Profile of a hair stylist: neil smith

Neil Smith works for Barrie Stephen Hair

How did you end up in your job?

I was all set to go to uni to study forensic photography, but after my gap year I decided not to pursue that path. My family encouraged me to get a job instead and my mum suggested following in her footsteps to become a hairdresser. I started at Barrie Stephen Hair, completed my NVQ 2 and 3 within 15 months and have been with the amazing business ever since.

What tips would you give for anyone who wants your job?

As a colourist, or stylist you need to be aware of emerging trends. Hair and fashion are so tightly linked that it's important to stay up to date for advising clients. They come to you for professional advice and so you need to be always learning to make sure you're giving them the best answers. Get a strong understanding of the classic colour techniques and then this foundation can then be the basis for you to innovate and break the boundaries. The technique of colour never changes, but the application can always develop.

What are the best and worst parts of your job?

Hair is a feel good job, we help to make people feel amazing about themselves and I love that. If I'm in the salon all day, I also share time with 9 different people which means 9 different life stories. I've known some of them for years, so it's like catching up with friends. There are so many great opportunities to get involved in too, the only bad times are when things don't come together for an event and it can be stressful!

What do you like best about being involved in the hair industry?

It's the happiest industry to be involved in and I get great satisfaction from seeing the younger stylists in the salon achieving and growing in their careers, especially if we've spent a lot of time together learning and training. It's so varied too; what other industry can you one day be chatting to clients and training any topic from colour or men's cutting, to the next day be doing anything from styling hair for a wedding, working backstage at a music festival, being involved in university fashion shows or styling for a photoshoot? It's very fulfilling and I never get bored!