Maurice Pierôt: 'He gave me the love and passion for the craft through...'

Maurice Pierôt is owner of Pierôt Coiffures. He grew up on the beach and in his father's salon. Always cut out for this profession, but who first placed the scissors in his hands?

Maurice Pierôt is the owner of Pierôt Coiffures. He grew up on the beach and in his father's hair salon. Always looking for aesthetic innovation, boundaries and the latest trends. Now, forty years and three salons later, with several prestigious (business) awards in his pocket and in possession of a successful portfolio, Maurice looks back on his career... He was always cut out for this profession, but who handed him the scissors? ?Text: Mical Joseph
Image: Hans Petersen

What was your very first job?

“I grew up in Wijk aan Zee. I was often found on the beach and worked as a bed porter next to my high school. This part-time job earned a lot of money, so I was extra driven. I liked having money at a young age. I got satisfaction from that! My father is a hairdresser and my mother was also in the same industry. From an early age I saw the different facets of hairdressing. Actually, I grew up on the beach and in the hairdresser's chair. In the past, it often happened that you lived above the shop. This was no different with us. It was always fun downstairs: regular customers came for their hair, of course, but also for catching up and coffee. My mother helped where necessary and when it was not too busy, my mother and I stayed upstairs.”

How did you end up in your current job?

“My career was not so much a choice, but a logical consequence. When I came home from school, I helped. When I had nothing to do, I helped. As family members, we simply worked in the salon. It was very obvious. When I was eighteen I chose to no longer work for my father. I spread my wings so that I also gained experience from others. I worked on both an international and national level.

After a number of years I ended up working at my father's salon again. Why? Because my father said: 'If you want to take over my business, you have to make sure you become better than me. Won't you be this? Then I'll sell the business to someone else.' At the age of 24, I founded my first business in Heemstede. Not my father's salon, but with his help. So is the second case. He was a good rock.

My wife Daniëlla did the make-up and I focused on the hair. We did fashion shows, television jobs and photo shoots together. At the age of 30, I opened the Pierôt business in Amsterdam together with Daniëlla and the salon in Haarlem in 2007.”

 How did your father get the name Pierôt?

“This name originated in Paris in the early 60s. My father, Jean Pierre, was affectionately known as Pierôt by his French clientele. Upon his return in 1964, he opened his salon under the name Jean Pierôt Haute Coiffure.”

Who was your wheelbarrow?

“I always had an enormous need to prove things to my father. He asked for this too. This fact was not something that was in my nature. It arose. My father was huge drive for me. He taught me the tricks of the trade and passed on the love and passion for the profession to me. He turns 80 this year and is still a hairdresser.”

What is your greatest passion in your profession?

“The salon is my home. I don't experience it as work. Creating, making people happy and the fun I experience in the salon, at the photo shoots and at the fashion shows make me happy. I know most of my clients inside and out. Over the years I have built up an enormous bond with customers. I received the Global Salon Business Awards and the Coiffure Award no less than three times. These awards were cherries on the cake for the team and me. My passion was rewarded.”

What has been the biggest learning moment in your career?

“The corona period was a turning point. You were forced to let go of everything you have built up and think about who you are and who you want to be. It was a forced moment of reflection and rediscovering yourself as an entrepreneur. It was a period of throwing away ballast, surrounding myself with positive people and thinking creatively.”

What advice would you give to your 18 year old self?

“Stay close to yourself, your passion and do what makes you happy. My daughter is now seventeen and is also going into hairdressing. I give her the same advice. You can also earn a good living with this profession. As long as you work hard, commit yourself and continue to deepen yourself.”

Have you been a wheelbarrow for someone?

“Over the years we have trained many people in the salons. I think it's great to see that many of these (former) employees have grown enormously. It's nice to be part of that.”