Student Star: 2nd Chance at a Career in Beauty – Harry Doran
Harry Doran was your typical teenage boy, working a part-time job, and focused on one goal.
“I was saving up money to buy a car. So no, hairdressing was not what I wanted to do, in fact I never even thought of it.”
Until a family member noticed Harry’s passion for drawing.
“I am an artist, I do cartooning, and it was my uncle who said to me ‘You should try hairdressing.’”
Following the advice, Harry graduated from his High School vocational program and went to work behind the chair. But something was missing. His love of shape, color and design blended well with the creativeness of cosmetology, but after a few years, he was burned out.
“I just fell out of love with it. I actually started feeling like it was a job and not a passion.”
Leaving cosmetology behind, Harry spent 4 years working in other fields, trying to find what called him.
But as time passed, Harry began to realize he still had a passion for cosmetology. Eventually, he wanted to give it another shot.
“My license had lapsed. So I researched beauty schools. I called Empire and made an appointment to come in. The minute I walked in the door everyone knew my name. From the front desk, to the coordinator to the instructors, they knew I was coming in for a tour.”
74 W Broad St.
Bethlehem, PA 18018
“They helped me establish my cosmetology license again and about a year and a half later helped me get my teacher license.”
Today, Harry is a manager at American Hairlines, one of the top salons in his area. “Because I love what I do, and where I am I have taken on more responsibilities in my job.”
He realizes today that it wasn’t cosmetology he was drawn away from, it was the salon itself.
“If you have negativity, you can feel it, the people around you can feel it and the client can feel it too.”
Through his journey, Harry says he has some advice for current students who may be struggling with school.
“I call it the 900 hour slump, because you’re right there. You’ve invested so much time and you think you can just slide through and start getting lazy and complacent. You have to keep reminding yourself why you want to be in this business.”
Doran says he now understands what it takes to be a successful stylist.
“As a manager I look for how people interact with their clients and other staff members. We look for that passion for beauty.”
And, he says, people who are always willing to learn new things in an ever-changing industry.
“You always have to stay open, you have to stay humble and coachable.”