Although she began to cut, style and tease her own hair since she was three, it was men’s hair that captured Hastie-May’s imagination completely.
But one of her teachers told her that women could never be barbers and that she wouldn’t get anywhere in the barbering industry.
Now Hastie-May is the head barber at Tommy Guns Barber Shop in the Sunshine Coast. And she’s only 19.
Hastie-May has watched the popularity of old school barbering rise and hopes to see more men embrace the unique style
Hastie-May, who also works as a pin-up model, was once told by her teacher that a woman could never be a barber and that she would never get anywhere in the industry
Hastie-May has come a long way from the early days when she would play with her grandmother’s rollers and give herself haircuts before school pictures.
When she began her apprenticeship at the age of 15, Hastie-May instantly knew she wanted to focus on men’s hair and barbering, she told Daily Mail Australia.
She was especially interested in old school barbering, which incorporates a rockabilly style made famous by 1950s rock stars like Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash.
Hastie-May, who also works as a pin-up model, loved how barbering had more techniques behind each cut, and the speed and precision that they required.
Although she was qualified to work when she was 17, Hastie-May initially found it hard to find anyone who would hire her because of her age and, sometimes, gender.
‘I was still a teenager and supposed to be in high school,’ she said. ‘It was hard to get people to take me seriously.’
But Hastie-May’s current employer at the Tommy Guns Barber Shop took a chance on her and gave her a job at one of his Brisbane shops.
‘He already had female employees so for him that was no issue, and age wasn’t an issue because he saw my qualifications,’ she said.
When Hasite-May began her hairdressing apprenticeship at the age of 15, she instantly knew she wanted to focus on men’s hair and barbering
Although she was qualified to work when she was 17, Hastie-May initially found it hard to find anyone who would hire her because of her age and, sometimes, her gender as well
Hastie-May juggles her time between her barbering job and pin-up modelling career, which also includes pageants and festival appearances
‘It was so hard getting anyone else to take me seriously, but it wasn’t even a remote issue for him. He was happy to give me a trial and give me a chance.’
After he opened up a Tommy Guns Barber Shop on the Sunshine Coast, Hastie-May was made Head Barber and now directs five barbers and two apprentices under her.
Now Hastie-May is gearing up to compete at the Barber Wars in Sydney, where she will compete against 11 other barbers from around the country.
Hastie-May will have to do two haircuts, getting half an hour to do a skin razor fade and another half hour to complete a hair cut of her choice.
She plans to create a big pompadour, bringing her old school barbering style to both stand out from the crowd and promote rockabilly.
Hastie-May has loved the rockabilly culture since she was an early teen, going to festivals, listening to the music and watching barbers do those huge haircuts.
‘Once you’re in the culture, it becomes your entire lifestyle,’ she said. ‘It’s such a fun and happy culture, there’s no discrimination it in.’
Now Hastie-May is gearing up to compete at the Barber Wars in Sydney, where she will have to do two haircuts in an hour – including a skin razor fade (pictured is one of her past looks)
She also plans to create a big pompadour, bringing her old school barbering style to both stand out from the crowd and promote rockabilly
‘It’s such an accepting culture of anyone of any age, and the pin-up is so accommodating to every woman of every shape and size.’
It was the rockabilly style that helped launch Hastie-May’s pin-up modelling career, which began with a few photoshoots that landed her spreads in magazines.
Now Hastie-May is the face of Sunshine Coast muscle car dealer Adults Only Car Shop and has worked with clothing and hair companies and appeared at festivals.
She will also compete in the Miss Pinup Australia finals for the title of Miss Perfect Pinup next month.
Hastie-May has watched the popularity of old school barbering rise in ‘the last 18 months or so’ and said she hopes to see more men embrace the unique style.
Although her plate may seem full for a 19-year-old, Hastie-May absolutely loves what she gets to do for a living
‘If you wear it straight off the rack and it’s the same as everyone else has, it’s not going to be the best for you and it’s not going to be flattering on you.’
‘Every man looks great in a well-tailored suit, and every man looks good with a well-tailored haircut.’
Although her plate may seem full for a 19-year-old, Hastie-May absolutely loves what she gets to do for a living.
‘I just love being a part of it. I’m surrounded by people I love who I work with. Even on my days off, I go into work.’
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Post time: Jun-09-2020