How I built my Confidence

BY SIMON DOYLE

I would find it hard to see the value in my work. It made me want to quit. Stepping into education has been a major growth experience for me. I always struggled with self-doubt and self-depreciation when it came to my work. I never thought I was capable of teaching other people hair.

Starting out at 16 learning how to cut hair I always looked at the Josh Lamonica’s and the Charlie Greys of the world, unable to comprehend how someone could get that good at cutting hair.

I spent so many years scratching my head wondering how someone can become so skilled, confident and have so much conviction. I just couldn’t get my head around that as I was beginning my apprenticeship in 2015. Over time I started to meet more people in the industry and my confidence began to grow little by little.

The more I grew I realised that these leaders in the industry were just normal people that dedicated a lot of time putting themselves out there and exposing themselves to uncomfortable situations.

In the beginning every time I thought I was great, I would get humbled and lose my confidence. I would become very inward, and I would find it hard to see the value in my work. It made me want to quit on multiple occasions.

After three years I found a mentor who had been in the industry for over a decade with a hairdressing background. His combined skill set was creative based and always pushed boundaries.

We spent a lot of hours training in the evenings in areas I struggled with. At that time, I didn’t feel like I was making any progress. Looking back, this was a pivotal part of my journey. Those long nights and Sunday mornings consisted of photo shoots, mannequin head training and thinking outside the box.

This really helped me understand not just how to cut, but also the ‘why’ to use a technique and when to use those techniques. Without this understanding I had no idea what I was doing. I feel nowadays young barbers think that once they know the ‘how’ that this is enough to become a successful stylist.

I think a crucial part of haircutting is knowing when to use a technique and most importantly why. When asking barbers why they are using a specific technique you’d be surprised by how many answer with ‘because I’ve seen on Instagram’.

With this new found knowledge, I can approach hair in a completely different way to most other barbers. This opened up a whole other aspect of hair that I was unaware of, allowing me to see through the lens of suitability and trends.

This is something I talk about with other barbers in education. When approaching hair, we need to be aware of not just the how, but the what, why and when to use specific techniques.

This allows me to approach hair in a conscious and educated way. I feel like this is my point of difference when it comes to education, breaking it down and simplifying it. With this we can gain a great foundation for confidence to be built on.

The kind of confidence that when self-doubt comes in it doesn’t rattle you. I really like to approach education on a personal level for others creating a safe space for them to come and learn. My classes are strictly a non-judgement zone for barbers of all levels, whether you’re one day or 25 years into your journey.

I feel like this is a really missed concept in the industry right now. It’s a gap in the market that I am trying to bridge. Being 25 in this industry and on the floor cutting hair full time it helps people have a relatability factor. I’m just like any other barber that likes to share his knowledge and experience.

My next upcoming workshop is in Melbourne on the 25th of March 2024 alongside Jesse Jensz (@certifiedbarberboy). I also offer private one-to-one classes for a tailored education experience. You can stay up to date via my Instagram @simondoylehair.