Hairdresser’s post-apocalyptic show
Tanju Kurt wears a hat. For someone whose career is hair, it’s surprising that he doesn’t show his head.
The hairstylist maintains that “a hat does not hide you”. He has at least ten in the back room of his Church Street salon alone.
“It’s your style,” he said. “Even when I had long hair, I had hats. Top hats, any hats.
“You should dress the way you want. You can’t be a powerful stylist if you change yourself to accommodate other people.”
Mr Kurt is the creative director for TK Hair Group and has gained fast exposure through international hair shows and TV. Check him out on TLC’s reality show Global Beauty Masters, an “extreme” hair, make-up and nail art competition.
Born and raised in Germany, the Turkish hairdresser grew up in the industry. His mother owned a salon, but Mr Kurt knew early on that he didn’t want to be confined to a shop. Drawn to teaching and travelling, he quickly found his calling through hair shows and editorial work.
“I always wanted to share,” he said. “That’s when I moved on. You learn so much when you learn from others. Surround yourself with creative and positive people because creativity feeds creativity.”
This year he was invited to present on the main stage of the International Beauty Show in New York from March 6-8.
More than 63,000 salon owners, managers and beauty professionals, eager to build their careers and increase their skills, watched his team performing cuts live on the main stage.
“The show in New York was amazing,” he said. “I spent a week with the best in the world.”
These shows require drama. His latest hair collection is a “post-apocalyptic” collaboration with airbrush artist Avi Ram, called, “The Beginning”. As he puts it, the world has ended and he has restarted it. The models are half human-half robot and their patent go-go boots now take pride of place behind the front desk at his salon.
He said putting the latest collection together took the better part of nine months, working on make-up design, costume, models with local Jakoma Group and Felix Todd for music. While his work is known globally, he keeps a low profile in Bermuda. Mr Kurt has lived on the island for more than 25 years and opened the salon in 2011.
He keeps his family life private and calls his business home.
“It’s a place for my clients to come and escape for a little bit,” he said.
Needless to say, he wasn’t quite ready for the level of exposure the two shows have brought the group.
His latest successes and strong social media presence have drawn requests from followers worldwide and, he confesses, it’s a challenge to juggle with the daily running of the salon.
“It’s interesting because the collection is called ‘The Beginning’ and this feels like the beginning of something new,” he said.
“I don’t know where the journey will take me over the next few months, but because of what’s happened with the TV and the hair shows, I know we’re going to attract a lot more traffic internationally.”
The stylist favours clean cuts and solid colour over soft waves and highlights.
“I want to show precision. I want to see bright colours. That represents happiness to me. People should not be afraid to try something different. Clients come to us because they want something different — something fun, edgy, modern.
“That’s why I’m in Global Beauty Masters. It’s all about extreme hair and beauty. It’s avant-garde. It tests your abilities. If you want something normal you can get that anywhere. In our job you have to be out of the box; you can’t be in the box.”
Tanju Kurt is expanding the TK Hair brand, beginning with his own line of scissors, TK Shears.
Made from Japanese steel, the eight designs are razor sharp and consider, not only the materials, but the ergonomics.
“You could buy an inexpensive knife or you can buy Wüsthof,” he said, explaining the $1,200 starting price.
The packaging, like his cuts, is clean, with a vial of blade oil, changeable grips and any pair can be customised with gemstones.
“Over time, when you buy a lot of scissors, you learn the best way to handle them,” he said.
“That’s when you design scissors the way you want to work. When you work with something everyday, you figure out what works for you.
“Always thought about how it would be if you had a razor that was also a scissor. That connection goes into the design.”
His line of texturising scissors have varying teeth and all of the handles are shaped to avoid wrist strain.
“It’s all about you controlling the scissor, not the scissor controlling you,” he said.
“An audience member told me, I want to be like you.
“And I said, you can. She said I don’t have time. I have two children, but I want to be able to do what you’re doing.
“I said to her, you have to make the time. I have two children. I do shows. I have a business.
“There’s always time when you make time. Nobody will make the time for you.
“I learn every minute, every second from other people. You inspire — you get inspired. You work with creative people, you become more creative. Spend time with happy people and you’ll be happy.
“I make time because I want to do something different.
“This is stuff I work with everyday and I think, we can do better.”
