Joanne: Hairdressing is my passion, my vocation, my business, my life

MAYBE Joanne McGourty’s mother knew Joanne was going to be a hairdresser before Joanne herself did.

“When I went into hairdressing my mother wasn’t a bit surprised, she told me that as a child I was always and forever doing my dolls’ hair,” laughs Joanne.

“I’d forgotten about that”. Unfortunately Joanne’s mother has passed away, but happily she lived long enough to see her daughter’s dream come true when in 2010, after working for another hairdresser for 13 years, Joanne opened her own hairdressing salon, El Pelo Designs, in Collooney.

They were challenging times, right smack bang in the middle of the recession, but with the support of family, friends, loyal customers, and indeed the close-knit community itself, Joanne didn’t lose faith and has since gone from strength to strength.

Why the Spanish name for the hair salon? Is there a Spanish connection?

“No, not at all” Joanne said. “It was my mother who started it. She suggested the French word for hair when we were bandying names about, and then I just thought what’s the Spanish word for hair? And it just rolls off the tongue, has a ring to it – and it’s different.”

Yes, the name is different, and Joanne’s salon somehow manages to be different. From the moment you walk in the door, the beautiful grey and beige interior décor is pared-back classy and yet the busy salon feels welcoming.

Of course much of that is down to the personalities of Joanne, ably assisted by Jessica and Caoimhe.

El Pelo Designs is very much part of the local community and has a lovely vibe – if you go on to El Pelo Design’s Facebook page, the first thing you’ll see is the Go Fund Me page for the Teeling Centre upgrade – that is under her witty banner: “Your hair is a crown you never take off.”

When hairdressing is your vocation, you believe you customers’ hair can be their crowning glory. And Joanne has chosen to use the luxury Italian hair brand Alfaparf in her salon.

“The range of products is just brilliant, especially their colour. Like every salon we still have to do a 24-hour colour test on clients, but with Alfaparf being vegan, you don’t get the reactions, it’s a cutting edge formula. Their colours are enriched with hyaluronic acid and free from sulphates and the nasty chemical compound PPD. So you’re getting perfect colour with full regard for the scalp and the hair.”

Listening to Joanne talk about her passion for hairdressing, there’s no doubt it was indeed a vocation and a passion she has poured her heart and soul into and is reaping the rewards of hard work and great customer service.

To book an appointment at El Pelo Design, you can do so by calling 071 911 5500.

The front entrance of El Pelo Design on Collooney’s main street.