Hair by ILENE

WHAT IS A HAIRDRESSER?

Being a hairdresser is so much more than just doing hair.

We get tired.
We get sore.
We are in pain.

Sometimes we just need a quiet time.

Because we talk ALL day.

We listen.
We laugh.
We sometimes cry.
We hear happy stories.
We hear sad stories.
We hear things people don't share with everyone.

And without even realising it, clients' energy melts into you.

You can feel their happiness.
Their sadness.
Their stress.
Their excitement.

And somehow you carry a little bit of it with you.

But as a hairdresser, you have to learn to leave your own emotions at home… or in the car.

You might have had a terrible morning.
You might be tired.
You might be dealing with your own problems.

But when that client sits in your chair, you put it aside.

Because for those hours, you're there for them.

And after years of doing this…

Clients become family.

You know their stories.
Their kids.
Their husbands.
Their birthdays.
Their struggles.
Their happy moments.

But what makes it even more special is that they know me too.

They know my kids. ❤️
They know my hubby.
They know my stories.
They know when I'm having a good day.
They know when I'm tired.
They know what's happening in my life.

They've watched my family grow.
They've listened to my stories.
They've celebrated my wins with me.
They've heard me vent. 😂
They've seen me laugh, cry, stress and celebrate.

They don't just sit in my chair and tell me about their lives.

I share mine with them too.

And somewhere along the way, it stops being a client and a hairdresser.

It becomes two people sharing a little piece of life together.

So when people say,

“You're just a hairdresser…”

No.

We are listeners.
We are therapists without the qualification. 😂
We are cheerleaders.
We are sometimes a shoulder to cry on.
We are the person who hears the story before anyone else does.

And yes…

Sometimes we are exhausted.
Sometimes our bodies are sore.
Sometimes we just want silence.

But we still show up.

We still smile.
We still listen.
We still care.

Because being a hairdresser isn't just about making someone's hair look good.

Sometimes we make someone feel good when they need it most.

And after 20+ years behind the chair, I've learnt one thing…

Hairdressing isn't just what I do.
It's a part of who I am.

Every head of hair I've touched, every story I've heard, every laugh we've shared, every tear we've wiped away and every client who has walked through my salon door has become part of my journey.

And the beautiful part?

I've become part of theirs too.

This is Hair by Ilene. ❤️

Not just a salon.
Not just hair.

A place where you can come as you are, leave your worries at the door for a while, sit in my chair, talk s**t, laugh, cry, vent, tell me your stories, listen to mine, feel beautiful and walk out feeling like YOU again.

And to every client who has trusted me with your hair, your stories, your secrets, your family stories and your life…

Thank you.

Thank you for letting me be part of your lives, and for allowing me to share a little bit of mine with you.

You aren't just my clients.

You are a part of the Hair by Ilene family. ❤️✂️

Hair by Ilene — where it's never JUST about the hair.

Doing the new trendy thing, what do you think, is it me?

Let me know in the comments and play along send me your pics.

The prompt on Chatgpt,

Give my personality a mascot using what you know about me and the uploaded photo for my appearance, invent a funny cartoon mascot that represents my personality. Feature a glamorous cartoon version of me posing beside the mascot as if we are an iconic duo. The mascot can be an animal, creature, object, or completely imaginary character. Give it one small accessory or detail that connects it to me. Add its name and one short tagline explaining its energy. Keep everything else minimal. White background, clean composition, polished colorful cartoon artwork. Do not ask me what the mascot should be. You decide.

🚨 WAIT… THIS ISN’T EVEN STYLED YET! 😂🔥

I added a few tape-in extensions myself (with a tiny bit of help from Thandi because apparently hairdressers need supervision too 🤣).

Just a few pieces for some extra fullness — and look at that difference! 😍✨

Imagine this once it’s properly styled… 👀🔥

💇‍♀️ WANT THAT EXTRA FULLNESS?
Don’t just save this post and forget about it! 😂
📲 Send me a WhatsApp NOW to book your tape-in extension consultation!

📍 Hair by Ilene
14 Whydah Wing, Birdswood
📞 063 298 8479

✨ Limited appointments available — message me and let’s give your hair the upgrade it deserves! ✨

Send a message to learn more

💇‍♀️✨ 𝗪𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗞𝗡𝗢𝗪 𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗦𝗧? ✨

Join my 𝗛𝗔𝗜𝗥 𝗕𝗬 𝗜𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗘 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧𝗦𝗔𝗣𝗣 𝗚𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗣 for first dibs on:

📅 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞𝗟𝗬 𝗔𝗩𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗔𝗕𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬
🔥 𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟𝗦 & 𝗗𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗦
🚨 𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗧-𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗨𝗧𝗘 𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦

No more missing out on your favourite slot! 😉🤍

👇 𝗝𝗢𝗜𝗡 𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘:
"💗 𝗛𝗔𝗜𝗥 𝗕𝗬 𝗜𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗘 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧𝗦𝗔𝗣𝗣 𝗚𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗣"
https://chat.whatsapp.com/KGnVJ65oapI8ETSkvPHfLS?s=cl&p=a&mlu=4&ilr=4

✨ 𝗛𝗔𝗜𝗥 𝗕𝗬 𝗜𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗘 — 𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗙𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗕𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗡𝗦. ✨

chat.whatsapp.com

🌸😂 SPRING CLEANING ISN’T JUST FOR YOUR HOUSE… THOSE ROOTS NEED ATTENTION TOO! 😂🌸

Fresh colour + FREE treatment = your hair’s way of saying THANK YOU! 😍🎨

✨ Short R750
✨ Medium R890
✨ Long R980
✨ XL R1,150

📞 063 298 8479
📍 14 Whydah Wing, Birdswood

🌸 September Special | Limited bookings
💇‍♀️ Book your colour reset today! ❤️

🌸✂️ SPRING HAIR REFRESH IS HERE! ✂️🌸

New season, new hair, fresh confidence! 💕

Treat yourself to a Cut & Blow + FREE Deep Conditioning Treatment this September.

