Editorials
Hairdressers’ Journal International – the Human Touch
Go into hairdressing – machines can’t take over that job,” was the advice given to Ken Cooper by his father back in 1961 when he was a 15 year-old school leaver. He took on board his father’s words of wisdom, and in 2010 his successful Croydon salon is celebrating 40 years in business.
Ken undertook his three year apprenticeship – at a cost of 50 guineas – at a unisex salon in South London. He followed this with a couple of jobs in barber shops, but he soon became disillusioned with his career progression. Aged just 18, Ken decided that the way forward was to open his own business and, in 1964, with some financial help from his father, he opened Ken’s Salon in Hither Green, South London.
Five and a half years later, Ken recognised that the trends in men’s hairdressing were changing – it wasn’t all about short-back-and-sides anymore. Young men were looking to experiment more with their hair and Ken wanted to capitalise on this.
