Wendy Bond, national director of education for Lakmé USA, reflects on 30-plus years of success, both in the salon and as a fervent educator and entrepreneur. —TRACY MORIN
In the ’80s, as unisex salons boomed, Wendy Bond made a life-changing leap—from working in agriculture to enrolling in beauty school. She quickly honed her craft at a D.C. salon; rose to high-ranking manufacturer positions (think Aveda educator and L’Anza creative director); owned a NYC salon and beauty school alongside stylist and educator husband Oscar Bond; and scored NAHA’s Master Stylist Award her seventh time as a finalist. And after three decades in the biz, this self-described “hair nerd” still relishes every aspect of the industry. “My one constant has been a love of doing hair and a passion for color,” Bond muses. “And I always loved receiving education, then sharing what I learned and getting people excited.”
That multifaceted background serves her well as national director of education for Lakmé USA (@lakmeusa), a position she snatched up in May 2015 after falling in love with the Barcelona-based manufacturer’s products, commitment to the professional industry, family-owned ethics and massive reach (70-plus countries). In her role, Bond works to shape the company’s education curriculum, focusing on easy-to-adopt techniques for educators worldwide. But she also helps develop and test new products, while tuning in to current client demands by working in the salon with clients one day a week. “After owning a salon and school, I know that side of the industry and want to support it. I wear a lot of hats,” Bond laughs. “Working on photo shoots is great, but what about teaching how to save 10 minutes on a color application? We want to do both, the creative and the practical.”
Bond’s extended experience has indeed promoted a long-view perspective; though her own career has hosted change and opportunity galore, she admits it’s easy to get stuck in a rut. Her advice: Don’t be afraid of change. Get inspired by your everyday clients. Ditch “I can’t do that” in favor of “How could I do that?” After all, Bond believes, celeb stylists may receive the kudos, but salon stalwarts propel the industry. “Our industry exists because of what we do in the salon each day, making clients feel good,” she stresses. “They’re the legs our industry stands on.”
