Do or dye – one year on with rainbow room stylist, syd nicolson

Following the highs and lows of wannabe hair stylists, BBC Scotland fly-on-the-wall documentary series Do Or Dye: Hair Academy spent a year-in-the-life-of a group of students at Scotland’s biggest hairdressing training academy, Rainbow Room International which aired last year. To mark the anniversary of Do or Dye: Hair Academy the show was aired on BBC Two Scotland on Sunday 8^th November and is now also available to watch on BBC iPlayer. One year on we caught up with one of its stars, Syd Nicolson who now works as a fully qualified Stylist within the Rainbow Rooms, Royal Exchange Square salon. What attracted you to a career in hairdressing? I think the glamour of the industry had a certain allure, and the opportunity to push my own creative boundaries in a way I hadn't considered before. Following on from the show and now becoming a stylist, what has been your best highlight of the year so far? There has been a few but I love getting to work with the artistic team. The standard of work they consistently produce is fantastic and every show or photoshoot I help out with, I always learn so much. The buzz I get from it is a big part for me. How have you grown since the show? I have graduated from an assistant to a stylist and I am constantly evolving as a hairdresser. There is only so much training that will prepare you for being on the salon floor, and once you're there, it's like working your way from the bottom again. I love that I learn something new every day and I am finding my niche within the team at the salon. What's the best piece of advice you have been given at Rainbow Room International? Have goals and don't limit yourself – you can achieve anything you put your mind to. What would your words of advice be for aspiring hairdressers? It would have to be enjoy what you do, that's a big part of it, and never be content with what you know, there is always something to learn. Why did you choose Rainbow Room International? A big part of it is my father (David Nicolson) who is the salon owner of Rainbow Room International’s Royal Exchange Square salon. I have grown up around Rainbow Room and I believe that their training is second to none. How did you feel when you heard you were going to feature in the TV show? Apprehensive – I was a bit skeptical about being filmed to begin with as it was difficult to learn with a camera constantly being in your face, but as the weeks went on I kind of forgot about them and couldn’t wait to see the finished edited episodes. Did constantly being filmed by the BBC ever affect your training? Yes! It certainly added an aspect of pressure to the training, doing your first haircut on a client you don't know and having it broadcast on national TV, that would make anyone nervous. The whole crew were really cool though, and they encouraged us to try to be ourselves and forget they were actually filming. How would you sum up the past year since the TV show has been aired? Where did it go?! Since Do or Dye: Hair Academy the year has flown by and I've enjoyed every minute of it….they do say ‘time flies when you are having fun!’ What goals do you have for the next few years of your career? To push myself into creating new hair designs, to build a strong clientele, and to become an asset to the team, both at the Rainbow Room International Royal Exchange Square and the International Artistic Team. And to enjoy what I do, of course.