Women represent 85,1 % of the active hairdressers. Yet, less of them are on the top of the pyramid working as the head of a company. We wanted to know more, so Guylaine Martel, Canadian and creator of the " artistes coiffeurs " salon, answered our questions.
LiveCoiffure.com
: What sacrifices have you made to succeed?
Guylaine Martel : Anyone who wants to create his own company must make sacrifices in terms of hours and work, moreover during the first two years where there is often a low profitability.
Hopefully, I had a tough business plan, a specific objective to reach and energy to get it right. The line between sacrifice and choices to make is thin. I chose to fully pursue my creative approach : so when you think about it, it wasn't much of a sacrifice. It is a pleasure, a passion.
LC : Did the fact that you are a woman represent a handicap ?
GM : No, never. Sometimes, I met people who refers to it. When I build and then renovated my hair salon, I felt several times that the builder crew, big and strong guys, found it weird to receive orders from a little woman. Sometimes I had to impose myself. But nothing really bad happened and the atmosphere was nice !
LC : Several women have a hard time harmonizing their personal life with their professional life. How do you do it ?
GM : In terms of organisation, managing time, I have to let certain things aside.
Personal life has to be organised so that everyone can do well of it and nobody is left aside because too much time is dedicated to the career. Reaching perfection requires time, energy and good choice making.
LC : Does your man support you ?
GM : I have a touching story to tell. Last February, one day, when I was in Paris at the HCF Trophy, he gathered my mannequin training heads on the dining table, he chose the blonder ones of course.
He took a picture and sent it to my phone. The message said : " Every is going well at home, I am taking care of everything while your gone, and I am not alone". He ended the message with good luck words, that I preciously kept : "Go Guylaine Go" !
LC : Did people tried to discourage you ?
GM : Never. But, I had to deal with persistent prejudices in the business world : the ones saying that artists are not good manager.
I admit that when a company is a hair salon managed by a woman it can make the situation more difficult.
But, in reality, I do not care for those things. I do what I have to do and just go for it. From the beginning I follow a major objective : I want to make hairdressing an art, bring it up to the high quality standards so that hairdressers can be recognized as fashion creators.
If I can contribute, in my own way, to change this image that the hairdressing world has, the image of the shop in the corner where people gossip, I would be happy to.
LC : Around 85% of the hairdressers are women. Why are there so few of them at the top ?
GM : Because as in the Haute Cuisine, Haute Coiffure or board of directors, it exists in the hairdressing world a " glass ceiling ".
I sincerely believed that it is changing : more and more female hairdresser are in the forefront.
The limits are disappearing, especially in Quebec where the male-female parity is stronger, even if there are still some work to do. For my part, if a hairdresser is skilled, I am going to admire him and work with him no matter his gender. Sometimes, being a women has its advantages : we understand better women who represent the majority of our clients.
LC : Is it an advantage to work with women?
GM : According to my experience, yes. Women around me love working in teams, they are passionate and moreover strong and hard-working. I don't really care about the emotional aspect assigned to women, on the contrary. In the creation world it brings a certain fire, an ardour that I love. But, the lack of diversity can be a disadvantage. It is always interesting to work in fields that reflect more the natural distribution that can be found in society.
LC : After all these years working hard and making sacrifices, have you the impression to be at the top ?
GM : We're never at the top. They say : " the more you learn, the less you know ". And we are living in a changing world, where everything is moving and it is difficult to keep the head out of the water. Moreover, as I said before, the hairdressing world begins to evolving into a recognized artistic discipline.
It is a long journey, with on the way, the top, which is for me, the model that I haven't done yet, the future creation, the idea that will touch me and make me discover new dimensions.
LC : You talk a lot about the love you have for your job. Love, is it essential ?
GM : Of course. Without love, there is nothing. I am talking about the love you have for your job as well as the love you have for your close friend and relative, for the difference and for the world that is ours. Love, honesty and respect for others are for me dominant values.
LC : In twenty years, thirty years from now, how would you want people to remember you ?
GM : You know, I haven't planed to die yet (laughs), but if people have to remember something in particular, it is my desire to change the hairdressing world and make the public know that there are, in this profession, talented artists and high level creators that deserve more recognition and respect.
Speech reported by Christine Margossian for LiveCoiffure.com
