Expert Bio: David Stanko

A haircolor consultant for Redken 5th Avenue, working salon colorist and client-consultation expert, David Stanko lives, plays and works in New York City. He has developed, evaluated, launched and taught professional haircolor all around the world, and recently released his first DVD that explores the "or" in haircolor, "Lifestyle Coloring."

Analyzing decades of experience in working with clients' real-world color needs and developing colorists' career paths, Stanko realized that most colorists attract clients who are similar to them in age and lifestyle. Recognizing a potential drawback (colorists' incomes could become dependent on the economic ups and downs of one group), he created "Lifestyle Coloring," which goes beyond techniques to include business building and client keeping. The DVD shows colorists how to diversify their clientele and have a continuous client flow for life by tailoring color services to lifestyles, while customizing them to individuals. A driven devotee of discovering new ways to use color technology in transforming how the world sees a person, David loves teaching other salon professionals to see beyond the process and achieve their ultimate artistic expression, while achieving financial success. Where does he get his ideas?

"I'm always doing people's color in my head: the woman sitting across from me on the subway, the girls who pass me at a sidewalk café," says Stanko. "New York is such an easy place to be a voyeur and spot trends just when they’re beginning to bloom. And every silent encounter becomes a color-critique: Where did this one's color take a wrong turn? Where could that one have taken the extra step from good enough to really great? These questions lead me to my current focus: Lifestyle Color and complete customization, which lead to incredible opportunities and a signature style for every colorist."

David's color work has been styled by such talents as Serge Normant, Oribe and Orlando Pita, and been featured in the pages of top fashion publications, including Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, InStyle, Latina and ELLE, not to mention nearly every North American trade magazine: American Salon, Modern Salon, Launchpad and Estetica. In both 1999 and 2000, he was named "Best Educator" and "Most Inspirational Educator" at Haircolor USA. His alma mater, Pittsburgh Beauty Academy, as well as the Pennsylvania Association of Private School Administration, have inducted him into their Halls Of Fame. In 2009, David was accepted into the prestigious Intercoiffure Association, where he sits on the executive committee of the newly formed Haircolor Council.

In addition to teaching his ongoing educational courses and sharing his Lifestyle Coloring concepts, in 2010, David Stanko will act as spokesperson for Redken 5th Avenue's "Art of the Consultation." Explore more about David and view his color work at www.davidstanko.com.