A newbie on the Runway Ready training course at Unite earlier this year, hairdresser Jen Hewitt was thrilled to join the brand’s session team for London Fashion Week AW23 shows. Owner of Volume Hair & Beauty in Coventry Jen is now working her first season of London Fashion Week. It is so inspiring to see stylists from the Runway Ready programme putting their hard work and newfound education into action. Resilient and positive, Jen is the perfect student and most certainly someone to keep an eye on in the future! We caught up with her during a break between shows… Keep reading to find out how Jen got her start in hairdressing and how she remains dynamic, even through the worst of times…including the madness of the Pandemic and the devastation of a flood in the salon.
Respect: Jen, how did you get into hairdressing?
Jen: As a schoolgirl, I helped a friend of my mums in the holidays and on the weekends. It started from there and I loved it. I loved the atmosphere, how you could change somebody, in how they felt, how they looked.
Respect: Great! Tell us about your salon, Volume?
Jen: We’re based in Coventry, on the outskirts of town. It is a lovely little salon if I do say so myself, very friendly, very warm.
Respect: What sort of customers do you have?
A mixture! Some very young, trendy, wanting blondes and balayage’. And we have our weekly regulars who are part of the community.
Respect: It hasn’t all been plain sailing. While your business was recovering from Covid you were hit with a flood. How did you bounce back?
Jen: The flood was not ideal. How did we bounce back? We had to, there was no other option. Straight away we got rid of the water, got the building emptied. Then we worked nonstop to build it back up again. It took longer than anticipated and obviously hindsight is wonderful. If we knew then what we know now it would have been really helpful. We got through it.
Respect; Did you have to close for long?
Jen: Yeah, we were closed for five going on six months.
Respect: Wow, that’s a hit.
Jen: Post-Covid it was really difficult. There were obstacles we didn’t anticipate. But there’s always a way over or through. To keep things ticking.
Respect: What would be your tips for remaining positive and resilient for other business owners?
Jen: I think naturally, I’m quite positive. I’ve never particularly classified myself as a resilient person but during the flood I posted the story on Instagram, and shared the journey we were going through. A clothing brand (called DRM) got in touch with me. They advocate for mental health and asked for an interview about resilience. It was only then that I realised maybe that’s what I am.
Respect: Totally, you must be super-strong
Jen: There wasn’t an alternative in my mind at that time, we just had to keep going. There is always someone worse off. It was post-Covid and people were missing family members, some losing family members. But you know, yes the salon’s my livelihood and it’s a great place within the community, but it is just a building and we got it back.
Respect: Now that your business is thriving, you’re expanding, and you’re recruiting. What is it that’s going to set your business apart from others locally?
Jen: I think the clients play a huge part in that they set the business apart. I’ve got a great clientele. Plus things like being a part of the Runway Ready team and working with Unite products and fashion week give us a lift and set us apart locally for sure.
Respect: So you took the Runway ready course in January. And here you are at London Fashion week. How are you feeling?
Jen: Really excited, it’s a great atmosphere, a great team to work with. Just eager to start the show.
Respect: You only recently changed to Unite hair products in your salon. Why did you make this decision?
Jen: I’ve not been affiliated to any particular brand; so I could choose freely, taking bits from ranges that I liked. But what I found with Unite was that I loved all of it. It does what it says it’s going to do. It’s made by hairdressers for hairdressers. And again, I just think if we’re using it at Fashion Week in London and Paris, it’s good enough for Coventry and my clients.
Respect: Any favourites?
Jen: The Seven Seconds Detangler is a legend. And of course I’m becoming more familiar at LFW with the products that I wouldn’t use in the salon, so it’s a great way to experience the diversity of the range.
Respect: What’s next?
Jen: We are definitely expanding and recruiting the Volume team. We would like to encourage the city of Coventry, the young people and give them a career. Show them there’s more to hairdressing than just the stereotypical aspect of it. That’s what we want.
Respect: Looking at all you’ve done to improve your skills and getting out here as a session stylist, we’re sure you’ll do just that. Thank you Jen!
It’s inspiring to hear from one of the stylists from Runway Ready and learn about their professional background and the obstacles they have overcome to get to where they are. For any other stylist overcoming challenging obstacles, know that you are not alone in the struggle, and if you stay strong and push through, things will always come right. As Jen said, there is always a way over or around!
________________________________
Film is an exciting medium for the hairdressing industry – to explore brilliant, creative stories made by hairdressers and photographers around the world, jump over to see our Respect for Hair channel hosted on hairclips.tv which is especially designed for you! From inspirational photographic work, to behind the scenes footage, product explanations and education, you’ll find lots to interest and intrigue. You can sign up with an email and make comments and ask questions. It’s FREE to use and really worth your time. Every film you watch, the platform suggests another piece of moving artistry to feed your imagination. There is something to please everyone from colourists, to cutters, stylists to trainees and salon owners. We love it. You will, too. Now go on.. .hop over to hairclips.tv
Respect is a hub for UK hairdressers of all ages and stages to find out what We Love, We Hear and We See as the best product launches, styling advice, hairtools, education training and seminars and hairshows! We are delighted to share the Ethereal collection with you. Sign up to our newsletter which is sent fortnightly direct to your email, so you stay up-to-date with salon styling information, trends in session work, advice on presenting on stage or progress in educating – whatever your interest, whether you’re a trainee or creative director, an educator or team leader, you’ll find all the opportunities and ideas on www.respectyou.me
