A DYNAMIC FORCE - MARCELA LASTRA

By Louise May

Marcela Lastra has combined her infectious energy and unwavering determination to become a renowned and dynamic force within the hairdressing industry.

With her most notable role as co-president of the South Australian Hairdressing and Beauty Association (SAHBA), Marcela has spent years advocating for and representing the hairdressing industry.

She is the creative director of the award-winning Longko Salon, where she passionately nurtures the professional development of apprentices. Additionally, Marcela serves as a National Educator for De Lorenzo Haircare, conducting classes like the Ebb & Flow and pioneering her latest project- Training the New School: A Workshop for salon owners and employers.

Beyond her professional achievements, Marcela is a community hairdressing advocate, recognised through her initiative “No Strings Attached,” which provides compassionate haircuts to the community.

Through her leadership, community engagement, and passionate commitment to education, Marcela shapes the future of the hairdressing industry through her emphasis on diversity, inclusivity, and growth.

Hair Biz Editor Louise May recently caught up with Marcela to chat about her journey and immense love of the industry.

Can you share with us your journey in the hairdressing industry, from your early days to your current roles as co-president of SAHBA, creative director at Longko Salon, and national educator for De Lorenzo Haircare?

Absolutely. My journey in the hairdressing industry has been such a rewarding process. It began humbly, operating from a home salon while balancing the responsibilities of being a new mum.

Over time, and as my clientele grew, I transitioned to a smaller salon space in Mawson Lakes, which eventually led to securing a much larger space for what is now, Longko Salon. Alongside opening my businesses, I actively engaged in advocacy-based roles.

I partook in international hair trips and contributed to my local communities as much as possible through the only way I knew how - learning, teaching, and giving back through the art of hairdressing. Each experience has served as a stepping stone into roles such as becoming a national educator and a representative for the hair and beauty industry at the statewide level.

I think the key to this journey and the successes I have experienced is being open to opportunities, being committed to continuous learning but also leveraging and applying the skills I have gained along the way.

Could you tell us about the ethos behind Longko Salon and how you foster professional development among your apprentices?

Longko Salon is a labour of love, and central to our philosophy is inclusivity. Our team at Longko consists of passionate artists who are dedicated to their craft. They are not only highly skilled but also deeply committed to ongoing learning and growth.

I think as a salon team, we have nurtured an environment where everyone is welcomed, celebrated, and embraced for their unique talents.

In terms of professional development, I believe every artist deserves the opportunity to thrive and express their individuality; as a team, we provide the support and resources to ensure that happens.

Longko employs a minimum of three emerging stylists at any one time and provides personalised training modules that align with each stylist’s trade school curriculum. They cover an array of essential skills such as regrowth and grey coverage, foiling and lightening techniques, and foundational cutting services.

Longko’s senior creative team also takes pride in mentoring and developing emerging stylists; this reciprocal relationship has enhanced the way our team works together and elevated the quality of services provided to our clients.

Our emerging talent are also allocated additional training time outside of the typical hairdressing services to focus on developing their skills in open communication, empathetic listening, and problem-solving techniques.

By actively listening to clients’ preferences, concerns, and feedback, the stylists learn to encourage open and constructive dialogue with clients, improving the stylists’ ability to offer creative solutions and further strengthening client-stylist relationships. This skill has improved client retention and our emerging talent to cultivate long-lasting relationships with their clientele from the outset.

What inspired you to create the “No Strings Attached” initiative, and how has it impacted both the community and your perspective on the role of hairdressers beyond the salon?

No Strings Attached is the one event I look forward to most every year!

What inspired me was simple - I receive all year, whether it be through the love from my family, the success of my businesses, or the people in my community who support everything that I do - No Strings Attached is a way for me to give back to the community who supports me. The cornerstone of the NSA is ‘making an impact’. We’re not just offering haircuts but also sharing our passion and expertise, allowing us to make a meaningful contribution to someone’s life.

