'my best job' - hairdressers' career highlights

Two recent surveys have found that hairdressers have more job satisfaction than people from almost any other industry. But of course even within such a vibrant, buzzing profession, some jobs are better than others! We thought it would be great to find out about the best jobs people have ever had. It's fascinating so do read on, but be warned...some of them will turn you green with envy!

	Beverly C “One of my favourite jobs was a show I did for a Japanese hair and beauty company some time ago. The budget was an incredible £800,000 and the show took the form of a West End-style production. "The theme was ‘the search for beauty’, so we set the whole show to classical music with a Sleeping Beauty story, complete with a cast of hundreds, on-stage illusions and over-the-top lighting and sound. "It was magical and at the end of the two-day production, the models were in tears and the audience on their feet. "It was extraordinary and I’ll never forget the experience.”
	Trevor Sorbie “My biggest job was the anniversary of the L’Oréal Colour Trophy in 2005. It was the biggest budget I have ever had and everything was larger than life. “I worked with Kim Gavin, a choreographer and show producer who has done shows such as the Brit Awards and Take That concerts. For my finalé, the stage lifted and there was a skating rink underneath. "It was incredible but daunting. Earl’s Court is massive and there were 3,000 people in the crowd including top hairdressers from all over the world. That show was the pinnacle of my career. "I can’t imagine doing anything better. It was my last big show. Now I concentrate on motivating and helping my team and working on the My New Hair concept – a service that customises wigs for cancer patients.”
	Errol Douglas “My most memorable job was a big show in Switzerland that I did a few years ago. The atmosphere was the best I’ve ever experienced – I thought I was going to faint before I went on! The stage revolved and my team and I had 45 models to showcase, with everything choreographed to the last pin. “There were more than 2,500 people in the audience and, because it had been heavily publicised, there were lots of fans with banners and t-shirts with my face on, which was a very strange but exciting feeling. “The venue had the most fantastic view of the city and the mountains. It was an amazing night that I will never forget.”
	Claudio Contrasti,session stylist “My favourite moments are always on photo shoots when I am doing my session work. I love the creative buzz of being around a great team of artistic people who are all there to produce amazing pictures. “A recent shoot that stands out was for a designer whose theme was Japan. We shot it in a fantastic oriental garden and, although we were in London, I felt like I was in Asia. "We had the most beautiful model holding samurai swords, and the hair and make-up worked perfectly with the clothes and location.”
	Patrick Cameron “In 1993 I was invited to stage a show at the World Hairdressing Congress in London. I remember being so excited but very nervous as this was my first big show, and with an audience of about 1,500 people, I had to impress. “I didn’t have a budget and had to make the models’ costumes, put the music together and do the choreography myself. “At the end of the show I got my first standing ovation and that’s when I fell in love with platform work. Since then, every time I go on stage I try to give a little more than the time before. You’re only as good as your last show!”
	Antoinette Beenders, global creative director, Aveda “Earlier this year I was lucky enough to visit Nepal – one of the world’s poorest countries. “This year Aveda established a partnership with women artisans in the country’s Bajhang region to use their handmade Lokta paper for Aveda’s Christmas gift boxes, and we went to see the paper being made. It’s a craft that has survived more than 500 years. “The partnership provides income to several hundred families and empowers Nepalese women to develop a sustainable business while helping to protect their land. The experience showed me that you need very little to survive in life. Designer clothes and handbags don’t cut it in the Himalayas, it really did make me re-evaluate my life.”

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