ep109 – Chrystofer Benson

Today’s guest is not just a dear friend but a certified visionary who has left an indelible mark on the beauty industry. He’s an award-winning colorist and stylist, a former Global Artistic Director for Matrix, and a creative force whose work has graced international magazine covers, advertising campaigns, and stages worldwide.

But that’s not all—he’s also an internationally acclaimed photographer, capturing breathtaking moments with his own creations and those of other exceptional artists. His passion for creativity and community led him to establish the CBC, a global collective of beauty talents and brands, sparking collaboration and innovation across the industry. And CBC Productions has produced awe-inspiring content, from stage presentations to photoshoots, and he launched the iconic Collective INKD magazine.

He’s truly one of the most unforgettable icons of our time, and I couldn’t be more excited to have him here. So, let’s dive into this week’s HeadCase with the inimitable Chrystofer Benson.

6:26 Industry Recognition and Success

23:49 Early Career and Influences

46:46 Formation of Chrystofer Benson Collective

Chris Baran 0:00
How great would it be to get up close and personal with the beauty industry heroes we love and admire and to ask them, How did you learn to do what you do? I’m Chris Baran, a hairstylist and educator for 40 plus years, and I’m inviting all our heroes to chat and share the secrets of their success. You Well, welcome to another episode of head cases. And today’s guest is a friend of mine, and I’m super excited about this one. He is a global award winning colorist and stylist. He was the global artistic director for matrix, he went on to form his own production company, CBC collective productions. Little hint there he and his team are in constant demand to deliver spell binding, artistic main stage performances, technical trainings, brand collaborations and artist mentoring from advertising, beauty, fashion and educational campaigns, his work has graced the covers of pages of publications of international magazines around the globe. He ventured into photography, becoming an internationally recognized photographer, capturing not only his work, but that of exceptional artists in the industry. He also launched his own magazine collective, inked, and that’s I m, k, d, very clever with his drive and vision. He is undeniably one of the most progressive hairstylists of our time, and I’m pleased to call him friend. So let’s get into this week’s head case. Chrystofer Benson, Mr. Benson, it it seems like it’s been forever. You were one of my very first people that I wanted to have on this podcast in between your schedule, which is insane, and mine, it just we finally got it put together. So I just want to say, from the bottom of my heart, Chris, thanks for being here. I know how busy you are, and it’s just been a real pleasure, and I can’t wait to have this chat together with you. I appreciate

Chrystofer Benson 2:13
that. And you’re so cute. You’re like, am I bugging you? No, you’re bugging me. Are you kidding me? When I get a text or something from you. It’s, it’s endearing, so I’m happy to be here. Always, always a good conversation with you, my friend. Yeah, that’s

Chris Baran 2:28
good. Listen, I, you know, and I just anecdotally, I don’t even know if what that word means, but if it’s, it sounds really kind of cool that I might know a word that’s bigger than two syllables. However, I think the last time you and I, excuse me, the last time that you and I connected was at Mark woolley’s legend in in LA, and it was great to see you, and just for everybody listening, when it was it was inside this bar. This is event that Mark Woolley did that honored all of the legends that they had in our industry and and, you know, obviously it wasn’t rocket science to see that your name was going to be there on the on the very forefront, in the top of the list. So Chris, you know, congrats on being in that category of being one of the legends in North America well and the world, as far as I’m concerned. But it was interesting for those of you that are listening or watching right now, it was, I had an Uber drop me off at the address where this thing was, and I was, you know, I thought there was going to be this, this, you know, this big frontal area, and I couldn’t find it. I’m going, oh my god, please tell me I didn’t copy in the wrong address. And I’m, I’m, I’m walking around. Look like an idiot. Look actually looking like a New York tourist, where I’m even though I’m in LA, because I’m looking up for signs and looking around in the building and and all of a sudden I hear, I hear this Baran, and I am looking around and and Chrystofer is in the doorway of this, this pub, bar that we have this thing at. And I’m sure I would have walked on for a couple blocks, if you haven’t killed up

Chrystofer Benson 4:04
our people. You know, we did the same thing, though, honestly, Chris, like, we walked by, I was like, Wait a minute. I think it’s right here. So, yeah, it was an incredible, incredible just honestly and thank you for the very kind words that means the world to me. You, your town is like mind blowing to me. Over the years of consistency, and I want you to hear that word that I use, you’ve been so incredibly consistent in always raising your game. But that was a night for me that I got to like I’ve explained so many different people to that have meant something to me or have impacted me, or have judged competitions of mine that I’ve been in, or mentors and to see you know that all those people in that room. Room that night, like I was pinching myself. I was like, nudging my wife, going, you kidding me? Right now? Who’s in this room? Yeah, it was insane to be, you know, I had a great conversation with I heard Pope sage, and he’s like, Chris, like, this is the night we get to actually honor ourselves, yeah? And he’s like, to be a part of this is insane. And I was like, Yeah, it’s like, surreal. It’s honestly surreal. I don’t know, Chris, it’s interesting, because I think we’re a generation, and I see that because it was like, you had the Anthony buscolos, the Robert is, you know, the Trevor sorbes, God rest his soul. And those people that were such powerhouse, superstar, impact players and creators that I think you can follow lineage down through all of us at some point from them, Vidal Sassoon, another one, obviously, but to see some of those players in the room, and to be in that same conversation was, like, surreal. I was pitching myself. This is, this is nuts, man,

