Tina O Donnell ART
Tina O Donnell Registered Trichologist
“Studying Trichology might seem scary, like anything that’s new. It’s certainly a challenge. But the satisfaction in knowing you’ll be able to help people so much more than before is really worth it.”
Tina O Donnell has just successfully completed the final stages of the Level 4 Certificate in Trichology, and is now a fully qualified trichologist. Tina has almost 30 years’ experience in the hair business – she started, like many hair professionals, as a junior at the age of 15. Today she runs her own salon, Harmony Hair, in the far north west of Ireland, in the little town of Carndonagh in rural County Donegal.
“I love my job”, says stylist and qualified trichologist Tina, “it’s all about connecting with people, listening to them, sharing their thoughts and, at the end of the service, watching them leave the salon feeling and looking great.” But, particularly after COVID, Tina started to see clients who were concerned about hair loss and worried about the condition of their hair and scalp. “I could see there was something wrong, but I didn’t know what. Clients were suffering, they weren’t getting much help from their GP, so I thought I’d better do some research online and see if I could help.”
“I could see there was something wrong, but I didn’t know what. Clients were suffering, they weren’t getting much help from their GP, so I thought I’d better do some research online and see if I could help.”
Tina O Donnell, Registered Trichocologist
And that was how Tina discovered the world of trichology. “As soon as I started exploring trichology I was intrigued. I realised this could be a way for me to learn to help my clients. And not only that, by developing new skills I’d have the chance to move my career in a new direction when I’m ready to. After all, I’m not sure how many more years I can stand behind the chair day after day before my body starts to cry ‘enough’!”
Tina’s research also led her to TrichoCare Education. She made contact and we suggested she start with our online ‘Introduction to Trichology’ course. “I enjoyed that, and made the decision to study for the Level 4 Certificate. I realised it would be quite a time commitment, and there’s the cost to consider. But I decided that the benefits to me and my clients would be well worth it. You’ve got to look at the bigger picture.”
Despite her enthusiasm, and the fact she’d taken a Business Management course not long ago, the prospect of studying wasn’t something Tina was particularly looking forward to. “Frankly I was terrified, especially about the assignments and exams! But I had lots of contact with Keith, the Course Director, who was always ready to support and advise me, which was very reassuring. And the mentoring groups with other students helped too.”
The practical parts of the course, working with actual clients, were not so much of a challenge to Tina. “As hairdressers, we interact with our clients all the time. We’re people people. So carrying out client consultations came naturally. I did get up at 5 in the morning a few times to prepare, and I did video the consultations so I could look back and check what went well and not so well.”
“As hairdressers, we interact with our clients all the time. We’re people people. So carrying out client consultations came naturally. I did get up at 5 in the morning a few times to prepare, and I did video the consultations so I could look back and check what went well and not so well.”
And all that preparation meant that Tina was in good shape ahead of the final ‘live’ client consultation, which is observed by the examiners. “I chose a client I knew well, and actually I was pretty relaxed on the day. But I have to say it was a great relief to learn I’d passed!”
Tina now plans to deepen her trichology research. She’s joined the ART (Association of Registered Trichologists) and tunes into their regular seminars. And she hopes to start her own trichology clinic before long. “I’m so pleased that I can now recognise and put a name to conditions when my clients talk to me about their problems. And give them proper advice on what can be done to help. There’s a real need where we are, and I hope I can meet that need in the future.”
And Tina’s final words to anyone thinking about studying trichology? “Just go for it. It might seem scary, like anything that’s new. It’s certainly a challenge. But the satisfaction in knowing you’ll be able to help people so much more than before is really worth it.”
