An expanding Truro hair salon with international links is offering its services to Cornish photography and fashion students free of charge in a bid to challenge the myth that you have to move to London to make it.
The newly-refurbished Marzipan Hair promotes local talent through its training scheme. Director Hannah Thomas said: “People think nothing happens in Cornwall but all the connections you need for success are here, which is why we’re encouraging students with initiative to collaborate with us.
“We work with some of the biggest names in hairdressing and we’d like to get photography and fashion students into the mix. This is an opportunity to use our services free of charge in return for exposure.
“We want people to see there are career launching opportunities right here, you don’t need to move to London or Bristol. Opportunities to travel the world as a hairdresser are the same wherever you are based — I’ve been to trade conventions in Reykjavik, Marrakesh, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Berlin and Amsterdam.”
Thomas employed two new apprentices in September and an experienced stylist in October, taking the team to 11. Two team members present on the salon’s first day in 2010 still work at Marzipan Hair.
The redesigned salon now boasts two more hair stations, taking the total to 12, and its rebrand includes a new website and a full interior makeover.
Marzipan Hair is partnered with American hair care brand Redken, which provides quarterly on-site training to its staff.
Thomas added: “It keeps the team inspired, which is vital for progression. If you stop progressing than you get bored, so with us it’s always, ‘What’s next?’.”
