Hairdressing gears up for Just Cuts franchise

Just Cuts franchise owner Katie Iddon and her co-driver Sally Hanna are testimony to the fact that motorsport is not just for the boys. The Sydney girls gratified their need for speed in the East Coast Targa Rally late last year. One of only two all-girl teams in a field of 115, Iddon and Hanna were driving a Just Cuts convertible 2001 Porsche Boxster S. It was Iddon’s fourth rally and she came first in her competition class in the 2004 Grand Prix Rally.

The dangerous nature of the sport was underlined by an accident resulting in the death of Scallywag Racing Team driver Douglas Briese, from injuries sustained when his car rolled outside Brewongle south-east of Bathurst.

Although motorsport is largely male-dominated, Iddon says she has never felt intimidated.

“The guys are absolutely fantastic. When you’re involved in this kind of thing, you get to know people. There’s a strong sense of camaraderie, we’re all mates,” Iddon says. “I think they like having the girls here, they respect the fact we’re prepared to have a go, and it takes a bit of the blokey edge out of it.”

Iddon recently bought the new Just Cuts hairdressing franchise at Neutral Bay on Sydney’s north shore. Her Porsche acts as a mobile billboard for the business, proudly plastered with the Just Cuts logo, so although at times she is far away from home, there is never any doubt where she’s from.

The hairdressing franchise is building a history with rallying and motoring events, playing a large part in the annual Royal Flying Doctors’ Outback Car Trek, and raising over $23,500 last year for the cause.

Another Just Cuts team member, Tanya Watt, is also a keen motorsport competitor and co-drove with Iddon in both the 2004 Dutton Rally in NSW and Victoria. Watt was the top driver outright in the NSW Porsche Club for 2004. Indeed, the girls showed the boys how it’s done with Watts coming first and Iddon taking third place in their class.

Just Cuts franchisor, Denis McFadden, is delighted to have the girls on board and is proud of their success.

“Katie and Tanya are great ambassadors for Just Cuts. Katie and her car are recognised and respected wherever she goes by competitors and spectators alike,” he says

With 140 Just Cuts salons employing over 1500 hairdressers, the majority of which are female, and women making up around 50 percent of the 60,000 clients walking through the doors every week, McFadden says, “It is great to see the girls getting involved and taking home trophies”.

Keep an eye out for the girls in the Just Cuts Porsche.