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Presenting the RAT PACK
The Racoon International Artistic Team, AKA The RAT Pack, is a happy bunch of 12 talented and creative hairdressers whose lives wouldn’ t be complete without Racoon extensions by their side. Here we discover what makes them tick.
ESTHER SWEENIE-ROWE: Freelance session stylist
STEPHEN MESSIAS: Racoon International Creative Director and RAT Pack leader
“ As RAT Pack leader, my job is to harness the energy, enthusiasm and creativity of all 12 people in the team. Everyone’ s an individual, a word that begins with an‘ I’ – but there’ s no‘ I’ in this team! Ours is a well-balanced group of skillful, talented and incredibly enthusiastic people who work together brilliantly. I ensure everyone makes the most of their strengths while helping to improve any weaknesses, creating a team brilliant at extensions work and creative hairdressing.
“ The RAT Pack’ s such a pleasure to work with; in all my 50-plus years of being in the hairdressing industry, never before have I worked with people totally concerned with progressing as a team, working for the collective greater good – not for themselves. You’ ve only have to look at the pics of them working together preparing models for our Vintage Collection photo-shoot( pages 6 to 9) to see how well they gel as a team. And look at what they produced! Vintage is an outstanding collection, simply beautiful work, and I’ m as proud as punch to be their team leader.”
“ I first got involved in hair extensions in 2002 while working in Ilford for the late Shelly Daly, founder of the Headjogs group. Extensions were already popular in Essex, but the materials were really poor. So I thought right, if we’ re going to do extensions, I’ ll research the best there are. I met with many suppliers and Racoon won hands down on the strength of its education, hair quality, support and customer service – all superb. Our turnover increased significantly through extension work, we soon became a top customer to Racoon and I was asked to work more closely with them, explain how we used extensions creatively, made them work financially.
“ This led to me becoming a Racoon educator and doing the extensions for PR jobs with top media hairdressers such as Beverly C and Andrew Barton for 10 Years Younger, How to Look Good Naked, Extreme Make Over, etc. By then I had two children and was so busy with the family, my clients and celebrities I decided to take the freelance route. Now I look after my clients in either the Dorchester Hotel’ s salon or in Graham Tilley’ s salon in Soho.”
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