Andrew smith on how to work abroad as a hairdresser

With travel in the whole, unrestricted, and the industry almost back to normal as we know it, those who are fortunate to travel within our industry are once again country hopping, working to packed schedules and columns, and juggling a mixture of work commitments along with salon life, all while keeping feet firmly on the ground. Andrew Smith, award winning hairdresser, salon owner and educator, shares his top tips on how to work abroad as a hairdresser.

As an educator who travels around the UK and internationally, Andrew is often asked how to juggle life in the salon, with clients, as a business owner all while educating around the world, and fitting in personal time. "The transition from travelling to different areas in my life which require attention can sometimes be difficult, which is mostly down to timings. However there are a few things that I advise to help the transition from travelling much easier, making life a little less stressful," says Andrew.

Plan Ahead

"My schedule is absolutely vital, it details everything that is going on, includes all timings and information and is the reason that everything runs to time and as efficiently as possible. Planning ahead when travelling is incredibly important, as this allows you to actively look at free time or plan in any excess travel time that may be required. As a result you are less likely to double book or run late for your next project and are likely to be much more on form, with stress at an absolute minimum," says Andrew.

Book Transition Time

"I regularly travel internationally and as we all know, travelling can be tiring and very draining, especially after a few days of teaching or performing on stage. As much as you want to utilise every single minute of your time to work and make your business a success, booking in a transition day is sometimes vital, to allow you to rest, recover and prepare for the next day. There is no point working to the bone on minimal sleep, as this will put you at risk of exhaustion. Taking time out will only benefit you and those around you," adds Andrew.

Put Trust in your Team

As a salon owner who travels continually, delegating jobs and putting trust in your team to manage the salon is an extremely hard thing to do: "It’s your business, your life and you want to be able to do everything and anything, yet sometimes that is not possible," notes Andrew. "Having a well natured, focused and passionate team is always helpful. Trialling them with smaller tasks is a good way to begin the process of delegation and building trust between both parties."

Have a Travel AND a Salon Kit

It may sound a little strange, but having a salon hair kit and a travel hair kit will save so much time in the long run and is something Andrew strongly advises: "When you're travelling and back into the salon almost instantly, having to sort through your kit, tidy it up and clean your tools can be a task that takes a lot longer than it seems, resulting in stress and much more time being wasted. Having separate kits for your clients and your international work will mean as soon as you walk back into the salon, you are ready for your clients and the day ahead, without the added worry of cleaning and tidying."