Interview With Philip Barwick

About Phil :

I would say I’m always changing and developing through life both personally and professionally.
 I feel like I’ve come along way and had a lot of experiences but still excited for what’s more to come and the new journeys ahead.

I find as I’ve moved through the chapters of my life my priorities, interests, values have changed and evolved.

My interests in things such as cars and motorbikes whilst still an interest, have taken a bit of a backseat and I find I’m now allowing more time for my spiritual self which has always existed to grow more.

How many years have you been working in the industry as an educator?

I’ve been educating pretty much since I started in Tassie at Sweeney’s modern hairdressing under a very talented man called Colin Sweeney, who now paints as an artist. When I first started I was given the opportunity to work on hair pieces and wigs for various shows and events. Seeing all this excitement and the opportunities for creating art and some amazing models we were able to work with.

Before completing my apprenticeship I was taken on as trainee chairman of the Tasmanian IHS this would have been like the predecessor to things like Youthworx and Fame team.

After this I moved up to Sydney to a salon called Torquil Murray salon in Paddington, I kind of found my feet there working for around 4 years in the space. It was a great salon to work in. There were a lot of people from a very iconic salon called Sloans. I then hooked up with Sharon Mare and Jo from Synergy and this is where I feel more education came in. It was a very dynamic salon and there was a lot of photo shoots and opportunities there. From this we ended up doing more platform education Hair expo etc. Sharon would go around educating in salon and I would go along with her.

Once we started Muse we very quickly became affiliated with Redken. So I’ve been educating with Redken for over 20 years. Through this I have been exposed to all their awesome training. Muse is in its 22nd year now, which is really great. There has been a lot of seminars along with platform work done in this time and great experiences. Where I’ve had that really good feeling where you actual feel like you’ve made a difference in someone’s life.

Where have you educated abroad? What was your favourite?

Yes, Everywhere from America, the NYC Redken Exchange is like the heart of educational creativity which I frequently visit these days.

Also New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, London, Scandinavia primarily Sweden and Canada where they put on a ripper of an event called Fusion.

It’s really the people that make the places. The Kiwi’s blow my mind they’re so great and so into their work. Really genuine people and that’s another thing that keeps me really locked into all this it’s like people meeting extravaganza.

One of the biggest things about being in education is if you feel like you’ve made a difference. It could be just one person or a thousand people in an auditorium. I suppose most of my events have mainly been Redken events and they are always absolutely killer events and I guess I would have to say it might depend on the amazing holiday I had afterwards. For example we did a wonderful event in South Africa which is where I first met Erwin Santos who is now chief Redken Australia. We did a self-guided tour on the Peruvian national park and we went through Bordeaux where I worked with Adam Browne and Richard Kavangah too. We went to Venice, Milan and the Czech Republic.

Another favourite would be Nordic tribe in Scandinavia. We then holidayed through Denmark & Norway staying in ice igloos etc. It was really James Bond stuff and we had a great time.

They have all been marvellous but these are the memories I have of the trips apart from the work.

Educator highlight so far?

The essence of everything you do if you are truly going to enjoy being in education, you have to or I have to really get that feel from someone that I’ve actually been able to help them with issues that are going on with their career.

I’m always thrilled to be wherever I am but for someone to hang back after a session and feedback to me and say you know when this happened that really drove home something for me and now I can go and do that. It’s not that you are hunting that adoration but you want to feel that you’ve had a great effect and it makes you glow.

If anything was a driving force or a highlight those moments when there’s an interconnection on that level between their lives and mine those are the moments, that’s called education.

What would be your advice to a Hairstylist in the industry wanting to become an educator?

Why do you feel like you want to do it?

My own personal journey has illustrated what you think you want out of it as to what you actually are getting out of it and then what it becomes. As with most things in your life they traverse this amazing journey.

Then I would ask how do you want to do it? What do you think it is?

No answer is wrong but what is your driving force? Also how their heart is around these things and if it will push them forward or hinder their growth. It’s remarkable what the drive can be from the beginning of the year to the end. I would also let them know as with all things of value there is a lot of hard work to do.

We always tend to focus on what we are presenting for example people say I’m going to do the best haircut anyone has ever seen. Which is amazing but if you can’t articulate that then they won’t get the fullness of what your vibe is and what about yourself are you willing to expose and let go of and be really honest. Letting go of all that to allow you to fully deliver to the audience. Being aware of the ego it’s in your fabric and being aware of that.

Really high functioning leaders and teachers don’t have that aspect of an ego and I’m subject to these things myself I’m not saying it’s a bad thing but a great leader and people that I aspire to all they have to do is look at me and I’ve learnt something they are people who have learnt how to let go of that it’s not that they don’t have it they have just learnt to function without it.

If you are waiting for someone to come up and give you that moment or something that you want to be don’t.
Don’t think you have to be the salon manager or owner you could be the apprentice you have to be the driver and it comes down to what you’re going to do? You’re the driver of your own destiny. You’re the one who has to interpret the tools and skills that people have given you along the way.

If a salon wanted to host you how would they go about it?

Definitely that is something I am developing more. All someone has to do is jump on the phone to either myself or the salon, send me an email, pigeon or message in a bottle. I’m so into doing in salon programs for anyone. I’m really proud

of my affiliation with Redken and they are really about bettering the industry and supporting the artists. I’ve done some regional events with my scissor company too. Anything from haircutting and all hairdressing skills right through to that coaching and the personal level of personal development.

