Mary Alamine Triumph Of An Artist

Owner & Creative Director of Royals Hair Sydney, Mary Alamine is a force to reckon with. Winner of 2016 AHFA NSW/ACT Hairdresser of the Year 2016, Finalist 2016 Hair Expo Men’s Hairdresser Of The Year 2016, and more, she wears her success lightly. With Salon India, Mary shares her professional journey

- Aradhana V Bhatnagar

How did you decide to be a part of the hair business?

My love for hair started from a very young age. My dad used to ask me to cut his hair when I was 8 years old. He told me I was the best hairdresser in the world even though it was the most terrible and uneven haircut he ever had. I was 15 when I started working in a salon. Today, I am 33 and still excited to go to work everyday.

What was the inspiration?

I loved the idea of looking after people and hearing their stories. I also loved the creativity and endless opportunity that hairdressing offers.

Please tell us about your family.

We are a big family of parents and brothers and sisters. My father is an entrepreneur and he loves investing and working on different projects. One of my sisters is also a hairdresser, another sister is a beauty therapist and my third sister is a lawyer. My older brothers also have their own salons in Sydney. We are all very close.

Do share some anecdotes.

I remember my first day of work in a hair salon. It was a Thursday and I worked from 9am to 9pm. It was my first real job and I remember telling my mum my legs feel broken and that I cannot go to work the next day! She looked at me and said, “You’ll be fine. It will get better”, and she was right.

From where did you learn hairdressing?