Chris Baran 6:15
you know it’s I was it we were talking just before we got we started recording, and I was, I was talking about doing that interview with Mark Woolley, just, I think it was yesterday or the day before, and in there, I talked to him about how important what he did in recognizing All the people in our industry for climbing to whatever degree of success that they want to live in that because I think that’s a personal thing. You know, everybody can say you’re successful, but your degree of success is based on how you how you deal with that yourself and but what I congratulated him on was something that I don’t even think that he thought about was, you go through this stretch, and we’ve all had our ups and downs, you know, and and the point is, is that is when somebody else from another country puts this together, and excuse me, and adds your name to this. And you see Christopher Benson in there, and you see the pictures of you are in that you see in that, that US flag and the what’s the word I’m looking for? Just it vindicates yourself and it gives you this. Judas, I you think did I? Did I actually arrive? How did that? What was the feeling? What was your first feeling. I’d want a two parter on this. When you got the notice that said, hey, we want you on this, that’s number one. And then number two, when you finally saw the image, what was your feelings? I

Chrystofer Benson 7:53
mean, I and it’s probably the same thing for you. People hit me up about weird shit all the time, kind of like, you What is this? And what are you doing? And, you know, I think you know, as I’m sure your team is, they’re protective and like, we need to check this out. What is it? And then who’s involved? And so obviously we figured out who was involved in, you know, Mark’s a great guy. And so I didn’t really know exactly what it was completely, until it was honestly done, and then I don’t know, Chris, like, I take a huge pride in flying the flag for the US. There’s like, I

Chris Baran 8:46
and I kind of hit a chord there with you. Didn’t, yeah,

Chrystofer Benson 8:52
I think there’s so much talent in the US that doesn’t get recognized for what it did. And there’s very few opportunities that we truly get that we can showcase that.

And I think there’s, you know, ones that have definitely done that. I think opening up British Air dressing orgs for international categories, other awards for international categories, let you put yourself up against the world. I take a great pride in what we do for the US and what we do for this industry, what we do for this world. But it was pretty special. I think it’s one of those things that you go, did, did I really make it on there? Yeah, you blow the picture up to make sure that you’re actually, like, did it like, did I really get on there? Yeah. You know? I mean, I don’t care how many words I’ve won or what successes I’ve had, you just, there’s still a humility for me when things like that get honored. Or, you know, I think, as you kind of say, vindicated, or people don’t have to do that. I mean, Mark didn’t have to do any of that, right? And chose, you know, and I, I say that word because it is a choice, and it is work, and to choose to do that for that recognition, for you know, what he did in the UK, what he’s done in Canada, and what he did here, was an incredibly special thing. And I don’t know if he completely understands the magnitude of what it what it’s done for people. You know,

Chris Baran 10:50
it’s, I mean, I just say with my the old gray hair that I have on my face and my head, some of it’s getting back farther than I’d like it to however. You know, when the word arrived came up, you know, I mean, you can have all sorts of thing that you’ve worked for all your life, and, you know, and I’m gonna, I am throwing this out as a huge compliment to you, and I’m not making it light for anybody who, and I know, I don’t. This isn’t meant to embarrass This is meant to to really put a pinpoint on what you just said is about the awards and the work etc. Is that, if anybody is I would just go on Christopher’s site and and I know it was your team that made you put that stuff up about the wins etc, that you had, I don’t, I don’t know there maybe is, but I don’t think I know of anybody, when I looked at that list, when it listed your awards, I went on for two freaking pages. And I don’t know of anybody that has had that been in the finals, been a winner of in so many not only North American but international awards. It was, I brought my wife read over, and I said, Look at this. I don’t, I don’t know of many people that have that much. I mean, I’ve kidded you all along that I think that they should not, they shouldn’t be naming it the North American hairdressing awards. It should be the Christopher Benson North American awards, because you seem to have won. You’re either a nominee or winning every damn time that that thing is up there. And I think that speaks to exactly what you were talking about, about how you spend a lot of your career, yes, doing a lot of work, but it’s part of it is, is just showing, look at, damn it. Look at, look at our American work. Look at what happens here. And I think that speaks volumes to you.

Chrystofer Benson 12:46
Appreciate that, Chris, I really do. The words are, you know, it’s a it’s an interesting thing, because you know the level you’re competing against because of the people that you know are in the in the categories, but you’re competing against yourself. And think year after year, you have to, you know, make personal decisions on what, what things you want to do, and why you’re doing them. And, I mean, you know, is it great to have a trophy? Sure, I think there’s a lot of learning lessons in the process, so many more, you know, I think for me, more of my learns. Unfortunately, we’re probably in what people consider failures or losses. I would consider, you know, I never have to do this again. And, you know, it’s what you do with it. I mean, I think if you talk to people long enough, everybody’s been through shit, and you can focus on that. Or, you know, you can wake up in the morning and go, I’m still here and there’s clearly a reason, and get your shit together and get out of bed and fucking do something with it. Or, you know, what are you doing? And why aren’t you?

Chris Baran 13:59
You know, you brought up an interesting

Chrystofer Benson 14:01
together, Benson. Well,

Chris Baran 14:06
listen, first of all, for all those successes, etc and failures, here’s to I’ve got my cup of tea and you’ve got your coffee, or whatever’s going on in there, we will tell them what’s really in it, but, oh, it’s my coffee, for sure. Oh, that’s my tea. I wish it was coffee. Excuse me, I wish it was coffee, but that’s another story for another time. But, but, you know, here’s what I’ve noticed about we have a lot of similarities, besides, both of our initials are CB and so on. But, you know, I know that I’m addicted to teaching, you know, with my business coach, who’s sometimes my counselor, etc, and and, and I, we finally figured out I’m addicted to teaching, and I know you are too, but here’s my question to you, are you addicted to competing?

