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Fatherhood ignites flair for hair
Springfield hairdressing apprentice Scott Johnston's leap of faith from a future career in architecture to hair design to support his young family has unearthed a national award-winning talent for hairdressing that has surprised the 22 year-old.
Mr Johnston won the 'Hairtech Play Offs 2011 Minor League' category at the Sydney Hair Expo in June for his cut and colour creation, confirming to the final-year apprentice that his new career direction means more than a guaranteed job - it's his life calling.
Hairdressing apprentice and family-man,
Scott Johnston revels in his award
recognition at the Sydney Hairexpo.
After learning during the global financial crisis that he was going to be a father, Mr Johnston traded in his traineeship in drafting for an apprenticeship with his family's business, Chipper Hair & Beauty at Springfield and started a Certificate III in Hairdressing at The Bremer Institute of TAFE.
"I was completing my traineeship as a draftsperson in 2008 and studying at The Bremer TAFE with the aim of continuing on at university to become an architect. I worked on a few of the initial energy-rated designs for residential homes around Springfield and was enjoying it," Mr Johnston said.
"However, the GFC hit and I also found out I was going to be a dad so I joined the family hairdressing business to make sure I could support my partner and baby with a guaranteed job."
According to Mr Johnston, hairdressing wasn't his first choice but studying the Certificate III at The Bremer TAFE's hair and beauty training salon sparked a major passion for hairdressing, especially in hair fashion.
"The hairdressing teachers are so great at challenging you throughout the training and at motivating you, which has really helped me to continue the study," Mr Johnston said.
"They helped inspire me to enter the Hairtech Play Offs competition and winning the award has confirmed how much I want to pursue a career as a fashion stylist in the hairdressing industry."
Mr Johnston's family are more than confident in his potential - partner Sarima Chong offered her hair as the model for his award-winning entry; two-and-a-half year old son Thomas lets dad lop his locks; and employer and mum, Allison Johnston considers the junior apprentice an asset to her team.
"He's gone from strength to strength since joining my business. He even won the Ipswich City Employee (ICE) Awards Apprentice of the Year 2009 based on his abilities and attitude working at the salon as a first year hairdressing apprentice," Mrs Johnston, owner of Chipper Hair & Beauty said.
"Whether or not he's my son, I would employ him because he loves all aspects of hairdressing; he brings a very joyful, friendly and social element to the salon for clients; and he's a naturally talented hairdresser.
"I hope he stays on with my business but no doubt he will achieve his 10-year plan to start his own salon; he's been very interested in the business side after Chipper Hair & Beauty became a state finalist in the Telstra Business Awards, and combined with his talents, he'll go far."
Mrs Johnston said that her son's creativity has been evident since school after he competed against hundreds of other entries to be placed in the top 10 in the Education Minister's Awards for Excellence in Art.
"Hairdressing is just another avenue for Scott's creativity and he has the vision and ambition to be successful," she said.
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