How Adelaide’s Sam James became Australia’s No. 1 hairdresser
Hairdressing was supposed to be a back-up job for Adelaide’s Sam James. But she’s just been named Australia’s best.
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Since making Adelaide her home 20 years ago, British-born Sam James has won many awards including being named the 2024 Australian Hairdresser of the Year. Here, she talks about her career and the phone call from an industry leader that made her realise just how far she had come.
I was always up at 6am before school doing cute little things with clips and braids … and I always did my younger sister Lisa’s hair too. As I got older, I was working towards a career in dance – Latin, ballroom and ballet – but then I hurt my knees quite badly in rehearsal.
Luckily, my mum Debbie had always told me I had to have a backup job. Throughout my schooling, work experience had to be around that in case anything ever happened.
After I did work experience in one salon, I got a part-time job there and, when everything happened with my knees and I stopped dancing, I just went straight into hairdressing.
Everything could have gone off the rails because of how devastated I was.
I was pretty upset that it was not my choice to stop dancing but I am very grateful to my mum, who always said, ‘Don’t worry, you’ll be on stage one day.’
In 2004, when I was 17, we moved here because Mum and Dad wanted a better quality of life for us, to give us better opportunities.
A few years after that Shane Henning, who was Australian Hairdresser of the Year, was coming to Adelaide (for a hair show) and I was going to assist him.
He couldn’t come last minute on the day and I got asked to fill in. I immediately got on the phone: “Oh my god, Mum, you’re never going to believe … I’m actually going to be on stage.”
It was extremely nerve-racking because I was qualified, but just qualified.
I randomly got on stage in front of people and educated (demonstrated) for the first time ever, without any experience.
The Pam Lavender Award for colour, cut and styling was my first win.
I’ve entered photos of my work in competitions since, but it was hands-on, live hairdressing. I loved it.
I have always been a bit of an adrenaline junkie.
To be under pressure, scrutiny, to have to prove yourself and the challenge of learning new things still drives me to enter awards. I was with Orbe (hairdressers) for 15 years – five years as a business owner with them.
It made me very driven. I managed, educated and then became a director.
It was a great journey through hairdressing and learning what I know about clients.
(Editor’s note: In 2019 Sam went out on her own and opened SJ Establishment at Prospect).
I wanted to try it my way, creating a flexible working environment … cater to everyone individually, as mums, sports people, travellers etc, which I believe to be my biggest success.
Although nervous, my partner Scott gave me the confidence to make the move.
A lot happened in our first year. We opened in June, covid was in February, and I fell pregnant in March. Jai’s four now and our daughter Arlow is almost two.
I can’t give that much advice (on juggling career and family) sometimes I don’t think I get it right … but I’m a planner and budgeter.
Being organised is the only way, and having a very supportive partner. I also have a fantastic team at SJ Establishment and have got to thank them too.
A year ago I got a phone call from Maryann Brown, the education manager for Matrix Australia and she said ‘you got in’.
That was the moment I knew I had really made it.
It had been an audition process to be a part of the Matrix global artistic team. We had to put like a portfolio together, do a video interview.
I geared myself up saying, ‘This is an amazing opportunity for them to see me, to be in front of them, but it probably won’t be me the first time that I apply.’ So I was beyond shocked.
Being part of that team is what I have been chasing for a long time.
I am regularly travelling overseas with Matrix now, and am about to go to London because I am in the running for International Hairdresser of the Year at the British Hairdressing Awards at Grosvenor House on November 25.
The most amazing, incredible, famous hairdressers will be there and I am so very excited just to be in their presence.
It will be nice to go back as an internationally recognised hairdresser and my family over there are obviously really excited.
Inspiration is everywhere.
When you’re a creative, your mind is open and you look at flowers, their colours and the way they blend and you think, ‘I wonder what I could do to make that on a sheet of hair.’
I did a very successful collection inspired by Gaudi buildings I saw in Barcelona when I was there on holiday. You can’t stay in one spot and not travel and have lots of inspiration, because once you’ve seen it, you’ve seen it. You need to see new things all the time.
But the most important thing is to surround yourself with people who are really cheering for you, and to find a partner that wants to cheer for you, because without that support, I would not be able to say yes to all the opportunities.
Do you have a story to tell? Email anna.vlach@news.com.au
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Originally published as How Adelaide’s Sam James became Australia’s No. 1 hairdresser
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