Holistic training can be done in salon with salons as well, it’s a team thing. There needs to be a specific outcome and a process that I would go through to ensure we hit the mark. Even people who want to be better educators in their salon and how we can work with the team to achieve that.

I’m happy to travel to wherever people want me however everything has value and things such as flights etc. would need to be discussed and I’m really reasonable about these things.

What continues to Motivate and inspire you to educate?

We touched on the idea of that interaction and it’s also that thing of honing your own skills and nothing like that time where people are looking at you and what that outcome is going to be it keeps you sharp.

My own inspiration also to the people I work with I get to work with some really cool people, wonderfully humoured people. I go away and I get to see all of these developmental things that are just going on in people’s minds. For instance the Redken exchange the moment you get there it’s just oozing this creative, super positive vibe and it’s an amazing place.

I sit and I hang out with colourists too when I’m there and they are people that do some amazing work. The thing that keeps me plugged into why do I keep doing it is it’s consistently re developing me and I find that very exciting it’s a challenge to come up with new gear all the time you have to give it all away. There’s no point being in education if you’re holding onto secrets you’re not there about the learner. That’s what I mean these things are so multi-faceted these days.

I’m still the learner as much as anyone else so it’s a privilege to go and see and hear other educators. Someone that pops into my head is George Garcia the way he talks about brush strokes and angles of brushes for his colour work is like,

man, so inspiring.

Do you have a hair mentor/idol?

I suppose we do try to narrow that down to one person however, in all honesty I have so many people help me and inspire me. Like I said if you are open to it anyone can be that person.

I’m really grateful for that and it’s incredible because sometimes it can be a technique or a presentation. Sometimes and can just be something that is said to you that cracks you open. Kris Sorbie once said something to me it was a total honour that really made me have a breakthrough and I’ll never forget it.

Then there is also people like Chris Baran is an amazing person on many levels, really getting down to the nitty gritty of who you are, what you’re going to be training and the rawness of that.

Sam Villa, I know these are probably people that you would expect me to mention, however., these are people that I have worked with over a long period of time and whilst they are developing I’ve also been developing. I witnessed them on their levels and they have been open enough for me to do that. Sam villa is a real entrepreneur, as far as getting a message across and making a difference I’d put him at number one on the list.

Although there are so many great number ones, even working with people like Adam Browne we have always had an incredible report working and just jamming together it was so raw and fun it was a bit like a garage band. We are now approaching a more collaborative style industry more so, than what was going on in those times. We meet on a level of soul to soul and it was a really cool thing we are still great friends.

Other mentors would be Sharon Mare that was someone who changed my life, absolutely turned it upside down as far as my awareness as to what was available. Also too my very first mentor Colin Sweeney, I mean I can’t forget about these people as he gave me my first opportunity as a hairdresser.

I find naming one person uncomfortable as there isn’t just one person and there can’t be. Even my business partner, he’s one of the most knowledgeable people of technical hairdressing. He does all the administrative stuff in the salon as well as running a full column. He does that which enables me to go out and do this stuff. If you’re open enough that’s where the mentoring is.

Richard Kavanagh I’m lucky to get to work with him a lot. We jam and we are just really open about what we are thinking or what’s going on. That’s really strong stuff.

Another person is Anne-Marie Mason who used to be with Redken. She was amazing because she was so patient, I was just a bit of a cow boy at the time and so she helped shape me.

There are so many people I could go on and list and I feel it’s very important they are known.

Now I believe you have a pair of scissors made by Sharpline in your honour tell us more?

My story with Sharpline is that Adrian Schlemmer who I see he’s an artist, he’s so obsessed by metal and what does this and that. He’s also a design and a research and development maniac. He goes in and he tests things and develops things.

Over the years he and I have created a report and I would road test a lot of his scissors for years. Then there was one particular technology that probably started about 15 years ago and I have had a pair of these scissors as they developed.

I now have my own line of scissors that have been spurred on from this. He would bring the scissors in and I would road test them. We got to the point that he felt there was a calling or a response to that over the years to do a scissors line for me as I had worked with them for so long I really knew them back to front.

That was a really great opportunity and I was really honoured to have that. One thing I firmly believe in is that we need to have really first grade tools and I don’t want this to turn into an advertising campaign. However, how often does the owner of a salon say to an apprentice I want you to do an average job? We never say that, but when it comes to the investment into their first pair of scissors you hear people time and time again saying oh just get the $100 pair.

This is not good enough, the apprentices need to have good tools and learn to look after them. I’m not saying you need to go out and spend $2000.00, but I certainly think you need to get the best you can.

A very good buddy of mine Stevie English he’s an ambassador for Excellent Edges. One of the things Stevie says is how much do you spend on your mobile phone? Invest in your career is the

message and the apprentices should be inspired. Find out what the best is and teach your apprentices what is available to them. I do know Adrian has some awesome stuff for apprentices and I firmly believe he is years ahead in development in his scissors.

Something you would like to see change or improve in education in the industry?

The hairdressing companies are making a commitment to it as they know the value for their bottom line as far as being invested in the industry. What I would like to see change is I would like to see the government get their hands off our industry. I would like to see them liaise with companies such as the Australian Hair Council more. We need to know what we are saying when we are educating and ensure there is value within the education. I think Tafe is really moving forward in the industry supporting courses such as The Creative Collaborators which I was recently fortunate enough to be involved with.

I look forward to seeing more outsourcing and collaborating in education in the future.