Iles Formula Hair Talk Featuring Diana Jalo from Crown Hair

This week from "down under" on our journal  Iles Formula Hair Talk Featuring Diana Jalo from Crown Hair.  Read on to hear what Diana based in Sydney has to share about her experience with hair, her favorite products and tools, and her advice in the business of beauty.

I think the most challenging part at the moment is finding more intimate education sessions. I think that because there's so many great courses and education happening right now,  a lot of people are interested and so bigger classes are organized to allow everyone to fit in. But I think it's easy to get lost in the crowd in big classes, so smaller sessions I find to be more accommodating to everyone's personal needs and struggles and creates and easier learning environment.

IF:  What’s the most enjoyable part of your job?

The most enjoyable part of my job is making people love their hair and feel good about themselves. That can be in giving them a new hair cut, adding some hair wefts, or even just a fresh blow dry. When the client leaves saying "I love it", it's such a good feeling.

IF:  Why did you choose the path of hairdressing and was it easy to fall into this work?

Well growing up I was always doing relaxing and straightening treatments, getting hair wefts and weaves, coloring and constantly blowdrying my hair straight. So hair was always part of my identity and focus. When I started year 11, my school offered TAFE college courses as a part of an elective subject. So I chose to do hair dressing and I got a job pretty soon after finishing high school. I found starting an apprenticeship, it can be a bit intimidating because you are interacting with people in a complete different way than you would normally, or did in high school. But once you get the rhythm of things, its great and things start to progress and move forward (Normally without you realizing) .

IF:  If you had not made the decision to be a hairdresser what would you have been?
When I was a lot younger I used to sing and write songs, so I really wanted to be a performer.

IF:  What is your greatest strength?
My ability to empathize with clients.

IF:  Your favorite hairdressing tools?
My favorite hairdressing tools would be a pair of sharp scissors and a wet brush. Wet brushes have definitely changed the game. Growing up with knotty, curly, dry hair, tangles and brushing my hair was a nightmare and always left me in tears. So having a wet brush back then would have helped so much.




IF:  Tell us about your relationship with Iles Formula. How you discovered us and which formula is your favorite?
My bosses at Crown hair, Kathy and Mark, introduced us to Iles formula. I really love the whole range as it is so gentle, softening and authentic. But my absolute favorite formula would be the shampoo. My hair texture, (curly,frizzy, dry) is always in need of a sulphate free and gentle shampoo. And sometimes shampoos that are sulphate free can be low lather and hard to use on big hair. But the Iles Formula Shampoo substitutes sulphate with a starch like vegetable , giving a great lather and still using natural ingredients.

IF:  What was your worst hair moment and why.... privately or on set/stage or in the salon?
My worst hair moment was when I got a bob, to my chin. It was in high school and I had seen someone with a really cute bob and fringe and thought that looked really nice. What I realised immediately after getting it cut was that her hair was a lot more fine than mine and sat so I sat more flat and behaved. Where as I left the salon with triangle hair.


IF:  If you could style anyone’s hair, who would it be and why?
All of my cousins hair in Africa. Would love

IF:  Where do you pull hair inspiration from?
Instagram, pintrest and different areas of Sydney such as Newtown or Darlinghurst.

IF:  Your advice to young hairdressers starting out?
It gets easier ! Its so overwhelming when you first start and it's really easy to feel like you're not doing a good job. Just know you are always moving forward and progressing.  The things you do and learn, no matter how big or small, will all pay off and things will fall more into place.

IF:  Thank you Diana for sharing your story with us!