Tauranga local, Chrissy Heathorn, is passionate about hair. So much so, she has brought a new concept to the hairdressing arena that is rapidly gathering interest in the industry.
Chrissy’s company, Your Hair Coach©, combines traditional salon procedures with teaching clients how to nourish, nurture and care for their hair. From a tailored haircare plan to styling tips to a personalised Hair Nourishing Pack to take home, this unique experience is one that Chrissy feels is well overdue in the hairdressing industry.
Chrissy was trained in the UK and moved to New Zealand in 1990 where she set up a salon. After selling it in 2016, Chrissy moved around the North Island, went overseas, moved back to Auckland, then found her happy place in Omokoroa, on the outskirts of Tauranga. It’s here that she has built her dream home and created her new business. So that Chrissy can meet with customers, Chrissy also rents a chair in a Bethlehem salon and one in Auckland too.
With focus magazine, we often feature articles on inspirational women, so it was inevitable that we would cross paths with Chrissy and be given the opportunity to interview her.
Chrissy, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
After selling my salon in 2016 and taking some time out, I experienced an insightful moment whilst cutting a client’s hair. As with all my clients, I was giving her advice, along with hints and tips for how she could make the most of her hair and look after it at home. She was amazed and wondered why no one had ever given her such great advice as part of the service. Her words: “Why has no one ever told me this before?” was my ‘aha’ moment of insight and inspiration. I realised that the traditional way of hairdressing needed to be questioned and given a fresh new perspective.
This is the foundation for Your Hair Coach©. It is based on customer service and is about caring for clients – always a priority for me. It has been a natural shift to provide something that is currently unique to New Zealand.
How different is an appointment with you to a typical haircut appointment in a salon?
The main difference between what I offer and a regular visit to the hairdressers is time and advice.
Most hairdressing services allow only 5-10 minutes for a consultation. This time isn’t costed into the service and is usually given freely, however, it’s not seen as a really important and integral part of the process.
Each Your Hair Coach© Signature services includes a scientific approach to hair, an holistic consultation process, hair analysis, hair detox, a deep conditioning treatment, a personalised hair care plan, a blow wave styled finish and three full size take home products! Adding on a cut is optional.
Many women are seeking another perspective or support for their hair concerns and challenges and this is where Your Hair Coach© excels.
What are the main hair struggles for Kiwi women?
Lockdown changed the way many women feel about their hair – growing out colour, reconsidering their budget and how to spend it, and what they can do at home themselves. I’m also seeing a number of women who are dealing with stress and this often results in hair thinning out, hair loss, and its overall health. As a specialist, these are all the issues Your Hair Coach© is seeing regularly.
Women trying to grow their hair back after chemotherapy also enjoy our signature services that give them directions and recommendations as part of their transformation journey.
Is there anything that always surprises your clients?
Doing the Wet Stretch Test for the first time to determine what exactly their hair needs – moisture or protein – always fascinates clients initially. This is the way I track improvements with recommended products.
Are there any easy tips that will make your hair healthier?
Yes! So many tips but, of course, it’s important to keep things simple and understand what works for your hair, and what doesn’t.
I suggest:
– Consistently using a deep treatment as it can transform the condition of hair.
– Always shampoo twice when washing your hair as this can reduce the amount of washes in a week. So many of my clients are surprised at this tip as most think one wash is enough.
– Always detangle hair gently with conditioner using a side hair comb by Paris Mode in the shower as hair is most delicate and prone to breaking when it’s wet.
What are the main haircare myths you wish people would stop believing?
The hype and marketing around some hair products! So many of these products usually contain silicone which coats and builds up on the hair and creates an unnatural feel and shine. This can also make colouring hair a challenging process.
Quality over quantity usually works!
What brands of haircare do you work with?
After a lifetime in the industry working with many different well-known brands, Organic Colour Systems was my health choice. The industry exposes us to so many chemicals – clients to a lesser degree – but it’s a choice more and more people are searching for. This brand provides beautiful colours and care products that really make a huge difference – subtle, yet powerful. Plus the company aligns with my values of integrity, respect for oneself and the environment. OCS was also awarded a B Corp grade in 2020* as has Patagonia, Ethique, and The Bodyshop.
Can you tell us a little bit more about the mentoring you do for hairdressers?
Sure, as an example, the team at Off the Fringe in Howick, Auckland has been training online with me over the last seven weeks and next week I’m heading to Auckland to take their final session. This will be hands-on with models, demonstrating they can embody the elements of what it is to be a hair coach. They have worked on themselves, their ability to effectively interact with their clients – asking the right questions, heart-centred intuitive listening, responding holistically to the challenges clients have, understanding that their technical and creative skills are only two legs of the metaphorical stool that makes them great at what they do as hair professionals.
The client interaction, information gathering and trust building are the third aspect of creating an experience for women so they feel special, seen and heard. When trained, the hairdresser is then added to my website as a coach and can offer this unique service within their existing business and it enables anyone to access a hair coach.
Working with clients and working with the hairdressing industry seems like two very big, and different, aspects of business. How do you manage to juggle both?
Haha, I’m not sure I’ll ever find that balance! I am very focused, self-determined and passionate about what I do, which means I can goal set and work consistently and intuitively.
Currently, as a relatively new business, the hands-on hairdressing aspect for me is broken up into different days – Sunday and potentially Mondays are spent mostly in Tauranga, with road trips to work in a salon in Auckland on another day.
The hairdresser training keeps me busy, as does my role mentoring professionals for Organic Colour Systems the rest of the week.
When I created this concept for the business, I also asked myself what I wanted my life to look like. Returning to self-employment – after a few years of part time roles working in other small businesses – was a priority, as was doing something that gave me joy, suited my skill set, and gave me the freedom to be me. Sharing what I have learned from being in the industry I love has also been a big part of my vision.
In your free time, what do you enjoy doing?
I’ve always worked to find my balance, while recognising that I prioritise my work. I guess that’s because I’m heart centred with a drive to achieve. When I’m not working, my garden nourishes me, as does social dancing and motorbike riding with my hubby, walking my furry love – Brodie the border collie, who needs so much exercise – and travelling when I can.
social dance class in Omokoroa with hubbie Cycle Trail Girls Trip Queenstown Motorhome travels in ‘Daisy’ Queenstown girls weekend trail ride
*B Corp Certification means a business is meeting high standards of verified performance, accountability, and transparency on factors from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practises and input materials.