As it’s UK Mentor, Carla’s birthday this month we thought it would be great to celebrate her and get to know her a little better in our latest Salon Love. Originally from Lisbon, Portugal, Carla has been living in the UK for the past 20 years and is now based in Hampshire. Her Salon, Hair by Carla, is located in Wiltshire.
How did you get into the world of hair?
As a child I was always interested in hair. My poor barbies started always with long hair, to a bob, then to try fringes, colouring with felt pens and then shaved. My Mom had to hide the scissors when I started wanting to cut my sister and the cat’s hair! When I was younger I was studying art and design, however I had to give it up because I suffer from Dyscalculia and had to take geometry, maths and physics. So instead, I studied journalism, tourism and sociology. At the age of 18 after finishing secondary school, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, but I loved anything related with fashion, so I joined a 3 year hairdressing course in Portugal and that was the beginning of my hairdressing life.
What do you love most about being a hairstylist?
I love the fact that I can change people’s lives (yes, I see myself as a magician or a super hero). I can get someone sat on my chair, with the most difficult life, no self-esteem, no confidence to leave the salon feeling like that they are worth it, they can do it!
Hairdressing is visual, but a lot of it is psychological and the satisfaction of seeing clients looking in the mirror either pouting or shaking their hair is worth a million. I love everything about hairdressing; from seeing the transformation from consultation to end result.
How long have you been running your salon?
My salon is still only a baby! I have had it for the last 3 years and it’s my pride and joy. I have been doing hair for many years, but I just couldn’t work with chemicals anymore, that’s when OCS came along.
How are you coping with Covid-19 and how did you prepare to return to the Salon?
Covid-19 has been a pain to all of us, but we all are strong and we have to adapt. The salon is small, and with social distancing measures I have gone from five chairs to three. I am putting into place all the necessary measures to keep us and our clients safe.
Throughout lockdown, I was proactive and posted on social media every day. I interact a lot with my clients and that gives them confidence and also something else to think of; 15% was Covid related and the rest 85% was positivity. Before returning, I shared a video on social media and on my website explaining what the Salon would look like and what to expect and have been talking to all of my clients directly. Skin tests are posted out prior to colour clients as well as consent forms regarding Covid and also disclaimers again regarding Covid.
What advice would you give to anyone looking to open a new salon?
My advice for anyone that wants to set up is: go ahead! If you are prepared to live and breathe salon, do it! It’s hard work but the sensation of having your “baby”, where you are in control – there’s no money that pays for it. I would say just really put a plan into writing and commit to it.
How did you come across Organic Colour Systems?
Over 5 years ago I got poorly, the cells around the liver were changing very fast and I had to have chemo treatment. It was mostly via medication and once a week injection. It was very hard and my body changed totally with the side effects of the drugs, from there I came across Jason Vale and did three months of raw smoothies and juicing, my blood levels rocked up and even my consultant couldn’t believe how good my blood counts were. I knew this was the beginning of a life change.
From then I knew I didn’t want to carry on working with toxic products, I didn’t want to apply colours on my clients and I started to do more highlights instead of tints. After 15 years of dedication, I knew it was time to change because I didn’t believe in what I was doing anymore. I was making clients look good, but feeding their body with chemicals. I stared to look for natural, organic, vegan, ammonia free and UK made professional colours and aftercare. From there I found OCS and ever since only good things have happened to me and to my clients.
Have you been involved in our online workshops during the pandemic?
The online workshops were a fantastic idea, I thought for a while that this would be very beneficial to all the OCS family, as it’s good to have another channel to add on to our knowledge. It’s amazing that we also can learn from Jeannine in North America, because she does things in a different way using the same products.
However, I highly recommend stylists to attend the live classes, when we are able to! I love the hands-on classes and interaction. It’s so good to share, ask questions and learn from other professionals, for me it’s very important.
What is your favourite OCS product and why?
My favourite is Aqua Boost leave-in conditioner, this is the all in one for me. It’s a leave in conditioner, it’s a styling product, it’s a serum and it’s inter-mixable with all the products. I love to mix it with Clay for styling, the combination gives me the strength of the clay but the flex of Aqua Boost. It’s even my favourite to rub on my hands!
Would you recommend OCS to fellow stylists?
Absolutely, it’s life changing. If you love what you do, love your clients, love our planet, believe in sustainability, are against animal testing, want to offer organic and vegan friendly professional colour and aftercare, you want to offer bespoke colours, you want your salon smelling like a spa and you want to support British economy. Look no further, OCS is the future in the present.
What is your favourite colour formulation?
I like to mix 10N+8CA+6TO+S+V and a small dash of 8FR, this gives me a nice cool tone with a hint of warmth like a champagne with a very light undertone of apricot.
You were highly commended for your contribution to helping the environment as part of the Hair and Beauty Community Awards 2020 run by the National Hair and Beauty Federation (NHBF). Tell us more!
I was delighted to be recognised for what I do. I believe in a green life. My dream is one day to have a sustainable place, where I can use my water to flush the toilet and also to water my veg. What I do every day not just in my salon but in my life, it’s with a lot of thought. I don’t believe in waste and if I can buy old to make new, I will. I came across the entry for the award and I thought that I had the chance to show, promote and inspire other salon owners, so I did write everything I do and how my salon works, from hair cuttings, to lighting, eco tap, recycling and my dream to have one day the opportunity to be a 0% waste salon. I speak from the heart with passion for what I believe and for what I do. I must be doing something right because in 2018 I was a finalist on the National SME Green Awards.
I am also an ECO salon, I did receive my certificate a few weeks ago. Covid-19 has given me the opportunity to expand my business in a different way, this is positive seeing that out of bad things, we can build and develop good things too. It’s all about focus and determination.
Why is being sustainable important to you?
Sustainability, means life, present, future, planet and kindness.
I believe we all can do it; we did many years ago. We did live with what we had and there wasn’t waste, we would share and there was enough to everybody. This word means a lot to me and to my life. I am a life and planet lover and do my best to enjoy everything around me and I do have the power everyday of freedom of speech to alert and inform other people that we all can do it, you might not believe but I do get people asking me for advice in many things because of they have listened or learned from me, it’s about educating and making the most of what we’ve got. We only have one life.
What are your top tips to other salons who may want to become more environmentally friendly?
Top tips to other salons that I can recommend is, invest in an eco tap, use LED lighting and light sensors. If you offer water get little bottles and fill them up. Whatever you buy make sure you can recycle it. Make a list of what you would like to change and stick it up in the staff room; get staff to tick all the recycling and you will see how much more you can reduce. At the moment, it’s hard to find PPE that is environmental friendly or compostable however be creative and think outside box. You can always make yourself things that you can wipe, such as gowns, use disposable Eco Towels, use compostable gloves and bags to process your colours. It’s not difficult; it’s just a mind set.
How do you relax after a long day in the salon?
I relax in my kitchen. I love cooking, listening to podcasts and audio books and sometimes a bit of reggae music! Also cuddling my beloved furry babies (my kitty kats). Life its simple and beautiful and we need to enjoy it and respect every life because for me, our planet matters.
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