Welcome to HJ's New Wave where we speak to up-and-coming stylists to find out what drives them, what's inspiring them and what they'd like to see change in the industry.
HJ's New Wave: Hannah Marcia
Role: Independent Stylist
Salon/Co-working space: Hair by Hannah Marcia
Location: Basingstoke, Hampshire
Age: 29
Pronouns: She/her
IG: hannahmarciaa
TikTok: hairbyhannahmarcia
Was there an expectation for you to attend higher education?
No, my parents were always very supportive. I was overwhelmed because I didn't know what I wanted to do, so I did my A-Levels and then I went into hairdressing because I realised it wasn’t for me. I wanted to be earning money and doing something a bit more creative. When I did work experience at school I did one week at a hair salon and one week at a performing arts college, so I always had in my mind that hairdressing was something I wanted to do but you get told to get some qualifications 'just in case'. It’s overwhelming at that age to know what you what to do.
What was your first job?
I used to work weekends at a dance school but my first proper job was in retail at Superdrug.
Why did you become a hairdresser?
I had a taste of it during my work experience; doing dance and performing arts you do your own hair and make-up and I enjoyed that. I liked the idea that you could earn money and do something creative; I chose hair because in performing arts I felt you had to fit a certain role to get jobs but in hairdressing you could dictate what you wanted to do and as long as you were good at it you'd get jobs and go far. It's not based on what you look like, thats what I love about the industry.
Which leads us on to our next question... what do you love about the industry?
There’s so many different aspects. I’m 12 years in and I’m still learning new avenues and job roles that you can do within the industry that I didn’t know about. You can make from it what you want. Personally I've found you can write your own path and follow that. That’s one thing I’ve overcome - when you get into the industry people think "oh you’re just a hairdresser" ... it's condescending. There’s so much more that we do. We do therapy, psychology, maths equations, science. I love learning. The fact I can constantly upskill and keep my brain ticking over I feel satisfied - I’ve been in mind numbing jobs where there’s no human interaction and it's the same thing day-in-day-out.
What would you like to change about the industry?
Because I’m a freelancer I move in circles where things resonate with me. The industry is quite progressive and becoming more inclusive but that’s who I surround myself with. I do know, for example, that someone like me couldn’t walk into any hair salon and get my hair done - even a wash and blow dry, the most basic service, because they don’t know how to do my hair. There's a lot of conversation at the moment but has it really changed? It's a great industry and everything's moving in the right direction but I don't look at the parts that aren't like that because there's nothing for me there. Is everyone upskilling to cater to the wider audience? Do you have a basic understanding and knowledge of people’s hair and texture?
What’s your favourite hair creation?
There’s a collection of work that is important to me. I assisted on Charlotte Mensah's winning BHA Afro Hairdresser of the Year shoot back in 2017 - being a part of that collection with all black models for an Afro collection was pivotal for my career. It was an eye opener for me, I didn’t know that was a part of the industry I could get into. Working in Basingstoke I wanted to expand my knowledge and gain experience in Afro hair so I was searching for opportunities to work in London as that was the closest place where I felt I could gain that sort of understanding. That year I got a job in her salon and had opportunities to do celebrity hair, go to Elle Weekender, Stylist Live and then I assisted on her shoot.
Who inspires you in the industry?
I don’t like to idolise people, but I appreciate people that have excelled in what they want to do. I look at people who are like me and have made it happen – in any field. No two paths are ever going to be the same. We’re exposed to so many inspirational people on a daily basis, so stick to your own path and do what feels right for you, that's the most authentic thing you can do.
Do you have any career goals?
Last year I knew I wanted to get into session work, travel and eduation and I started ticking all those boxes. This year I'm going with the flow and seeing what happens. I want to stay on the same trajectory that I have been the last couple of years but I’m enjoying the slower pace – 2024 was very much a "yes" year, so I think I need to let the dust settle.
