Hello Everyone! Happy December! We would normally be throwing our annual Christmas Party this week, but obviously that is off the cards for now. We have been hosting our weekly Pub Quiz via Zoom since the start of lockdown in March, it is every Tuesday evening at 8pm . Even if you aren’t good at trivia it is still lots of fun as we all have a chit chat before and after.
As you can imagine there isn’t much going on so we are using this space to get to know our members a little better. We already have our Meet a Member column but in this column we are learning a little more about the backgrounds of our members and how they are coping and adapting to the strange world we are currently living in. So if you have a story to share or want to talk about how your have changed you business practices to function during the pandemic please drop us a line at info@britsin.la
This is a great forum for us to support each other. We have over 16,000 very active members, many of whom are asking us for small business recommendations that need (y)our custom. So please don’t be shy , get in touch and we will try and help you through this.
This week we share the story of Anthony, a British hairdresser who had already faced plenty of obstacles before COVID-19 came along, but has taken it by the horns and is doing everything he can to get through it . So if your hair needs attention ( not mentioning any names) please keep him in mind .
Now over to Anthony Morrison…
I’ve been in the hair business since I was 8 years old. I know that sounds crazy, but it’s what I always knew I wanted to do with my life. Sure, my first clients were family members, but I had to start somewhere!
My story really starts before then. I was born to two Jamaican immigrants living in the UK, at a time when racial discrimination was extremely prominent. I was only 3 years old when my mother passed away while giving birth, leaving a newborn, a 5-year old, and me in the care of my 27-year-old now-widowed father.
When I was 10, I realized I was gay. I didn’t officially come out until years later, but this realization certainly didn’t help me fit in with predominantly straight, white classmates.
On paper, I had the deck stacked against me. At 15, I left traditional schooling to pursue my dream: international icon in the hair industry.
It sounded impossible to my friends and family, and at times to me, but rather quickly, I earned an apprenticeship at a top salon in London and attended London College of Fashion. I even owned my own salon in London. I became the international artistic platform director for a high-profile hair brand early in my career, in which I educated other hairstylists around the globe on my cutting and styling methods. And then I was America bound, where I went on to launch a line of hair-care products sold on Home Shopping Network.
There were struggles, challenges, no’s, and doors closed all along the way, but I never lost sight of my goal, and my determination kept me on point. When thinking about the future, however, I never imagined I’d be on TV and in magazines, too.
I won the first season of the Bravo TV series, Shear Genius, then was invited to become part of the “Glam Squad” on the TLC TV series, 10 Years Younger. I was told I’d become a “fan favorite.” In the years since, I’ve appeared as a hair and style expert on the TODAY show and as a celebrity judge for the makeover-based TV series, The Look: All-Stars. Additionally, I’ve talked hair trends in magazines such as Allure, Essence, and Modern Salon.
I opened THE LONDONER salon in 2018; it’s my fourth salon in the Los Angeles area. THE LONDONER is extra special to me, because I wanted it to be a reminder of my home environment in Hertfordshire, England. I planted a British-themed country garden and created the mantra, “Every guest is treated like British royalty.” Before Covid-19, we served high tea daily to clients. This unique atmosphere and British experience allowed me to immediately distinguish myself from the 10 other salons on the same street. That garden became a blessing in 2020, because it allowed me to transform THE LONDONER into an entirely new concept: an outdoor “(h)air salon.” That also helped THE LONDONER survive the strict, constantly changing Covid-19 guidelines set by the city for hair salons. We managed to thrive in the challenging time, and I know how lucky we were to do so.
I’ve been in the hair business now for more than 30 years and I love it as much as when I was 8. I find inspiration in everything from classic architecture to the sleek way food is plated in restaurants. Different cultures influence my hair designs, including my patented technique, Lumières de Flux.
My advice to those facing a seemingly impossible goal like I was: Stay focused, and don’t let anyone or anything get in the way of your destiny.
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/LondonerSalon/
Twitter @LondonerMB
Instagram @the_londoner_salon