Chrystofer Benson 14:55
I think for me, it’s not an addiction, it’s an out. That because, and I think that it’s changed truly. I think there was a time where it was a proving factor for the you know myself, and where you can sit in the world and the eyes of the world. And I think when you have defeat, you have to also go. So where do you still sit? Yeah, take that long look and go. Okay, so you didn’t take the trophy home. Are you, you know, are you still the same person when you walked in this room tonight? So I think, you know, there’s a lot of mind mental bullshit for me, and I, you know, I don’t know what it is for anyone else, but that I put myself through and go through in the process of, you know, winding the shoot up, getting the models all the way to walking in the room that night. So it’s, I think, just as much mental as it is physical, yeah, but I it’s what you also do with it. And I think it’s the growth that you can have from it. And, I mean, I have many trophies, you know, sometimes I look at those trophies and go, do you know, any things I’ve missed in just with life and family? Yeah, because I’ve spent time doing that. Yeah, you know, that’s not a bad thing. And I think it’s, again, what you do with it. But there’s times where I look at that stuff and go, Wow, you know, yes, it’s amazing, and yeah, what I’ve done that’s a lot of sacrifice, and I don’t think everybody always understands that part of it. And for me, sometimes that is the pain, is just knowing you’re so driven, yeah, you have to get it out of you creatively, as creatives. And I don’t think everybody understands that, I think, and I don’t think everybody around you, your friends, that that are not that way. I don’t think completely understand that. And while they think they’re supportive, I don’t think until it starts blowing up, then they start to go, oh no, I see why you’re doing all this in the sacrifices and stuff. So yeah, I mean, there’s there. They’re great to have, but I think they’re also a reflection sometimes, I think, especially for COVID, during COVID, when everything just went flat, yeah, it’s a long that was a long look in the mirror.

Chris Baran 17:34
Yeah? Good, interesting, good with what you see. Yeah, because I don’t think that people realize that. And you had a great word there that you had driven, and maybe that’s a better word than addicted. But when you do that, there’s, there’s, there’s shit you got to give up. Yeah, you know it’s like, and you because you mentioned about the friends who that, who understand, but then there’s also the friends who maybe aren’t friends anymore, simply because, well, they’re not around. And I keep inviting you and you, you’re not, you don’t, you don’t come because you’re on the road. And then they just stop calling, you know? And I know I go through, I think, when I was, when I was your age, you young whippersnapper, you know, when I but, well, your hair color is better than mine. Then

Chrystofer Benson 18:26
was the young one in the room definitely not anymore changed, or how that changed, but,

Chris Baran 18:35
but you know, it’s, it’s there is that stuff that you have to give up if you do want to climb to that level of success. I mean, you know, I don’t, I’m not a good golfer. I play more whack down than golf, but the but I watch golf on, I see these people that are like yesterday, they were in in Charlotte, North Carolina, and then the next week, and they’re competing in Hawaii. And, you know, and I short of having all your your family with you, if they can. Either is stuff you have to give up if you choose to be driven, you know. And I, and I know that I mean to me, I’ve talked about this several time with my kids. Is when I was on the road all the time. It was, you know, that I missed out on all that stuff, the the games, the, you know, the school conferences, the things that I missed out on, and there was lots of pain in that for me, too. And I talked about that with my kids. And they, you know, they, whether they were placating me or not, one of which was the director of this show and and listening in the background. But you know, they, you know, they had to give up stuff because of the drive that we have. And I’ll never forget when Rita and I, when I first started going on the road, Rita, my wife was, I always say, Rita, my first wife that keeps her on her toes the more, the other way around. But we’ll let that joke lie. But I remember. Sure I said that talked about having to be on the road all the time, and we made a conscious decision that said, look at I if we want to have the life that we want to have, there are certain things that we have to do and certain things we’re going to have to give up now so we can have a greater good on the other side, you know. And so, you know, to, you know, wrap kind of this thing up that we’ve had that where we it is driven, whether it’s an addiction or driven, or whatever the name that you want to put on it, there is good, you know. So if you had to tell somebody like, if you got a like, I know you, you have this wonderful network of a collective that you put together. And if people watch that, and they’re watching you and your team on stage, and you’re always so gracious in making sure that other people get spotlight as well. And somebody said, I wanted to start on this journey. What would you tell them.

Chrystofer Benson 21:08
I think you can do anything you want to do. I think it starts between your head and I think that’s where it ends. I think there’s a lot of outside sources that can be great. I think there’s a lot of outside sources that can be really detrimental. And I think right now, the tough part is we’re in a really driven instant gratification society that unfortunately, I don’t think sometimes people consider what the long term is, and makes decisions based on that instant gratification. Yeah, think everybody wants the instant but I also think the long haul is in, you know, thinking about what is this going to do in the bigger picture, I think people in the world, in some senses, is losing sight of that, yeah, and that’s tough, yeah,

Chris Baran 22:12
yeah. I know, because we’ve had people that come up and just ask, and it’s just about, you know, and you know, it’s just about, I here’s what I have this, Christopher, I have a hope that I think that I know where you’re going with this, and I see that it’s out there with instant gratification. And I’m hoping that there is people that are still out there, like yourself, who are willing to put in the time and the energy, and because it’s, yes, it is about the award. Yes, it can be about the gratification that you get from it, but it’s also about how we change the lives of the people that around us, you know. And you can’t necessarily do that just with one little quick video. You know, it’s it’s like when you can have somebody walk up to you, as I know 1000s have walked up to you, Christopher, and have said, and you don’t know who the hell they are, never seen them before, or can’t quite recollect where, what, where, why. And they come up to you and they said, You changed my life, you know? And I think that’s that. That really is part of what the reason why we do what we do,

Chrystofer Benson 23:18
no question, that’s for me, better than any org, teaching something, somebody you know, sharing something and watching somebody take it and do something greater than what I’ve done or what they thought we could do. I think for me, is far more rewarding than an award.

