Head for success
Sunshine Coast Hairdresser Pam Stewart is going to great lengths to achieve her goals, and recently sat down to share her story with the weekender.
What was your dream job as a child?
I wanted to ride horses and do lots of art. Being a teacher was in my thoughts too. We lived on a cattle property for eight years in western Queensland; that is why I was horse mad.
Did you pursue it after school?
I pursued half of my childhood dream because being a hairdresser is like being an artist. It is such a creative industry and every person I work with is my original masterpiece. As for horses, I haven’t been on the back of one for nearly 15 years. I would love to go riding again.
What drew you to hairdressing?
When I used to go to the hairdressers as a child I loved the feeling when I walked out the door; happy and satisfied. It’s such an artistic and creative industry with so much satisfaction.
Was it hard to get a foot in the door?
I lived in a country town called Tolga and it was hard, but I put my name down everywhere and did lots of talking and walking looking for an apprenticeship. The boss who trained me, Leonie Ware, would have to be one of the best hairdressers I have known. If it wasn’t for her I don’t know where I would be today.
How did your career unfold?
I did nearly five years with Leonie then moved to Townsville and worked at an awesome salon for five years, mastering extensions. I moved home for a short stint and then got in a car and drove to the Coast for a lifestyle change. I knew only two people and started doing extensions in a salon. I decided to take the plunge and go out on my own. I worked two jobs while I built my clientele and never looked back.
Can you name drop some of the people and projects you have been involved with? I worked in Sydney with the GHD team at this month’s Rosemount Australian Fashion Week. I was involved with four shows and Alex Perry was one of them. He was amazing to work with. There were 28 models and we worked with hairpieces — such an incredible feeling and lots of pressure but so worth it. My picture was in Instyle magazine alongside Alex and Australia’s Next Top Model winner Demelza Reveley.
The head stylists I worked with were Sophie Roberts, Jon Pulitano (we were told the show we did was the best hair they had seen so far at RAFW) and 2009 hairdresser of the year Jane Wild. She is such an inspiration and I have also done some workshops with her. I have done competition work with Harper’s Bazaar magazine, which was lots of fun. I also did a weekender cover with Caitlin Buckle. I can’t wait for more fun and challenging adventures.
Is it a challenge to balance work and family?
Some days can be challenging but balance is the key. I have two girls aged four and one and an incredible husband who would have to be the best father and husband a family could ask for. We share the workload 50-50 and Lee is so supportive of my business, as I am of his. I have a wonderful colour stylist, Michelle Forbes, who also takes the pressure off and I am so happy she is in my life. I take some Saturdays off as this is a special time of the week to share with the family I love so dearly. I just have to remind myself sometimes balance is a necessity of life.
Tell us about your upcoming trip to Italy...
I will be visiting the company Great Lengths in Rome at the end of June. They are taking me through the whole process of the human hair extensions I use, from how they develop the colours for the range (there are 54 shades and it takes up to three weeks just to get one colour) to a brand new technique that is just hitting Australia. I will also get the opportunity to go to a few different salons and see how they work.
FAST FACTS
Name Pam Stewart
Role Owner Xtreme Lengths, mother of two, wife
Qualifications 20 years in the hair industry and 10 years specialising in Great Lengths human hair extensions
No 1 tip for success Take each day as it comes, honesty is the best policy, and Rome wasn’t built in a day
Story: weeknder Issue 628, May 27th 2010
Sunshine Coast Hairdresser Pam Stewart is going to great lengths to achieve her goals, and recently sat down to share her story with the weekender.
What was your dream job as a child?
I wanted to ride horses and do lots of art. Being a teacher was in my thoughts too. We lived on a cattle property for eight years in western Queensland; that is why I was horse mad.
Did you pursue it after school?
I pursued half of my childhood dream because being a hairdresser is like being an artist. It is such a creative industry and every person I work with is my original masterpiece. As for horses, I haven’t been on the back of one for nearly 15 years. I would love to go riding again.
What drew you to hairdressing?
When I used to go to the hairdressers as a child I loved the feeling when I walked out the door; happy and satisfied. It’s such an artistic and creative industry with so much satisfaction.
Was it hard to get a foot in the door?
I lived in a country town called Tolga and it was hard, but I put my name down everywhere and did lots of talking and walking looking for an apprenticeship. The boss who trained me, Leonie Ware, would have to be one of the best hairdressers I have known. If it wasn’t for her I don’t know where I would be today.
How did your career unfold?
I did nearly five years with Leonie then moved to Townsville and worked at an awesome salon for five years, mastering extensions. I moved home for a short stint and then got in a car and drove to the Coast for a lifestyle change. I knew only two people and started doing extensions in a salon. I decided to take the plunge and go out on my own. I worked two jobs while I built my clientele and never looked back.
Can you name drop some of the people and projects you have been involved with? I worked in Sydney with the GHD team at this month’s Rosemount Australian Fashion Week. I was involved with four shows and Alex Perry was one of them. He was amazing to work with. There were 28 models and we worked with hairpieces — such an incredible feeling and lots of pressure but so worth it. My picture was in Instyle magazine alongside Alex and Australia’s Next Top Model winner Demelza Reveley.
The head stylists I worked with were Sophie Roberts, Jon Pulitano (we were told the show we did was the best hair they had seen so far at RAFW) and 2009 hairdresser of the year Jane Wild. She is such an inspiration and I have also done some workshops with her. I have done competition work with Harper’s Bazaar magazine, which was lots of fun. I also did a weekender cover with Caitlin Buckle. I can’t wait for more fun and challenging adventures.
Is it a challenge to balance work and family?
Some days can be challenging but balance is the key. I have two girls aged four and one and an incredible husband who would have to be the best father and husband a family could ask for. We share the workload 50-50 and Lee is so supportive of my business, as I am of his. I have a wonderful colour stylist, Michelle Forbes, who also takes the pressure off and I am so happy she is in my life. I take some Saturdays off as this is a special time of the week to share with the family I love so dearly. I just have to remind myself sometimes balance is a necessity of life.
Tell us about your upcoming trip to Italy...
I will be visiting the company Great Lengths in Rome at the end of June. They are taking me through the whole process of the human hair extensions I use, from how they develop the colours for the range (there are 54 shades and it takes up to three weeks just to get one colour) to a brand new technique that is just hitting Australia. I will also get the opportunity to go to a few different salons and see how they work.
FAST FACTS
Name Pam Stewart
Role Owner Xtreme Lengths, mother of two, wife
Qualifications 20 years in the hair industry and 10 years specialising in Great Lengths human hair extensions
No 1 tip for success Take each day as it comes, honesty is the best policy, and Rome wasn’t built in a day
Story: weeknder Issue 628, May 27th 2010
