Everyone has memories of a favorite teacher. Perhaps it was the first teacher who really challenged or inspired you, or the first one who saw something in you that no one else had. Vivienne Mackinder has that sparkle, and her new venture, Hair­designertv.com, gives her a chance to provide subscribers an opportunity to watch online streaming video of haircutting, color and styling techniques.

Mackinder says that she has always enjoyed teaching, but found doing seminars and hair shows less than satisfying because she knew that so much wasn’t being retained. “The moment you leave that show I believe you go back to your old habits,” she says.

The power of the Internet provided the answer. By the end of spring, Hairdesignertv.com will offer 87 lessons, divided into four series. The “Classic” and “Modernist” series launched in January, while the “Progressive” and “Edge” series are scheduled for spring. Each lesson is 30 to 50 minutes long; subscribers can watch each one up to five times. Also included is a series of printable, step-by-step directions, complete with cutting diagrams.

Specific subscription plans are designed for individuals or salons. Participants can purchase individual lessons a la carte, or sign up for a year of unlimited access. Serious students can work toward certification by photographing their work and emailing the photo in for evaluation. They receive a passport stamp for every session successfully completed; a full passport equals certification.

Each lesson includes a segment called “Inside the Artist’s Mind,” which addresses some of the emotional and psychological challenges stylists face, such as overcoming fear or attending to details without losing sight of the big picture. Mackinder herself performs the lessons on mannequin heads, more or less in real time, explaining as she goes, and sprinkling her commentary with her own experiences and personal reflections that tie into the lesson’s theme. “To me, it’s not just about cutting a straight line,” she says. “It’s a very soulful site. It’s about stylist empowerment.” —Karen K. Ford

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