Chris Baran 23:42
Yeah, bingo. Well, let’s, let’s bring it way back to the beginning, because we know what you’ve done. We know where you are right now. But how did you get what? What’s your hair story? How did you get into hair? What was the like? Did you always wanted to do? Did they just drop you on the planet and you said, Okay, I’m gonna do hair, or there’s a bunch of other things. And then it came into hair. What was it

Chrystofer Benson 24:07
like? I grew up in a single family. My mother, you know, was my dad was never really in the picture, and so I grew up in my grandparents house. My grandfather was a chiropractor, my grandmother was a teacher, and my I had uncles and aunts that were hairdressers, and later I ended up meeting my grandfather on my father’s side, and he was a barber. Wow, third generation. But honestly, Chris, I grew up around it. I was always in my uncle’s shops, and thought it was the coolest thing. My mom reminded me as I got into hair and later that, yeah, no, you were playing with her when, you know, junior high and high school and whatever, which I don’t even, I didn’t really remember, because the fast and. Education wasn’t really there. It was really more. I think the girls had the hair and, you know, there was abstraction, so that was easy. But no, I just my grandfather. I moved away from home on my 18th birthday, down to Vegas, which is, you know, apparently what you do when you’re 18, because you’re not supposed to be doing anything in Vegas until you’re 21 so just, I think more, just to get out of Utah and kind of just be and my grandfather, who had a huge helping hand in raising me, had a heart attack. Obviously, I came home, and as he sat in his hospital bed, he just said, What do you think about coming home and going to school, and I was like, school for what? And honestly, I want to be a criminal lawyer, but by the time I got out of high school, I hated school so bad, and just the way people taught, and the lack of engaging real, realness, you know, more textbook teaching, that I was just disenchanted. And so he grew up in a depression era, and his whole selling point was, if nothing else, it’s a trade. And he said, Do Do me this one favor, and at least get a trade that I know, if nothing else, you can fall back on that. Yeah. And two weeks later, I you know? I mean, honestly, I laughed in his face, Chris, which we, you know, laughed later, but I was like, You gotta be kidding me, right? And he said, No. And I went and checked it out, out of respect for him. And two weeks later, was back in beauty school. And, yeah, I mean, I the first six months, I really didn’t have an interest. And then went to a competition that one of my uncles had won, and everybody was, you know, you get to hear the whispers. It’s the next generation, Benson and whatever, whatever. And I had my ass handed to me, and it was probably the best thing that happened, because after that, I caught fire. I was like, That ain’t happening twice. And of course, it’s happened many, many, many, many times since then. And you know, I’ve lost many more times than I’ve won, but I’ve learned and I’ve grown, and it’s, you know, made me who I am, and I think that it’s something that keeps me challenged and driven. And you can’t, you can’t win everything. You shouldn’t win everything. And I’m also, you know, if I’m in a finals and there’s something that’s better and should win at night, I’m the first person to say, you know, we’ll tell we’ll say that should win. I have no problem with that, because there’s times that has happened, and there’s other things that were better that night, and that’s what you do. And putting yourself up,

Chris Baran 27:40
yeah, the and I love it. And you’ve also coached people along in awards, and they’ve been in awards there and won and, and that’s what I that’s when I really took my hat off to you, is to coach people, shoot their stuff, and then push them on to greatness and then, and then applaud them when you’re done, you know, like, that’s, that’s nothing I’ve always said to people around me that, you know, the the anytime you have a teacher, the the best reward is when the teacher surpass, when the when the student surpasses the teacher and and I think that’s, that’s, I think, a model more people should have nowadays about passing on greatness, passing on your knowledge, so that other people, and that’s where our whole industry is going to grow, you know, is the only way we’re going to do it, is the people that were there help to mentor and help to teach other people about what they need to do.

Chrystofer Benson 28:32
Yeah, there’s, you know, it’s funny because you say that, because Braden, I think, is a crazy, cool example of that when you know me and him just outside talking one day and started talking to the point of, hey, why don’t we, you know, would you shoot my stuff? And, you know, and this guy just went and won masters, yeah, with with me in the category. And man, Chris, I couldn’t be prouder of having any part of his vision and seeing it through. It was incredible. Yeah, incredible to watch that happen and applaud them. Yeah. Yeah. I say, I think, you know, would a trophy be better sitting on my shelf? Or would that experience that you just can never, ever put a price on walking somebody through, you know, having that kind of trust with each other and watching him be able to accomplish that was Christ,

Chris Baran 29:47
absolutely wonderful. So listen, I know that we’ve been talking a lot about about the awards, etc, but what let’s I want to take you back when I. When you started with your hair story, when? So you took your school? What? What did you work in? Was it your uncle’s school? Did you automatically go into a salon? Did you go into that family, family salon? What? How did branch out to there and eventually get to where you’re you’re leading other companies?

Chrystofer Benson 30:18
Yeah, I, I don’t know, because it was, I mean, I think the competition stuff opened up, you know, my eyes did. I think it’s what you’re exposed to, right? I think you’re a product of, really, what you get exposed to in life. And I think having people that had done stuff like that put me in a different What is all this? What do you mean? You competed in hair. So that was some fashion had to be wrapped around it. So that was something, makeup had to be wrapped around it. So that was something, photos then became wrapped into it. So all of those things from a young, you know, in school age, I was already, you know, thinking about and wrapping the package. And for me, that was super enticing. But, you know, so I got hippy into the competition. The thing about competition is you practice one thing over and over and over and over and over and, you know, God forbid it doesn’t hit that day when you’re defeating. That’s a sad day. So, you know, and that was with the live model and so forth back in those days, and that was amazing to do. And then I watched the stages happening, and, you know, I remember seeing Trevor Sorby on the stage and watching people doing multifaceted models with collections. And it just like that became a very different thing for me. And then, honestly, I stopped competing for a long time, until it became more about photos and stuff like that, and started finding a little bit different interest in that aspect. And so then competition became something that, you know, I found interest again. And then, obviously, photography and shooting with different photographers, but then shooting my stuff with my wife, and, you know, that was a bucket list for me. So now to be able to do that and help other people is amazing. I mean, to watch a rod, you know, didn’t take him through that process when Barbara the year last year watched Brandon master of the year was just wild, just wild.

