Hereford hairdresser celebrates 50 years in the industry (From Ledbury Reporter)

Hereford hairdresser celebrates 50 years in the industry

7:00am Wednesday 6th February 2013 in News

A HEREFORD hairdresser is celebrating half a century of being a cut above.

Peter Prosser, who lives in Credenhill, is commemorating 50 years in the hairdressing industry he first entered as a 13-year-old working in a salon on Saturdays.

He went on to build a business currently comprising three shops in Hereford city centre.

“My dad was in the motor trade but he suggested I went into hairdressing because, in his words, ‘someone will always need a haircut’,” said Peter.

“I already had a strong interest in fashion so hairdressing was a natural choice for me. I learned quickly, mainly because I loved it from the word go.”

When he was 18, Peter took over a salon where he was working, with its manager.

“Eighteen was very young for this kind of responsibility, and I found the business side and looking after staff a challenge,” he added.

“We obviously did something right though as we ended up with seven salons.”

Fifteen years ago Peter decided to go it alone, opening the first Peter Prosser Hairdressing salon in Hereford.

Within two years he expanded the business but a major breakthrough came in 2004 when he won the Midlands category of HJ’s British Hairdressing Awards.

In 2005 Peter, and business partner and wife Tracey, opened their second salon in Commercial Road, Hereford, along with an academy.

Four years ago, to capitalise on the boom in male grooming, Peter Prosser Men was opened in Church Street.