Pauline Heap-Williams Multifaceted Talent

Owner of Phoenix Hair & Make Up in Abergele, Wales, Pauline HeapWilliams’ career took her into working in television and competing nationally and internationally as a member of the British Hairstyling Team. She shares her journey with Salon India.

- Aradhana V Bhatnagar

How did it all begin?

I have grown up in the hairdressing industry as my parents owned a salon. I was 9 years old when they bought it and my older sister, Jacky, also joined as a stylist. Hence, to take the legacy forward, I have done courses in Hairdressing, Advanced Hairdressing as it was called then, Salon Management, and Make-up artistry from the Llandrillo College, which is our nearest collage. Apart from that have also studied Introduction to Teaching from the Wrexham College, Theatrical and Media make-up, and a Post Graduate Certificate in Education, which means I can teach 16 year olds and over in a college; Deeside College IOSH, which is an intensive health and safety certificate on how to do risk assessments. I have done many courses with L’Oreal on colouring and cutting, and the core programme of 365 Day Hairdressing twice, which is a business degree.

In my professional life, I have had several mentors! The first was Jacky, who taught me the basic hairdressing skills. Later on when I got in to the British Hairdressing team, Frank and Liz Shipton, and Mark Coray, Mark Hill, and Stephen Way. They shared their knowledge and have been an inspiration to me to this day. I am known for dressing hair and photographic make-up.

What were the challenges you were up against?