Chris Baran 32:32
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Chrystofer Benson 34:11
I mean, I was probably a year out of school, and they were doing some holiday thing at a mall, and, like, I knew a lot of the distributors and stuff from just competing and just networking. And somebody was like, why don’t you come and do this? And honestly, Chris, like, after the years of facilitation and stuff that I’ve had and gone through and helped, you know, other people learn facilitation, I had no business being on that stage whatsoever in my life. I was just laughable. But, you know, somebody saw something and that I had a big enough mouth that it’d be courageous enough to do it, but I just look back on that and laugh because, man, it’s definitely a different approach to things now. But that’s where, honestly, it started in funny enough doing holiday here, which, you know, if you look at the work I do now, is pretty hilarious. Curious that I would be doing holiday here, not that I can’t, but it’s not really my thing or what I’m known for. So yeah. And then as I got into the competitions and started going out nationally, I started seeing stages, and I started seeing different brands that were attracting and for me, I saw some just different people that I thought were incredibly talented. And so I spent 10 years working for joyco, and grew up in their ranks, up to their international, global team, and then had an incredible offer from Lori Allen matrix, as you know, and came and opened the global Academy and ran that as the lead cutter. And you know, it’s, it’s funny how people perceive you, because nobody really knew I did color, but then we started winning Nahas for hair color, and people were kind of like, what? What is going on here? I thought this was our cutter. So I think the good message there was, don’t, don’t let things pigeon. You did just one thing, and be as broad as you can. Because as broad as that was for me, opened up a lot of other doors, whether I was cutting for, you know, matrix and L’Oreal, or coloring and and both got me in different great spots to be able to help along so and it was an amazing ride.

Chris Baran 36:14
So the just a couple questions, first, because I want to talk a little bit about about your collective that you have. But just before I go there, what, what people that have affected you in your life, mentors, people that you know either said something to you, did somebody say something to you that really pushed you in an area? And if you had this talk to those people now, and you were to say something to them. Now, number one, who would they be and what would you say to them?

Chrystofer Benson 36:45
It’s, it’s a pretty vast list that, honestly, Chris, it’s not even just an error. It’s like, I think it’s, you know, I think a few for me are different teachers growing up. The ones that really were engaging were, I think, said different things to me at different points. So, I mean, I’ve had people that I’ve had conversations on the street that I’ve never known in my life that have impacted my life, just because they’ve said something and I was, you know, because I don’t think anything happens by chance. I think, you know, things happen for a reason. I think conversations happen for a reason, so it’s what you take from it. And you know, the other thing for me is I’ve also been a study of what things don’t I want to be like, what things don’t I want to be treated like? What do I not want to treat somebody like? Because that’s how I was treated, and that’s why I say I think our generation was a little different. I think our generation is a lot more approachable. You know, the take them under your wing. Let’s help you. Let’s make you better. Let’s shine a light on you. Whereas, you know, in some senses, us coming up, that’s absolutely not how it was. It was shut up, sit down, do that over there. And it’s probably wrong, even if it’s right, just to, you know, fuck your head up and, you know, kind of make you come up in the ranks of that of earning your stripes. I’m sure you would know those terms, and I There isn’t earning your stripes. But I also think there’s a kind way you can do it and an encouraging way you can do it, and a, you know, an honest feedback, sure, but I also think there’s a loving way you can do it that I personally have found over the years now that you get far more out of people when you can give positive feedback, and then also, you know, constructive that they can learn from. And yeah, and speak from your experience of that, you know what I mean. And thankfully, I have enough years under my belt now that I go, Listen, I can see where this is going. And let me save you a little time, maybe let me give you some effort. Furthermore, God, if I can save you some money too, then this is going to be amazing. So I think that’s really just more of it is humbling yourself enough to go. I can see, you know this because I’ve I’ve done some of this, I’ve lived it and be vulnerable enough to go. I don’t think this is going to turn out in a in a good way. And I’d love to, you know, share my experience, and you can do what you would like

Chris Baran 39:12
with it. Yeah, yeah, it is because it what I like about what you just said that, and when I got from it was that it, you don’t, just don’t make the person the problem. You know, like that, you’re the bad thing. It’s the behavior or or the way that you’re doing something that was a pro make the problem the problem, not the person the problem. Yeah,