This is an incredibly impactful and empowering experience, particularly for those who may not always have the opportunity to feel this way. Every year this event shapes and transforms the way I envision my role as a hairdresser and community advocate. At its most basic form, it really solidifies to me how important it is to show up for somebody.

I mean, we do this every day in the salon and we are so blessed to be able to spend this amazing one-on-one time with our clients and give to them the way we know how - which is delivering incredible hair but it’s also about self-esteem. You are giving that person confidence - you are delivering a feeling, an emotion, and that’s what is so special.

No Strings Attached just takes this to the next level. I think it highlights the well-being and emotional responsibility hairdressers have. We are privileged with such an amazing skill, and I value this and deliver both inside and outside my salon walls.

Your workshops aim to empower salon owners and employers. What prompted you to start these workshops, and what do you hope participants will gain from them?

Training the New School is, as I like to say, my new brain-baby! It is all about transforming and reinvesting in our future generations. Through my time on the board of SAHBA, owning businesses, and educating for DeLorenzo I found myself having these repetitive conversations with other salon owners and employers. They couldn’t find, keep, or maintain staff. I mean, we can keep discussing skills shortages and lack of interest in hairdressing, or we can shift the narrative and be the change we wish to see. Training the New School isn’t about training future emerging talent, it is really about retraining ourselves and ensuring what we deliver to our apprentices is what they really need to excel in our industry.

This workshop breaks down these old-school or traditional values we uphold in industry and replaces them with practices and teaching tools that resonate and benefit our apprentices. The things we unpack are all the hot topics from stylist training to how to build and maintain interpersonal relationships, to industry connection and how to deliver engaging content to make sure your emerging team thrive.

With the emergence of self-employed professionals, suites, and chair rentals, how do you see the traditional salon model evolving?

The evolution of the hairdressing industry is inevitable, and I think it is crucial for us to embrace the changes so we can remain relevant. I think the rise of self-employment options like suites and chair rentals, means the traditional salon model is indeed undergoing transformation. It’s important to recognise that not every stylist will choose self-employment and many still prefer the dynamic of a salon team environment.

I don’t think the term ‘traditional salon’ adequately captures the diversity within our industry. Today’s team salon environments are vastly different from those of the past. Instead of viewing these changes as challenges, we should see them as opportunities for growth and adaptation. There’s an abundance of clients for every stylist; the key is to find the environment that best aligns with one’s preferences and career goals.

 As a National Educator for DeLorenzo Haircare, what are the essential skills and qualities you believe every aspiring hairstylist should possess?

This is such a good question! The last three years have been such an eye-opening experience. When it comes to aspiring hairstylists, there are essential skills and qualities that can pave the way for success. Firstly, it is understanding the importance of ongoing education. People, it is not just about attending the occasional seminar; it’s about investing in continuous learning to refine techniques, stay updated with industry trends, and master the use of proper hairdressing equipment.

Additionally, aspiring hairstylists need to prioritise a healthy work/life balance. For example, a very basic yet important example is taking care of their physical well-being, such as investing in supportive footwear to prevent strain on the body. After all, our bodies are our temples, and maintaining our health is essential for a long and fulfilling career in hairdressing.

Looking ahead, what do you envision for the future of the hairdressing industry, and how do you see yourself contributing to its continued growth and evolution?

We are such an essential part of our local communities, and we are not going anywhere! The future will only be what we make it.

As employers, we must be willing to open our eyes and our hearts to better understand the shifts and changes in our industry. To ensure growth and vitality, we must adopt a more empathetic and forward-thinking approach.

The formula is simple - it means investing in apprentices and growing your teams, to not only take the pressure off your senior stylists but to also watch your profits increase.

Personally, my passion for the industry is undeniable. I will continue to empower emerging stylists, offer guidance to fellow salon owners, and fully immerse myself in the vibrant culture of hairdressing. I am. so fortunate to have been blessed with incredible experiences and want to ensure that others have the same chance to thrive.

@trainingthenewschool