Paul Jones - Against All Odds

Having begun his career in hairdressing at 16 years of age, Paul Jones has re-written the norms of the industry. He has trained under the veritable gods of hairdressing, namely, Patrick Cameron, Simon Smith, among others. With Salon India, he shares his joys and tribulations, which have stood him well and made him the hairdresser who has emerged victorious

- Shivpriya Bajpai

Getting started

In all honesty, it was never my ambition to be a hairdresser, but I wanted to travel. However, it is amusing how 20 years into this career, I am travelling. A lot! I was 16, when I started working on Saturdays in a salon. I remember seeing the ladies enter looking normal, but leaving looking so glamorous and happy. I remember thinking then ‘I want the power and skills to make women look the best versions of themselves’.

Professional education

So, I was always that hairdresser who would say ‘I do not put hair up or ‘I do not braid’. The fact was that I could not even put a grip in someones hair after being in the industry for 10 years. However, when I started getting interested in the session/ fashion world, I realised that this issue was going to hold me back. So I enrolled for a Patrick Cameron ‘hair up’ class, and realised that I had the ability, but not the interest before. The course not only taught me to put in a hair grip, but finally had me looking at hair in a completely different way. I did four more classes with him and practiced every available free minute I would get in the salon. I invested in a head block/ dolls head (something I recommend every one to do), I devised my own ways of doing things. As a Dyslexic, it was the best way to learn. My first ever hairdressing job was in a small salon in Wolverhampton, my home town. I made some of my best friends there, friendships I still have today.

Mentor influence