Chrystofer Benson 39:31
to me, it was, I think it goes, you know, I think that’s sometimes in society, I don’t like this person because they did me wrong. So I don’t want any of my friends to not like them either? Well, if you know you had an issue with them, that doesn’t mean everybody has to have an issue with them. I think we need to deal with people based on, you know, how you’ve been treated by them and how you have been, you know, experienced with each other. And, you know, a perfect example. I think that is one. My mentors. John brossen, speaking of mentors, he’s an incredible photographer. You know, he and I spoke for many years back and forth to try and figure out how to finally shoot something and and we did, and it was magic, from the moment we hit and won countless awards around the globe together, and I’m just super indebted. But it was just funny after, you know, getting to know each other and sitting down, he’s like, man, I was just warned that you’re really tough. And I was like, you know, and I kind of laughed it because I heard this. I talked to people and, you know, and I had heard you’re somebody that will walk up and touch the hair, and and which, you know, I mean, it’s all perspective as you work with somebody, but then after working with him, like, I love that He has a hair background, and he can point to something and move in here and go here because he wants to, you know, I know what his intent is. He wants the best end result, right? Yeah, but if my ego’s, like, you can’t touch this because it’s mine, we’re never going to get to the best end result. And so I think it’s, you know, perspective on how people see things, and so, you know, and then talking with him, he’s like, you just have very high standards. And you know, when people talk, you’re tough and you hold a high level he’s like, that’s something that’s such a blessing to me, he says, But it’s interesting how people see it. And I was like, yeah, that is interesting, because I wouldn’t necessarily consider myself that. But you know, do I hold a high standard? Do I hold a high level Absolutely? Because hold that for myself, and you know, you want that for other people as well. So, but he’s, he’s been, we’re just, we’re great friends, and he’s been so supportive of, you know, me stepping out. It was just interesting. Over COVID, they kind of pushed me out of the nest of going from because we couldn’t get him over here to shoot, and I couldn’t get over to him to shoot, and I had to shoot my own stuff, or we weren’t shooting anything. And I just, I remember just sending those first pictures and reluctantly going, Okay, John, I need the honest feedback thing. That’s, you know, that time when you go, do I really want to send this, get feedback? But he’s, he’s been just, you know, real kind, honest, very honest. I mean, there’s times I’ve walked models up to him on set, and he’s like, it looked better before you started. And I’m like, Okay, thank you very much. Okay, thank you for that. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Another I appreciate that respect, that he cares how much to go. And some people are ready for that, honestly, Chris, and some people are not ready for them. Yeah, I think that’s different ranges of just understanding where each person is and, you know, trying to meet them at that and what you can best help them with.

Chris Baran 42:52
What was that? I mean? We, I just, we got a touch of that transition of going doing the hair, setting them in front of the set of somebody else doing the work, and then now you have to, you’re forced to shoot it on your own. And you gave us a little taste of what that was like at the beginning. But what was it? What was the like? Had you had any experience other than watching somebody with a camera before that? Did you know anything about a camera you were

Chrystofer Benson 43:19
definitely shooting, but I think there’s, you know, shooting, and shooting at the level of John Rossum, which is what I was accustomed to and spoiled and, you know, and then I’m looking at my team and my wife, and I’m like, I really don’t know how we’re going to do this. And, I mean, you know, the way things were locked down. Even getting photographers in the US to get everybody in a space, was just not happening. So it just, you know, I put it on my shoulders with her support and guidance, and because I wanted, if this turned out to be a shit show, then I wanted to take the heat for and not blame somebody else, to be really fair, and I didn’t want to put that pressure on anybody, although we all took that pressure together, there’s no question, but there’s no way I would have walked through that without, you know, her guidance and her experience. Because, like, I’ve got downtime for her, and you know, my hair said she’s got downtime for me in a photography site, that has been an amazing thing. So to be able to have that for each other is been incredible because trust and knowing that if you don’t have that experience, that you have somebody there, that you trust to go. I don’t know exactly what I’m doing, but this is what I want to accomplish. And so that’s where we’ve really become a good team to be able to balance that for each other. And obviously that’s been home to do many things and have great success. But yeah, that first one was, it was scary. It was it was like pushed out of the nest by yourself. Because you have to and then, and then send it to your mentor, who you know wants to be there as well, going, I didn’t know you were even doing this, but yeah, let me tell you how shitty these photos look.

Chris Baran 45:13
Well, so did you have to reshoot, or did you? Did you Okay? Thank you, but I paid this

Chrystofer Benson 45:22
regroup. I think, I think it was just, honestly, the finishes and, and, you know, pushing things in lighting wise, to enhance and not look flat and, and I think that’s for me. It was never trying to get the essence, because I always knew what I wanted to get, I think, from a hair perspective, I think that’s almost for us, sometimes harder to teach the photographer. No, really, this is the angle I want you to get in the shine I don’t want you to get or whatever it is. But I think it was more getting the lighting and stuff, I think, where I was confident with it, and confident with the team that we did it with, and now that’s very different. And

Chris Baran 46:05
your wife does this a lot of the styling. She does the styling for your shoots, doesn’t she, yeah,

Chrystofer Benson 46:10
we styled a lot of it together. But, I mean, on set, there’s no question she’s, like, the, you know, it’s, it’s just, I mean, honestly, Chris, it’s built from just trust of spending so much time together and knowing the level that we want to portray it at, and then we spend a ton of time ahead of time. I mean, you know how production works. I mean, so much of it’s up front to make that day go smoother. And so, yeah, we spend a lot of time putting this stuff together and and then, you know, watching her put the final touch on it. No question,

Chris Baran 46:42
yeah. You know, I want to kind of shift it back now, because you went from there where you did on your own, and now you’re, you’ve got a collective that you put together where you guys do production, you go and do shows, etc, and you’re shining again, light on other people on your stage at the same time. But I have to, I have to tell you, this is I, when I went on your I went on your site, and I was looking at the your that, that your CBC, you know, Christopher Benson collective logo is amazing. And I don’t, I’m sure, knowing your mind, you probably thought about this before, but the way, and I’m going to invite people go on his site and see it, just, if nothing else, just to look at the look at the logo, so you know what I’m talking about. And then, and then, obviously, go through all his work. But what I love the most about the CBC, if you can imagine the C facing the normal way, and then the B facing the normal way, and the last C turned around. At first I went, is that a D? And then I went, No. If you go back, you can look at it. But here is the part that I found super interesting. Is the negative space in the logo is a triangle facing to the right and a triangle facing to the left. And to me, that was so what’s the word I’m looking for symbolic of your work, because in all your work, and let me give a little bit more to that analogy, the triangles are like the symbols that you would see enter on any audio playback device where it’s forward or reverse and And to me, that’s where, I think was so symbolic of the style of work that you do, because, you know, you have this amazing ability to take the work that you’re doing in the simplest one, like the blue Bob that you have on your front page. It’s a bob, but it’s so just the way that it’s styled, the way that it’s shot. It’s it’s simple, it’s foundational, but you’ve turned up the volume on a simple technique and made it look starting towards the avant garde, and you have this an incredible way of doing avant garde, which sometimes I hate what people do avant garde, and they just, I call it Kitchen Sink theory, and they just throw everything at it, and you don’t one simple thing in your avant garde work, and you turn down some of the avant garde and it makes the it makes it more emphatic. So I just thought, number one, kudos to your work. Number two, is that logo, as I just thought was terrific.

