The Final Cut with Aidan Fitzgerald
Hot in the city
I got the opportunity to do an apprenticeship in Peter Mark, Grafton Street. That was in 1971 when hairdressing was changing from the bouffant, rollers and back combing to precision cutting and blow-drying, hugely influenced by Vidal Sassoon. I was mentored and trained by top stylists Martin Murray and Alan Piggott.
Early riser
My day begins at 8am, doing administration: planning our week and attending to our commitments. I only do breakfast meetings with companies at 7.30 am as I will not give up my day as I still work on the salon floor daily.
Tailor made
I am part of My New Hair which provides a bespoke service for people losing their hair through cancer or alopecia. At our Wig Boutique we also provide a replacement toupée service for men. We can do full hair pieces or top pieces including styling and accessories.
Love it or loathe it
The geometric classic bob for short hair is my favourite cut. Spiral curls – I hated them. Unnatural, stiff and no movement. They looked like Irish dancers with their bouncing ringlets.
Loving life
I am lucky to have been invited to work in Estonia, Paris, London and Iceland and I have received many accolades and awards. The latest was the Colour Specialist Expert Salon which was presented by The Good Salon Guide to my wife Karen Whelan for her Colour Expertise and her team who are all Colour Degree Specialists.
Going green
A career highlight was winning the EnvironCom Award for Environmental Performance for small business. Low energy lighting, night electricity rate for heating our water, biodegradable towels and pressure pump on water: Combined, these measures reduced energy costs by 46 per cent and the salon has saved 230,000 litres of water per year. Other high points were when I received a gold medal from the OMC in Paris for my contribution to hairdressing as President of the IHF, and being inducted in the Hall of Leaders for my contribution to hairdressing by the Irish Hairdressers Federation.
Brothers in arms
As part of the International Matrix Team I work with Errol Douglas, Jamie Stevens, Paul Falltrick, Desmond Murray and Rick Roberts, and I am just back from the Matrix Conference in Ibiza. I travel with my team every year to Salon International in London and Manchester, and the Modial and Intercoiffure in Paris.
Up next
We will be taking part in HJ Live at the RDS in October and we will be doing a refurbishment of our salon in January, as Blackrock is going through a major regeneration programme, so it’s time to change and be a leader not a follower. ✂