Andrew smith on how to tackle the fashion world as a hairdresser

Taking the path into the fashion world isn’t always easy and often it can take years to achieve this career goal. Andrew Smith, internationally renowned hairdresser, educator, salon owner and session stylist, shares his top tips on tackling the fashion world, all of which he has undertaken himself to reach his career goal:

Start at the bottom

As simple as it sounds, starting at the bottom is the only way to begin a career in the fashion world. Be prepared to assist, pass pins, brushes, and everything in between. Be the foundation of the team. When under pressure behind the scenes, assistants are extremely valued, so start small and stay humble, working your way up.

Show your passion

There is nothing more exciting than seeing someone who is incredibly passionate towards their role, is eager to learn and is looking to help progress the industry. Show your passion through your work, put every effort into creating the most incredible looks and working hard to get to the end result. This never goes unnoticed in the hair industry and passion is the number one requirement when looking at the session world.

Do your research

Simple but effective, doing your research on designers, hair teams and other assistants is a great way to begin building your knowledge of the session and fashion industry. You will get to know the work produced by the teams, their preferential products and tools, and who they work with regularly. This will only enhance your knowledge and put you ‘in the know’.

Network and connect

When working or assisting, you will meet some of the most influential people, so this is your moment to make that first connection. Introduce yourself, share your thoughts and views, and ensure your work ethic stands out – this will be remembered, first impressions really do count.

As well as in person networking, use your social media to your advantage. This is without a doubt, the easiest marketing tool and you can connect and engage with session stylists and other assistants at the click of a button. Embrace it and start building relationships.

Experiment and be proud

The best way to building your skills and showing them off is to practice and experiment – practice makes perfect. Trying new techniques, replicating previous styles from shows and stylists around the world and stepping out of your comfort zone will really show how hard you want to work, your desire to succeed and try new things, and master some new skills.