The Authentic Self

Hello and Welcome to my salon,

Let me introduce myself and a little about my background and how the Authentic Self Salon came to be.

My name is Chris Armstrong. My background in hairdressing goes back a long way.

I started work in the hairdressing industry at the age of 12 years old, motivated by my mother to contribute some effort towards earning money to help provide me with the extras that every boy wanted back then.

Uninspired by the type of jobs that were usual at that young age, which included newspaper delivery and washing cars, yet powered by my mother’s strong work ethic, I sought a different direction. One which was to change my life forever and not just be a source of extra pocket money, the lines of destiny became drawn.

It may have begun as a few hours a week after school and weekends, but those humble beginnings during which I made myself at home washing hair, making tea and coffee and generally helping out in a local hairdressing salon provided me with the best start ever to a career.

There was never any question thereafter as to what I would be doing with my life. Some might say that I chose this path, but I do wonder whether in fact, it chose me. If so, I remain ever grateful.

Once I left school, I put in the hours learning the craft at a variety of salons in the South Yorkshire city of Sheffield. I loved the experience and lapped up everything I could about cutting and colouring hair, took note of how the business side functioned and immersed myself in all the aspects of hairdressing that were available to me.

Eventually and after working in a global company, I realized that I was developing a different approach to hair. For me, it wasn’t just about cutting and colouring. It wasn’t about churning out the latest fashionable look. It was about finding the right style for each person.

Hairstyling is a very individual matter and hair is integral to our living breathing self. It isn’t a superficial part of us, but is deeply personal and meaningful on many levels, not the least our identity and face to the world. This is why I wanted to deliver more to my clients than just a standardized service.

I wanted to help clients to feel better by taking good care of their hair. It was time for me to open my own salon. Hence the birth of Authentic Self.

The name arose out of my wish to combine therapies and hairdressing together. Modern life and all its stressors can take their toll and one of the first indicators is the hair. Our hair will be the first to feel the impact. It isn’t enough to try to cover things up with products as this just compounds the damage of an area often neglected when life becomes difficult.

All of this, together with my vocation as a hairdresser has informed my progress so far. Now the proud owner of an establishment which is based in the picturesque town of Belper in Derbyshire, but with clients travelling from far and wide to visit me, I have expanded to include organic haircare in my salon.

The story continues to evolve with a special space devoted to helping those who have need of a little more hair as well as an area providing specialist scalp consultation and treatment.

The Authentic Self Salon has a holistic approach to hair, where I can deliver personalized hairstyling to empower, a scalp treatment service to heal and a bespoke wig fitting service to restore confidence when required.

I continue to deliver the best hairdressing service based on my extensive experience and knowledge and appreciate every single day here. My life undertook a turning point in the right direction when I followed my mother to her hairdresser that day and decided to ask for a job there.

If I can make a difference by making someone feel better about their hair, then it becomes even more worthwhile.

My mission to provide a personalized place where guests can feel relaxed and enjoy having their hair taken care of is unfolding. Each part of the salon has evolved in its own unique direction to create an uplifting atmosphere and environment for all hair needs.

Welcome to Authentic Self.

Warmly,

Chris