”Paul Davey” Founder of Hairdressing Live & Davey Davey Salon

 

Hi Paul, you’re currently the Owner of Davey Davey Salon in Dublin and Founder of online hairdressing academy, Hairdressing Live. Tell us a bit about your background and what triggered your interest in the hairdressing? Did you ever envision throughout the course of career building your own business?

I guess both Ian and I always new I wanted to open our own shop. I have always been interested in business, even at a young age. Working hard is in my DNA. I think success doesn’t come with luck. It comes with constant repetition and having the resilience to education and research how to overcome hurdles. Lots of people have ideas, its bringing them to life require process. Process is what usually stops people from pursuing their vision.

 

Being an entrepreneur, how do you manage between your two salons and running a successful online hair academy?
Well, firstly I would like to mention. It isn’t for the faint hearted, don’t be misguided. It comes with lots of negatives and positives. Mostly positives. You have dedicated in your personal and professional life. When we started the online academy. I asked myself, “When do I have time to fit this in?” However, you have lots of time on an evening and early mornings, sleep less haha. I assigned time before work. It is being more clever with your time.

Working hard is in my DNA. I think success doesn’t come with luck. It comes with constant repetition and having the resilience to education and research how to overcome hurdles.

What were the hardest obstacles you overcame since becoming a salon owner?
I would have to say the biggest obstacle, is my mind. What I mean. You have lots of obstacles during building work, creating a team, education, management structures etc. Everything comes with obstacles, you just have to be aware how to challenge your mind, whenever they arise. This keeps my sanity.

You’ve won many awards within your career. Has being an award-winner affected your career in any way?
My opinion about awards it this. “Awards pushes you to create things you would usually do.’ It helps brings you out of yourself. But winning awards really helps you make a name for yourself. I recommend anyone to enter.

Being from Ireland, what differences do you find when it comes to hairdressing compared to International standards.
I’m actually from Britain. However, Irelands standard on the international stage is massive. Ireland is a serious contender on the international stage.   

People usually look for new hair trends, colors, styles and new ideas for inspiration when changing their hair on social media more than print publications. What’s your take on social media and its role in the hair industry?
My view is that it is where people attention is at. We have to move with the times. That is why I believe online education is going to be the future.

Any advice for hairdressers wanting to progress to the next level? What makes a successful hairdresser?
Personal development is the best motivator for our teams. Stylist want to keep progressing. It is human nature. That is why it is important to offer education to our team. All salons that use Hairdressing Live think its amazing to make us of one hour slots in between their stylists columns for personal development.

Who would be your ideal person to style, color or give a complete change and why?
Alexa Chung. Not to change her. But to style a hairdressing style icon.

Tell me the importance of coaching and personally investing in your team. How do you think this impacts your team?
Again, this question goes back to what I just mentioned previously. You have to ask, “How do you manage your team?” By monitoring your teams progression. Always having open conversations about their personal goals. Because, once they are reaching their personal goals, they ultimately reach the salons goals.

Paul Davey speaks about Hairdressing Live, the masterclasses provided and the importance of education.

What is Hairdressing Live and what ignited the spark into Hairdressing Live. Who are your viewers and what do they expect from your diverse live tutorials?
Hairdressing Live is the first online LIVE academy. Where stylists can enter a virtual classroom with some of the best stylists in the world. It is more than just a step by step that you can watch on Youtube. All stylists give much much more during these one hour masterclasses. Providing knowledge inspiration and current trends.
We cover a range from creative cutting, colouring, session, Avant Garde and Business.

How was the response when you first launched Hairdressing Live and the live tutorials?Everyone was amazed, and thought, why hasn’t this been done before.
I am aware the future of Live streaming is going to be massive. We are ahead of the game.

We didn’t want to be an online platform that sells one style of hair education, we wanted to sell all education.

How often do you announce a new live masterclass demonstration and how are hairdressers notified of a new class being streamed live by influential hairdressers?
Every three weeks we launch two masterclass. Stylist can hear about these via our facebook page (Hairdressinglive) Instagram (Hairdressing Live) Twitter ( HairdressingL) Website (www.hairdressinglive.com) and email mail outs. Each guest artist also promotes on their pages also, creating awareness around there own personal class.

As you know when learning new techniques, colors ect…, hairdressers  are eager to know more. Are they able to interact with the guest hair artists at some point during the tutorial?
Of course. We have developed a virtual classroom where stylist once logged in can ask questions during each class.

When a hairstylist signs up for a course online, what is he/she expecting and how do the prices range. Is there a level of experience in hairdressing when choosing a course?
We wanted to develop accessible education at the price everyone can afford.
You can subscribe for €25 per month which gives you access to all masterclasses. You can also buy individual LIVE classes for €20. Or once the class has gone LIVE, the class becomes €40 in the re-watched section. It is more cost effective to buy the subscription.

What masterclasses does your site offer and what is lacking in today’s hairdressing industry?
Creativity and inspiration comes in many ways. This is why we constantly are trying to provide different topics each masterclass. We didn’t want to be an online platform that sells one style of hair education, we wanted to sell all education.
Like the Harrods of the fashion world. They don’t sell their own brands, they sell everyone’s brands. It become more diverse.

Due to the time difference in countries, hairdressers may not be able to view the masterclass live. Can they re-watch this lesson?
Of course. We try and push the LiVE interaction in the class. But if you miss it, you are still able to re-watch whenever it suits.

How do you get the best hairdressers to join Hairdressing Live?
We generally contact most of our educators. However, we are approached by many stylists to feature.

What is education to you and why is it so important to all hairdressers?
Personal development. We work in a progressive industry and it is important not to just be knowledgeable, but the be inspired, which ultimately brings passion to what we do. ‘People don’t buy what we do, they buy why we do it.’ This comes through with passion.

How do you attract people into Hairdressing Live that truly care the way you do?
By word a mouth. People love sharing what they have learnt.

Any words of advice for aspiring hairdressers?
There is a massive career in hairdressing, and if you are going to do something, do it with passion. That’s our end goal.