At first glance, “The Alex” haircut looks like a funky, blended fade with a lot of texture — and it is. But to Great Clips, Inc. educator Sandra Leal, it represents so much more.

Sandra believes hair is a powerful way to promote equality and authenticity, allowing individuals to break free from the labels and boxes imposed by others. So, inspired by her child, Alex, Sandra pursued a deeply personal project—creating a trend haircut designed to defy gender stereotypes. Her passion and vision paid off; Sandra’s haircut has been selected by Great Clips, Inc. as the winning trend cut for the 2025 “Advanced Techniques and Trends” training program.

From January through August 2025, stylists who work for any franchised Great Clips salon can take a two-hour virtual, cut-along workshop to learn “The Alex.”

World-class training for stylists

As a 25-year beauty industry veteran and member of the Great Clips, Inc. education team, Sandra – and her colleagues – are responsible for developing and delivering a powerful skills training program that serves over 30,000 stylists who work in franchised Great Clips® salons across North America.

“Great Clips is committed to exciting and energizing stylists by introducing them to new haircut trends, cutting tools, and styling products,” says Great Clips, Inc. Director of Education Sue Aderhold. “We offer a world-class training program designed to help stylists advance their skills and, consequently, their careers.”

For Sandra, the competition has been a defining moment in her life. “Taking on this project pushed me beyond what I thought I was capable of. My haircut collection is called ‘Beyond Boundaries,’ and it’s not by chance. It’s born out of a journey of unconditional love, growth, and self-discovery, and honors the lessons I’ve learned from my child. Alex has taught me to bravely and unapologetically embrace one’s true self, refusing to let the world define us, but rather to go beyond boundaries and uncover who we are truly meant to be.”

Meet “The Alex”

The Alex puts a creative twist on a classic fade, featuring a unique, curved parting that marks a disconnect between the faded back and sides, and the textured top. Hallmarks of the award-winning trend cut include:

• The back and sides are cut with an under-fade that descends to a customized hairline featuring sharp, bald corners or a soft, rounded shape.
• The top is layered using 90-degree elevation and several razor techniques to emphasize texture and movement.
• The top is disconnected from the faded back and sides to create a texturized, floating weight line which complements the customized hairline.

Are you ready to take your career to the next level?

Stylists who work at any of the more than 4,400 independently owned Great Clips salons in the U.S. and Canada have access to Great Clips University, a robust digital platform that offers innovative technical training, along with one-on-one virtual coaching. Hundreds of live, virtual classes are offered every month to help stylists advance their skill sets and careers.

If you’re interested in exploring career opportunities with a Great Clips franchise, search current job openings near you!

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All Great Clips® salons are independently owned and operated by third party franchisees. Franchisees, not Great Clips, Inc., are responsible for all hiring and personnel matters at their individual salons.