6 minute read
10 Minutes with Sean Hayes
BY LOUISE MAY
Get ready to dive into the world of Sean Hayes, a talented barber, educator, and brand ambassador based in Burleigh Heads, Australia. Hailing from the picturesque village of Drimoleague in West Cork, Ireland, Sean’s journey from an electrical apprentice to a celebrated figure in the barbering industry is nothing short of inspiring.
With a passion for hair ignited during his adventurous travels and honed through dedicated education, Sean’s commitment to his craft and his down-to-earth attitude makes him a beloved figure in the industry.
Join us as we spend 10 minutes with Sean Hayes, exploring his remarkable career, proudest achievements, and exciting plans for the future.
Please share a little about your upbringing.
I grew up in a small village in West Cork in Ireland called Drimoleague. Dad is a chippy and mum worked in the bank at the time. It was a brilliant place for my younger sister and brother and I to grow up, with so much freedom for us to roam around and get up to all sorts.
We spent our free time in the holidays playing any sort of sport, riding our bikes and swimming in the river. Those were the days.
When I left school, I started an electrical apprenticeship and as soon as I got qualified, I hopped on a plane to Australia for a holiday. 10 years later I’m still here, time flies!
Tell us what you do in the industry today?
Currently, I’m a Barber, Educator, and Brand Ambassador, working out of Mayday Barber studio in Burleigh Heads. Owned by 2 weapons, Dayna, and Bobby, they have created a brilliant space with a really special atmosphere and to put the cherry on top, Noah Lockwood, my old apprentice who moved to London for a year, has just started in the shop too.
I haven’t done much education in the last year or so, but watch this space, some exciting news is hopefully coming this year.
How did you first get involved in the industry and what inspired you to start?
I always remember having a keen interest in hair and hairstyles growing up, I tried lots of questionable hairstyles in my teens and into my twenties (red tips being the standout) and becoming a barber was at the back of my mind, but the industry hadn’t taken off yet when I was leaving school and I passed it up for an electrical apprenticeship instead.
I was working in remote Northern Territory as a sparky doing some very dodgy haircuts on my friends when my interest really sparked, and I started watching Menspire videos and really getting into it. I decided to book myself into Thomas Lloyd’s Barber Academy in Cardiff in Wales and started learning properly on January 2019 and I loved every minute of it. I have to give massive credit to Lloyd for his teaching on that course, he is an amazing teacher and mentor and I still chat to him these days and have continued to seek his advice through the years.
What achievements are you most proud of in your life or career?
Being a bit older starting this career, I was very driven from the start to make an impact in the industry over here. I set up my Instagram and got to work on trying to build that. In 2019 I was part of the first Australian Wahl ambassador program, to be honest, I got complacent with that, and I let it slip away.
I have been nominated for the AMBA awards in 2021 and 2023 for the classic collection category and in 2022 was nominated for Barber Of The Year which I was so happy with.
In 2023 I became an ambassador for JRL Australia which I was approached for, this was great as I felt like my work was paying off and the JRL team is so strong, I’m so happy to be part of it.
My proudest career achievement is becoming an ambassador for Charlie Grey’s education platform Hair in Motion. After watching Charlie through the years while he was at Menspire, it was a huge deal for me to be part of his brand and when I went to Manchester to meet him and other members of the hair in motion team and see his studio and the way he shoots his content and approach haircuts, was a very surreal moment for me.
My partner Jena and I had our first child Fintan in June of last year and that is definitely my biggest life achievement so far, it’s a massive game changer and brings so much joy to our life.
If you could change one thing with the Barber industry, what would it be?
Industry egos! This is a bit of a tough one as I love the industry. I love the extra things we can do other than the daily work of cutting hair in the shop, like photoshoots, awards nights, and expos. It’s so great to meet the super talented people at these events and it’s even better when those people who I look up to and admire turn out to be absolute legends when you meet them.
But christ there are some flops out there that think they are the greatest thing since sliced bread, relax lads at the end of it all we are not performing lifesaving surgery, we're cutting hair.
Three things you’re passionate about:
Family, sports and as corny as it sounds, I’m actually passionate about the barbering industry as a whole.
Describe your ideal Sunday:
Decent breakfast, walk down the beach, head for a swim, UFC, and a few beers. Perfect!
What’s on your bucket list?
Old firm derby, northern lights, see Ireland win the World Cup, in anything.
What’s playing on your Spotify right now?
Sam Fender, Hozier, Paolo Nutini, The National
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Have a little more patience
If you could leave this industry having achieved just one thing, what would that legacy be?
Win barber of the year and just be known as a good lad in the industry.
Do you have a motto or signature life philosophy?
Very simply, don’t be a dick.
If you’re on time, you’re late
This year brings a lot of excitement, I’m going home to get married in July, it will be the first time my boy goes to Ireland too so that’s really special.
I’ve invested a lot in education with different people this year so I’m looking forward to that.
Big things happening with Hair in Motion, hopefully.
I have also sought advice from some people I really admire in the industry about photoshoots, and they have kindly offered for me to be part of their annual one this year, which hopefully I can take a lot from and apply it to my own AMBA barber of the year entry. So, lots to look forward to.
@seanhayeshair @hairinmotioneducation @jrl.aus
