How Education Can Shape the Next Generation of Hairdressers
Published:Working with local colleges can provide valuable opportunities for aspiring hairdressers, while helping salons nurture future talent and strengthen the industry.
Marlene Lamont, owner of Urban Hair & Beauty, explains how collaboration between education providers and salons can help students develop the skills and confidence to build successful careers.
Education has always been central to ss approach to hairdressing. From providing high-quality education days for her team at Urban Hair & Beauty to taking on the role of The Fellowship for British Hairdressing’s Project Extend Leader for the second consecutive year, she is passionate about sharing her knowledge and experience with the next generation.
With a career spanning more than 40 years, Marlene is committed to supporting hairdressing education both within her own salon and through partnerships with colleges across Scotland and the wider UK.
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As an assessor, Marlene works alongside NHTA training providers to help ensure colleges deliver courses that give students practical, hands-on experience in salon environments.
Providing opportunities to work within professional salons helps students understand the realities of the industry before graduating, giving them valuable insight into the skills, expectations and career opportunities available to them.
Marlene also believes that sharing her own experiences with students is an important part of their development. With more than four decades in hairdressing, she can offer an insight into the different directions a career in the industry can take.
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At Urban Hair & Beauty, Marlene supports local colleges in the West of Scotland by offering work placements to students.
These placements allow aspiring hairdressers to experience life on a salon floor, from working with clients to understanding the importance of teamwork and professional relationships.
The salon also takes its education opportunities beyond its own doors, with Marlene encouraging members of her team to participate in college demonstration days.
One recent example was a visit to Darlington College with The Fellowship for British Hairdressing. The Urban Hair & Beauty team demonstrated the skills and techniques they had developed through their salon experience, sharing their knowledge with students and helping to build their confidence and inspire their ambitions.
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For Marlene, the ultimate aim of working with colleges is to give students a clearer understanding of the opportunities available within hairdressing.
By bringing education providers and salons together, students can benefit from access to professional resources, experienced mentors and practical industry experience.
She has already seen the positive impact of this approach within her own business. Two members of her team, Zoe and Jeannie, originally joined Urban Hair & Beauty through local college work placements before becoming permanent members of staff.
Zoe has since progressed to become a Stylist and Colourist at the salon, while Jeannie has continued to challenge herself professionally through The Fellowship for British Hairdressing’s Project Extend. Having developed her own skills and confidence, Jeannie is now also in a position to share her knowledge with students.
Their journeys demonstrate how work placements can develop into meaningful career opportunities, benefiting both individuals and the salons that invest in their development.
For Marlene, supporting the next generation is about more than introducing students to the profession. It is about helping them recognise their potential, providing the right guidance and creating opportunities for them to grow.
By building stronger relationships between colleges and salons, the industry can help develop confident, skilled hairdressers equipped to shape its future.
For more info follow in Insta @marlenelamont, or @urbanhairbeauty_
Read Now: Why Education is Essential to a Successful Hairdressing Career.
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