Anthony a cut above the rest thanks to CQU’s hairdressing training

By Greg Chapman

Anthony Winter is living the dream as a hairstylist.

His dedication to the profession and CQUniversity’s training is helping turn his salon in Yeppoon into a successful business.

The 32-year-old owner of Winter & Co. Hair and Beauty recently completed his training at CQU’s Rockhampton City Campus and said he couldn’t have succeeded without the support and guidance of his teachers, Kellie Donovan and Vicki Crooks.

“The training, teachers and facilities at CQU have been amazing. Kellie and Vicki haven’t just been teachers and mentors, I now consider them friends and I will cherish that experience for life. I couldn’t have done it without all their help,” he said.

Anthony said he'd dreamed of becoming a hairstylist since he was very young and after working in hospitality for more than 10 years, he decided it was time to make it a reality and enrolled in a Certificate III in Hairdressing.

“As far back as I can remember I’ve always been interested in hairdressing, all the way back to having a head-block as a kid doing styles on that,” he said.

“I chose CQU because it was just the right choice for me and the way I needed to learn.”

It was also around the time he started the course that he purchased the salon and made it his own.

“I purchased the salon at the height of COVID in 2020. I was 29 at the time and it really was the only option as no one would put me on previously because having an adult apprentice is more expensive, so I did the next best thing and skipped ahead and purchased a salon,” he said.

“(Buying a salon) is definitely not for the faint-hearted. It has had its ups and downs, but we have been very lucky and have grown the salon from two staff to eight in just four years. The salon is thriving now, and we have many more plans in store for the near future.”

Looking back on his studies Anthony said he hoped to see more men entering the hairdressing industry.

“Hairdressing is a predominantly female qualification and unfortunately I feel like it’s definitely down to how we see hairdressers and the slightly sexist stereotypes of it being for females or LGBTQI+,” he said.

“I unfortunately don’t help that myself being a gay man, but it’s totally true that males are more inclined to take up trades as mechanics or electricians because they have a more masculine stereotype.

“Having said that the barbering industry has skyrocketed in recent years with many males getting the qualifications. If only we could encourage them to take a step further and fill in the gaps in the hairdressing industry too.”

Anthony encouraged anyone considering study hairdressing to give it a go.

“You should always follow your passions and dreams and CQU is definitely the place to do so, with full support and encouragement,” he said.

“If you want to be a hairdresser, do it and don’t let anyone or anything get in your way. You only live once so you may as well do something you love. This was my third time as an apprentice and this time I owned and ran a salon at the same time, so if you put your mind to it, you can do anything and ‘be what you want to be’."