Nicola’s 17-year journey at Urban Hair & Beauty.
Published:For many hair professionals, an apprenticeship is the first step towards a career behind the chair. For Nicola, that first step has developed into a 17-year journey at the same salon, where she has progressed from apprentice to Senior Stylist.
Nicola began her career at Urban Hair & Beauty, owned by Marlene Lamont, and has remained part of the team ever since. Lamont places a strong emphasis on education and career development, with the majority of her team having started their careers at the salon and continued to develop within the business.
During her time at Urban Hair & Beauty, Nicola has had the opportunity to develop her skills through experiences outside the salon environment. These have included attending Salon International and working backstage with The Fellowship for British Hairdressing.
Nicola credits Lamont with helping to open these doors and says she could not have predicted where her career would take her when she first joined the salon at 17.
“The growth I’ve had over the past 17 years in the same salon is just phenomenal. I went into my salon as a 17-year-old girl just wanting to do hair, and as much as I have done that, I had no idea of the doors it’d open for me!”
Staying in the same salon throughout a long career can come with its challenges as well as its opportunities. For Nicola, one of the most important lessons early in her career was learning resilience and understanding that criticism can be positive.
Rather than seeing feedback from Lamont as criticism for its own sake, Nicola understood that it came from recognising her potential and wanting her to develop.
She says Lamont could see what she was capable of and encouraged her to believe that, with the right mindset, she could achieve her ambitions.
After 17 years in the industry, Nicola says hairdressing has also taught her the importance of self-expression.
“Self-expression is the most important thing and the people who accept that are the ones you keep in your life.”
Her advice to other hair professionals focuses on another essential part of salon life: building strong client relationships.
Nicola recommends remembering something from a previous appointment; whether that’s what a client is doing after their appointment or a holiday they have planned several months later.
For her, remembering these personal details can help create a stronger connection between stylist and client, helping to build relationships that encourage clients to return.
Nicola’s career demonstrates the potential of salon-based education and development, showing how an apprenticeship can develop into a long-term career when young professionals are given the opportunity, support and encouragement to grow.
For more inspiration follow on Instagram @marlenelamont.
Read Now: Marlene Lamont on Why Mentoring the Next Generation Matters.
View this post on Instagram
