No hair issue too great - Karl enjoys his job as trichologist

The appearance of one's hair is often a telltale sign of its health. Breakage, thinning, flaking and balding are struggles most persons face with managing their hair, but how does one go about getting the proper treatment to maintain beautiful hair?

Trichologist Karl Richmond is dedicated to the task of diagnosing hair issues, and ensuring that persons are able to still able to maintain a positive self-image.

"A trichologist does hair and scalp analysis, doing the investigation when persons begin losing hair, whether male or female. We help with growing back hair," he explained.

The Corporate Area-based Richmond shared the story of how he found passion for haircare in an interview with THE STAR.

"In my teenage years, I was taken by dance on a whole, and during that time, that I think built my confidence to a point where I think there was nothing that I wanted to do but cannot do. I shared the idea with my parents that I wanted to do cosmetology and they endorsed it. My mother, in particular, told me that if I wanted to pursue it, I should do it formally," Richmond said, his face glowing in pride.

After leaving Ardenne High School in the 1990s, he went to work at City of Kingston Credit Union and thought that he would have a career in finance. His back-up plan was to attend HEART Trust/NTA and pursue his passion. He got accepted to the vocational training institution while at the financial institution.

"My boss gave me three months to make my decision and so I left that job and I went to HEART, and things just took off from there. It was the back-up plan that said make sure you have a skill, but I realised that the skill was paying far more than the 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. job, so I took the plunge and made the switch to the beauty industry," he said.

Female-dominated field

It was in 1994 that he had his breakout in the cosmetology and had an epiphany that he could have a full-time career in the once perceived female-dominated field. That same year he attended an international hair-cutting show as well as an interview with SoftSheen-Carson, for the post as a technical assistant. However, as fate would have it, he landed a higher position as technician consultant.

Richmond has attended the Bronner-Brothers Hair Show in Atlanta and other hair conventions, he has found love in travelling the world to provide care for women's hair. Now armed with a degree in trichology from the International Institute of Trichology, Alabama, he tapped into the niche' market with the likes of Dr Hyacinth Oates.

"When I did my own feasibility study, I realised that many persons were seeking salon services but the competences weren't there to explain what are the problems with hair, and what are the problems unique to black hair. I've tried barbering and it was disastrous, the ladies made me know I belong with them and they proved it. Many times you would go to the salon and the problem wasn't addressed, if the hair was breaking you were told to cut it off, but what if we can save this hair?" Richmond quizzed.

He boasts of helping women combat alopecia, correcting colouring issues and other hair problems. He recounted one testimonial of a woman, who visited his salon with green hair and left with a ravishing, eye-catching burgundy hue, much to her satisfaction. He sees his role as helping to bring happiness to people whose hair issues he has resolved.