Childhood dream realized

Crafts are a pillar of Brandenburg's economy. In a series, the DHB (German Cooperative State Office for Skilled Crafts) introduces people who have founded a craft business.

This article is part of the special topic women in crafts

That they once Hairdresser profession would take was for Lena Barclay-Steuart This was already clear from childhood. Her aunt cut the whole family's hair, and little Lena always watched attentively. "I started copying her early on, and by the age of 12, I was already cutting my friends' hair," Lena Barclay-Steuart recalls.

After graduating from high school, I briefly considered starting university. "But I found that difficult." I wanted to learn a trade and go straight into the world of work." So she decided to Hairdressing apprenticeship in her hometown of HeidelbergThere she also completed her Master craftsman certificate.

Professional positions in Europe and overseas

After that, she was overcome by wanderlust. She worked as mobile hairdresser in Paris, Hamburg, New York and in BerlinDuring this time she gained a lot of experience – at events such as the Fashion Week or bridal styling, as well as in hotels. She built a customer base on, primarily businesswomenwho value individual care.

She met her husband, started a family, and had two children. And the desire arose to leave bustling Berlin and bring more planning into her family life.

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The search for the perfect location

Lena Barclay-Steuart moved with her family to Potsdam and was looking for suitable premises to reduce the previously exclusively mobile work and to set up his own salon. In spring 2022 she discovered her new refuge"Great space across from City Hall, somewhat hidden in a backyard. I was immediately drawn to it because the location reminded me of my time in New York."

Since June 2022, Lena Barclay-Steuart has been welcoming her customers to the "Private Salon Lena Schleweis" at Friedrich-Ebert-Straße 37. Since many customers still know her by her maiden name Schleweis, she continues to use this as a brand name. The term "Private Salon" refers to the Unique selling point of your salon Lena Barclay-Steuart: "I attach great importance to ExclusivityThe room is designed as a urban living room for one customer at a time, who can have her hair and makeup done in peace and quiet and try out cosmetic products." Exclusivity, which of course comes at a price.

Support from the Potsdam Chamber of Crafts

Settling into her new city with her trade was unusually smooth for Lena Barclay-Steuart, especially because she quickly received support: "The Potsdam Chamber of Crafts helped me tremendously. I received a call from a consultant there and received important information and help regarding official procedures. I was really positively surprised." The guarantee bank also helped the master hairdresser by securing a loan from her bank.

This enabled her to quickly set up her salon and devote herself to the fascination of her profession: "With my work I can help a person quickly make it look completely different and directly make happy. That's very satisfying for me."

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