Chrystofer Benson 49:24
Thank you, Chris. I appreciate that. Yeah, I mean, and I don’t even know if you know this, but like when you started getting your production thing together, and Sammy started doing his tools, and, you know, Chris, kind of Sorby started doing some of her stuff. You know? I mean, obviously we were in a pretty strong parallel and matrix, and the red can world, and so, you know, it was things like that, and just watching and learning, there’s you gotta set yourself up bigger than just what’s happening in this moment, within what you’re doing for the. Brand at that time, and so did I want another salon? And I remember, you know, a good friend of mine after winning to do Nahas one night, they were like, cool. So what are you gonna do now open this one? I was like, definitely, definitely not that. And that’s really kind of how CBC was was thought of because I, while, you know, the CB logo of me, Christopher Benson, the artist, is always going to do what I am going to do, because I still have aspirations and goals. It’s CBC was really, how do you put a collective together? And at the time, Chris, there was times where I would have killed to be on stage with you or SAM, or, you know, at different points, and that just wasn’t, at that time, something that was okay, or thought of or looked at it as a positive. And I think that that has really changed, and I’m very proud of CBC from just that aspect that we kind of shattered that in the industry and started, you know, cross pollinating and allowing it to be okay, and it not being, having to be, it be brand specific, but really just about the art. And so, you know, we’ve watched amazing artists come up. We have some of the young ones that the core team was building around. Corey is the artistic director for pulp riot, which I’m incredibly proud of for Greta is with the beta and doing amazing things. And it’s level three, doing amazing things. So for me, it’s just it’s cool to watch what the young ones are doing. And then you know that spawn from that of like the next generation, or the people you bring around to vibe with or collab with, like a Braden, to be able to spend time with them on stage, and then to be able to go through a process like that, where he’s, you know, winning a Masters, because we built that kind of trust. So, yeah, I think you know, the collective for us is, is a cool thing to be able to create space and it not be having to be a sales pitch. It’s really selling creativity and education and believing in you know you and what do you want? Because you can have anything you want. Is this, how bad do you want it? And what are you going to do to put the work in to do it, yeah.

Chris Baran 52:22
Well, that, Mr. Benson, next time that we’re together, I want this over several glasses of wine and a good dinner, etc. But I can’t wait till you and your lovely lady can get together with us and have some good times. But I’m going to throw to our what I call our rapid fire section right now. So just, yeah, so just, first thing that comes to your brain, okay, what turns you on in the creative process?

Chrystofer Benson 52:53
Creating something new?

Chris Baran 52:55
What stifles it?

Chrystofer Benson 52:59
Playing with it too long until I feel like I’ve mastered it.

Chris Baran 53:04
A thing in your life, the thing in life itself that you love the most,

Chrystofer Benson 53:09
my people,

Chris Baran 53:12
and thing in life that you dislike,

Chrystofer Benson 53:15
my head, sometimes I know

Chris Baran 53:17
exactly where you’re going with that one thing that you love most about our industry,

Chrystofer Benson 53:23
the creativity

Chris Baran 53:24
that you dislike,

Chrystofer Benson 53:32
the level that we’re playing at

Chris Baran 53:33
right Now, interesting a person that you admire the most. I

Chrystofer Benson 53:43
why? Well,

Chris Baran 53:46
I’m going to take that segment, pull it out there, and I’m going to send that to you as a snippet, so that you can send it to her. And every time that she doesn’t you’re in the doghouse, you can play that more. You can play that for my gift to you, most your most prized possession,

Chrystofer Benson 54:04
my knowledge, a

Chris Baran 54:07
person you wish you could meet,

Banksy, Oh, yes, something that people don’t know about you.

Chrystofer Benson 54:36
I’m probably a lot more easy going than what people ever realize

Chris Baran 54:41
a month off. Where would you go? What would you do,

Chrystofer Benson 54:46
travel, sad but true, Chris,

Chris Baran 54:50
without having to do.

Chrystofer Benson 54:52
I mean, I think at some point we would like to do like, just get in a motor home. Um, I think later on in, you know, life and just travel and not really have an agenda, just go see people.

Chris Baran 55:08
That’s something that terrifies you.

Chrystofer Benson 55:21
Inconsistency and abnormally. Oh,

Chris Baran 55:24
wow, that was very profound. Minus spiders, your favorite curse word,

Chrystofer Benson 55:34
fuck for sure,

Chris Baran 55:36
and your favorite comfort food,

Chrystofer Benson 55:41
uh, a good pasta. My wife is an incredible Cook,

Chris Baran 55:45
something in the industry that you haven’t done and you would like to

Chrystofer Benson 55:55
I I think it’d be great to bring outside, like I, you know, I think, I think from a perspective of like shooting, I would Love to see, like cannons and pro photos and holes have a lot more attention to our industry. I would love to be a caveat of helping shine on a light on our industry, because I think we’re consuming a massive amount of that stuff, and I don’t we’re getting the love from just that is just one aspect. So I think just broadening the view of how impactful our industry really is

Chris Baran 56:50
one do over, what would you do?

Chrystofer Benson 56:55
I wouldn’t.

