What have you most struggled with throughout the years and what's the hardest thing about being a hair stylist?
It's kind of the physical element of it. If I don't look after myself, if I don't exercise in the morning and maintain my core strength then my back aches, I get tired, and I can get ill pretty easily. So, to do your job well, you have to you have to look after yourself. You have to take time for yourself. Being a freelance hair stylist, the work doesn't finish when I come home because of the social media, the responding to emails, updates, planning in advance. Christmas is coming, OK? So, we have to ensure that we do something. It’s definitely hard to switch off.
Other difficult aspects are dealing with people's criticism and dealing with people's expectations. I think a lot of starting hair stylists are scared to tell clients; no. Clients will bring you this amazing photo of a bride with tons and tons of hair. And of course, she says, no, I don't want hair extensions. But ultimately, she will not achieve the same result without them.
A lot of students will step back if the bride doesn’t want remy hair extensions, and just give a style they think is similar. However, it obviously doesn’t look like the photo and the bride is disappointed. I mean, how many times have I almost bullied my brides into having real hair extensions? And of course, they're like, oh, my God, I love it. 98 percent of all my brides wear hair extensions. So ultimately knowing how to give the best advice but also not being scared to speak up and to tell them what will suit them. This comes with practise, with experience. Treat them kindly, listen, but also force your opinion. Gently.