LONDON TO THE GOLD COAST

CHARLOTTE NOBLES NEW CHAPTER AT THE BARBER ACADEMY

By Gareth Philpott

For Charlotte Noble, the move from the UK to Australia wasn’t just a change of scenery, it was the chance to start fresh, doing what she loves most.

As the newest trainer at The Barber Academy, Charlotte has combined her international experience with her passion for education, inspiring the next generation of barbers to grow in skill and confidence.

Gareth Philpott chats with Charlotte about her journey, her insights into the differences between UK and Australian barbering, and what excites her most about the future here.

What inspired you to make the big move to Australia, and how has the transition been for you both personally and professionally?

I’ve wanted to live in Australia for a long time, I had spent some time traveling around Australia when I was in my 20’s. I really love the lifestyle in Australia & being outdoors, the more I was here the more it felt like home.

The transition has been challenging at times, especially doing it on my own. I felt lucky when I came out to Australia to get at The Barber Academy and to be able to continue my passion for teaching. I have met some amazing people who have helped me along the way personally and professionally. This has been the best decision I have made, no one tells you how hard it can be to start again but it’s been 100% worth it.

Can you tell us about your barbering background and what drew you to the industry in the first place?

I started in the industry as a hairdresser when I left school. I decided to move onto Barbering 10 years ago and I have been teaching for 7 years. I was doing a lot of shorter hairstyles for men in the salon and started to really enjoy this and really wanted to learn more.

I grew up in the countryside in the UK, I decided to move to London in 2017 wanting more opportunities in the industry. This is when I became an educator at London School of Barbering and my love for industry grew more.

How does the barbering scene in Australia compare to where you came from? What differences have you noticed in techniques, trends, or customer expectations?

I feel customer expectations are the same as the UK but have notice a difference in techniques and trends. When I first arrived in Australia the mullet was the hair cut trending at the time, over the last few years I’ve seen the styles that were trending in the UK come into Australia. There are definitely more laid back/surf/skater styles here in the Gold Coast, and the UK have a lot more classic style.

What’s been the most rewarding aspect of transitioning from working as a barber to training the next generation at The Barber Academy?

Without a doubt it’s watching students learn and grow but not just in their technical skills, but in their confidence. Seeing someone come in unsure, barely knowing how to use clippers or scissors and to leave ready to take on clients, open shops or to travel the world with the new skill.

Also, when a student gets their first job within the barbering industry, seeing their excitement to start building their own clientele and start the next chapter is such an achievement.

What makes this even more special at The Barber Academy is that our students learn in fully functioning barbershops so they’re cutting real clients’ hair from day one, which accelerates their confidence building.

What advice would you give to aspiring barbers who might be considering a similar international move or career change?

My advice would be if you were thinking of doing an international move or even a career change into the hair industry is to connect with barbers via social media. Ask questions about the industry in the country you are looking to move to or if you are wanting to get into the hair industry. This is what I did before I moved, and I got some really good advice from owners within Australia. This gave me the confidence to make the move.

Create an online portfolio, this may help to secure a job abroad. It’s one of the best ways to show your skills. No one talks about the challenges of moving abroad or changing careers, but if you’re passionate and persistent, you can build something amazing.

Can you share a memorable moment or story from your time training students that really stands out to you?

One moment that stands was when I was teaching in London, a student who was really struggling with learning the techniques and her confidence. The course she was on was very intense and very fast paced which isn’t right for everyone, but I could see her determination to learn.

I kept encouraging her, spent time with her repeating the steps as much as she needed. I remind her to learn the skill needs practice and repetition and we all start somewhere. This is a reminder to everyone not to give up on your dreams and there are always bumps in the road when it comes to learning. She went on to secure a job in a barber shop.

Where do you see yourself and your career heading in the next few years, and what excites you most about the future of barbering in Australia?

In the next few years, I see myself continuing to grow as an educator, to own my own business and to help raise the standard of barbering. It excites me to watch the barbering industry grow in Australia, to keep learning, and to teach and pass on my knowledge to the next generation.

I’m excited to continue contributing to The Barber Academy’s mission of addressing the industry shortage of skilled barbers while maintaining our high standards of education.

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