Andy Dawson, a hairdresser and entrepreneur from Aberdeen, Scotland. At just 16 years old, he made the bold decision to forgo university and pursue a career in hairdressing. He trained under the renowned Josh Lamonaca of MENSPIRE and went on to open a salon in Aberdeen in partnership with Josh and Samuel Palmer in 2018.
Over the years, Andy has grown his skills and experience as a stylist, educator, and business owner. He has served as an educator for MENSPIRE, both within the UK and Ireland and internationally in Belgium and Italy. This experience has allowed him to host educational workshops and classes for stylists in Scotland.
Andy's dedication to his craft has been recognized through awards such as the North East and Scottish Barber of the Year. He has recently been crowned this year’s winner for @modernbarbermag’s ALL ROUND BARBER 2024 at @barberconnect
Now, with his own brand, SIGMA Male Image, Andy is bringing all of his expertise to bear on improving the hairdressing industry in Scotland. He is passionate about providing education and support to other stylists, fostering a collaborative and supportive environment for growth.
Andy has been a loyal Matakki user for 7 years, ever since his mom bought him his very first pair (The Vintage) at the start of his hairdressing career. He's used various models throughout the years, including The Dragon, The Flower, The Kosuro, The Beast, and The Assassin set.
He also said “The excellent service and high-quality tools are what keeps me coming back to Matakki. Having been a customer since the beginning of my career it is an honor to represent a brand that has played such a big role in my life. Meeting the people behind Matakki makes this opportunity even more exciting as we have a lot of similarities in our personalities, goals, vision. Finding out that it’s a family run business resonates with me in particular having grown up involved in various family businesses.”
Andy considers building two successful salons (Aberdeen and Glasgow) by the age of 23, with a talented team of stylists across both locations, to be his proudest achievement. He takes pride in what he's accomplished with his team and the positive direction they're headed.
His deep passion for the hairdressing industry and his brand sets him apart. He has meticulous attention to detail and high standards, with a clear vision of how things should be done. He's driven to achieve that vision and won't settle for anything less.
Andy and his team are driven by the concept of progression (their mantra is "Passionate about Progression"). They aim to make a positive impact on all aspects of barbering in Scotland, including education, salons, regulations, and inspiring others. Andy thrives in challenging situations. He demonstrates resilience and determination to succeed, viewing setbacks as opportunities to learn and improve.
We finally asked Andy what advice or inspiration he could offer to other barbers or new starters in the industry, to which he said: “My advice would be to invest in quality tools and education from the offset. This will save you time in development and make the entire learning experience more enjoyable.”
We are thrilled to welcome Andy and his team to our ever-growing Matakki Family
#matakkiscissors #matakki #Sigmamaleimage
