We talked to Emma, Barcelona Hair Academy’s Creative Director. Emma is constantly on the lookout for new professional challenges and she regularly collaborates at the New York and Madrid Fashion Weeks. She told us her  thoughts about this amazing project.

• Where did the idea behind Barcelona Hair Academy come from?

It has been something I’ve wanted to do for many years; I’ve always enjoyed educating and being educated. I’ve struggled to find options in Barcelona for inspirational courses, and decided to create my own space!

• Why a Hair Academy and not just a salon?

I’ve owned a salon in Barcelona for a little over 9 years, this is a natural progression to challenge myself and help my business grow. In this creative world we can never become stagnant, we’re in the fashion business, and it’s always changing, it’s important to stay current and constantly look at what others are doing. I want to bring local and international talents together, and improve the standard of hairdressing and education.

• When did you decide this was a dream you wanted to make come true?

I’ve always known I was going to do this and now it was the right time, I have a great team working with me in the salon, and this gave me the possibility to set some time aside to work on this. I was also lucky that my best friend, Cecily, had the time to make this happen. We have very different qualities, and we complement each other very well.

• Has it been hard to put all the pieces together?

I think it’s always a journey starting a business, it has its ups and downs, but it’s extremely rewarding seeing it all come together.

• How did you choose the team?

The team was chosen by their different sets of skills and their enthusiasm. I think as an educator it’s important to be passionate and really enjoy what you do.

• Why Barcelona?

Barcelona is the best city in the world.

• A message for all those who are passionate about hair.

For those who are passionate about hair, congratulations, that is a great start to an amazing career! But I think that if you want to work in this business, it’s just as important to be passionate about people. It’s all about the person sitting in front of you, it’s not just about giving people pretty hair, that is of course important, but just as important as making them look great, is to make them feel great! And that is the real art of this profession.

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At Barcelona Hair Academy, your hair academy, we want to tell you little bit more about our creative team so we have prepared a series of interviews with our tutors and collaborators. Javier Martin will be teaching our Professional Barbering Course; Javier comes from a prize winning barbering family from Seville, Spain. He has spent the last ten years working in the coolest areas of London, three of which he spent working at the Toni & Guy Academy.

• When did you first discover your passion for hair?

When I was around 14 years old I remember hanging around in my aunt’s barber shop, I was so impressed by how people’s faces could change by just having their hair done, for me it was like my aunt was sculpting. That was amazing.

• Why did you decide to become a professional?

My passion for hairstyling started in barbershops; I loved the smell and the atmosphere there. Great characters going to get their grooming services there, always with a great conversation or a funny story to tell, it was always something going on. I always found the barbershop an interesting place for human relations and I wanted to be part of that.

• What was it like at the start?

Beginnings are always hard, as in any profession it needs a lot practice and dedication, but there is a great satisfaction when you able to make people feel good with themselves just cutting their hair.

• When someone realizes they want to become a hair professional what should they do first?

I would recommend starting working as an assistant. It’s really important to learn how a salon works. Being close to professionals and watching every movement, every detail, it will inspire you and it will make you feel the passion for our profession.

• Why is learning in small groups better than in large ones?

Small groups are much more personal, you have the chance to learn from a professional with a close approach and are able to ask any questions about hairdressing.

I always felt that working in small groups is like been in a group of friends with the same interest…in this case it’s all about hair.

• What makes Barcelona so special?

Barcelona it’s the most international city in Spain, massively influenced by the latest tendencies on fashion coming from the top European countries like England, with the difference of the good weather. An amazing city to learn, get inspired, relax and of course to have fun.

• A message for all those who are passionate about hair.

Be authentic and work in what you love.

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