Every professional has that one task they’d rather avoid. In every industry, there are jobs you can’t sidestep—you just do your best when they show up. It’s no different for hairstylists.

As a cosmetologist or barber, there are many things you can control—scheduling, operations, pricing, and marketing. The one thing you can’t control?

The texture of your client’s hair.

The only solution is training—and practice. The more experience you get working with heavy texture, the more capable (and confident) you become. You may never feel completely comfortable, but you will feel capable.

With over 500,000 barbers and stylists working in the U.S., and only 5,000 in-person Hanzo classes per year, we can’t reach everyone face-to-face. That’s why we created a series of educational videos tackling the toughest situations behind the chair—from cutting left-handed to correcting color to managing challenging textures.

Selected from more than 90 videos on Hanzo's YouTube channel, this cut by Cole Thompson is one of the best examples. “Challenging Men’s Hair” tackles one of the most common (and nerve-wracking) scenarios stylists face: working with difficult textures. Where do you start? How do you know when it’s right? When is it done?

Cole’s mix of skill and humor turns a tough task into a teachable moment. The video pauses at key points to reinforce essential lessons, making it a true master class in men’s texture—one that deserves a place in every hair school curriculum.

Click below to watch the full episode.