Stylist Spotlight: Dan Paterno, Workshop Daniel Salon

Stylist Spotlight: Dan Paterno, Workshop Daniel Salon

Our Affiliates play a crucial role in the VirtueⓇ community. As shepherds of the brand, they are our feet on the ground and our voices behind the chair. Each Affiliate Spotlight, we love sharing with you these stewards of style who share our vision that everyone deserves to have truly healthy hair. They remind us that teamwork makes the dreamwork, and we’re so grateful they chose our team.

For stylist Dan Paterno of Workshop Daniel Salon in Chicago, IL, design is everything––in more ways than one. After graduating with a degree in graphic design and having no luck in the job market, Dan went to beauty school at the suggestion of his mother. Afterward, he was scouted to work at a Sassoon-trained salon and in his last five years there, became their creative director. During that time, however, he was introduced to digital graphic design in the business world, and started a small graphic design studio that he still manages today. In this interview, he discusses his love for computers, the futuristic bob he hopes comes back into trend, and how he balances his two very different, but design-related, careers.


Q: How do you define a “success” after a client leaves your salon?
You can just tell––their whole attitude is lifted when they love their hair. That’s why I LOVE this industry. You can change someone’s LIFE in two hours!


Q: What’s your favorite way to unwind after work?
Cooking!


Q: If you could spend the day with someone who you consider a “style icon” who would it be? What would you do?
Maybe one of the hair pioneers like Trevor Sorbie. I love learning how and when hairstyling and haircutting started becoming more of the experience and service we know today.


Q: How do you like to stay up to date on the latest trends, techniques, and styles?
Scouring social media and online classes, but unfortunately, I always feel like I’m playing catchup! Does anyone else feel that way?


Q: What’s a trend that you hope comes back? Never goes out of style?
I trained with a shape called the Round Bob (it looks like a bowl cut); I think it’s cool and futuristic looking, and that’s a style I hope comes back. And I hope pretty, healthy, one-length hair never goes out of style.


Q: What do you value most about being a Virtue affiliate?
The culture, and the affiliate support is the BEST I’ve ever seen from any company!


Q: What was the worst haircut you ever had?
When my brothers and I were younger, we used to get our hair cut from this lady on the block. She couldn’t do scissor-over comb techniques (I guess she didn’t learn how?), and my hair needed to be barbered, so our sides were always too long and shapeless.


Q: Worst haircut you ever gave someone else?
I gave my Ma a ladies basic layer when I started salon training after beauty school. I didn’t quite grasp the “guide” concept, and started cutting her hair way too short.


Q: What was the first hairstyle or technique that you mastered? The hardest?
When I trained at my first salon, I was told stylists either have a propensity towards Graduation, which has more of a “feeling,” or toward Layering, which is more technical and mechanical. I love Graduated shapes, but have had to work at mastering Layering, which seems like I’m using the other side of my brain!


Q: What’s your personal hair routine? Your favorite part of your hair routine?
I go from curly/textured to short, smooth, and tailored. Currently I’m loving Virtue®’s new Exfoliating Scalp Treatment, which also smells incredible!


Q: What other things are you passionate about that aren’t hair related?
I love computers (big GEEK) and computer design.


Q: What’s your favorite guilty pleasure to indulge?
RuPaul’s Drag Race.


Q: How do you manage work-life balance?
When I’m not at the salon, I’m “working” on my salon business with my other design business and thinking about marketing and promotion. It’s like my salon is my pet branding project. I DO take Sundays off to spend time with my partner and poochie.


Q: What’s next for your career?
I’d like to do more event or session hair.


Q: What advice would you give to your younger self?
About 10 years ago, I thought I’d be phasing out of hair and concentrating more on my graphic design business. Then, five years ago I got introduced to suite life and it totally invigorated my hairstyling career! So my regret is that I wish I hadn’t let the hair side of my life wane over the years, but instead immersed myself in more of what was going on in hair via social and virtual education.


Q: What’s your favorite Virtue® product?
Hmm...there’s probably two! The Moisture-Defining Whip (great on ANYBODY) and the Texturizing Spray, which works great and the aroma is incredible! Virtue® needs to do a “hair perfume” or more products that smell like that. I have the candle from last holiday, and I won’t burn it because it smells like Texturizing Spray!

Stylist SpotlightsStylist Spotlights
2020-07-22 20:29:00 0 viewed