Philip Pelusi

Well, here it is November 23, 2005 the day before Thanksgiving and I am trying to recover from a whirlwind six day trip to sunny California. What a different world that is. I spend a fair amount of time in NYC and am accustomed to the Big City life, meeting with magazine editors, salon owners and celebrities. The physical trip from Pittsburgh to NYC is an easy one. However going from east to west and back has it challenges. There are four obvious and unavoidable hurdles between Pittsburgh and Hollywood: First being the weather. Who can complain about the most obvious, mid 70’s temperatures? No complaints here! Second is “the food” - enough said about that for now. Third being the people and a completely different philosophy of life. The Fourth and most difficult one from which I am suffering now is the THREE HOUR time difference! I’m ready for bed before Jeopardy begins (7:00 P.M.) and must resist the urge to begin my morning jog at 2:30 A.M. instead of my usual 5:30 A.M. It takes awhile to readjust to local conditions. But here I am and what a trip it was. We’ll get into more of that later - I promise!

As I mentioned the people and their philosophies are completely different out there. One of the contributing factors must be that it is so close to the beach. The water, the tide, the continuous sound of the wave breaking and the seagulls squawking can’t help but calm one’s soul.

People don’t realize this but cutting hair is an art. Let me explain my position about that statement. A painter does not approach a blank canvas expecting to repeatedly paint the same picture. A writer doesn’t repeat the same story over and over (well, most don’t). Lets also consider a musician, a sculptor, a fashion designer even an architect. None of these artists repeat the exact same design over and over again. Yes, they have their own recognizable “style” but every piece continues to be a unique piece of art.

Now lets talk about hair as an art medium. No two heads of hair are the same and everyone wants the kind of hair they do not have. People with curly hair want straight, straight want curly, thin wispy hair wishes for a thick full mane and vise versa. And, doesn’t EVERYBODY want to be a blonde? For the most part, there are chemicals or tools to give us the type of hair we desire. However, it all starts with the foundation - the cut! Believe me I have spent YEARS thinking about that aspect of my art form, which led to the Volumetrics philosophy.

Does anybody remember the basic rule of basic Algebra? Let me refresh your memory! The basic rule is “what you do to one side, you MUST do to the other” There are MANY aspects of life where that same philosophy holds true - getting dressed, driving a car, conducting a banking transaction, and applying make-up are just a few. Even though we don’t cognitively identify it as “the basic rule of Algebra” and complement ourselves when we successfully apply it in our everyday adult lives, that is what it is! At first glance one might automatically assume (bad word) that the basic law of Algebra is always applied to the hair cutting philosophy (pause, pause, pause…) WRONG! Almost NEVER is that rule applied. One side is thicker, one part is curlier, one place has a cowlick, who know what else the issue might be BUT, no two sides are created equal. Each head of hair must be approached in the same manner another artist approaches _______ (you fill in the blank, canvas, clay, fabric etc.)

While I was in California, one of the highlights (not the salon type but the most memorable type) was being able to apply my art form (creating a one of a kind, specific to that type of hair, cut), on Malibu Beach! If that wasn’t a challenge! Out on the beach it was all about “the cut”. Not only were there the unique circumstances regarding the above mentioned considerations, I didn’t have what I now consider “the luxuries” of a salon (a mirror, elevating chair, a shelf for my variety of scissors and combs), we added the obstacles of the ocean breeze and sand! Not very often is one able to tout, giving a haircut on Malibu Beach, as an accomplishment but…! Talk about a surreal experience. How many fantasies begin with the beach as their backdrop? Having the opportunity to apply my art on such a stage was a rare opportunity.

Also up on the list of memorable highlights was cruising Southern California freeways in a sporty little convertible. Yes, we can do it here in Western Pa on occasion but there is something about that beach air and the wind and the sun that changes the experience.

Oh, my! It’s almost 5:30 A.M. I guess it is now “safe” to start the day with my jog. Thanks for checking in. There will be more about the trip later. What would you like to hear about first, the Malibu Beach and driving in the convertible or:

* my meetings with meeting with Gail Ryan, Academy Award Winning Hairstylist who is very interested our product line. She does Benicio Del Toro, Naomi Watts etc…

*visiting and cutting with the beauty editor of Creative Age the publisher of Launchpad Magazine

This being my first Blog entry, I felt it necessary to lay some philosophical ground work before I really delved into the adventures in the days and life of Philip. Stay beautiful and stay tuned.