As people go racing back to the salons and hairdressers for a long overdue post-lockdown colour, cut and blowdry, Kelly’s Chair is open for business in Mitchelstown.
Local woman, Kelly Boland spoke to The Avondhu this week to describe her new venture at Styles Hair Salon in her hometown.
While this particular opening might be a new undertaking for Kelly, hairdressing is not.
“My mam tells me my first introduction to anything “hair related” was when I was 5 years old. Our childminder who was in her 50s at the time, sat while I brushed her hair and put rollers in.
“I decided to be a bit more adventurous and a scissors was produced as my childminder watched the Late Late Show – she, unknown to herself, was getting a short back and sides!” Kelly said.
In secondary school, Kelly decided to take hairdressing more seriously and took up work experience with Bernie Molan on Lower Cork Street in the town, the start of her career.
After this, Kelly began working at Sandra’s Hair on Upper Cork Street where she further progressed her career and began taking clients. She then enrolled in St John’s College in Cork where she completed two years of education in hairdressing and apprenticeships with Koppers in Cork and Prestige in Glanmire, under the supervision of Jenny and Laura.
Since then, Kelly has also completed an Alfaparf colours master’s degree in Cork and a Hair Talk extensions course on platinum hair extensions.
“Hair extensions are definitely becoming more popular and I do the tape extensions which are more used for fillers. I’ve had a lot of interest in them because with the lockdown, a lot of people have been stressed, and stress can lead to hair loss, but these extensions can fill in any patchiness and add volume,” Kelly said.
BRINGING HER TALENT HOME
Kelly says her dream has always been to come back to her hometown and bring her learning and experience of hair design and colour to her friends, family and community.
“Since the lockdown, my perspective has really changed and I’ve had to slow down a little, but I already have a clientele built up and I wanted to move a little closer to home and bring all that experience with me,” Kelly said.
In this industry, Kelly notes the difficulties she and fellow hairdressers, stylists and colorists have faced, however she claims this has not held her back.
“The first lockdown was a novelty, but by the second one, we knew what we were getting into. There was no finish line in sight so it was a big risk going out on my own, but I said if I didn’t take the chance now, I’d never do it,” she added.
Now reopening under her own name, Kelly’s Chair is a ‘very exciting’ venture according to Kelly, despite her initial nerves.
“It was very busy, I opened my book on the Friday morning after the (reopening) announcement, and my first week was booked out by Saturday. With lockdown, people haven’t been spending as much money and now they want to invest in their hair more,” she said.
To get in touch with Kelly for a booking or appointment, visit Styles Hair Salon on Baldwin Street, Mitchelstown, ‘Kellys Chair’ on social media or call 087-7092804.
CONTACT: Kelly Boland | WhatsApp, Ring or Text 087-7092804
Facebook & Instagram @KellysChair_
