Racoon International Creative
Seminar Q&A with Hayley Jennings
Extensions Stylist from Halifax


Hayley Jennings is an experienced extensions technician and has been a Racoon educator for nine months. She attended Racoon’s first ever Creative Seminar course held in September in Manchester. Racoon held courses in both a Manchester and London venue for its customers…

Why did you attend the course?
I’d styled hair with placement extensions in the past but never really knew the capabilities until I saw the latest Racoon hair collection. It focused on a new partial extension technique that I hadn’t seen before. The course demonstrated the latest collection close up and I knew that this was the ideal opportunity to learn the latest techniques.

What were the educators like?
Racoon’s Artistic Team presented the course which was an experience in itself

because those guys really know their work! The RAT Pack re-created four looks from the latest ‘More than Natural’ collection and showed us from start to finish how partial placement techniques were used to create the stunning texturised styles. What really stood out was the speed in which the finished looks were created because they were applying partial extensions. The educators were very professional and exceptionally inspiring.

What did you learn?
Lots! The placement technique was truly innovative and the educators really explained themselves and the techniques so well – there was no jargon and everything was taught so we’d all understand and be able to take the techniques away with us and use immediately. What I also liked about the course was that the students were all experienced extensionalists and we were all able to chat to each other and give each other advice on challenges we’d come across in our experience – it’s unusual to be able to really talk to like-minded stylists and that was a really positive experience from the course.

Was there a practical element to the course?
Each student had to bring their own model to recreate the More than Natural techniques. A member of the RAT Pack worked with closely with us to ensure that we completely understood the techniques and the placements. It was a good opportunity to ask lots of questions because the educator was able to really focus on individual requests. Once we’d completed our models (in just 2 hours!) we each presented our finished models to the class and explained the methods used to create the look. The practical session was really important as it showed precisely how quick and easy the placements are to apply.

Would you attend the course again?
The great thing about this course is that it teaches you Racoon’s latest collection so I will definitely book for the next course when they create their next collection! I’ve been recommended the salons that I visit for training to book onto the course because it really does open up the type of service you can offer your clients.

Have you used the techniques yet?
Yes! I put it into practice as soon as I went back into the salon! I presented the latest collection in the salon and started to tell clients about how the looks were all created using hair extensions. I’ve had an upsurge in clients who’d never really wanted extensions before booking in. There’s the stereotype that you have to have the long blonde/brunette extensions and people don’t always want this look. One client wanted to experiment with colour and I applied two sections of extensions and she was completely won over with the result and ease of looking after them – she’s already booked back in for a new look! Another client has been wearing extensions for 3 years in a similar style and I suggested she try the new partial look and she was stunned – she really didn’t want to stop wearing extensions but was getting bored, this completely re-invented her style!

To book a course on the next Racoon International Creative Seminar course call 01295 770999 or email training@racooninternational.com