Jules Story:
Jules Grew up in Brisbane, Australia. He was basically born onto the salon floor with dad Benni and mum Tracey owning their own salon. Never wanting to be a hairdresser and now 12 years into it and loving it! Allowing him to be who he wants to be and gives him the opportunity to explore different avenues.
Jules does a few things throughout the hair industry from working at Tognini’s as a stylist doing clients back to back. To educating, sharing his knowledge and watching people light up when they get stoked about hair and what they can create.
Starting Lil Off The Top 5 years ago it’s all about making education fun, affordable and being able to relate it back into the salon allowing you to do really great hair in salon time.
An ambassador for the Aussie company EVO for the past 9 years, originally only in Australia the brand is now available in over 45 countries. Travelling around the world Jules heads up the cutting education, gets involved with product development and internal training.
Recently teaming up with brother Kristian and another business partner they put together a hair loss and preventative company called Joe Blow for Men, however Josey Blow for Women is soon to launch too.
Working and collaborating with a few consumer companies relating to male grooming such as VS for Men and connecting and helping the consumer understand what we do in the salon.
Also dad to two kiddies Jules loves his time with his family, getting to be 100% dorky dad as he puts it. Getting to also be hubby to his beautiful wife. Life is good!
When and how did you get into education?
Getting into education early in his career, Jules taught his first class as a second year apprentice.
Having his dad as an amazing mentor backing him through education and being creative in the hair industry. Jules also started out educating with Matrix at an early stage as well.
He started out his apprenticeship as an adult apprentice having already developed some good people skills, a love of talking and an interest in film and acting.
Benni, Jules’ father educated for many big brands over the years and Jules’ would always say but what celebrities do you do. Benni taught him that it’s not about that what’s popular, but about supporting the industry and building up the people in the industry.
“At the end of the day we are all hairdressers so let’s join forces and make this industry the best that we can”.
Most rewarding education experience so far?
Jules gets a massive kick out of it when someone tags him in a picture of a haircut they did. He may not have taught them for 6 months but they will always say they learnt this technique in a Lil Off The Top class.
It’s nice to know you can help someone and make a difference to their day to day.
“I was at a gig in Spain recently and no one knew who I was and I presented in Spanglish. I had to build it from the ground up. The way we can connect through hair and it becomes like a universal language without actually speaking the same language. Using your hands and your excitement you really start to connect with people.”
What inspires you to educate?
“I love having great people you can jam with and it can take a day to crack a new crew or crowd.
But as soon as everyone opens up you start to hear little comments like oh that’s so basic, yes it’s not about the tricks in hairdressing it’s having a solid understanding of things in the industry and being able to educate ourselves and educate our clients. To elevate the industry and be proud to be a hairdresser.”
Who’s hair would you love to cut and why?
“Jamie Oliver I would love to cut his hair and pick his brain.”
Hot tip for young guns learning how to cut?
The best thing i could probably teach you is “Before you cut anything know why you are cutting it”.
Don’t cut anything until you understand it and why , once you do everything will start making sense.
Mentor/ idol industry or other:
“This is going to sound cliché but Benni (dad) is my biggest mentor. He’s Rock n Roll. I have a couple of others though like Lyndal Salmon, she’s Rock n Roll too. She’s so good, most under rated hairdresser in Australia! I get a lot of inspiration from people who challenge me. for example Lauren McCowan challenges me all the time. Sarah Laidlaw too, we have different styles but I find she challenges me on different aspects.
I look up to some people such as Eugene Suleiman. I look as his work completely different sphere to what I do but I look at his work and pretty cool. Charles Lemindu he does some pretty rad stuff too.
Outside of hair I have this massive crush on Jamie Oliver, the way he takes some professional and is able to connect it back into the consumer world and have everyone understand. His education style has been a big influence for me with Lil Off The Top and trying to connect everything back and make sense it doesn’t have to be hard. ”
Hot tips for picking a good pair of scissors:
“Don’t go for the cheapest ones. Don’t go for the prettiest ones.”
“Do a little bit of research about what your cutting style is and pick a scissor that will suit you best.
I think it’s best for everyone to have an all-rounder pair of scissors, something that does a little bit of everything and is something you can rely on. Then looking at if you are more of a precision cutter or more about texture or softness and working that scissor choice in to suit your style. If you buy a good scissor to start out you should be able to make that last throughout your career and then add pairs as you go and advance in your cutting style.”
A Lil about Lil Off The Top:
Still a little team and going strong. Headed up by Jules as the creative and Kristian looks after the logistics which is great. He’s the unsung hero in all of this, he doesn’t get the trophies and the recognition but man he deserves it. Best wing man/brother you could ask for. Working towards to same goals.
Currently operating as a cutting agency. We have a few heroes in our company Benni is our technical director, he keeps everyone in line and helps us to create the classes to ensure they are technically solid.
Tom White current Men’s Hairdresser Of The Year. Working with Lil Off The Top now for 3 years based in Melbourne.
Sami J who just won South Australian Hairdresser Of The Year and Editor’s choice awards. She’s Epic
Career highlight so far?
Lil Off The Top! I love it!
Want to see more Instagram :@liloffthetop
To book some Heducation click the link: Lil Off The Top.com
X Alisha