You'll Never Make a Hairdresser

Book excerpt: Description'You'll never make a hairdresser' is an autobiography detailing the life of a young boy living on a deprived housing estate in Manchester and tracing his progression to the present day and the realisation of his dreams. The novel includes many humorous experiences; the loss of his virginity to a wheelchair bound client, mobile hairdressing within the housing estate representing the culture and lifestyle of all involved, down to the very poignant moments on the loss of a dearly loved sister to cancer at the age of just 37. The novel also explores the innermost thoughts and feeling of the author, not only his depression which resulted from the onset of epilepsy at the age of thirty but also on a deeply personal level when he realised that as a heterosexual husband and father he was living a lie. Following these revelations he embarks on a journey of discovery which finally leads him to the confident and fulfilled gay businessman he is today. About the AuthorRussell was born in 1966 and raised in Wythenshawe, South Manchester. Russell's hairdressing career began in the early 1980's but his dream of becoming a hairdresser began much earlier when he first visited a salon in Manchester at the age of 13. Never losing sight of his dream Russell broke away from the tradition of locally based factory work and began a journey of training and apprenticeships in salons throughout Manchester. By 21 Russell had opened his own salon 'The Crop Shop' in Hale, Cheshire and was finally realising the dream he had held onto throughout his youth. Russell moved to North Wales with his wife and children but continued to base his work in the vibrant city of Manchester where the hair industry and business opportunities were rapidly developing; and where he was able to maintain close family connections with his older siblings. In 1997 Russell was struck by tragedy when his dear sister Allyson died. His loss of the person he describes as 'a mother figure' left him so bereft that his life spiralled into turmoil. As severe depression and epilepsy took hold of him, Russell spent long periods of time hospitalised whilst everything which he had built in ruins. The illness he experienced would be life changing and lead to him losing everything that his life was built on; the last foundation being his marriage when Russell confronted his sexuality and openly admitted that as a heterosexual husband and father he was living a lie. A long and lonely period of recovery followed during which Russell struggled to not only build his own emotional and physical strength but to find a way back into the hairdressing industry and to re-establish himself as a successful business man. Russell remained based in North Wales throughout this difficult time undertaking a number of jobs in order to become self sufficient again. The salons and customers which have shaped Russell's hairdressing career span a period of almost 30 years and form the backdrop to his book, in which customer encounters are intertwined with the personal hurdles Russell overcome with bereavement, sexuality, depression, epilepsy and dyslexia; but throughout these challenging times Russell kept hold of his dream and his humour, and with the ability to reminisce in such a poised, yet entertaining way has enabled the creation of his first novel 'You'll Never Make A Hairdresser'. Russell now runs his own salon 'Russell Paul Hairdressing' based in Prestatyn, North Wales where he lives with his civil partner Jonathan.