ALLIGATOR CREEK

By Rex A.C. Silver

Based in Mackay, North Queensland, Heath Paton is an awesome Barber loved by his clients and by his staff with 2 guys nudging 10 years’ service…each!! As well as being an incredible barber, he is an artist, a fashion designer, business manager and owner, a national educator for Wahl and I think I’ve seen him behind the turntables too!

There is a hell of a lot of layers to this guy living his best life in FNQ and why not? He has worked hard to get his 2-chair operation up to a whopping 9 chairs. It was great pleasure to meet and interview a creative who shopped himself around many artistic fields before focusing in on the one he feels… in his own words...is Home!

He picked a little from here and a little from there and put it all in a pot. What a clever way to go!!

This is Heath Paton’s journey:

Where did it all start Heath?

I grew up in rural north Queensland amongst the cane fields in a small community called Alligator Creek, set about 30 mins south of MacKay. Not exactly the stereotypical setting for someone with aspirations of leaving a footprint on the hair and fashion world… but to be fair my whole childhood I thought I was going to be a professional soccer player.

Soccer was the main focus for most of my youth, travelling all over Australia and internationally for many years. It’s so tough when your young deciding on what the bigger picture will be and it wasn’t till the age of 16 that I started realising I had quite a creative streak and gravitated towards the arts more.

I was still at high school when I started completing make up and cosmetology courses, [remember this was the 90’s in rural Queensland]. I knew that my passions in life went against the grain which made it quite challenging at times, so I hid most of those creative interests from the world so as not to face ridicule.

Painting and sculpture started to become a passion and gave me a greater sense of shape and dimension, ultimately aiding to the way I approach hair today looking back. My family were always so very supportive of whatever direction I would ultimately choose and have ridden the waves of an emerging artist along with me.

How and when did you discover hair and know this was your calling?

I remember the exact moment I wanted to dive into the hair industry. I stumbled into a hair show by accident tagging along with a friend completely last minute.

The moment I stepped into the room I was met with this overwhelming energy that was so inescapable. Bright lights and colours and loud electro music, but it was the energy, the passion, the vibe, it was the whole package that sealed it for me, I was home.

It was practically immediately after that that I embarked on my journey. My aunt opened the door for me working in the studio she was at.

Doing all the normal basin and tea and tidy work which eventually led to my hairdressing apprenticeship. It wasn’t long into my apprenticeship that I knew my passion would be for cutting, all those years of sculpture and painting really started to come in handy with understanding cutting structures.

By the 3rd year of my hairdressing apprenticeship all I wanted to do was cut hair, now mix this with the newly acquired interest for fashion and design that I had running through my veins…I was on a creative high… I used that inner drive and moved across to complete a barber apprenticeship focusing on traditional techniques and freehand clipper cutting.

I’m a firm believer that once you know all the rules then you can start to break them, so I really worked on breaking the mould of a stereotypical barber and started altering conventional design concepts and infusing my art via hair tattoos and trackwork. Even all those years ago now I remember the goal would ultimately be for me to get on the stage Infront of people and show my work, under the bright lights and loud music like the show from years before.

I think moving forward with everything I aim to achieve in the industry I always try to recreate that energy, that infectious vibe. Whether it's inside my studio or when I’m onstage lecturing or cutting in Infront of an audience I really aim for that entertainment factor. It’s that drive I feel keeps me pushing... that pursuit for more, that pursuit for perfection, not perfection itself; the pursuit, the journey for greater, is where the magic happens. That’s where the ideas and creativity are found.

Please tell us all about HPHFM, your team, your business ethos and philosophy towards customer service and the experience you guests receive at your shop.

I opened HPHFM back in 2012, with only 60 sq/m, two chairs and myself cutting. It got to a point where I needed to be in a space where I could be me, where I could not only showcase and promote my skills but also surround myself unapologetically with my influences and inspirations.

At the start of the journey the letters stood for “Heath Paton Hair For Men” as we thought we were a barbershop but if wasn’t long after we realised it was more than that. I remember opening my shop one day a young kid said to me, “Heath, your barbershop has a halfpipe skateboard ramp in it and a DJ booth and graffitied walls from floor to ceiling and so many hats and clothes for sale, why”? I just said. “‘cause I can.” which he replied, “I’m glad you did”. That was a huge thing for me.. I’ve invested so much of myself into HPHFM.. so much of my culture and influence and people get it….

Even the kid got it! And so did my staff, 2 of my longest-serving barbers and dear friends, Jordan Muscat and David Homewood understood what HPHFM was about and believed in the journey and have been alongside me for the last 10 years helping HPHFM become what it is today.

Later on, we changed the HFM to Hair, Fashion, Motivation which created the perfect segway for me to promote my fashion design again and the drive behind creating a label as opposed to just a barbershop.

