A Tauranga hair coach is hoping to collaborate with a local charity to ‘pay it forward' in the community.

Chrissy Heathorn has worked with Dressed For Success in Auckland to give free coaching sessions to women – now she wants to find a similar partnership here in the Bay of Plenty.

'Not knowing what to do with your hair is like going out with a mismatched outfit. It can be disheartening,” says Chrissy. 'I take the time to discuss issues with the hair and my ladies walk out with tips and tricks that they feel confident doing at home.”

Chrissy is seeking an organisation that's actively engaged in supporting women who need help to feel confident. 'I want to offer the ‘Beautiful You' hair experience, but I need to find women it would most benefit,” says Chrissy. 'They'd get to work one-on-one with me in an empty salon to figure out solutions to their hair issues or offer a new perspective.”

Chrissy describes hair as ‘the crown you wear every day' and believes every woman deserves to be happy with theirs. 'Some come to me after major trauma or illness and don't recognise the hair they have to deal with anymore. It has a huge effect on them,” says Chrissy. 'What I offer is more than a haircut or colour; it's a holistic experience.”

Chrissy says the fast-paced environment of modern hair salons often fails to cater to women grappling with hair-related difficulties that are affecting their self-esteem. 'For most people it works, but it doesn't allow for the hairdresser's expertise to shine.

'Some clients simply need to spend time talking about what's best for their face shape, or they may have thinning hair, be worried about going grey gracefully, hair loss or they may have frizzy or fine hair. I send them home with expert care and styling techniques.”

It's not just practical knowledge, though. For Chrissy, it's more the feeling that her clients leave with that gives the most satisfaction.

'The ultimate goal isn't just a pretty new ‘do'; it's to have them feeling pampered and nurtured and walking out feeling confident and happy. After a lifetime in the industry, I can see there's a need for this kind of service.”

To collaborate with Chrissy, call her on 0210 393 450.