Christina Toimela learns that it’s good to be proud of your work

When I was going to school my dad once told me: “I don’t care what you do for a living as long as you do it so well that you can be proud of it.” It‘s stuck with me and I have learned to spot the talents who love their work. Serena Brown is a 26-year old Londoner who moved into Brighton last December. Whilst cutting my hair she was chatting away about the differences in hairdresser training in different countries and all the career opportunities hairdressers have. I have never met anyone so excited about hairdressing before; her passion was inspiring.

It turns out that despite her young age Serena had already owned a hair salon in Notting Hill. She got into hairdressing at the age of 15 in order to finance her dancing auditions that took her to the West End. Serena ended up being very good at hairdressing and instead of a dancing career she joined hair salon franchise Headmasters. In 2008, at the age of 21, she got a bank loan and opened a successful shop together with her previous manager.

Serena moved to Brighton to move in with her boyfriend. She had already sold her business and was thinking of a career change. She realised that despite both her and her business partner being perfectionists they had very different views and she was wmore laid back: “I don’t see things as risk and I don’t feel fear. I go with the flow. If it’s going to work, it’s going to work.“

“In Brighton everything goes and no one cares”

Serena describes the difference between London and Brighton: “In London some customers insist on coloring their hair every two weeks. People are suited and booted. Everyone cares about their looks and not just anything goes. In Brighton everything goes and no one cares.”
At present, Serena is still in hairdressing, being employed by others.

She says: “For some people their hair is everything. I want to be the one who styles their hair and makes it the best it can be. I want them to say ‘I’m wearing Serena’s hair’.”

Every two weeks Serena goes to London to style hair. She is currently saving up money in order to study medicine. Something tells me she is going to succeed.

Do you know any people who have really inspired you in Brighton?
We’re not looking for celebrities. Not ordinary, but extraordinary.
Contact Christina: christina.toimela@gmail.com