Life doesn’t always go to plan. Sometimes it comes full circle – as hairdresser Tuscany Hamel’s discovered. When a devastating career-ending injury forced the former semi-professional tennis player off the court, she never imagined her future was waiting right where she started – at the salon alongside her parents Mike and Glynis Hamel, Christchurch’s very own hairdressing royalty.
Tuscany, 33, says growing up with her “cool, inspiring” parents gave her and brother Blue insight into the industry.
“We used to travel the world with Mum and Dad while they did hair for international fashion shows, runway styling and films,” she tells.
“I’d get to help out, handing out bobby pins and the like. It was exciting, but I never thought hairdressing was for me.”
Although she inherited her parents’ artistic flair, sport was Tuscany’s first love.
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Chasing a dream from day one
“From a really youngage, I set a goal of becoming as good as Maria Sharapova!” she recalls.
“I felt blessed to know exactly what I wanted to do with my life and have the support of my parents.”
Her drive and determination quickly paid off. She rose through the regional and junior ranks, winning a national title. By the time she was 18, Tuscany was edging closer to her dream of becoming a pro athlete.
“I started travelling overseas, playing semi-professionally,” she shares.
“Competing at the Junior Australian Open was an amazing experience and career highlight. We were treated just like the pro athletes. This experience opened my eyes to the better side of that life.”
Dreams derailed
But just as top-level tennis was almost within her grasp, an injury upended her dreams.
“I was 22 when an old wrist injury came back with a vengeance,” she admits.
“A surgeon said there were too many issues to fix, so the door to my tennis career slammed shut.”
For the next three years, Tuscany resisted the “easy option” to join the legendary family hairdressing business GM Hair Gallery, which was started by her parents as Ginger Meggs 35 years ago.
Reluctant to join the family legacy
“I tried many different things, including helping at the salon, doing reception and cutting my friends’ hair, which was something I’d done for years, although I wasn’t trained for it,” she says.
“One day, Mum said, ‘Do you want to give hairdressing a go?’ I replied, ‘No’. I actively pushed back for a while as I wanted to make my own decisions.”
While she was still figuring out her future, Tuscany started dabbling in the product side of the business with her father Mike, who’s created haircare ranges for more than 30 years.
“I was on some acne medication, which was making my hair break off, so I asked Dad to help me make a product which could grow it back,” she tells.
“It worked and I thought, ‘This is a cool business idea.’ I called it Hair Candy and started selling it.”
Diving into the hair world
It was then Tuscany decided to “delve feet first” into the hair world and start training as a hairdresser. Today, she’s a leading stylist at her parents’ salon, where she’s forging her own path in the industry, including working at Australian Fashion Week.
“I know I’m lucky to work alongside my parents with the credibility they have in the industry,” she confesses.
“My journey and niche in the hair world is slightly different to theirs, though, which they’ve always encouraged.”
Hair Candy began to take off in 2020, when COVID struck and Tuscany’s brother Blue came back from New York, where he’d been working as a creative director at an advertising firm.
“When Blue came home, he said, ‘Let’s rebrand Hair Candy and start it properly.’ Now we all share the responsibility.”
Innovation in a bottle
Tuscany is excited about their latest release, a water- less shampoo and conditioner, containing natural sheep’s wool keratin. A key ingredient in Hair Candy products, it’s a 99% match to human keratin that helps to strengthen, repair and improve hair health.
“Most shampoos are 95% water, so this product is a first of its kind,” she explains.
“It comes in a whip form and is perfect for getting summer hair in great shape.”
The triple-whip secret
When it comes to washing, Tuscany champions her dad’s now- famous “triple-whip” technique of condition-shampoo-condition.
“It truly does work,” she enthuses.
“When people try it, they say, ‘Wow, this is life-changing!’”
Turning setbacks into success
Rather than look back on her interrupted tennis career with regret, Tuscany says her injury became a blessing in disguise.
“Sport helped to create diligence, drive and a work ethic which I’ve carried into business,” she muses.
“I’ve also learnt not to wrap my self-worth and identity in what I do. Whether I’ve got hairdressing, Hair Candy, tennis or nothing at all, it’s OK. None of it defines who I am.”
