Student Spotlight - Erin Foley-Garnier
The UK hair and beauty industry generated £5.8bn in turnover in 2023-2024*. Our courses at UHI Perth will help you achieve the skills and knowledge necessary for a successful career in this fashion-led innovative industry.
Erin came straight from school to study hairdressing as she knew this was something she wanted to pursue as a career. She chatted to us about how she is managing to successfully navigate the course with a hearing impairment.
What is your name, and what course are you studying?
My name's Erin Foley-Garnier, and I'm doing Level 6 Hairdressing.
What were you doing before the course and why did you choose it?
I was in S5 when I decided to leave and I was working at a hairdressers anyway, so I just thought it was just the next step into doing hairdressing as a career.
How did you feel when you started at UHI Perth?
Well, I cried in the car on my induction day because I was terrified and I thought I wasn't going to make any friends and I wasn't going to do well. But I've done really well, and I'm actually very proud of how I've managed to do it and I haven’t cried since the start of the year, so that’s a plus!
What subjects have you studied/enjoyed during your course?
I've really enjoyed doing the practical side of it. I do like when we talk more about the science behind it and the structure of the hair etc.
How have you got on with your classmates?
Really well – I’ve become good friends with quite a few of my classmates. I know that some people you just think of more as like college friends and you do have like your actual friends, but I think I’m lucky to have good friends here.
What do you like about the campus/facilities?
They are really good, and it makes it more realistic, so you know what you're going into after college and you're not feeling so struck by what the real world is like. You're more prepared for what it is when you go into an actual salon.
How have your lecturers supported you?
Paula's been really kind about supporting me. She's always made sure, especially on the days when I forget my hearing aids, that I can hear her and what's going on. She has made sure that I've stayed included in the course and always made sure that I hear everything and I've not missed anything while I'm learning. She always makes sure to go over everything in case anyone feels like they're a little bit behind or doesn't know what they're doing.
Do you have any hobbies/jobs outside of your course?
I watch a lot of Formula 1. I went to the Grand Prix at the end of May in Barcelona with my mum. It was brilliant, honestly, it was like the best weekend of my life, I absolutely loved it. I don't know how much my mum did, because she's not really into it, but the whole time I was just ecstatic by being there.
Have you faced any challenges during your course?
I lost my hearing when I was about six. I can hear better in my left ear, and I wear hearing aids as well. I can live without the hearing aids, but it is just a lot worse and tires me out. I've struggled quite a lot in primary school, and missed a lot of basic learning, so it made it really hard for me to catch up. It does affect my balance as well. My friends have always been very accommodating with my hearing, and they know that they might just need to speak louder with me.
The challenge with my hearing in the salon is my worry that the client would find it awkward that I can't hear that well and they feel that they can't have a good conversation with me. Especially with hairdryers and all the other noise, it can be very overwhelming. I find that if I just let the client know upfront that I’m deaf, and I can't hear you when I've got the hairdryer on, they’re kind enough to accommodate me with that.
What are your future plans after your course?
I'm hoping to go to Glasgow to do hair and makeup for film and TV shows and achieve an HND in that field.
I just take it two years at a time so, when I figure out what the next step is, I'll figure it out after that. But my basic plan is to be able to do hair and makeup for film and tv shows, which I think will be interesting. I'm really excited for that.
What advice would you give to new students?
If you're nervous, don't be! Just breathe. The first day is always the worst because you don't know what you're getting into. Don't be afraid to ask questions. It doesn’t matter if it’s a silly question - you will get the answer and know what to do next time.
If you’d like to find out more about our hairdressing courses, come along to our Open Day on Wednesday 21 January from 2-5pm.
* Source = https://www.nhbf.co.uk/about-the-nhbf/industry-statistics/
