HAIRDRESSER Jackie Gordon recently received an award from Bolton Council's Ethnic Minorities Business Service (EMBS) for her business and management skills.

As proprietor of the G-Spot Hair Salon on Chorley Old Road, the 42-year-old overcame many obstacles to get where she is today. Karen Stephen reports.

WHEN Jackie Gordon left school, it was assumed she would get "a proper job".

She went to the former Bolton County Grammar and, as she explains, "we were all expected to get a good career."

Jackie had set her mind on hairdressing. She had been doing her friends' hair for years and was intent on turning her much-loved hobby into a full-time job.

"However," she smiles, "my mum had other ideas. She said I hadn't gone to grammar school to be a hairdresser so, reluctantly, I decided to go into engineering."

That was in 1976 and, when Jackie, now 42, went for the interview she was the only girl among 150 young lads. "The interviewers thought it was a hoot," she recalls, "and admitted they didn't know what to ask me. The best they could do was 'do you know you'll get your hands dirty?'"

Eventually Jackie went into accountancy. "My mum had been an accountant, I was good at maths, so it seemed like a natural progression."

But she soon found herself rushing home from work to do friends' hair almost every night of the week.

"I couldn't wait to finish work because then, for me, my REAL work could begin."

It wasn't long before Jackie, and her mum, realised she might as well give up the day job.

She started hairdressing from home and soon moved into her own premises on Knowsley Road before eventually relocating to her current salon on Chorley Old Road.

And it's from here that her reputation for her expertise on afro-Caribbean hair and, more recently (and no pun intended) hair extensions grew enormously. "Hair extensions have become absolutely massive," says Jackie, "thanks to the many high-profile celebrities who have them.

"What was once exclusive to afro-Caribbean hair, is now popular among everyone."

And Jackie soon saw a niche in what was to become an incredibly lucrative market. Her entrepreneur spirit came alive and she now travels globally teaching and selling her concept on afro-Caribbean hair and hair extensions.

She explains: "I absolutely love teaching but I insist on spending a couple of days a week in my salon. You need to keep your finger on the pulse, so to speak, keep up with what people want."

She admits her workload is getting heavier by the day. Last year she visited four countries to teach hair salon owners the art of hair extensions. This year she's already on her third trip -- one being Atlanta, USA. Aside from the teaching, Jackie is also in demand for magazine photo shoots and international hair exhibitions.

"I'm directing a team of worldwide hair stylists at this year's Erotica exhibition in London," she says, "it'll be hard work but I'll thrive on it."

It's obvious Jackie has a master plan and she readily admits she's had to sacrifice a lot to get where she is today -- and she'll sacrifice a lot more to get where she wants to be.

"Relationships have taken a back seat," she smiles ruefully, "and unfortunately I can't have children so they were never in the equation.

"I think being a mother and raising children is an incredible achievement. For me, that's not to be. So perhaps I've pushed myself into achieving in another way -- my work."

As for the future, Jackie intends it to be equally busy. She realises in time she'll have to move to larger premises.

"I'd love to have a training room in my own salon," she says.

"I've got so many plans and ambitions I've yet to achieve. Being awarded a certificate from the Ethnic Minorities Business Service was wonderful and it made me determined to work even harder."

If that's possible.

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pic 1 PROUD .... Jackie holds her award

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IT'S AN ART: Jackie demonstrates the skill of hair extensions

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