From the beginning of my hairdressing life I enjoyed challenging myself, being creative, experimenting and collaborating. I involved myself with college fashion shows and photography students wanting to create images for their portfolios. I was always on the look-out for a potential model to either let me cut and colour their hair or create an Upstyle or Avant Garde look. Hair styling became my favourite way to work, no restrictions or limits to what I could create.

The more competitions I entered and the more photoshoots I got involved with, I networked with more and more creative people. I was invited to be on hair teams because product companies were seeing my work and work ethic. It opened doors, getting to travel to London and Europe working at industry events, hair presentations and hair shows. All the while still running my salon.

My hairdressing is a craft, and like any skill it takes constant practice and development to gain confidence. One of the most important things is saying yes to an opportunity and making yourself available. To be part of team is a big commitment. Being reliable and putting in the preparation can be very difficult when you are working in the salon 9am to 7pm. Getting to be creative, making time for experimenting and working on a team is crucial for me to be the best I can be. It excites and challenges me. Meeting, working and collaborating with other creators inspires me. Over 30 years of hairdressing has impressed upon me, time and again, the importance of Collaboration and Creation.

‘Teamwork makes the dream work’ is an age old mantra that still has great relevance today. This philosophy has driven and continues to drive my career forward. The ability to contribute to a team is paramount whether in the day to day running of a salon or in the highly charged atmosphere of backstage at Paris Fashion week.

The dictionary meaning of Collaboration is, the action of working with someone to produce something. The importance of teamwork can not be underestimated and indeed without it, the ability to ‘produce something’ is greatly diminished. A key factor in the act/art of collaboration is the acceptance that everyone has their own part to play and also every one in the team needs to be flexible to help out with others. Often I find myself carrying a large session kit up six flights of stairs or shampooing models hair in small hand basins in newly found ‘studios’!

Creating and Collaborating has given me access to amazing experiences. I recently travelled to Sicily as part of a PR team. We created 12 images for ‘Sicily, Women and Cinema’ to be shown at the Cannes Film Festival. It took me to 12 different locations around Sicily meeting the most incredible team of people from around Europe.

Questions I get asked...

‘How do you find the time?’

The answer is I make the time. I finish work, do what needs to be done at home and then I do my creative work. It’s my art, it’s not a chore. I enjoy turning the music on and dabbling away with hair pieces.

‘You are very confident, to do what you do.’

The truth is, I suffer from self doubt, I don’t know what it is that drives me forward, but I honestly tell you I feel the fear! People close to me have seen me having to gather myself up from being sick with nerves, and getting on a plane! When you are part of a team you have to show up and bring your A game. A lot depends on you doing your best.

‘Is social media important?’

Yes, very important. It is an amazing platform to showcase your work. Major hair competitions run their awards on Instagram and Facebook. There are fantastic opportunities to show your work to the world. My instagram has about 3000 followers. I started it so I could connect with other creative people and it has worked really well for me. You don’t need millions of followers! I love instagram. Please visit me @joanneoneill.hair if you want to see more of my work.

‘Who would wear those crazy hairstyles?’

Creative work is art, it’s to inspire, to be enjoyed and to be talked about. I don’t want it walking around my local main street! I use my creative work to show off and mainly its for me! It’s my motivation. When I am doing my salon work I talk about what I am up to. Clients love to hear all about the exciting wigs, colours and Upstyles. They don’t want it for themselves but they really love seeing the glamour and glitz of it all. Clients come to the salon for a hairstyle, but they return because they have enjoyed the experience and time with you. So if you have lost your motivation, feeling a bit tired and in need of a spark! Get Creative, honestly you will be buzzing again.

Creating and Collaborating for me, has been the most important thing in my hairdressing life. Don’t be afraid, create a look and photograph it. Then change it and photograph it again. Experiment with Classic hairdressing techniques, add height, add colour, add texture. Possibilities are endless! Connect with people who’s work you like, go to educational courses, join online forums, follow people who’s work you admire. Then follow who they follow! You don’t need to have millions of followers or win every hair competition. Keep working, experimenting, creating and collaborating and most of all have fun!

Written by Joanne O’Neill

Follow:
@joanneoneill.hair on Instagram

Joanne O’Neill shares some of her award winning secrets in a 70 minute masterclass: The Art of Avant Garde

She will take you through step by step how she creates the foundation, structure and shape using padding and the models hair. Find out more here