ok so i have read this very long thread so far, im still awake! 
i think of myself as a aesthetical artist, im very influenced by perfect lines angles by my creative eye. I apply it to everyday life just not beauty or hair.
The whole sales lingo of being artistic is very male orientated. If you look at some of the great artistic directors, they are male. You only have to go to a salon international or a exhibiting platform where it is very male orientated. some of the best know artists, i can name loads but one fabulous vidal sasson was the leading forefront of a collective notion that it was fashion forward. (im not having gender wars) However if a betsy had envisioned a new look colour/cut avante garde finish everyday we would know her name would the client have loved it liked it recommend it, quite possibly yes.
atm everyone knows a exceptional sassy guy online, while i lurve what he does is it different to what many of us have done artistically? styling? Colouring? its an artform that many of us creatively have experimented with, tapped on lightly and gone with it.
I find in the uk alone there is a withdrawal of artistic freedom, salons have become more time concentrated and it is a challenge to create a beautiful piece of work in short time scales, there is also the problem of regulated decent fashion colours. there are some great works done in short time scales, but if you were to apply yourself at least half a day per client without the profit margins, thinking outside the box, you can look at inspiration from anything. you'll find what you were like when you were fresh from college- might get your passion lightened! Artistically i think the uk is still very conservative and not everyone wants to blend into the background, you only get subtle changes be that odd flash of colour which is deemed suitable for the workplace! Its all about the freedom and creativity control of the client, and what you're able to get away with. (thanks for still reading ) xoxo
