Joseph Ferraro Hair

When I was a young boy growing up in Sydney, Australia, I dreamed of becoming a professional footballer. I lived and breathed the game, kicking a ball whenever I wasn’t in lessons at school.

By the time I was in my late teens, I was playing for my home state, New South Wales, progressing to play football at a semi-professional level. I loved the game – but as I grew older I realised that if I hadn’t made it to the big time by now, it probably wasn’t ever going to happen for me!

So, this was when I decided it was time to search out an alternative career – and with both my parents working as hairdressers – my dad was a barber and my mum worked in a ladies salon in Sydney, I felt it was my destiny!

Hairdressing really was in my blood – so by the time I reached the age of 21, I picked up a pair of scissors and followed my parents, Gina and Tony, into the world of hair and beauty.

I loved it right from the start – I thrived on the freedom and creativity a career in hairdressing offered me.  I enjoyed meeting every client who walked through the door, hearing about their lives and their ideas, but most of all I loved – and still do – helping a client become the best version of themselves through a great cut and colour. 

Completing my apprenticeship at a salon in the heart of Sydney, I worked as a junior hairdresser for a few years before deciding, like many fellow Aussies, to travel.

With the US and Europe in our sights, myself and a couple of mates spent three months ticking off some pretty cool places on our travel list, including LA and New York, as well as France, Spain, Italy and Greece. When I arrived in London, with a two-year working visa in my backpack, I quickly picked up a job at a hairdressing salon in the heart of the West End and so began my life in the UK!

Cobella, a high-end salon directly opposite Kensington Palace Gardens, was a great place to work, and I really made the most of living and working in the capital.

But when an opportunity came up to move north and cover a stylist’s maternity leave in a salon in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, I jumped at the chance. Why not, I thought – I was keen to explore the UK and make the most of my visa.

Little did I realise that when I moved up to ‘God’s Own County’ – Yorkshire - that would be it – and I would never leave! Two years turned into four, then four turned into ten – and now, 15 years later, I’m still here, happy, settled and with two successful hairdressing salons to my name.

Initially in Harrogate, I was working alongside friend Chris Burton, who I’d met in Oz. When the chance to buy the salon we were both working in – Halo - came up, we put a business plan together and, full of enthusiasm and ideas, burst onto the hairdressing scene in Harrogate.

It was a fun time – growing the business, hiring staff, welcoming new clients and forging links with some of the top brands in the hairdressing industry. These years marked an exciting time for my career too.

Winning a place on the prestigious Fellowship for British Hairdressing F.A.M.E Team and the Sebastian Cult Team in 2011  was a turning point in my career – offering me the opportunity to meet, and work alongside some of the biggest and most talented names in the hairdressing industry through the Fellowship’s mentoring programme. 

These included Errol Douglas MBE and Bruno Marc, to name just a couple. I learned so much and gained so much experience, growing in stature as a hairdresser. Those 12 months weren’t just a massive career boost to me but to my entire team as well – each time I was involved in a high-profile event, training workshop, photo shoot or similar, I returned to the salon full of even more passion and enthusiasm for hairdressing, as well as being armed with new skills, techniques and ideas - we were all inspired.

After a while, Chris and I went our separate ways, which offered me the opportunity to rebrand the business – and Joseph Ferraro Hair was born.

At around the same time, in 2016, I was honoured to win the title North Eastern Hairdresser of the Year at Hairdressers Journal’s British Hairdressing Awards, sponsored by Schwarzkopf Professional. Having been a finalist for a number of years, it was a dream come true.  This was a highlight of my hairdressing career to date – and another massive boost to myself and the team at Joseph Ferraro Hair in Harrogate.

Another highlight of my year as North Eastern Hairdresser was a sell-out stage show in the centre of Newcastle Upon Tyne for BL Hairdressing. 

Packed to the rafters with would-be hairdressers, barbers and their families, it was an opportunity for me and the team to showcase our work to hundreds of young people just starting out in the industry. 

The enthusiasm amongst the audience for their chosen career was evident by the questions I was asked and being able to pass on some of the knowledge that I have learned during my career to date is incredibly rewarding. Education is one of my passions and I love being able to inspire the younger generation of hairdressers.

Owning two Harrogate salons is full-on – and juggling this alongside my work for the Fellowship and my role as UK ambassador for Authentic Beauty Concept relies on some great organisational skills and a close-knit, highly talented and flexible team. Thankfully this is what we have at Joseph Ferraro Hair.

It had always been my ambition to own my own business – but when I was a young hairdresser starting out on my career in Sydney, Australia, little did I realise that my salons would be on the other side of the world, and I would own not just one but two before I had reached the age of 40!

I’m proud to say that both Harrogate salons – in Leeds Road and Cheltenham Crescent – have reputations that stretch far beyond the local area. We’re a relaxed, informal, friendly and welcoming team, delivering exceptional hairdressing for the individual. 

We listen to our clients and create modern cuts and colours that are wearable, day in, day out. We also work with brands that we believe in and that fit our salon brand and clientele. This is why Authentic Beauty Concept is the perfect brand for me. It truly reflects my approach to fresh, modern beauty and the honest, no-nonsense take on products feels refreshing and relevant. I’m really enjoying working with the range both in the salon and on set and hope that I can inspire other stylists and salon owners to explore the range and create their own beautiful, modern hair.

Our work at Joseph Ferraro Hair is all about effortless beauty with a gritty, modern edge – an aesthetic that reflects the combination of my Australian roots and my adopted Yorkshire home.

I’m recognised in the industry for my commitment to education and training – working at Joseph Ferraro Hair is a journey, not a destination, for every member of my talented team. 

Our diaries are packed with training workshops and seminars, competition entries, fashion shoots and live event work. Ensuring everyone across both salons keeps up-to-date with the latest trends and techniques and has opportunities to work on some of the industry’s biggest and brightest events. 

We are regulars at London Fashion Week, Salon International and Pro Hair Live and have even been called upon to work on The X Factor! 

My talented team of stylists and colourists mean everything to me – we really are like a family. Everyone works closely together, chipping in ideas and suggestions at our regular staff meetings/nights out. This collaboration is one of the secrets to a successful business – everyone feels that their opinion matters and that their voice is heard.

I love this industry as it’s so diverse and can take you on many different paths. I enjoy working with my Art Team on photographic collections each year, doing road shows showcasing our work, stage work and education. Watching my young graduates develop and flourish into amazing stylists is always a proud moment for me and the salon.

It’s been a fantastic journey so far – here’s to the future.