INTERVIEW: Concept Hair’s Apprentice of the Month – September

apprentice of the month

We had a chat with Melody House, Concept Hair’s newest Apprentice of the Month!

The Concept Hair Hairdressing & Barbering Apprentice of the Month award celebrates students and apprentices who are passionate about the future of the hairdressing & barbering industry, going above and beyond in their apprenticeships to set the standards of the industry.

melody house concept hair apprentice of the month

Concept Hair has launched the award to recognise the efforts that students and apprentices have put into learning the trade.

Melody was nominated by her employer at Hunter & Walsh, Cornwall, and was chosen as Apprentice of the Month by our judge Let Lew after a week of voting and testimonials on Instagram and Facebook.

Let said: “I really like the progress of her apprenticeship journey. You can see plenty of growth from her work – well done to her!”

The award was sponsored by DAFNI, who sent Melody an Allure brush worth more than £150.

Our runner-up was Ash Hill from Central Hairdressing Academy in London.

Melody, 28, was nominated for the following reason: “Melody has been instrumental in helping the salon to gain Plastic Free Champion status given to us by Surfers Against Sewage, she has single-handedly organised the salon’s recycling by drawing up signs and posters for the dispensary and staff room.

“We are a busy team of 10 stylists. Melody is always on hand to help out – nothing is too much trouble for her, even though she has two young children, she is always the last to leave and will never leave a stylist who needs help at the end of the day.

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“Melody is an integral part of our team and has played a big role in helping the salon get into the finals of the British Hairdressing Business Awards, Hair Salon of the Year.

“Melody will go far in her career, she has overcome severe anxiety and postnatal depression. Melody struggled to hold her scissors in the beginning because of shaking and nerves; now she is working independently and is specialising in becoming a curl specialist.”

Concept Hair: Congratulations Melody! How does it feel to be the Concept Hair Apprentice of the Month?

Melody House: I’m honestly overwhelmed with the wonderful comments people have made about me. I love all my work friends, family and clients. Thank you so much!

melody house concept hair apprentice of the month

CH: How long have you been in the hair industry?

MH: I started my apprenticeship in March 2018.

CH: Have you always worked at Hunter & Walsh?

MH: I’ve worked for Hunter & Walsh since October 2017 as a salon assistant after having my second child. After a couple of months here I realised how in love I was with the hair industry and asked if I could train! I did my Level 2 qualification at college, one day a week under an apprenticeship programme whilst training in work and I’m now doing my Level 3 in work full time with GHQ Training Plymouth.

CH: What made you want to get into the industry?

MH: I just loved how happy everyone is in the salon and how a client’s confidence can change throughout a hair service. I feel so inspired by watching stylists produce such beautiful work.

melody house concept hair apprentice of the month

CH: What do you love most about it?

MH: I absolutely love the people I work with, I’m so lucky to have a job where I work with my friends and look forward to work! We have such amazing friendly clients and I love having a chat with them! When I see the work I’ve created on a client it makes me feel so proud of what I’m achieving.

CH: What is your day-to-day role?

MH: As I’m head apprentice I organise what we do throughout the day to help keep the salon running smoothly and keep our clients happy. I make sure the stylists have everything they need to keep their day running smoothly and if I have a client in, I make sure I provide the best service I can for them.

CH: What would you like to achieve in your career?

MH: I’d love to gain a client base who ask to see me in the salon. I love how some clients will only see one stylist. I just want to keep thriving in Hunter & Walsh.

melody house concept hair apprentice of the month

CH: What inspires you the most?

MH: Seeing the work the other stylists produce really inspires me. I love that I can use the techniques they use on my own clients. I absolutely love watching videos of other people’s work, I can happily sit for hours admiring those.

CH: What’s your favourite social media platform?

MH: Definitely Instagram. I think the amount of work you can see on there is really making a difference in the hair industry.

CH: What’s your favourite hairstyle?

MH: I love precision work. Any style with a strong line is heaven to me.

CH: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given in your apprenticeship?

MH: Trust yourself. As an anxious person I have a lot of self-doubt which really made me question myself at the start of my career. I have now learned to trust my instincts and so far it’s helped me produce my best work!