Hairdresser Nick left New York because of corona: ‘It must have been that I started working in Amersfoort’

As a little boy, Nick Kersten had one big dream: to become the best hairdresser in the world. Years later, much of that dream came true. Nick traveled all over the world, lived in Bali and worked on big fashion shows in New York and in Paris. And then came corona …

“When I was a little boy, I cut the hair of my boyfriends and girlfriends. I’ve always had a passion for hairdressing and that passion has only grown in recent years, ”says Nick. “Before I left for New York I worked in the Netherlands for Rob Peetoom, I met Cindy there.” Nick points to Cindy who is styling a client’s hair at her salon L’Entourage. “When I returned to the Netherlands, Cindy asked if I wanted to work with her. We have been friends for years and we know very well from each other what we are good at. We decided to conquer Amersfoort together and let L’Entourage grow even more ”, says Nick enthusiastically.

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Back to the Netherlands

It has not been so long since Nick came to Amersfoort from New York. “I just had a new apartment in New York. I lived in Brooklyn and at the beginning of the corona crisis, I didn’t really get to know much about what was going on. It was true that everyone wore masks. You saw that on the street and in shops, but it all seemed to go well. Of course I did follow the news, but sometimes you also have to be careful not to let yourself be scared. In New York there was massive toilet paper and vitamin C hoarding and from that moment on I got more and more calls from the Netherlands. Friends and family asked if it was all going well ”, says Nick.

“I was in Paris, where I worked on a fashion show, when I received a call from New York. I got a call that the salon I worked for in New York was closing due to the corona virus. I had just paid the $ 3,000 bail for my new apartment. I knew that the rules surrounding contracts are very different in America than in the Netherlands, but I was not aware that it could end so quickly. I realized very well that my life in New York was ready at that point and that I had to come up with a different plan quickly, ”explains Nick.

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A new plan

“I am very grateful to Rob Peetoom for the wonderful time in New York. I have learned and experienced so much and worked on the biggest shows with world famous models. That was very special. Because of corona, the time came to continue and then I booked a ticket to the Netherlands. ”

“I flew back with KLM and that was arranged very well. I liked being on a plane better than shopping in New York. From Paris I arrived in Nijmegen, where I spent two weeks in quarantine with family. After that I lived with Cindy for a while and recently I have my own apartment in Amersfoort ”, says Nick.

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It doesn’t matter where you are

“I am very happy that I am back in the Netherlands and that I am now working with Cindy again. In recent years I have lived and worked in many places in the world. Ultimately, I don’t care where I am, as long as I can do what I really like. ”

“I really like Amersfoort and it is centrally located. I have a client who is from South Africa and now lives in the Netherlands. She is now coming to Amersfoort especially to be cut by me. And a whole family from Sweden, which also lives in Amsterdam. I now cut the whole family in Amersfoort ”, says Nick.

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Knowledge to the Netherlands

“I do think that in the Netherlands we are a little behind in our knowledge of coloring hair. In New York I learned to put on a really good balayage. That is something that not all Dutch hairdressers can do. It is great fun to share the knowledge I gained in New York and in Paris in the Netherlands. Cindy and I are a very nice team together. We both think it is very important to give our customers a lot of attention and good professional advice ”, says Nick.

“I am happy to be back in the Netherlands. I don’t know what’s going to happen in New York in two years, so I’m not going back that fast. I think it would be very nice to be able to participate in all kinds of worldwide shows again in the future. ”