Tabatha Coffey, 39, tried out for Bravo TV’s reality series “Shear Genius” to see for herself what a show focused on hair professionals could be like.
Now, after the intense and emotional experience of competing and watching the show, she has settled back into her daily life — which now includes spontaneous autograph sessions and new clients at her salon, Industrie Hair Gurus in Ridgewood, N.J.
“It’s great,” she said. “The fans have been so kind, and I think it’s just so cool when people recognize me at the mall.”
Beginning as a salon assistant at the age of 14 in her homeland of Surfer’s Paradise, Australia, Coffey instantly fell in love with the field.
“I would do anything they let me, sweep, clean, wash hair anything just to be there,” she said.
But Coffey soon realized she wanted more.
At 15, she took the next step by starting the four-year apprenticeship program in Australia. During that time, she said her love for hairdressing grew. Following this she moved to London, England for eight years to continue her training.
She’s been in America for 19 years now.
For Coffey, the biggest lesson learned during her years in the industry was a hard thing to pin down.
“You always have to make sure to be educated because of the ever-changing industry,” she said. You can’t be complacent with clients, even if it’s their first time in the salon.The client is always changing.”
Coffey said she takes her education as well as the education of other hairdressers seriously.
“My favorite thing to do is work with other hairdressers and teaching,” she said. “I love giving and getting back from other professionals.”
Tabatha continues this work as a platform artist for Joico International, a hair care product company involved in the development and education of hair products and professionals. She travels the world doing hair shows that act a showcase of talent as well as an educational platform for others in the industry. She does 6 to 12 shows a year in Asia, Australia, Latin America and Europe.
Coffey said her favorite show recently occurred in Bangkok in front of about 6,000 people. There, she said she was able to showcase her creativity not only through hair, but by also designing the wardrobe for the event, with the theme of “fantasy hair.”
Responses to the shows in Asia have been the most positive, with each show drawing about 1,000 people.
Her good actions seemed to have been lost to the production room floors during the editing process of Shear Genius. Some people have called her “a heartless bitch” who “doesn’t belong to be on the show,” in blogs found on the Shear Genius website.
“I feel I was shown as one-dimensional, with a definite bitch factor,” she said. “I wish to have seen more of my other sides. Although, it was a competition and I took it seriously. I came in with a very intense I want to win attitude. My softer fun side was just not shown.”
Coffey never shied away from sharing her opinion about fellow castmates. She once called Tyson an “evil leprechaun” who she mixed with like “oil and water.”
Yet she also gained a dear friend in Anthony who she has referred to as a brother-type figure.
Coffey said she is thankful for the experience and meeting the people she was on the show with. She said she learned a little more about herself in the processing realizing an ability to “be pretty good in a pinch.”
But would she do it again?
“Well never say never,” she said. “I don’t know if I could go through it all again. It was very intense and emotional both doing and watching it. But I wouldn’t rule anything out. It was so amazing.”
