Worcester Hairdressers: Meet Senior Stylist Harry
Anyone that has frequented our hairdressers in Worcester town centre will know Senior Stylist Harry. A big fan of beachy and soft looks, but what makes Harry well, Harry?
We sat down with Harry as part of our Meet the Team series in Worcester to find out about his life beyond the salon chair.
Harry trained with The Blushes Academy after school and has since taken incredible steps in his career to achieve Assistant Manager at Blushes Worcester. On the side, Harry is the lead singer of alt-pop band, Polary, who were recently picked up by BBC Introducing before releasing their latest single Nothing in Common.
On music…
If we were to look at your Spotify, what might we be surprised to see that you listen to that’s polar opposite to the music you create?
I think my Spotify playlists could either be described as hideous or eclectic. I’m going to say eclectic. For the most part, it’s made up of sugary sweet pop artists like Bieber, Lauv, Dua Lipa etc. but leaning to the polar opposite end of that, you’d find everything heavy that I grew up on which are band’s like Enter Shikari, Architects and Bring Me The Horizon.
I was going to say that there’s cooler stuff in between but who’s going to believe me now! Hahaha!
When you’re songwriting are you a “I need to be in a completely silent room alone” or do you need background music and a collaborative approach?
Definitely on my own. I have the attention span of a goldfish anyway, so I need to be purely focused on what I’m trying to create.
Is there a character in a film that made you think “being in a band is so cool I want to be like that”?
I don’t think that’s what initially got me into music. The first band that I absolutely loved and made me want to play was AC/DC, when I was about 7 or 8 but I used to watch a film religiously called ‘the rocker’ which I thought was the coolest thing ever, at the time.
Do you have a go to ritual before you sing live that you have to do every time you perform?
I have to do vocal warm-ups before we play. They sound like some sort of bizarre police siren but they help my voice so much and I think it’s probably a mental thing for me too, just knowing that I’ve done it.
On hair…
What celebrity’s hair do you look at and think “Ooh I love to cut that style”?
Can I rewind time a little bit? I’m going to. Jennifer Aniston’s 90’s hair was so, so good. So if I can just be her hairdresser, Chris Mcmillan, for the day, that would be great.
What makes you more nervous/stressed, working backstage on a shoot or backstage before a gig?
I’m going to have to say before a gig. Not that I’m not nervous before a shoot but I usually won’t even speak before a gig because I’m thinking so much. I always get unnecessarily nervous.
If you went to a highschool reunion, would people be surprised by the career path you’ve chosen?
Yes and no. I don’t think anyone from the school I went to, has gone on to be a hair stylist but I also spent 90% of my time there talking so it made sense that I’d be in a career based around people. My teachers were great, but they probably got fed up of me just wanting to have a chat with them rather than doing any work.
Being a hairstylist, who do you trust to cut your hair and what kind of client would you be?
I’d like to think that I’m an easy client, but you’d have to ask anyone that’s cut my hair. I’m probably a pain. Andrea in Worcester, Tom in Cheltenham or Gary in Cirencester would be my usual ‘go-to’s’ but whoever wants to cut my hair or has the time to, I really need a haircut!
What is your go-to product in the salon that you don’t go a day without using?
Pli, Pli, Pli, Pli, Pli. I absolutely love L’Oreal’s TechniArt Pli. This product works for everything. I’ve been really pushing the ‘air-dried’ look at the moment especially in short bob’s. Spraying a load of Pli into damp hair, using a diffuser on a low heat until almost dry creates this style perfectly (especially in straighter hair).
On personality…
Christmas day, you’re with your family and the quiz/board games come out, are you type A. Majorly competitive, stops the game if people aren’t playing by the rulebook or type B. Super chilled, keeps the peace because it’s just a game?
Type A. If you’re trying to pull a fast one in a game of monopoly, I’m not going to miss it and will also be stood up celebrating when you land on my Mayfair with a hotel.
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life and not get bored, what would it be?
I think this question is harder than asking me the meaning of life, but here I go anyway. I’m thinking about this practically, as well, so I don’t end up as a fat old man. This is a battle between Garlic & Chilli, Prawn Linguine and Yellow Rice with Sri Lankan Dhal. I think it’s got to be the Dhal. The Coconut Tree in Cheltenham can feed me for life. I want the Roti bread too.
Are you a morning person or an evening person?
Evening. Purely because I’m terrible in the mornings even though I like to think I can get up early.
Tv series or film?
Definitely TV series. If I start a documentary on Netflix, I’ll end up seeing it through to the end in one sitting.
What else would you like to tell us?
If any of my clients want to visit me for a Jennifer Aniston style hair cut or a ruthless game of monopoly then I’m game.
If you’re a fan of Jennifer Aniston’s 90’s hair, hideous or eclectic playlists and a game of monopoly, don’t forget to book in with Harry at Blushes Worcester when our salons re-open.
