Gareth Bromell is an editorial session hairstylist from Limerick. He left school at the age of 15 to pursue a career in the fashion industry.
After 8 years with Hershesons in London he moved to Los Angeles. He has worked on fashion campaigns and created looks for Gucci, Burberry and Alexander McQueen as well as Taylor Swift, Bella Hadid and Michelle Wiliams to name a few.
He has now returned to Limerick where, along with his business partner Mandy O’Loughlin, he has recently opened HENSHĪN, a sustainable concept hair and make-up beauty bar in Castletroy Town Centre in Limerick. Read more about Gareth’s journey below.
How did HENSHĪN start here in Limerick?
Myself and Mandy have been friends for 20 years. I’ve been working abroad for many years now and I've done everything I can in my career. It felt like the right thing to do, to open in Limerick where it all started.
Where does the name HENSHĪN come from?
It’s the Japanese word for transformation.
HENSHĪN is a sustainable hair and makeup bar, why is it important?
Sustainability is important for me for many reasons including Environmental Quality – In order to have healthy communities, natural resources, and a non-toxic environment. My journey started with becoming a Global Brand Ambassador for Evo Hair care. This brand is everything to me! It’s a brand with integrity. The packaging is recycled, all Evo formulations are sulphate, paraben, dea, tea and propylene glycol free and damaged packaging is given to homeless centers. For me HENSHĪN would be sustainable, Sustainability is at the forefront of our priorities & much of our interiors are reclaimed recycled.
How did you end up working in LA?
I was meant to move to New York with a friend of mine who I was working with in London, but a month before we were due to leave he decided to stay in London so I ended up moving. Thankfully I was in contact with a hairdresser in LA who used to work with my boss in London and I just told him about my situation and he said I will look after your visa and that was that, I ended up in LA and knew almost nobody!
You are represented by agencies now, how has that affected your career?
I have agents in New York, London and Paris. Having agents helps me to feel much more connected to influences in the fashion and beauty industry for editorial, campaign shoots and celebrity clients.
What does the word ‘beautiful’ mean to you?
Beauty to me means individuality. I think we're all beautiful in our own way and that's how I approach beauty. Nobody is the same. I try and show my clients that it is all about the individual, my job is to bring that out and highlight their beauty even more.
What was it like growing up in Limerick?
It was quite difficult for me. I would be an advocate for mental health awareness. I was bullied a lot growing up in Limerick. I left school when I was 15 because I was bullied and I couldn't continue.
I don't think it happened because of my sexuality, I was always quite comfortable with my sexuality. I was an individual and perhaps people were intimidated by that. The bully is also somebody who is suffering and it took me years to realise that too, at the end of the day we don't know what's going on in someone else's life unless they share it with you.
It's a shame that I had to be a victim of bullying but I overcame it and I used it as an opportunity to grow. If I didn't have those situations I may not have left Limerick. But I am always looking for more, better, bigger, brighter!
Was there a point in your career where you felt like you had really found your style and your own way of working?
I I think when I moved to Los Angeles that was the awakening of Gareth Bromell. Arriving in LA I knew nobody and that's when I had to develop as an individual, I created my own style I got my first agent in LA. Then I moved to New York and I was bi-coastal for 3 years between New York and LA.
What advice would you give to a younger hair stylist or make-up artist if they're starting off in the industry?
I would say: do your research, work really hard, keep your head down get the right mentor that can teach you the ropes properly for whichever path you want to go down. I'm a session hairdresser which means I work in the fashion industry. I do covers for brands like Vogue and Marie Claire, I do runway shows and I do advertising campaigns. It's all about dressing hair, it's very creative, so if you want to go down that line of work I suggest you get the right mentor and you assist and you keep your head down and get on with the work.
Speaking of mentors, is there anyone that really stands out as someone who helped you?
Daniel Hersheson is my mentor in London. I worked with him for 3 years. Daniel and his son Luke are amazing businessmen and amazing hairdressers as well. Daniel taught me to approach hair with wear-ability and sensibility, softness and individuality. I'm not a technical hairdresser.
What does the word ‘success’ mean to you?
ulfilment. I don't think about that word much at all. I think it’s about sharing a journey, making somebody smile. I try not to keep it all about work. I've done everything I said I would do as an individual. I've really been true to what I wanted and so much more. I never thought I would have a business, I didn't think about being an entrepreneur, I just wanted to be a successful hairdresser and I've done that. Now I am thinking about what's next. I am grateful that I can keep moving forward and that I have opportunities to travel and meet amazing people.
Check out Gareth’s business in Limerick on HENSHĪN’s website.
