Lorna Evans: Four decades of hairdressing and still going strong

It’s been 40 years since Lorna Evans first walked through the doors of Chisholm as a bright-eyed 15-year-old apprentice. Now, four decades later, she’s back, this time as a mentor, guiding the next generation of hairdressers with the same passion that launched her career. “Coming back to Chisholm after all these years makes me feel old,” she laughs, “but I still love hairdressing. It feels comfortable being a mentor and support for current students.”

Lorna’s journey began with a four-year Hairdressing apprenticeship, attending Chisholm one day a week while working in a salon. “I loved coming to Chisholm. Being in the classroom was a nice break from the salon, it gave me balance,” she recalls. “The teachers were great and really helped shape my early career.”

Hairdressing runs in Lorna’s blood. Her mum has been in the industry for 65 years, and they owned a salon together for 14 years. “I never had to search for my passion,” she says. “I was lucky to be surrounded by it.” Her dad even built her a box to stand on so she could shampoo clients’ hair as a child. Now, with Lorna’s daughter Holly stepping into the spotlight as AHIA’s Emerging Stylist of the Year, three generations of women in the family have made their mark in the industry.

The industry has changed dramatically over the years, and Lorna has seen it all. As a salon owner on the Mornington Peninsula for 32 years, she’s trained hundreds of Chisholm apprentices. “There are so many pathways now, renting spaces, creating beautiful home salons, working in the wedding industry. It’s lucrative and diverse,” she explains. “But no matter what direction you take, you need your basics. Studying at Chisholm gives you the fundamentals, and once you have those, you can break the rules.”

Today, Lorna’s influence continues through a program aligned with the Create Classic Hair Up and Braiding units. Each student receives a kit of her tools and access to an app that guides them through the units, helping build confidence in working with special occasion clients. She also runs an online store with unique tools designed to make styling faster and easier for both professionals and at-home users.

Looking back, Lorna says, “I was probably a pain in the neck at 15! The grass always seems greener on the other side, but that’s not true. Be patient, learn the fundamentals, and enjoy the journey.” Her advice to students is simple: practice. “As salon owners, we’d work on mannequin heads all the time. Practice is everything.”

From student to mentor, Lorna’s story is a testament to the power of passion, perseverance, and the strong foundation she built at Chisholm. And as she continues to inspire the next wave of stylists, her legacy continues one apprentice at a time.