Case study: Steve Law
“You do need to be committed, patient and stay focused. But the sense of achievement when you succeed is amazing. I’ve done something that I never thought I’d be able to do. It’s great for me and for the future of my business. What’s not to like!”
Hairdressing is in the Law family blood, so after Steve Law had trained with Saks and become a L’Oréal Colour Specialist, it was only natural that he and his parents chose to open their own salon. First a Saks franchise, now a thriving and award-winning independent, Law Salons occupies a prime site in the centre of the super-attractive market town of Saffron Walden in Essex.
“I’ve achieved a lot already in my career – training with L’Oréal, doing high-end magazine work, working at the Brit Awards, and now a salon director”, says Steve, “but I’m ambitious and I want to keep learning and build my knowledge and skills.” When a friend mentioned TrichoCare and its founder Brian Plunkett, he was intrigued to learn more.
“I did some research, spoke to Susan Ringsell at TrichoCare, and it all sounded really interesting. Studying trichology as a specialism seemed like a natural next step in my career, so I decided to sign up for the Course,” Steve recalls.
As someone who didn’t thrive at school, the prospect of going back to studying was a bit of a challenge for Steve: “I was certainly nervous to start with, but the encouragement I’ve had from the Course tutors, especially Keith Barker-Jones, has been fantastic. They’ve all been very supportive and patient, and I felt they were with me every step of the way. I can honestly say I loved every minute of it.”
Steve particularly enjoyed the face-to-face lectures, and the opportunity to meet and network with other students, but it wasn’t all plain sailing. Running the salon business, starting a family and dealing with COVID all naturally presented challenges and calls on Steve’s time. And he struggled to master one particular skill, the practical client consultation. “I really had to work hard at that, and there were a few ups and downs, but I got there in the end, and passed with flying colours, with great feedback from Brian himself.”
Studying trichology has given Steve a new sense of purpose and a new business opportunity.
He now plans to develop a hair loss and wellness clinic, separate from the salon business: “I think there’s a great opportunity to collaborate with other care professionals, for example in nutrition, product development and mental health, to offer an ethical, all-round service for those with hair and scalp problems.”
Steve has a few wise words of advice for any hair or beauty professional thinking about studying trichology: “You do need to be committed, patient and stay focused. But the sense of achievement when you succeed is amazing. I’ve done something that I never thought I’d be able to do. It’s great for me and for the future of my business. What’s not to like!”
