CAREERS

adventures of a… STYLIST ON SET

Tamara Robinson’s hairdressing career began when she was just 13. Now, 36 years later, she splits her time between her own salon and working on the set of Hollyoaks…

“The best piece of advice I ever received was actually from a hairstylist I really look up to – Craig Chapman. He said to me, ‘Keep going, you’re amazing’, and I have ever since,” Tamara Robinson tells us as we chat over the phone. She started hairdressing at just 13 years old, working in a little salon in Sheffield where she was born. “I basically used to sweep floors for two hours after school, and all day Saturday,” she tells us, as we ask about how she got into the industry. Which is pretty ironic considering she wanted to be a police officer! “Hairdressing was always in the family – I had two aunts who had salons, but it’s my passion now and I love it.”

By the time she was 17, Tamara was fully qualified. “I moved to the Midlands and worked in several different salons including Reflections and Francesco’s,” she tells us. “I’ve done mobile, I work with all hair types, I’m a barber, I work for Design Essentials, all alongside running my salon.” Based in the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham, Tamara has had her salon for around 27 years. “I actually own it with my cousin who’s an Olympic runner,” she laughs. “He wanted to get into something different so he said, let’s open another salon!”

Meanwhile, just after Covid, Tamara started working on set for Hollyoaks.

“They were looking for someone that was able to do textured hair and have an understanding of black skin as well,” she says. “I wasn’t the best at make-up but they interviewed me and asked me to come and do a couple of days to help with the textured hair on set, so I was actually freelance at first for around a year.” Having previously worked on shows such as The Voice, Britain’s Got Talent and BBC children’s shows, Tamara was already well equipped. Now, she works three to four days on set. “One day I may be working in the salon on set doing all the gents haircuts, prepping the actors for the week. Or I could be with a supervisor on set helping to keep all the actors’ hair in the correct position, ensuring we’re following continuity,” she says.

But what’s important for Tamara, is ensuring all the actors and artists with textured hair feel seen. “There was a time where this service was not being done properly because a lot of people weren’t trained in textured hair. It is being taken more seriously now but there is still room for growth across the industry,” she shares. “At Hollyoaks, there’s an understanding that textured hair matters, that it needs time and the right skillset, and that makes a real difference to both the actors and overall standard on screen. For me, true representation isn’t just about seeing textured hair on screen, it’s about making sure it’s handled properly behind the scenes as well.”

And if life on set wasn’t busy enough, Tamara also still works in her salon in Birmingham. “I’ll drive back from Liverpool on a Friday and I’ll do an evening in the salon. On Saturday, I’ll have a full column where I’ll see around 20-25 clients, and then on Sunday morning, I’ll do my older textured hair clients because they like the quieter times,” she says. Her advice to those wanting to go down the television route? Apply! “Send as many emails and CVs to different TV production companies as you can, even if a job isn’t available, just send an email.”

Speaking of applications, when we asked Tamara what’s coming up next, she mentions the British Hairdressing Awards, sponsored by Schwarzkopf Professional. “Being a finalist for Midlands Hairdresser of the Year and getting to go to the British Hairdressing Awards and actually walking down the stage was one of my proudest moments,” she says. “I’m definitely going to be entering this year.” In terms of TV and salon life? “I’ve got something coming up where I’ll be doing some short vertical dramas and maybe I’ll open another salon.” She really just keeps going!