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BLOG SPOT. By Jenni Tarrant
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FABULOUS, 50 AND FEARSOME!
“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” - C.S. Lewis
The landscape of Australian hairdressing is changing, and not just as a result of a global pandemic. For many years there have been young superstars with the world at their feet, often backed by salon owners playing a pivotal role in their development and success. Stunning photoshoots, incredible hard work, passion, and energy combine for our industry youth to get recognition through awards, publications, education, and sometimes building their own businesses. These impressive efforts help drive our industry forward and I am amazed at the brilliance of these individuals.
Recently, I have noticed an interesting trend: an increasing number of ‘older’ hairdressers are putting themselves in the spotlight and showing their brilliance as business owners, creatives, and educators. It delights me to see this shift. For a very long time our industry has been driven by our youth while the majority of our more senior hairdressers, with a wealth of skills and experience, have not put themselves forward for recognition in the same ways. In many conversations, older stylists have revealed to me that being established in their career can lead to the perception that they are not ‘fresh and new’ enough to compete.
The fact is we live longer and the retirement age keeps getting extended. There is no age limit on our willingness and ability to learn and grow. In fact, one of the most attractive features of our industry is the focus on continued education and development. So many hairdressing icons across the world have been labelled as icons for that very reason: they keep reinventing and using their skills and experience to create the ‘new’ - in shoots, education, and business. They are always refining while pushing the boundaries of possibility. So where have the talented people who sit between the youth and these icons been? It’s time for the many, not just the few, to reactivate their possibilities and transform the perception of ‘new and fresh’ in our hairdressing community.
We must embrace our years of professional experience and increase our representation in all aspects of leadership in our industry. The same stylists who believe they are not ‘new enough’ have also expressed how much they would love opportunities to showcase their talents broadly, including with mentoring opportunities. I have been specifically told that if age was not a criteria in some competitions, many would love the opportunity to participate.
Recently I was named as a 2021 finalist in the AHIA Creatives category: New Creative Talent of the Year. I can’t express how thrilled I was given that I have been in the industry for 38 years. Since starting my career at 14 years old, having a family, honing my craft, buying a salon, and then being a winner of many business awards, it was time to show my creative skill. I have always loved Avant Garde collections and have shown my passion for art and creativity through this medium. The AHIA Creatives gave me an opportunity to enter a more editorial collection which was new for me. Some would have wondered why I would enter the New Creative Talent category after so many years. It was because it is a relatively new artistic expression for me. Newcomers are seen as ‘young’, and this is something that we need to change. We need to encourage those who might have walked a different path through their career to expand their opportunities and embrace their expertise. It’s not about ‘young’, it’s about being innovative and fashion forward.
Every creative should have the ability to be seen, to be heard, and to be acknowledged. Let’s take away the irrelevance of age and allow everyone to express their own ‘new’. Beautiful hair artistry should not be restricted by the stylists gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, dress size, number of wrinkles, choice of personal style etc. Look around you and see the trail blazers who still have a burning fire inside. And if you are one of them, your age and your look is irrelevant. You are all you need to put yourself forward and show the world your polished skills and all you have to offer.