Chris Baran 56:59
Oh, you wouldn’t. Okay,

Chrystofer Benson 57:01
I wouldn’t, yeah, I’ve sometimes I think it’s hard to, you know, but I wouldn’t. I’ve learned. I’ve every experience as hard as some of them have been for me. You learn from them, you grow from them. So yeah, what do you

Chris Baran 57:21
think the hardest one was?

Chrystofer Benson 57:26
Um, I think my head, I think I think as creative and amazing and wildly expressive as it can be, I think is also as wildly dark as it could. It can be as well in the wrong situation. And that’s something for me, I’ve always had to temper of, you know, you can swallow up shit of, and I think that’s anybody, Chris. I mean, you talk to somebody long enough they’ve all gone through stuff. But I think this is something I’ve had to learn to I think it’s also, you know, the darkness sometimes I think is also fueled my fire and creatively, what I’ve done too. So, yeah, I don’t think it’s a negative. I just think it’s what you’re doing with it. I think beautiful things have come from it. But I think my own worst enemy thing, probably most of us are, you know, yeah, there’s that very few where somebody could critique something that I probably haven’t already cross section 10 ways to myself, you know. So I think, yeah, creativity can be in all all directions. So it’s what you do,

Chris Baran 58:39
yeah, well, at least you haven’t cut off an ear or anything yet. So,

Chrystofer Benson 58:44
no, haven’t done that. Thank God. Never, never a thing I’d want to do by any means.

Chris Baran 58:51
Okay, tomorrow you couldn’t do hair or have anything to do with the industry. What would you

Chrystofer Benson 58:57
do? I love interior design. Oh, wow, yeah. Because I think it’s still kind of that form, function, yeah, pumping texture. So I think it’s that I love putting things together. I think that’s I think that for me, the attraction, especially like now, collections, you know, stages, stuff like that, where it’s not, you’re not just thinking about just the hair, you’re thinking about the videos, the production, the, you know, the wardrobe, the models, and that phrase enticing. So I think that would, that would definitely be a natural thing

Chris Baran 59:31
for me. I feel that with you, it’s it’s also, and this is nothing that I as people that are watching listening right now. These are all prepared questions that we have that we ask every guest that’s on here. This is not one of them. But who does the cooking in your house? Is it do? Who does the cooking?

Chrystofer Benson 59:50
There’s no question. I once upon a time, cooked and and, you know, every once a while I’ll crack that kitchen, but I. Um, what I didn’t know. I knew Hannah was an incredible Baker. What I didn’t know on a secret weapon was she’s a ridiculously good cook, so she’s pretty well taken that kitchen right over and know your lane, as I like to say, Mr. Baran, know your lane. I know my lane in and when it comes to that, there’s no question that is so

Chris Baran 1:00:24
you’re on cleanup duty. Did I give her all the praise? All right, so last question, if you had one wish for industry, what would it

Chrystofer Benson 1:00:41
be? We would keep a positive positivity and, you know, an honesty. I think you have to have an honesty to each other. But I think we would keep a creativity going and a positivity, and instead of tearing people down, we’re all unique. And I think the thing that you know, I found in this industry is my uniqueness, and I think that’s something that has been the beauty of me finding this industry is me being unique and celebrating that for myself, it’s been empowering for me, just personally and as A person, and and then obviously that carries over into the industry. But I think we’re quick to judge, we’re quick to talk, I think we’re quick to call it our own. I think there’s a lot of people that have come before us that deserve respect in what things they did, the you know history. They’ve pushed the inspiration, they’ve put out the things they’ve accomplished. And it’s not to say that, you know you can’t claim what you do, but I think that not enough people know the history of this industry. And it’s sad to me a bit because there’s a lot of people that have paved a lot of ways for a lot of us. And you know, that’s obviously what you try to do. It’s what I try to do. And I just would hope that people would take a little time to understand each other, respect each other, embrace each other. And if you don’t like something, just shut your mouth. If you do like it, nothing wrong with praising it doesn’t do anything wrong to say somebody else is doing great things. It takes nothing away any one of us. And I think we need to, you know, get back to the idea that many people can do many great things. There’s abundance out there for everybody, and I think if it was looked at like that, we wouldn’t be so competitive in that idea of trying to hurt each other, because it’s sad to watch. There’s a lot of great things, and there’s a lot of great people, and there’s a lot of great things going on, but we would be better. We would be doing greater things if we did it as a whole here, here? Well,

Chris Baran 1:03:05
Christopher, I always enjoyed my time with you when we when you and I chatting, and I enjoy it when we’re here and get to share for the public. And I, excuse me, I thank you at the beginning for giving up your time, but I want to say it again, thank you so much. Like I say, and I said in the intro to you that I you know all those great things that you do, but I also consider you a friend. So I just want to say thank you, my

Chrystofer Benson 1:03:32
friend. It’s it’s been an amazing journey, Chris, you’ve been somebody that I’ve watched, and you have been somebody for me that has been just a beacon and by choice in the way you do things, and you know you’re still doing it, and you know you’re still creating space. So my reflection to you, my friend, is, please know that you’ve been a catapult for me in many, many different ways. Of from afar, from close is you know somebody that is always, always valued the time I get to spend with you, Rita, in any conversation, even just if it’s in passing, the respect and love is beyond measure, and the care you’ve always shown, the respect you’ve always shown,

Chris Baran 1:04:36
priceless to me, Chris, thank you, and That’s mutual.

Chrystofer Benson 1:04:40
Thank you again. Yeah, I love you. Brother. Love you too. I appreciate you.

Chris Baran 1:04:48
Thanks again for watching this episode, and if you liked what you heard, remember to smash that like or follow button, depending on your preferred platform, and make sure to share it with any. When you know that might be a fellow head case. Head cases is produced by cut action media, with Marjorie Phillips doing the planning parts, Lee Baran on the video bits, and Adrian Taverner mixing the audio jazz you.