I want that job: charlie logan

Charlie Logan is a 20-year-old graduate stylist at Hair by JFK in Edinburgh, who has never let deafness curtail his career. We find out more about his journey so far. What attracted you to a career in hairdressing? Hairdressing has always been a career path I have wanted to go down. After growing up watching my uncle, Hair by JFK director Sandy Caird, create magnificent hair makeovers – and seeing how happy his clients were at the end of the day – proved this was something I wanted to do. Knowing that your clients leave the salon looking and feeling amazing gave me that extra urge to pursue a career in hairdressing. However, I was born with 100% hearing loss and have been using a cochlear implant since the age of three. I learned to lip-read and my family and friends were supportive and took the time to make sure I understood what people were saying. Choosing hairdressing was a vital decision. I could never have sat behind an office desk as I am a very visual person and I knew I had to be determined and confident to become a hairdresser. Tell us about your early career. I started with Hair by JFK at 15 years old as a Saturday boy, and had always been interested in hair. I loved the visual aspect of it, and it was great to work around such talented people. I then decided to take up training with JFK, as they have always been very accommodating to me as an individual. When it came down to training and learning techniques it was a slightly more lengthy process as I sometimes needed more detail and help, but I always took a hands-on approach. Did Hair by JFK help you with any additional challenges? Hair by JFK adapted the salon interior to help me communicate with my clients. They added in a double mirror in the spa area so I could look at clients’ faces and lip-read when shampooing from behind. When I first started at JFK I did get worried that clients would be put off when they found out I am hearing-impaired. I got nervous that people would not book in with me, but with great support from my family, friends and the JFK staff I soon got over that issue as my column began to build up a regular client list. I have really been able to gain their trust, which was a real confidence boost for me. How do you build a working relationship with your clients? The clients in my chair are always patient with me because they know I can’t hear well, and I do appreciate that. My older clients are great as they understand if they are experiencing hearing loss themselves, or understand it because their significant other has it. I have become pretty comfortable reading body language, which enables me to know what people are thinking or feeling sometimes. Because I am unable to hear them, I have to pay close attention to what they are doing or how they are acting. Working with hearing loss can be a challenge, but it’s not impossible. I just get on with my career like anyone else. What has been the highlight of your career so far? Becoming a graduate stylist at Hair by JFK has to be my biggest achievement in my hairdressing career. I worked hard to get there and it was an uphill battle communicating through training, so to finally achieve one of my career goals is such a great accolade to me, and I can’t thank the company enough for their patience and willingness to help me reach my goals. My future ambitions are to become a member of the JFK artistic team and to become a session stylist at London Fashion Week. I also dream of having my own product line in the future.