✨ Short — R250
✨ Medium — R300
✨ Long — R350
✨ XL — R380–R400

📍 14 Whydah Wing, Birdswood
📞 063 298 8479

🌷 September only | Limited bookings
Book your spring refresh today! ❤️

💕✨ MOM & ME — OR BRING A FRIEND! ✨💕

Why book your hair appointment alone when you can make it a little more special? 🥰

👩‍👧 Bring your Mom, daughter, sister or bestie!
💇‍♀️ Book ANY 2 hair services together & get 25% OFF!

Any service. Mix & match. You choose! 💕

📍 14 Whydah Wing, Birdswood
📞 063 298 8479

🌸 September only — limited appointments available!

Tag your Mom or your bestie… who are you bringing? 👇❤️

🌸 𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗢𝗟 𝗛𝗢𝗟𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗬𝗦 𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗚… 𝗕𝗨𝗧 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗧𝗘𝗘𝗡𝗦 𝗚𝗢𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗢 𝗗𝗢 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘? ✂️🤍

What if, instead of just keeping them busy, they could use the holidays to 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆’𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻?

If your teen loves 𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗿, 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝘆, 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲, I may have just the opportunity for them. 👀✨

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗮 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗘𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗳 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂? 🤍✂️

I’ve had so many young people sit in my salon and tell me they love hair and creativity, but they’re not sure what being a hairstylist is really like.

And honestly… sometimes hearing about a career isn’t enough.

𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘁. 🤍

That’s why I’m opening the doors of 𝗛𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗯𝘆 𝗜𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗲 to a limited number of students during the school holidays for a hands-on 𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲.

They’ll get to:

✂️ 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 how a real salon operates
💇‍♀️ 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 about the different aspects of hairdressing
🎨 𝗦𝗲𝗲 the creative side of the industry
💬 𝗔𝘀𝗸 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 and learn from 20+ years of experience
🖌️ 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 in demonstrations and supervised practice
✨ 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 for what a career in hairdressing could look like

Perfect for 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝟭𝟬–𝟭𝟮 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀 who are asking themselves:

“𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜’𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼?”

And the best part?

Maybe they’ll discover that hairdressing is 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴. ❤️

Or maybe they’ll realise it’s 𝗻𝗼𝘁 for them.

𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗼𝗸𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼𝗼.

Because sometimes the best way to find your direction is simply to 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳. ✨

I’m so excited to share a little piece of my world with the next generation and hopefully inspire someone to discover a passion they didn’t even know they had. 🤍

📲 𝟬𝟲𝟯 𝟮𝟵𝟴 𝟴𝟰𝟳𝟵 for more information

📝 𝗥𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘:
[𝗛𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗯𝘆 𝗜𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗲 – 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScYCzQAJ7lN5UJ5nNM5TSSbgJhO236dehm0HWz-Qo9FSME01g/closedform?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

⚠️ 𝗟𝗜𝗠𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗖𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗦 𝗔𝗩𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗘

𝗛𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗯𝘆 𝗜𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗲 — 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿. ✂️🤍

✨ BOTOX YOUR HAIR — NOT YOUR FACE! 😉✨

Ready for smoother, shinier, healthier-looking hair? 💆‍♀️✨ Treat your locks to a Hair Botox Treatment designed to tame frizz, boost shine and leave your hair feeling beautifully soft and manageable.

💇‍♀️ SHORT — R800
💇‍♀️ MEDIUM — R900
💇‍♀️ LONG — R1050

✂️ Includes a cut!

📲 WhatsApp 063 298 8479 to book
📍 14 Whydah Wing, Birdswood

Your hair deserves a little luxury. 🤎
Appointments are limited — book yours today! ✨

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗮 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗳 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂? 🤍✂️

That question has been on my mind for a while.

I’ve had so many young people sit in my salon and tell me they love hair, beauty and creativity — but they’re not sure what a career in hairdressing actually looks like.

And honestly, I get it.

Sometimes you need more than someone telling you about a career.
𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘁.

So I’m opening the doors of Hair by Ilene to a few students who would like to spend time with me in the salon and see what happens behind the chair.

You’ll get to watch, learn, ask questions, get involved and experience the little things that make up a day as a hairstylist. 🤍

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝟭𝟬–𝟭𝟮 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀** who are wondering:

“Could this be something for me?”

Maybe you’ll leave knowing hairdressing is exactly where you belong.

Or maybe you’ll discover it’s not.

𝗘𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘆, 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘁 — 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. ✨

I’m really excited to share a little piece of my world with the next generation of stylists. 🤍

📲 𝟬𝟲𝟯 𝟮𝟵𝟴 𝟴𝟰𝟳𝟵 for more info OR register for the program in the comment section💞