MK
Tell us a bit about your background, why you got into hairdressing and where your career has taken you?I chose barbering/hairdressing as a career because I felt it would give me the opportunity to express myself fully with flair, style, poise and passion. I started off, at an early age of 14 years, at the weekends jumping from salon to salon trying to find a professional barbering salon. I did not find one until I was 16 years old and I started working for free until they offered me a trainee position. With some serious hard work of seven days a week, two years later I was manager with (14) staff working for me. I was in charge of it all, from training sessions to shows, to photo shoots and shift systems. I stayed for three years before breaking out on my own to be self employed running my own salon. I learned so much in a short space of time, skills which still serve me to this day, covering all aspects of hairdressing which gave me invaluable experience with different cultures and hair types.
My salon is a male grooming salon and with time I have achieved a lot - with awards coming out of my ears! Three were won in 2008 alone - Innovator of the Year, Battle Barber of the Year and Barber of the Year. I now have my sights set on opening an Approved Training Centre for barbering along with my clothes and jewellery line.
In my time I have managed to gain my NVQ Levels 1, 2 and 3, along with A1 awards. I am now teaching part time in a local college C.O.N.E.L (The College of North East London) with 100% pass rate for all.
My career has taken me all over the world doing shows, exhibitions, competitions, working in salons abroad also, not forgetting, being on TV which for me has been the highlight of my career mainly to see how proud my children were to see their dad on TV.
You've just come back from working in Prague. What did that entail?I was asked to do the hair for a George Lucas film called the “Red Tails” - a World War II film based on three aviation pilots who were called the “Tuskegee Airmen”. I had a great time meeting people - two music stars I met whilst in Prague were “Method Man” & “Ne-Yo” great people to meet. I also met the executive producer, Antony Hemmingway, who also produces the popular TV series “The Wire” aired on BBC 1. All in all I had a great time and it was relatively easy work as it was war time hair styles but it is something I would love to do again.
What do you feel you have gained from the experience of being a Skills Team member and being involved in training?
This has strengthened me for the better as a stylist because I'm put in the position of an ambassador which has made me raise my game to fit the bill. In the Habia Hairdressing Skills Team there is a wealth of knowledge amongst us all, which we all feed on from improving presentation skills, making it easier for delegates to learn and being inspired which spurs me on more.
What do you think makes the Habia Skills Team courses different?
We have a very hands-on approach to education in a commercial and practical way. We keep the focus very much on the standards and qualifications that people are able to go out and use for themselves and have constantly updated our skills and knowledge to ensure young and older hairdressers alike gain the best insight into hairdressing.
What would you say is the secret of your success?
Never think I've done it, constantly moving on this and that ensuring learning is my focal point.
Do you keep up to date with training?
Always in as many fields as possible, I am a strong believer in parable learning.
So you believe in constant training?
YES, next question………
Skills team. What makes it special?
The standards that we uphold and the improvement that it can make to the individual or salon from professionalism to training to profit levels, it's amazing when you get into it.
What advice would you give to newcomers?
I would say, look at all the ones above you for what they do well and for what you like about them and then look at the ones below you, to remind yourself of what not do.
