'Skin-Fade Queen' and Distinction-level apprentice Amy returns to Campus to deliver barbering demo

And, unsurprisingly, her model left with a haircut fit for a king!

Amy was given the “majestic” nickname by our hairdressing and barbering tutor Fiona Scholes-Ogram and went on to secure a Distinction grade after completing her apprenticeship at College two-and-a-half years ago.

Having just turned 21, she is now self-employed and running her own business from a chair in the YFB HQ barber shop opposite Clifford’s Tower in York.

She has her own loyal Instagram following (on @aox_cuts) and a client base that means she is always booked up a week in advance, proving that gender need not be a barrier to success in the traditionally male-dominated industry of barbering.

As a college, we are also fully committed to challenging stereotypes and promoting inclusivity with 80 per cent of our current part-time, one-day-a-week Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Barbering students being female.

It was, therefore, inspiring for all our barbering students and apprentices to see Amy showcase her talents, explain her techniques and offer tips, having not so long since sat in the same seats watching guest demos herself.

On that experience, the former York High School pupil said: “It felt nostalgic being back and nice to deliver a workshop to show that I have gone on to do something with the qualification.

“I always found the workshops really helpful when I was an apprentice, because it’s good to learn from people who are working in the industry every day.”

Amy first decided that she might want to pursue a career in barbering during the Covid-19 pandemic when she started cutting her dad’s hair during Lockdown.

She then progressed onto the boys in her friends’ group and admits: “I was quite fascinated by the fading aspect of it. I thought that was quite creative and I found myself really enjoying it, so I thought I’d come to College and learn it and get the qualification.”

Amy is quick to point out, too, that barbers’ shouldn’t be closed shops for women who want to sit in the chairs as well as those wanting to demonstrate their talents behind them.

“The difference between a hairdressers’ and a barbers’ isn’t to do with gender,” she explains. “To me, hairdressing is more about colouring and styling, while barbering is just more cutting and fading really and I have female clients with short hair as well.”

Amy stressed, meanwhile, that she is proud to have studied at a college that actively emboldened her to become a barber and continues to help others follow suit. 

She also has her own advice for anybody wanting to go down the same route.

“It’s good that College are encouraging women to do it,” she enthused. “It can seem harder for younger lads to trust you because the majority of barbers are men and maybe it was a bit of a barrier for me at the beginning, but I do a lot of social media and that enables you to showcase what you can do.”

Amy adds that the quality of the tuition, facilities and resources on Campus meant that the time she spent at College during her apprenticeship was every bit as important as the experience she was gaining in her workplace at the time. 

“I really enjoyed coming in, the environment and seeing my friends at College,” she said. “It was a change to the barbers’ shop and Fiona was a good teacher, who knows what she’s talking about, having worked in the industry herself.

“The room we worked in was refurbished when I was at College and made to look just like a barbers’ shop, as it still does. You had all the same equipment and it gave you a good feel of the environment you were going to be working in.

“I enjoyed learning the theory as well, because that’s not something you always learn in a barbers’ shop. You need to know all about health and safety, skin conditions and hygiene, because they are all massive parts of being a barber. Being at College also builds up your confidence for when you’re in the shop.”

About six months after finishing her apprenticeship, Amy moved on from her former employers when YFB HQ owner John David “reached out” to her as he wanted to recruit young, up-and-coming barbers in his shop.

She has been working from her own chair there now for just over a year and admits that she has enjoyed the mentoring presence of John, who joined Amy to deliver a demo of his own to our students.  

YFB HQ were even shortlisted for the York Press' Best Barber or Hairdresser Award for 2024 and Amy has aspirations of running her own premises in the future, as well as perhaps working overseas one day.

The latter is an ambition that her College qualification will allow Amy to fulfil in terms of guaranteeing her competency for insurance purposes.

On running her own small business now and her hopes for career progression, she added: “I’m self-employed working from the shop. It’s a bit tricky doing your taxes, but you get the hang of it and being self-employed gives you freedom and endless opportunities. You just have to work hard. 

“I’d love to have my own shop one day and, at some point, I would love to travel as a barber, too. I don’t know where that would fit in my life, but I would love to do it if the opportunity arose.

“Barbering is a skill I can take anywhere, especially with having my College qualification because, if I want to go somewhere else in the world, I need that certificate.”

On the return of her former “Skin-Fade Queen” to Campus, meanwhile, tutor Fiona declared: “It’s been brilliant. Amy was not always that confident, but I knew how good she was and, with the attitude and work ethic she had, I knew she was going to do well. 

“She was always willing to learn and, while barbering is male-dominated, a lot of women want to go into it. 

“We’re seeing that at College and Amy’s showing that you can do it. She’s thriving in York city centre and has a good range of clients.”

To learn more about our Level 2 Barbering Apprenticeship, please click here

For full details on our part-time Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Barbering for Adults, visit here

Information on all of York College’s Hair, Beauty and Media Make-up courses can be found here

Visit our next Open Event on Thursday, 19th June (5.30pm-7.30pm), meanwhile, to meet tutors and discuss any of our courses. Register a place here