Alan Mandarano

Alan Mandarano is a hair designer and co-owner of Nurture Salon in Sellwood, Portland. He has worked as a hairdresser for about 20 years, beginning in the hair industry in 2005. He trained at Seattle University and is globally educated, continuing his education each year. He was mentored from the start in The Method, a condensed cutting technique also called Volumetrix, and he has taken a two-day hands-on class in condensed cutting. Mentors and platform artists include Phillip Wilson, Don Shaw, Angel and Phillip, Kristan Frei and Todd, Horst, and Kevin Murphy. His focus is non-toxic hair color, restructuring through smoothing, and condensed cutting. He has used OXO Organic since 2015 and has tried every smoothing product available. He aims for the lightest root color possible and builds dimension through application technique, and he keeps grey coverage natural with grow-out in mind. He holds that curly hair should be cut with the curl, not against it. For up-dos and perms, he refers clients to other stylists at the salon. He enjoys building long-term relationships with clients and works toward hair that looks as natural as possible, achieved by natural means.