INTERNATIONAL businesswoman and serial entrepreneur Kala Kilshaw has returned to her Hayling Island roots.
Kala, who has dedicated her life to hairdressing, is well known in the hair and beauty industry for her experience and knowledge in a career that spans three decades. She designed a lightweight hair dryer called AlterEgo which caught the attention of celebrities all over the world. Kala, 47, said: ‘Thirteen years ago I was travelling round the world educating hairdressers and I designed a hairdryer which became famous overnight. ‘It made me a millionaire twice over.
‘I was on TV, styling celebrities, then I sold the company to Babyliss, one of the largest hair companies in the world. ‘After two years in the corporate world, I thought “I don’t want to do this any more – I want to work in the real world” and that’s when I decided to come back home to Hayling.’ Kala, a former Hayling School pupil, has now moved back to the Island and has taken up a salon chair @Cabelos in Emsworth, with fellow previous winner of European Entrepreneur of the year Maggie McElligott.
The dynamic duo have trained and appeared on stage together in London, New York and at the renowned Inter Coiffure in Paris. They say they aim to deliver a personal and professional approach to every client in a friendly environment. Kala said: ‘After the sale of my appliance line there was no question about what to do next. ‘I am so delighted to be back to where I belong on behind the salon chair, creating beautiful hair, sharing advice and tips, making women feel amazing.’
Kala, who worked at the salon 13 years ago, said she was enjoying being back on the front line of hairdressing, and that she’s gradually getting used to the sore feet from standing all day.
Kala said: ‘It is so refreshing to be with the people who you are making a difference to. People who I haven’t seen for 13 years are coming back in again. It is lovely.’ Kala has moved to a house on Hayling Island, which she dreamed about owning as a child. She said: ‘I love it there. I did my original training on Hayling Island and I was entering competitions there, it’s where it all started as an apprentice.’
