New RPA Training Rolls Out to Rave Reviews

Artistic Development launched an exciting new initiative this summer to provide specialized training for RPAs. Each "RPA Summit" is an intensive two-day development program led by International Artistic Leader Shannon King. Modeled after Redken's RAC (Redken's Artist Connection) Training, the RPA Summit goes above and beyond Hair Cuttery's core training classes.

Attendees at this information-packed program learn the latest trends, while using color and products that they don't normally get to use. "A unique feature of this program is that it offers RPAs the opportunity to be 'learners'," notes Director of Artistic Development Kim Layton. "Rather than attending with the goal of serving as trainers of the material, the Summits are about pure professional development."

At each Summit, RPAs broke into small groups and rotated through each of four two-hour modules.

The result: an intimate, more personalized learning experience for attendees.

Module topics included: Design Led by Shannon King, participants learned how to create several of Redken's latest trends, including the Penthouse and Loft designs (how-tos on pages 21 and 23!). Texture Led by Mezei Jefferson, RPAs gained hands-on experience with Redken's Uptown, Glam and Soho-smooth techniques. Color Led by Myra Yaukey (Southern Summit) and Redken's Lori Zabel (Northern Summit), participants used Fusion, Redken's crème color, to add dimension to their designs. Leadership and Personal Development Led by Kim Layton, this module taught RPAs how to identify their goals and values, to make decisions in line with these priorities and then to use the "question behind the question" (QBQ) technique to achieve their goals.

Response from the field has been overwhelmingly positive. The first Summit took place June 23-24 in Greenville, SC, and brought RPAs from the Southern and Atlanta regions together for the customized training. "I loved the Summit! I gained both the motivation and the tools to be more creative, "says Southern Lead Color RPA, Karen O'Dell. "The new color and texture techniques we learned won't be information I just 'tuck away', but rather something I'll use immediately in the salon!"

Nineteen participants took part in the July 14-15 Summit in Philadelphia, PA, including seven Field Leaders and Northern Regional Leader Barb Allen."The RPA Summit really stimulated my creative technical skills," noted Barb.

"The techniques I took away from this training have helped me achieve the looks I always admired. And the color segment taught by Lori from Redken was amazing! I now know how to achieve three-dimensional color in one application!"