Today we’d like to introduce you to Austin Finley.
Hi Austin, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
My name is Austin Finley, and I am the Co-Founder and Creative Director for HAIR+INDUSTRY. My history of hairdressing has been with TONI&GUY for the last 19 years and I ended my career there as the Creative Director for TONI&GUY USA. I teach stylists, both seasoned and green, the necessary elements to grow themselves daily. I have also had the pleasure of working with and leading the Artistic team for TONI&GUY, and have created and produced multiple concepts and collections for the brand over the last 15 years.
My experience includes designing, executing, and editing Collection work for both Fundamental and Advanced Education. I’ve also had the pleasure of being a part of the team working fashion week during various seasons, as well as working local fashion shows here in Dallas including DIFFA, FGI, and various others. I have spent my time throughout the years working behind the chair, while simultaneously traveling both nationally and internationally for TONI&GUY and TIGI as an educator.
I have been able to grow in all aspects of my career including salon work, education, session work, and overall artistry. Art has been my passion ever since I was a kid, and as a hairdresser, my art has grown in ways that are hard to explain, but easy to see. I have shot all different types of concepts and collections, for which I did receive the award for Hairdresser of the year for TONI&GUY back in 2010; I was also nominated in 2014 as a finalist for NAHA in the AVANTGARDE category.
In 2019 I was connected with Jencey, founder of the Sweet Tooth Hotel, and I created a yarn concept, along with designer Yasmina Johnston, for their marketing collateral for the INTANGIBLE installation, where our work was on display for the entirety of the exhibit. I have been blessed to be able to work with a very select group of people including clothing stylist/designer Yasmina Johnston, who has played a crucial role in the development of my career, allowing me to create complete concepts that are only possible because of her clothing design.
When anyone injures about how I got to where I am, I always try to share the consistent message that “To grow and become who you want to be, it all begins with a ton of effort, coupled with an amazing team, and the ability to grow through failure as well as receiving praise and criticism from those that you share in creation with as well as someone that you consider to be a mentor.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I would have to say that there was never really a smooth road, but as far as struggles along the way, yes… I’m sure, as in most cases, the most consistent struggle was that of a financial one, both personally as well as corporately, and always from a budget perspective, meaning there was hardly ever a budget, so having to create from an entire solution based thought process was difficult, especially with no money allotted for models, but all of those trials were very helpful in allowing me to grow and think about how to solve numerous types of problems all in one go
I have failed so many times, but it was through that failure, as well as the theoretical guidance from my friend and mentor Akos Bodi, that I learned so much. Understanding basic theories, and then being able to apply them consistently and throughout my work has allowed me to grow in so many different ways.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My work over the years has embodied everything from shooting and filming Salon Viable looks, Progressive Hair concepts, various forms of Editorial Wig Concepts, Conceptualizing and Producing Editorial Hair Concepts, to the extreme Avant-Garde Concepts. Depending on the circle of people, I am best known for different elements of hair, education, and/or the artistic side of my work.
I am most proud of the work that I have created with various individuals such as the Designer and Stylist Yasmina Johnston, Photographer Andy Lai, Photographer, Videographer, and Editor Trey Mcglothin, Animation Creator, Videographer, and Editor Taylor Cleveland, and Videographer and Editor Tramaine Townsend. What sets me apart from others is that I, as a Creative Director, can visualize and execute entire projects that involve many team members, and can produce and execute on most levels of the project.
I have and can envision the concept; execute and build, or give direction for others to execute and produce the concept; design and style the concept myself or collaborate with a designer/stylist for the concept; connect with the rest of the team consisting of other hairdressers, makeup artists, photographers, videographers; source the models necessary for the looks; establish and execute the schedule; create the shot list and model poses if necessary; select the final images, which is an art all on its own; edit the video or assist in the editing process; select the music for the video, and finally be able to recreate the looks based on some of the processes listed above if booked to produce that collection/concept elsewhere.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Honestly, I utilize Instagram to feed my creativity. I follow artists with a similar feel, or at least they do the type of work that I do, like to do, or aspire to do. App-wise I stay with Adobe to help make whatever it is that I have become something more. The best resource that I have is a lesson that I learned from my high school Art Teacher. She did an exercise with us where she had us draw shapes such as any form of a circle/sphere, a box of some sort, a star, etc…..
After we had finished drawing the shapes, she went around the class and had us talk about what we drew and why we drew it that way. The shape that she ended on was the Star, for which I drew some ridiculous nautical star with however many points – anyways after we were all through showing and explaining our stars, she then took a moment to ask us a question….. She asked us why none of us drew a celebrity.
I realized, literally at that moment, that whenever I think of a concept, or listen to what people say, or what someone may be asking for, I can think theoretically as opposed to literally, meaning that there are millions of different ways to approach a concept with millions of different, and yet similar results, at least in theory they are similar and can line up completely with the concept or task at hand.
Pricing:
- $250 for a haircut
- day rate for cut education $1500
- wig concept can range from $1500 to $3000
- day rate for production, shooting, and editing $1500 to $2500
- full concept and production of a collection including social content, educational videos, and final stills… $20,000 to $40,000
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hairandindustry.com
- Instagram: @austinfinley
- Facebook: @Austin Finley
Image Credits
Andy Lai, Anthony Chiang, Jordan Smith, Yasmina Johnston, Anjanette Nicole Henson, and Sharayah Lee Cooper
