Model, actor and now a professionally trained hairdresser. The lovely Rachel White wears many hats. While Rachel has had a successful modelling career spanning over two decades with numerous prestigious assignments to her name, she finally fulfilled her dream of studying at Vidal Sassoon (Sassoon Academy) three years back and followed it up with further honing her skills at the London School of Barbering and Kevin Fortune (London). She’s a stickler for perfection, with marvellous levels of patience. TT caught up with Rachel on this new chapter in her life and more, at Bodacious salon, where she is the style director.
Hairdressing has always been your passion...
Always. I was very curious about hair even when I was in boarding school. My sister had a pixie and needed frequent haircuts. So, I would keep on coaxing her and begging her to let me cut her hair and all the other girls also. In the boarding, of course, it would be a disaster! They would have to put on shoe polish to cover up! (Laughs) My uncle’s a hairdresser and we sometimes joke that maybe it’s the gene and maybe I got it in the family after him. I have had make-up artists and hairdressers tell me at shoots over so many years that why can’t I possibly keep my eyes shut at shoots? (Laughs) I was not concerned about what brands I was shooting for so much as how my hair was being done or my make-up. I was often told: ‘Tum ko dekhna kya hai?!’ (Laughs)I was waiting for the right time, to be honest with you. In 2007, I learnt hairdressing in Calcutta and I did the whole course, but I wasn’t convinced with what I learnt. There was always Vidal Sassoon on my mind, but back then, of course, my son was younger. I was timing it with my son finishing Class X. The more you learn, you realise that it takes lots of practice and education. I needed the right training to execute it and I didn’t want to compromise on my training. I knew it was going to involve a lot of time and needed to have a more practical and pragmatic approach as to when to make the move. Covid made it worse.
The journey began in 2019...
Mid-2019, I started training in Bombay and then in 2020, I was supposed to fly to London in March and then the lockdown happened. My ticket got wasted. I was in Bombay waiting for travel restrictions to get lifted and then flew immediately the moment it got lifted. I was there for about six months initially and since then have been travelling back and forth. I trained at Sassoon and London School of Barbering after that and Kevin Fortune, London. I learnt different aspects of hairdressing. Sassoon was more about cut and colour. London School of Barbering was about barbering and Kevin Fortune is mostly about hairstyling. I plan to go back as and when I get the time because there is a lot more that I need to cover. When a 19- 20-year-old is getting into a new profession, they get five-six years to do trial and error, as opposed to a 38-year-old woman who doesn’t have so much time. God forbid, if you don’t have the right mentor, then your technique goes wrong from Day One. I didn’t want to compromise on my technique.
Besides personal reasons, was this also a good creative switch for you?
Not at all, to be honest. I was modelling in Calcutta for years and then when I felt that I had done almost all the brands here, then I went off to Bombay. Then when I felt, ab yeh bahut ho gaya, then I started doing movies and... then web series. For me, it was mostly about doing a job. I was lucky that great brands and good teams came along my way, but I keep switching. If I feel I am doing the same kind of ads and getting bored, I try to do something else. I don’t have any point to prove in terms of what kind of work I am doing.
Even during my training, I thought I’d be able to squeeze in shoots. Then Covid happened and shoots also became much fewer. And, then mentally, I didn’t have that sort of energy left to be able to complete a shoot and do hair. My mindset changed with the kind of exposure and the people I saw.... I want to get into trichology. I already make extensions. I want to work more on that. It is all about time management. I have just done a web series for Zee5 and an ad. So, I’ll do it when I have time. It’s because of that (modelling and acting) which has helped me with this. Nobody gets the chance to work four days a week in a salon and dedicate three days to shoots. The service industry in India doesn’t get so much respect. It’s only because of my modelling and acting, today people will not dare to disrespect me. It’s a fact and I say that proudly. It pains me when I see other hairdressers being disrespected around me. I hope that part changes. You cannot judge people on what their job is.
This is a new domain. You’ve had to earn that trust too here. Do you think this was harder?
When I finished and came back from London, I never imagined I would work in a salon. During Covid we realised that man proposes and god disposes. I had all plans of heading to the Middle East or Spain... but cut to my son going to college here. He is being a naughty little boy (laughs) and I decided I am not leaving him here alone. When I decided to do a job in Calcutta of all places, where people know me, it was like offering myself on a platter for people to criticise me. ‘O kaj pachhe na tai jonyo ekhon chakri korchhe.’ Everything is made to look like a tragedy. People talk like that, but I love hair and it’s only me, deep down, who knows how much I love it. It is sacred and it should be personal.
What have the challenges been like?
What your income is when you are a model or an actor, cut to what your income is when you are doing a job, is different. I understand realistically that what I make today is what I’d make in a day, shooting. The work hours have changed. My lifestyle has changed. Travelling and working with a new team is exciting. This also comes with a bit of monotony... working with the same team and you are standing all day. Financially, I have had to relook at things. There have been so many challenges, but the fact is, I have never had a moment of regret. That’s what I love about it and that’s what tells me that I am on the right path.
What kind of reactions have come your way?
There have been good and bad moments. I have had some snarky comments come my way, like ‘Aare, you have become a hajam’. There have been some very encouraging words too. People will have their opinions about you no matter what you do.
Do you have a favourite style to work on?
I like to have an approach which has a slightly bit of a bespoke touch to it and I am able to help the client maintain their hair further.
What dream are you yet to fulfil?
Right now, I want to focus on further education and I want to travel. I am enjoying my time working and meeting lots of new clients and creating lots of new looks. Despite all the challenges, God has been kind. My employers and clients have been supportive and sweet. I am grateful for that. I want to take it slow and steady and focus on improving my quality of work.
Hair and make-up: Bony Chakraborty
