WELCOME

The issue was edited by Cos Sakkas, HJ's British Hairdresser of the Year, sponsored by Schwarzkopf Professional. Here, he explains the content in this issue…

When I was invited to be guest editor of Hairdressers Journal International, it gave me a unique experience to see the reality of being on the other side of the magazine I have read for 30 years. As much as we live in a digital world, there is something special about having a print magazine in our hand. Spending time with the HJ team has been a real pleasure; they’re not just journalists but also have a real passion for what we do as an industry. What unites us all is not just our love of hair, but the careful consideration for every aspect of our craft. HJ really highlights the importance of uniting our voice, by covering debates and initiatives within the industry and sharing our incredible work.

Today the industry should be more connected and united than ever before. Regardless of whether it is to do with apprenticeships or creativity, we work well with one strong voice. One area close to my heart is apprenticeships. The HJ Debate this month (page 19) covers whether freelancing is changing the industry and salon owner Fergal Doyle said something that really resonated with me. “If the scales tip and 80/90% of hairdressers are freelancers, there’s going to be a massive gap in apprentices,” he writes. This may sound dramatic, but I think our apprentice crisis is like global warming – are we only going to sit up and do something about it when it’s too late?

At the time of going to press, we heard that the Government will fully fund apprenticeships in small businesses from 1 April, by paying the full cost of training for anyone up to the age of 21. This will be a major turning point in reducing costs and burdens for small businesses and delivering more opportunities for young people to kick-start their careers – but is there anything more we can do? In my interview with the great Anthony Mascolo, he said: " We must make learning part of their world; they are on their phone so we need to make education more of a blended experience that embraces technology." Certainly something to think about...

Finally, as hair artists, we understand that the fine line between good and great lies within the details. Attention to detail is at the heart of our collections and it’s the soul of our work. Craftmanship defines excellence in any discipline, so don't miss the stunning fashion collections from page 43. Here’s to hair, fashion and being in it together!