Celebrating 45 Years in the Industry – Wayne Chappell

By Louise May

It has been an incredible journey... from the first employer, who told Wayne to find a new career ‘you’ll never make it in hairdressing’... to awards and shows and ownership of one of Tasmania’s most successful and enduring Salons.

Wayne Chappell’s career has seen him named Tasmanian Hairdresser of the Year three times; working with performers like John English and Marcia Hines at Wrest Point; partnering creatively with DARK MOFO; mentoring star stylists who have made a mark internationally; and establishing two iconic salons.

Wayne represented at Australian Hairdressing Titles and studied horticulture part time with a view of switching careers. But... well-known Hobart hairdresser Kevin Donovan introduced Wayne to Mark True- man and one of Tasmania’s largest and most successful salon brands was established under the name Picasso. The brand went from strength to strength over the next 20 years, opening two very successful salons; employing dozens of staff; and winning awards locally and nationally.

Wayne took sole control of the Picasso brand which he re-invented as Sfumato... and took the brand and staff on a ride that saw a huge step up, with the salon and individual staff making an impact nationally as well as receiving international recognition.

45 years after Wayne Chappell first stepped into a salon, his brand is still strong, and Wayne’s vision continues to evolve.

We caught up with Wayne recently and chatted with him about his incredible career journey…

How did you first get into hairdressing?

I was dobbed in by my mother to her hairdresser that I was doing her better than hair setter at the time, so they said bring him in and we’ll see how he goes. The rest as they say is history.

What drew you to the industry and what do you love most about business.

I knew nothing of hair. I was taken to a salon to do work experience, and from there I grew. Business I didn’t find until I had completed 10 years of hair, from an apprentice up to year 10 of being in the industry. Then as I was going to move over to Perth in Western Australia, to be stopped and asked would I consider buying into a salon that needed help with the existing owner and from there my business life began, from 1987 up until now.

What has been a career highlight of yours? And what has been your biggest challenge?

Well, a lot of awards have been won by myself, but never got the success of Australian Hairdresser of the year at Hair Expo myself, but I never really wanted to strive for that either.

I’ve succeeded in everything else, but best of all is being 36 years success of keeping a business alive and strong for all that time, that is a great achievement in itself. Awards are good and build your self-confidence, but it doesn’t live forever, but a business can. What has been my challenge over the years ? Well, the big recession that we all had to have, scared the hell out of me until nothing happened as such , what a hoax! Then Covid hosted the world, this was different… and fear, anxiety, and the unknown of it all was NEW and no university manual was there to grab and quickly learn how the hell do we do all this.

Boom, the starting line of the vulnerability of the unknown and being told how to close or open our businesses began. Then we had to learn how to finance the unknown of tomorrow…boom! It kept coming and coming and staff dropping off for many reasons, not working, not wanting to pay respect to yourself as a business owner, you were left out there on your own to work out the invisible plan. I truly hope we never have to experience this again.

You are celebrating 45 years in the industry - to what do you attribute your success?

Simply Consistency of everything I believe in… myself, my gut feels, and finding a team behind the sense that you can trust to hold your castle together, that was, is hard every day but keeping focused on the prize you set for me was the base, no university can teach a lot of that, human management is a game of consistency of operation, honesty ,integrity , empathy, and trust of one another. Lead talented team members to the start line of their own dreams and support them, even on the day they decide you are not needed anymore, there is always a day they want your advice again.

You have long standing staff and clients; how do you keep your team motivated and passionate and retain clients?

Motivating a team 20 years ago was a pleasure, they were hungry! Now they struggle to understand why a wealth of experience has value, but each day when I do something on the floor someone will always say, can you show me how you do that…bang! Gotcha- we have a role to motivate right there. So, for me its silence of action and subtly show why you are who you are. Training is and has been weekly in my salon every Wednesday regardless of the pain, moans, and groans of young ones, but they thank you ten years later after they say they hate you (always make me laugh)

What’s the best piece of advice you have been given during your career/ time in business?

- Believe in yourself, believe in the dreams you have and don’t always do what others think you should do, it takes you off the road.

- If you don’t take the risk, you will lose the chance in life.

- Always say YES first and work out No later.

What would you say are the core values or philosophies which define your business or leadership style?

Honesty, loyalty, passion, belief, empathy, consistency, Quality over Quantity on everything you do and believe in!

Who inspires you in our industry today?

Angelo Seminara, Benni Tognini, Vidal Sassoon, love the energy of Joey Scandizzo, Brad Ngata... LOVE! and Jamie Furlan. A lot of the young ones coming through today that have that rare energy to strive, love them!

What’s next for Wayne Chappell?

Retirement!!! Well not quite… hand over some of the salon to a chosen passionate person who will take sfumato to another level…hopefully. Finding my next mission hasn’t really hit me yet, but I’ve been pondering over that for five years, but time is narrowing. Sharing my knowledge of all my experiences is always worth a listen and sharing, so who knows, it could be that, or I start teaching all my conference dance floor moves, apparently they are a high request each year!