The beauty industry has spread its reach from the city of Austin to the glam and glitz of New York City runways and Hollywood movies. The latter has even seen several hit movies that were directly inspired by the beauty industry. That being said, here are five great beauty industry movies that both entertain and give you insight into what the industry is like:
Beauty Shop
A sequel to Ice Cube’s Barbershop movies, Beauty Shop features Queen Latifah as a talented hairstylist named Gina who moves from Chicago to Atlanta so that her daughter can attend a better school. After having trouble with her boss, she leaves her job and opens her own beauty salon.
After a host of tribulations, including loud, arrogant employees, major electrical issues and clients who don’t trust her, she manages to drum up steady business, even gaining clients who were once loyal to her former boss.
Although a lot of drama is added for entertainment purposes, this is one of the best beauty industry movies to learn a little bit about what it is like to start your own beauty salon.
The Beautician and the Beast
In this 90s classic, a Queens hairdresser named Joy (Fran Drescher) is mistakenly hired as an academic teacher by the tyrant leader of the fictional nation Slovetzia. The tyrant eventually discovers his mistake, but he decides to keep her on to teach fake lessons. Hilarity ensues as Joy refuses to yield to the tyrant’s forceful demeanor, and she eventually coaxes him into getting a complete makeover — in both appearance and attitude.
This movie does a great job of showing how a change in style can alter how a person is perceived by themselves and those around them.
Shampoo
This 70s comedy is about a talented hairdresser named George who sleeps with most of his clients. On the day that Nixon is elected, he meets the love of his life, but fumbles his chances with her by giving into his promiscuous nature — and getting caught by the woman he loves.
Underlying the whimsical theme of the movie is what made George so popular: his ability to help his clients achieve the look that they need to boost their self esteem.
Sweeney Todd
Sweeney Todd is about a barber named Benjamin Barker who is framed for murder by a man who covets his wife. Barker plots his revenge, eventually beating another barber in a public shaving contest and opening a barbershop wherein he could lure the man who had framed him and slit his throat.
The shaving contest scene in this movie provides a great example of how beauty shows can boost a cosmetologist’s noteworthiness and increase their ability to gain clients.
Vidal Sassoon: The Movie
This documentary chronicles how legendary hairstylist Vidal Sassoon changed the beauty industry forever. This is a must see for all prospective hairstylists.
This is one of the best beauty industry movies for seeing just how beauty has a direct impact on culture as a whole.
