A renowned Belfast hairstylist has been honoured for his dedication and contribution to the industry at a prestigious all-Ireland award ceremony.
Paul Stafford, owner of Stafford Hair Salon in South Belfast, was given the 'Icon Award' for 2022 at the Irish Hair Federation (IHF) Awards last weekend. With a career spanning almost 40 years, Paul said he was "humbled" to pick up what he called the most rewarding accolade so far.
Speaking to Belfast Live, Paul explained that his career in hairdressing started with his interest in youth culture and style - but most importantly, their hair.
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He said: "Growing up, I was one of those kids who wasn't cool but I was sitting on the peripheral, watching all these great punks and skinheads and admiring their peacock style.
"My mother was always very encouraging and would have said when I was 12 or 13 that I should think about becoming a hairdresser which is quite unusual back in the late 70s for a mum to say to her young son."
Paul and his family moved to Dundalk in the early 80s and that is when things started to take off. As a teen, he found working in a local salon to be a "great escape".
Despite coming into his own, he knew his heart was always in Belfast so after meeting his wife Leisa, they made the move back to the city.
"I worked in Zakks on Bradbury Place which was like Studio 54 for hairdressing back then. It was great because there was no bigotry or prejudice or political divides - it was a really eclectic atmosphere where people from all sides of the community came to have their hair done or work," he said.
"I was with like-minded people and I was getting to do something that I loved. I have never felt like hairdressing was a job, it has always felt like a well-paid hobby to me.
"In the early 90s, I ended up regularly appearing on TV which was phenomenal because it changed my life - I was appearing with Eamonn Holmes and Jaqui Barkley and UTV Live and more across the water. I was always very proud to be representing Belfast and Northern Ireland."
In 1995, he opened his own salon with his wife and has not looked back since.
The IHF Icon Award recognises not just a long-standing member of the industry with exceptional skills but it celebrates dedication, innovation and commitment to the career.
Paul added: "The nomination itself came really out of the blue and I didn't expect it at all - I am like everyone else at the moment, just trying to keep our business afloat and keep people in jobs. It was a real blast of positivity and I felt really very humbled by it.
"It has been the most touching of all the things I have ever been awarded because of the times that we are living in and because I hold the IHF in such high esteem. It also gave me the opportunity to pay credit to not just my wife, who deserves this more than I do because she really is an icon, but all the people who helped me along the way like my mother and father who are sadly no longer with us.
"All those great mentors and bosses that I had and every member of staff that ever came to work with us here and have been part of the journey. I really respect and appreciate all of them."
This was the first time the event had been held in person since 2019 and Paul said being able to celebrate with colleagues from all over the country was a momentous occasion.
"There was a resilience and an absolute sense of comradery with everyone in the room. It was a really beautiful evening of celebrating an industry that is just so valuable to our community and our economy," he added.
"It reiterated my ongoing belief that salons are as important on the high street as any other retail outlet but as part as any other social outlet as well because they give somewhere that clients can come and enjoy a little bit of sanctuary and gives us as salon owners a belief that we are vital to the financial and social tapestry of the city.
"We quietly dig away at creating jobs, creating opportunities and trying to make people as happy as possible."
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