NICHOLAS MASON

MEMBER // Hairdresser

Who or what inspired your to choose your profession?

I choose the hairdressing industry for two reasons:

No 1. Despite my love of learning, I knew that between the level of debt incurred and my dislike of organized education, the traditional college route wasn’t the right fit for me.

No 2. I loved NYC. My oldest sister moved here when I was 12 and I loved coming to visit, as I got older I knew this was were I needed to be. Following in my sister’s footsteps, I took the cosmetology program while in high school, which allowed me to get a free education and be set up for a career after graduation. During my senior year, I worked every break at the salon my sister was working at and set up a summer job with her boss. I moved to New York City a few days after graduation and never looked back.

As a creative, what outlets influence your passion for your craft?

With over 20 years in the industry, I have learned to adapt cutting and coloring techniques to meet a client’s expectations and lifestyle. 98% of my clients want to wake up and go; they have full time jobs, husbands, wives, kids and a lot of other responsibilities. Throughout my profession, I have taken pride in figuring out how I can help make my clients lives easier by creating a look that feels professional and pretty/handsome with the least amount of effort on their part. I approach every client with a look-meets-lifestyle balance and consistently check with them at each service to ensure I am addressing their needs.

What would you want a guest or client to know about working with you?

My interaction and relationships with other artists have come from an educational perspective; either as a student at Aveda Advanced Academy classes or assisting educators like Lupe Voss, Gerard Scapraci, Jon Reyman and Ian Michael Black, to name a few. Those experiences shaped my approach to hair exponentially and I would not be the hairdresser I am today without these influences. I can’t wait to work in a collaborative nature with other like-minded artists at The MAIN.

Do you or would you like to collaborate with other members at The MAIN? How does collaboration benefit your clientele?

I consider my approach to hairdressing to be pragmatic and practical, producing soft and natural end results. I have been listening to clients for 20+ years in NYC and I’ve learned that most of us New Yorkers have extremely busy schedules. Over the years I have experimented with, learned and developed different ways of cutting that look great with minimal effort on the clients part and also grow-out extremely well, giving them a style that typically lasts 4-6 months.

Describe your brand or approach to hairdressing…

The aspect that is most exciting to me right now is the business side of the beauty. I believe our industry is beginning to enter the same shift that other major industries have experienced and that within the next 5-10 years the beauty industry will look completely different. As an individual who has worked in commission-based salons, left the commission structure, moved into and built a successful salon suite business, and has transitioned into this new membership opportunity….I feel confident that the future of our industry is business independence for hairdressers. With this independence, I believe hairdressers will start to work with each other to create amazing shit and we will take back our industry!

In the ever changing beauty landscape, what excites you most about being a member at The MAIN?

Fun Facts // The More You Know

If you could have drinks, dinner or coffee with 5 people (dead or alive) who would they be? And in what setting?

I would invite 2PAC, Anthony Bourdain, Dave Chappelle, Jesus and Barack Obama to a backyard BBQ.

In addition to his 20 years behind the chair in Manhattan salons, Nicholas also serves as a board member for the nonprofit organization "Don't Forget About Me" (DFAM). DFAM provides free haircuts and massages to survivors of traumatic events, building a human connection for wellness and self-care. Working in partnership with community partner organizations, DFAM has sponsored multiple events in Puerto Rico and New York City, and is working to expand to other cities. DFAM's supporters include Hanzo Shears, Wahl, Hair Story, Target, Trader Joe's, CVS, and Costco. Nicholas recruits volunteer stylists for DFAM events, helps manage event production, and because of his relationships in the hair community has been DFAM's conduit to donated salon spaces for events. 

Nicholas Mason decided quite early that a career in the beauty industry was right for him, enrolling in cosmetology courses while still in high school. He quickly moved to NYC from his hometown in Newburgh, NY, with the goal of beginning his professional career and honing his technical skills. With over 20 years of experience, Mason has attended countless advanced education classes and has been trained as a head educator for Aveda Salon Systems. As a stylist, Nicholas strives to be a true artisan, taking his time to create a handcrafted look for each client.