In The Chair: Karl Dawson

The winner of the L’Oreal Colour Trophy Star Award 2019, KARL DAWSON is ambitious and eager to learn.

Enlightenment

I didn’t originally see myself getting into hairdressing, in fact as far back as I can remember I wanted to be a dancer: I loved music and choreography and I let like dance was my happy place. As a child, my mam would drag me along to the salon, liking and screaming but as time went on I began to understand what a visit to the salon did for her: It helped her to feel heard, to feel she was a part of the community and was supported, it helped her to feel valuable and well presented, ready to face the world. I could see, even then, that hairdressing was so much more than hair. It was love, art, creativity, commitment, hard graft and all in the pursuit, not just of beauty, but wellbeing.

Always on

The most exciting thing for me in Irish hairdressing is the continual growth and constant challenges. I love how the market, trends and technologies are ever-changing, it’s literally impossible to be bored. I love learning new things, designing new things, being part of an industry that drives each other and pushes boundaries. Sometimes the Irish can be considered the underdog but not in hairdressing: we are industry leaders, we are competing with the best in the world and holding our own.

Swotting up

One of my most memorable education experiences was assisting the Edwards & Co team whilst they were teaching their masterclass in London, I learned so much from them, from creating the perfect lived-in blondes right down to the importance of great marketing.

Eager to learn

I want to eventually teach and inspire others the way so many have inspired me. I know that it’s not just practical skills and ability that I need, but technical, creative and communications excellence. I want to be able to captivate a room and to work with my chosen brands. I want to be an ambassador for all that I love about this industry, and I want to understand business and what it takes to run a thriving salon. I need to learn all I can from the best around me and then dig deep to build on that myself.

Skill sharing

I am loving Conor Doyle and Katrina Kelly for being so in love with education that that have chosen to work with each other and spread their knowledge and passion and skill. I think that’s really wonderful that they’re using their influencers to inspire everyone.

Identity crisis

I would love to see the identity of hairdressing changed: sometimes I feel like it carries a negative perception, as if it’s all work and that we are no more than hard labourers. The art, wisdom, opportunity and abundance that can be obtained from our industry is not spoken about, it’s not celebrated or pitched as an excellent career path for young creative people. I think it should be supported and talked about within the school system and much more.

Future failings

At the moment there is a lot of controversy around hairdressing not being recognised as an actual apprenticeship, and it not having the infrastructure and government support systems that most other apprenticeships have. I think we need to get this right sooner rather than later or the future of our industry will suffer.

Shooting star

My career highlight so far has been winning the L’Oreal Colour Trophy Star Award 2019, and getting to go to Paris and shoot my winning look was amazing. I am excited to educate myself more and take full advantage of every opportunity that comes my way.