still want to grow – but we’ve become worse at planning for it.
Back then, people booked education well in advance. They looked forward to it. They prioritized learning – even if it meant saying no to a client. They saw it as an investment in their career, their reputation, and their future.
Today, many wait until the very last minute. We don’t want to commit too far ahead.
Maybe something more fun comes up.
Maybe an important client calls.
Maybe we’d rather spend that day with our family – and yes, all of that is valuable too.
But something has shifted.
Back then, we planned for growth.
Today, we hope that growth will “fit in” – without requiring planning.
And at the same time, we’re flooded with inspiration and quick tips online.
Instagram, TikTok, YouTube – it’s everywhere, and it’s easy to think that we’re getting everything we need there.
Quick hacks. New techniques. Beautiful before-and-afters.
But:
What looks simple on screen rarely leads to real understanding in reality.
There’s a difference between knowing how to do something – and understanding why.
And that’s exactly where deep knowledge begins:
When you pause, make the time, and dare to go deeper.
Dare to step out of autopilot
Daring doesn’t just mean trying new techniques.
It means questioning what you do – even when it works.
Ask yourself:
-
Why am I choosing this formula?
-
What result am I trying to achieve – and is this the best way to get there?
-
Am I doing this out of habit – or because I understand it?
You don’t grow by just repeating.
You grow when you start thinking actively again.
The one who dares to fail the most – becomes the best
The one who dares to fail the most – is often the one who becomes the best.
How do I know?
Because I’ve failed. Many times.
And one of the clearest memories? This one:
When I turned a client moss green
Early in my career, I had a client who had colored her hair at home.
I looked at her hair and said straight up:
“Shouldn’t we fix that? It’s really not looking great.”
She agreed – and we got started.
But she didn’t end up looking better. If anything… more moss green.
I didn’t fully understand the color wheel. I didn’t fully understand the color I was using.
The client had yellow undertones, and I went with “ash” – like so many do.
What I didn’t think about:
Ash = blue in this color system.
Yellow + blue = green.
She didn’t just turn green. She turned panic green. And so did I.
I had no idea how to fix it.
In the panic, I couldn’t think.
I forgot I needed red to cancel the green.
So what happened?
-
She went home with green hair for the entire weekend.
-
I got help from a technician on Monday.
-
I was mortified – but I learned.
And I promised myself:
This will never happen again.
And it didn’t. Because I took responsibility. I studied the color wheel.
I learned how pigments behave and memorized the complementary colors.
That failure made me a better colorist.
Dare to be the one who asks
No one grows by pretending to know everything.
No one becomes an expert by nodding along while secretly feeling lost.
So dare to:
-
Raise your hand.
-
Ask when you don’t understand.
-
Ask for clarification – even about things you “should already know.”
There are no stupid questions.
The only mistake is not asking.
And that’s exactly what Become A Better Colorist is all about.
Not about becoming “done” – but about becoming curious. Brave. Confident.
You don’t get better by being the best in the room
It’s easy to end up in spaces where everyone wants to prove themselves.
Where the most important thing is to “deliver great results” – not to understand what you’re doing.
Where no one wants to admit they need help.
But if you’re always the one who knows the most – then you’re not learning anything new.
You don’t get better by always being the best.
You grow by being challenged. By gaining perspective. By being inspired by others who dare too.
I’ve been in rooms where everyone plays it safe. No one asks questions.
And I’ve been in rooms where someone says:
“You know what? I actually don’t get this. Can someone explain?”
And something happens in that room.
People relax.
Someone else says, “I’ve wondered that too.”
Suddenly, real conversations begin.
That’s where learning starts.
And that’s the kind of space we need to create in the hairdressing industry.
Not where we compete over who’s the most technical –
But where we lift each other up. Share insights. Dare to fail – and dare to talk about it.
Reset yourself – and receive what’s new
One of the best things you can do when attending a class is to reset yourself completely.
Not because you don’t have experience – but because it allows you to take in something new.
Leave titles, experience, and ego at the door.
Listen. Try. Reflect.
You don’t have to agree with everything. You don’t have to adopt every detail.
But if you’re constantly comparing it to how you already do things – then you’ll miss what’s new.
Only when you’re open to how the educator thinks, works, and explains – can you truly decide if it’s something for you.
And maybe – just maybe – you’ll walk away with something that changes how you work forever.
Because if you always do what you’ve always done – you’ll always get the same result.
And if you’re not happy with the result?
Then you have to do something different. There are no shortcuts.
Final thoughts
If you’ve read this far – you’ve already started.
You’re not satisfied with just “knowing.” You want more.
And that’s exactly where real growth begins.
If you recognize yourself in this – book a class and take the first step.
It’s time to stop just wanting to grow – and actually do it.
Want to keep growing?
Then Become A Better Colorist isn’t just a name –
it’s your next step.
📘 Learn more and book at colormetruecorp.com
/Camilla Rörstrand