The Master and the Protege - Part Two

The protégé: Emily Frew

Salon: Biba, Auckland

Position: Stylist

Years in the industry: 4

Age: 23

I grew up in Taranaki then Hamilton and I am now living in Birkenhead Auckland with my husband Corey. When I am not hairdressing I love to run. I have done 10km/12km runs, and I’m looking at working towards a half marathon this year. I enjoy great movies, spending time with family and friends and relaxing in the sun.

I started my apprenticeship at Rococo in Warkworth where I completed my first year of my off-job training at Premier Hairdressing College. We moved to Auckland in December 2009 for my husband’s work and I got a job and carried on my apprenticeship at Biba Boutique Salon Birkenhead.

In 2010 I entered NZARH photographic competition as well as the HITO apprentice in training photographic competition, which were a lot of fun, and I gained a lot of experience from. I put a lot of time and effort into my entry for HITO apprentice of the year 2010, which was well worth every minute as I took the title and trophy home with me from the 2010 industry awards evening.

At the start of 2010 I set myself the goal to win Apprentice of the Year. I had my sights on this and I downloaded the application form early so I could start thinking about how I would answer the questions. I got all my answers written up and ready to type onto the form but I wasn’t satisfied with just a form. Instead I created a magazine-style booklet to present my application in, fashion images throughout the pages as well as quotes to fit with the question/s and answer/s on that page. I enjoyed putting it together and felt by the end it was a great visual representation of my answers.

I can’t describe the rush of emotion I felt when they announced me as the winner. I was just so excited and amazed it was overwhelming. I was so pleased to have achieved this, not just for myself, but also for my family and for Biba. Winning this award makes me believe you can do anything you put your mind to. It has also given me a boost of confidence in myself and I feel it adds credibility to my work, which is helping to build my clientele.

At about the age of seven I remember declaring to a room full of family and friends that I was going to go to university to become a hairdresser. My sister laughed and scoffed at me, pointing out that you don’t go to university to be a hairdresser, but to me hairdressing has always been a valid and professional career choice. I also went through the different phases of wanting to be a nurse, policeman, aerobics instructor and a teacher but came back to what had always been there, the desire to be a hairdresser.

My younger brother was oh so obliging letting me pull his (short) hair into a tiny ponytail and Barbie had a few haircuts, although I soon learned she had an inability to grow it back. I believe I have got to where I am today because of my love for hairdressing which inspires me to be motivated, driven, give everything a go, sticking at it as well as my family and employers who have helped and encouraged me along the way.

I am loving short choppy bobs at the moment. I love turning a classic solid style into something modern and textured. I get satisfaction out of custom fitting it to the client in my chair, does it needs to be a little longer at the front, does it needs undercutting or what kind of fringe if any?

A great hairdresser needs to be a multi-tasker with great time management. They need to enjoy life, relate to people with various lifestyles and backgrounds, continue to improve their practical skills by going to courses on the latest and greatest trends and keep well informed with new products and technologies. A great hairdresser needs to be a healthy all-rounder to cope with the variety of tasks and people involved in the job.

Though I am now qualified I still want to keep educated on up-to-date styles and trends and the techniques used so that I can create and build a happy and loyal clientele. I also would like to own my own salon and train apprentices to add to the ever-growing high standard of professional stylists we are producing in New Zealand.

In life, my ambition is balance. A great, fun, vibrant career as well as good physical health and quality time with family and friends. I would love to be successful in more hairdressing competitions as well as challenge myself to at least a half marathon if not a full.

I chose Belinda because she runs a successful salon with a clientele who love her and what she does for their hair. She is passionate and successful. Belinda doesn’t just have ideas, but she acts on them and makes them realities and I admire that.