Fast forward to 2023 and we’ve grown to 300sq/m and 9 chairs… the skate ramp has been swapped for a pool table but that same drive to create culture and community is ever present.

Tool Talk

Clippers:

I’ve been using WAHL clippers my entire career…. that’s 20 something years now… the concepts behind freehand clipper cutting and clipper over comb techniques really captured my focus and as I evolved inside the industry so did the range of clippers which in turn helped me achieve new heights and break more boundaries.

The reliability of WAHL Clippers has flowed through… inadvertently giving me a stronger ability throughout my cutting career….. simply because of the confidence I have with them in my hand, and they have always been my staple tool set, so, you can begin to imagine how big of a deal it was when I was invited to become an ambassador and educator for WAHL.

All those years of dedication and loyalty finally paid off. I actually have and use every WAHL clipper that’s on the Australian market in my toolkit. On the daily you’ll see me with the cordless Magic Clip, Super Taper, and the Legend but my favourite go- to’s at the moment are the cordless Legends, but if I’m completely honest I utilise every clipper dependent of hair type and desired outcome.

Scissors:

I’m terrible with scissors I dance around with a few different brands and my main need is size, I use a 6/ 6.5 inch. I do up to 30 clients a day, so I struggle to find a pair that stays sharp long enough. I’m yet to fall in love with a brand or style.

What haircare and styling products do you choose to use and onsell to your customers.

I use a lot of uppercut deluxe products. pretty much all of them but my favourites are the matte pomade and clay. I think what drew me toward the brand at first was the culture and look, but now I understand each product and what they individually achieve for styling purposes I love the range, it has every base covered and I love the relationship I have the team.

Instore, also, we have the King Brown range and I’m a huge fan of the original pomade. firstly, the scent is a killer, but the hold does wonders for a slick back look. if you aren’t familiar with it go check it out, and ask for it by name.

When did you first get to educate and what does it mean to you to share your passion and knowledge with others?

Education and giving back has always been paramount for me. I think growing up in a rural scene where education in hair was limited, powered my drive to share my knowledge. after training some apprentices instore I shifted my focus to the broader community conducting look and learns up and down the coast. Perhaps it was the memory of the struggle starting out when I was young or the passion for sharing the industry to future artists that kept me wanting to be on that stage which in turn granted me the opportunity to become an educator for WAHL.

I’ve been blessed to meet and work alongside some of the most creative artists in the industry. Being a part of the WAHL Bootcamp was such an amazing experience and something I will never forget, and I really want to give thanks to the rest of my team, Rob Szincsak, Ben Kane, Jaymes Lunn, Yuki kano, Sarah Wall, Celine Kaponias, Mark Rabone, Anthony Nafatali. To be a part of such a talented and supportive team is such a rewarding and fulfilling experience.

The whole mindset change was an evolution in itself, learning to think global not local and only made possible thanks to Mr Simon Shaw and Amanda Callaway. understanding just how far I’d come from that rural country boy who stumbled into a hair show and now I’m on main stage launching the WAHL cordless legend to the nation at barber temple. The support I’ve received from the industry has been overwhelming and surreal.

From pep talks from Fraser Forsey before jumping on stage, being on the barbersarms podcast, Stephanie Polansky flying halfway around the world to pass on her knowledge, my industry peers have now become family. so much is happening now and I’m so truly grateful.

For me personally, becoming an educator for WAHL has to be not only my biggest industry accomplishment but an achievement I’ve always wanted and certainly aimed for, and I am beyond excited for what the future brings. not just for me, but for everyone who has been a part of the journey. All my clients past and present who have watched the evolution and scene the hard yards and sacrifices made. Getting on stage now I get to carry all those who believed in me on my shoulders and that is such a reward in itself.

You are in regional Qld. Tell us how being on the national stage and being recognised as being a leader in our industry on a national level has helped build your business in Mackay.

I think the local front will always be a source of inspiration for me. I never forget where I come from and now walking down the street and the kids recognise who I am and want to know my next move keeps me grounded but driven.

I’m always moving forward, and I feel a certain purpose out of people wanting to know what’s next on the horizon. And of course, I’m always busy aiming for more so there’s plenty to report. we’re currently on the hunt for new apprentices now in Mackay and are working on a few new concepts moving forward.

I recently started a podcast on YouTube and we’re recording weekly to grow our audience at present. Also working in with a lot of local youth organisations and first nations projects reaching out to the next generation to offer guidance and mentor-type opportunities.

I think with any type of success comes responsibility. for me I see a responsibility to my family, friends, and community, and if I can give them any bits of guidance or advice that they can use to propel themselves forward, that is such a reward. And finally, EDUCATION. I’m getting out into the far north Queensland communities with a lot more education so if anybody in North Queensland wants me to stop in and pass on some knowledge keep a look out because I’ll be coming to a town near you.