Hairdressers heading abroad to get ahead: thomas dawes in india
Published
03rd Jun 2011
by rachael
Leaving your home country to start a new career abroad might sound intimidating, but for these three hairdressers moving to a new destination was the start of an exciting adventure... 
"I was working at L'Oréal Professionnel and was about to launch a venture in the UK when the financial world fell apart.
I decided to look elsewhere for work, and India had an exciting growth story so I visited the country and was convinced that in terms of business, fashion and culture, it was at the centre of the world.
The country is hugely entrepreneurial and English is widely spoken. Of course there are challenges, but I love being part of a country that is changing so rapidly.
As a foreigner, there are restrictions to setting up a business, so I had to buy into an established brand and help it grow.
B:blunt is one of the most high-profile brands in the country, so I joined them.
Since I moved here, we have opened three salons in Mumbai and Bangalore, and are about to open in Delhi. The team have become regulars at shows and on shoots and have had a fantastic year.
Indian stylists tell it like it is; there is no tip-toeing around, and you know where you stand. I'm sure I'll return to the UK one day, but right now I am loving my time in India."
