2 mins
FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
Award-winning stylist Jack Mead talks to Vagaro about his journey to success and the experiences he gained through international travel
What led to you becoming a hairdresser?
After moving to Cyprus with my mum, I went to a Turkish school, but I couldn’t speak the language. I tried to learn but fell behind, so I ended up leaving school when I was 14. I had always been interested in hair and fashion, and it just so happened that a lot of hairdressers in Cyprus are men, so I found an apprenticeship and it gave me a new purpose.
What happened next?
I moved back to England to live with my dad and got a hairdressing apprenticeship, while also working nights at a pub. I ended up getting an opportunity to work at a pretty posh salon where they gave me a chance because of how passionate I was. I learned and grew there for a few years until I felt the need for something more – that’s when I made the decision to move to Australia.
How old were you at this time?
About 21, I got a job managing a salon straight away. After that, I travelled for a while to other countries, but I ended up wanting to get back into hairdressing, so I moved to London and joined Rush, and just worked my way up there. I didn’t know anyone in London, so I just stayed in a hostel and winged it.
Fastforward to opening your own salon, how did you get people through the front door?
I had the door wide open every single day and smiled at people who would pass. I said in six months we would be fully booked, and we were. However, for a good six months we didn’t get paid at all, we just put it all back into the business. We worked seven days a week, 12-hour days, and just waited for people to come in.
You have quite the presence on social media. How did that happen, and do you have any advice for others?
I started using Instagram when we opened the salon in 2019 and got up to 4k followers just by sharing photos of my work. Then my account got hacked. I had to start again, but lockdown was the perfect opportunity to dive back in. We got some ring lights and Lydia (Wolfe) and I started doing tutorials on mannequin heads. You don’t need a fancy set up – I literally prop my phone up with an encyclopedia.
SUPPORTING SALON SUCCESS AT EVERY STEP
TODAY, JACK IS HAPPY TO HAVE A GREAT SUPPORT SYSTEM. THAT INCLUDES USING VAGARO FOR ALL OF HIS MARKETING, BOOKING, AND BUSINESS MANAGEMENT NEEDS.
WHETHER YOU’RE A SOLOPRENEUR OR IF YOU’VE GROWN YOUR BUSINESS TO MULTIPLE LOCATIONS WITH COUNTLESS EMPLOYEES - VAGARO SCALES WITH YOU, NO MATTER WHERE YOU’RE AT IN YOUR OWN JOURNEY.
To learn more about Jack, listen to the full interview on Vagaro’s On Point podcast by tapping here