20 questions with scott smurthwaite
Published
26th Jul 2011
by rachael
Name: Scott Smurthwaite
Age: 41
Salon: Cream
Scott Smurthwaite is managing director of Cream Hair & Beauty, with two salons in Cheltenham and Gloucester.
Scott won Business Director of the Year at the British Hairdressing Business Awards in 2009 and won Wales & South West Hairdresser of the Year at the British Hairdressing Awards twice.
1. What is your biggest achievement?
Holding the title of the Wales & Southwest Hairdresser of the Year and Business Director of the Year at the same time.
2. If you weren't a hairdresser what would you be?
A zookeeper. I have 63 animals ranging from cows to canaries - I had to buy a small farm because I ran out of space.
3. How would your clients describe you?
Loud, cheeky and an obsessive perfectionist!
4. Which one style do you wish you had created?
The Wedge. The iconic picture of Trevor Sorbie's cut is pure genius and it inspired generations of hairdressers.
5. Who is your style icon?
Vivienne Weswood.
6. Who is your hairdressing idol?
Vidal Sassoon. I don't think there will ever be another hairdresser like him and have always felt that he brought hairdressing into the limelight.
7. Which hairdresser would you most like to work with (past or present)?
Errol Douglas is a fantastic ambassador as he's so creative and has time for everyone.
8. Who cuts your hair?
I do it myself every three days. I said I was a perfectionist!
9. Favourite part of the job?
People believing in me and wanting to be a part of what I have created at Cream.
10. Who is your most famous client past or present?
Can't tell, won't tell! Confidentiality is everything.
11. Last time you were lost for words?
At the birth of my first son, Ned.
12. Which one product couldn't you live without?
Schwarzkopf Professional Osis Thrill
13. Is there anything about the industry that makes you mad?
Self-importance and arrogance.
14. What's the biggest gaffe you've made in your career?
I went on stage with swine flu at Salon International under the belief that 'the show must go on'. I very nearly passed out - never again.
15. What's the best career advice you've ever been given?
To treat people as individuals and take time to find out what makes them happy. In doing so you, you will earn respect in a whole new way.
16. Last time you were star-struck?
People never faze me as I work on the theory that I am no more or no less important than anyone else in the world, no matter how famous or wealthy they are! That said, Hugh Grant ran his trolley in to mine at the airport and we had a brief conversation; he had such presence it was amazing.
17. Time you were most proud to be in hairdressing?
When I recently worked at a children's orphanage in India for 3 weeks teaching teenagers hairdressing skills so they could earn a living for themselves. I realised I was doing more than making people feel good about their hair.
18. What celebrity haircut do you wish had never caught on?
The Rachel cut! With so many reruns of Friends it went on and on. Eventually I started to change it, saying that Jennifer Aniston wearing it differently.
19. What haircut would you love to make a comeback and how would you re-invent it for the noughties?
The original bob. With so many variations on texture and shape it can be reinvented to suit the majority of people.
20. Sleek and shiny or messy bed hair?
I crave perfection so I prefer sleek and shiny.
