Q and A with former student Charlotte Rowe

Charlotte Rowe studied a Hair Professionals Apprenticeship at NSCG in 2019. She has since been able to combine her love for both travelling and hairdressing, by launching her career in Australia. We caught up with her to find out all about her life down under.

How did you find yourself living in Australia?

You know what, I had a dream to travel and hairdressing is the type of career you can do anywhere in the world. My friends either didn’t have enough money, or couldn’t bear to leave home, so off I went on my own and just this year I have travelled to Poland, Barcelona, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Australia! Along the way I was using my skills while staying in hostels and through offering haircuts to people I met, I came across the most amazing people.

Where are you working now?

I’m now working for a company called Blow Bar where a bar meets hairdressing, we market it as an experience rather than a service. We do all things styling, blow drying and up styles, as well as event-based work and working with VIP clients such as Rebel Wilson and Gwyneth Paltrow!

Would you recommend an apprenticeship with NSCG?

I would definitely recommend an apprenticeship as nothing beats on the job training. I thought I knew almost everything to do with hair before coming to Australia but you never, ever stop learning. The support I received from the college was second to none, especially because at times I felt like giving it all up. I have to give a big shout out to Karen Treweek, my assessor, as she never stopped pushing me and I don’t think I’d have the opportunities I have now if it wasn’t for her.

What kinds of things are you working on & how did your apprenticeship prepare you?

Most recently I took on the Vogue Fashion Night Out catwalk models, which was a huge achievement. My true passion is creating festival and rave hair though. There is a massive rave culture in Australia so watch this space for my new business idea. My five year plan would be to travel whilst creating hair artistry at festivals all over Australia.

My apprenticeship prepared me for so much: working life, time management, precision and I feel that having a support network of other students studying hairdressing too made it a lot more motivating.

What was your favourite thing about studying at NSCG?

Aside from Starbucks, I loved how there is a fully working salon and as much as possible we were thrown in the deep end (with supervision of course). Hairdressing is all about trial and error, if you don’t have a go, you’ll never be successful and everybody makes mistakes, I’ve made more than I can count.

Can you tell us a random/interesting fact about yourself?

I can talk the back legs off a donkey!

What 5 words would you use to describe yourself?

Funny, spirited, emotional, driven and charismatic

Have you picked up any new hobbies since moving to Australia?

Back in England I always had horses and did a lot of show jumping, but since coming to Australia my hobbies have changed. I now enjoy coastal walks, sunbathing and occasionally swimming, without getting my hair wet of course!