I want that job! shaun hall at mark leeson

Shaun Hall worked at Mark Leeson in Mansfield, before heading up the launch of the second salon in Chesterfield. He's also a former winner of HJ's Eastern Hairdresser of Year. Here, we find out more about his career so far. When did you decide you wanted to be a hairdresser? I had never really thought about hairdressing as a career choice until I watched my best friend cutting hair when I was about 17. I’ve always had a passion for art and architecture and was drawn to the way you could create styles with hair. It got me thinking about the exciting potential which came with hairdressing. Where did you train? I worked at the Mark Leeson salon in Mansfield with Mark and his partner Richard for 12 years, which is where I got pretty much all of my training. I picked up a lot of valuable experience from watching them work, even when I was doing tasks such as shampooing clients’ hair, I would be constantly absorbing the Mark Leeson way of working. Mark always pushed me to work hard and try new things to expand my creativity. What was your first job like? I started as a hairdresser in a smaller local salon – it was great to learn the foundation skills of hairdressing, but I have always been driven to want bigger and better things. It was amazing joining the Mansfield team because they were creative and dynamic, which appealed to my artistic side. It was exciting to work in a bigger salon, plus the customer service side was really rewarding. I spent two years shampooing clients’ hair and building up a good rapport, so when I started as a stylist people booked in with me straight away. It’s always a bit scary when you start a new career, but it’s so important to have that help and support from your team. I had lots of people around me to answer any questions I had in the beginning, such as helping me to choose the right colour for my clients. When did you join Mark Leeson? I joined the team in 2003. I had heard of the salon before and knew that it was something to go for because it was renown for its artistic direction and high standards. I felt it was the right environment for me to stand out for my creativity. I knew that if I wanted to have a successful career that Mark Leeson was the place to go. How important was it for you to work with a salon that gives you the freedom to pursue photographic work/competitions? Before I joined Mark Leeson I didn’t know that side of hairdressing existed! I knew I wanted to expand creatively, but I had no idea that those kind of opportunities were out there in hairdressing. It’s great for people who have an artistic flare and want to get recognised for their work and it was really important for me because I knew I had a lot to give. How did you come to open your own salon in the Mark Leeson group? I just worked my way up the ranks during my time in Mansfield. I put in the hours and always gave it my all, and eventually I became an assistant manager. Being asked to be the manager of the new salon was an amazing opportunity. It was so exciting and nerve-racking but I knew it was something I really wanted to do. All in all it was about nine months in the making from the time I was asked to the opening of the salon, so I had time to prepare myself for the role. What’s been your career highlight so far? I’d say the best highlight for me was winning Newcomer of the Year at the British Hairdressing Awards in 2009. I was so delighted because I honestly didn’t expect to win! It was quite scary because your work is getting judged by professionals and I was up against other people, so it was my first taste of competitive hairdressing. Knowing what sort of competition I was up against gave me the passion to do more and add more of a flare to my work. Another career highlight was winning Eastern Hairdresser of Year in 2013. The quality of the other entries was incredible, so to be crowned as the winner was a massive confidence boost. It was quite scary because your work is getting judged by professionals and I was up against other people so it was my first taste of competitive hairdressing. What’s your next career goal? I want to continue my work as an ambassador for KMS and being the best I can be in that role. I’m working hard to make the Chesterfield salon the best in the area for quality and customer service, and I want to bring the best out in my team so they can realise their potential. In the future I’m looking forward to expanding our team and being a role model to new stylists by engaging with training days, team meetings, and by encouraging them to be creative in what they do. What piece of advice would you give your student self? Work as hard as you can and go the extra mile because it will always pay off. Take risks in your creativity; there’s no right or wrong because you will learn by the mistakes you make along the way. Looking for your next career move? Take a look at HJi Jobs for all of the latest hair and beauty job opportunities!