Other Women's Jobs // A Day In The Life & Career Of Irina Ulezko

NAME: Irina Ulezko

INSTAGRAM HANDLE: @irina_ulohairfirst

JOB TITLE: Colourist & Grey Blending Director, Salon 971

MOVED TO THE UAE IN: 2012

Irina is a professional hair colourist specialising in advanced colour correction and grey blending, helping women embrace their natural grey in a way that feels elegant, modern and completely their own.

Many of her clients come to her feeling exhausted by the endless cycle of root touch-ups every three weeks, visible regrowth and the constant pressure to hide their grey hair. Irina's goal is to give them freedom from that routine.

Through carefully planned lightening, toning and colour placement, Irina creates a seamless transition between natural grey and previously coloured hair. The result is beautifully blended, dimensional hair that grows out naturally, without harsh lines or the need for frequent salon visits.

Grey blending is never a one-size-fits-all service. Every woman has a unique pattern of grey hair, different hair texture and colour history. That’s why Irina believes a thorough consultation is just as important as the transformation itself. She would always rather spend an hour understanding someone’s hair, carrying out strand tests and creating a personalised plan than rush into a complicated colour correction.

At Salon 971 in Dubai, Irina has had the privilege of building relationships with women who trust her with what can be a very emotional transformation.

For Irina, grey blending isn’t simply about changing someone’s hair colour. It’s about changing the way a woman feels about herself, giving her confidence, freedom and the opportunity to embrace her natural beauty.

The most rewarding moment to Irina is when a client looks in the mirror and realises that going grey doesn’t mean looking older. It can actually mean looking fresher, more confident and more like herself than ever before.

Irina's journey into the world of hair colour began when she was just 16 years old. What started as a fascination with colour quickly became a lifelong passion and profession.

Over the years, she has completed more than 100 professional training courses, advanced colour programmes and masterclasses with some of the world’s leading colourists and educators.

Irina has always believed that being a great colourist requires much more than knowing how to apply colour. It takes an understanding of chemistry, hair structure, colour theory, precision and, most importantly, the ability to see what will truly suit each individual client.

Irina has been nominated three times for Colourist of the Year, which has been an incredible recognition of her dedication, technical expertise and creativity.

Today, her main focus is advanced colour correction and grey blending, one of the most technically demanding areas of professional hair colouring.

Even after years in the industry, she continues to invest in education, experiment with new techniques and follow the latest innovations in professional hair colour. Irina genuinely believes that the moment you stop learning is the moment you stop growing as a professional.

 

 Today Irina shares. typical day in her life and world:

8AM:

I’m usually at the salon by eight, and my first appointment is often a grey blending consultation.

This takes approximately an hour because there is so much more to consider than simply choosing a colour.

We discuss the client’s expectations, lifestyle, previous colour history, natural grey pattern and how much maintenance she’s comfortable with in the future.

I also carefully assess the condition of her hair. For new colour clients, I arrange the necessary skin sensitivity testing and often carry out a strand test to understand how the hair responds to lightening and what results we can realistically achieve.

Grey blending is a major transformation, and I believe in being completely honest about what’s possible while keeping the hair healthy.

And, of course, somewhere during that first consultation, I manage to enjoy my first coffee of the day!

9AM:

By nine, my next client arrives for a full grey blending transformation.

These appointments usually take a minimum of five to six hours, depending on the length, density, condition and previous colour history of the hair.

I begin by carefully sectioning the hair and studying the natural grey pattern. Grey hair rarely grows evenly, so understanding exactly where it is concentrated is essential to creating a natural-looking result.

Then comes the most detailed part of my work: precise foil placement, controlled lightening and colour correction to blend the previously coloured lengths with the client’s natural grey.

It’s a process that requires patience, concentration and a very individual approach.

I actually love this part of my job. Every transformation feels like a new creative challenge, and no two results are ever exactly the same.

11AM:

While the colour is processing and it’s safe to step away, I make sure to take a short break, grab something to eat and drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated in Dubai is practically a full-time job itself!

I also use this time to catch up on messages, speak with the salon team and check upcoming appointments.

If my schedule allows, I sometimes fit in another consultation or a haircut combined with a future grey blending consultation.

I particularly enjoy meeting clients for a haircut before their colour transformation because it allows me to understand their hair better. I can see how it moves, assess its density and texture, and get a clearer picture of what will work best.

It also helps build trust before we begin such an important transformation.

1PM:

By early afternoon, we’re usually moving into one of my favourite stages: toning.

After carefully checking the lightening results, I rinse the hair and create a customised toner formula.

This is where the colour really comes together. The right combination of tones helps neutralise unwanted warmth and create beautiful silver, pearl, ash or soft beige shades that blend naturally with the client’s existing grey.

Sometimes, achieving the perfect result requires several toning steps. It’s all about precision and understanding how different colours interact.

While treatments are processing, I often turn my attention to content creation.

Social media has become an important part of my work. I film short educational videos, edit transformations and share behind-the-scenes moments to help women understand what grey blending actually involves.

Many women still believe their only options are to keep colouring their roots or grow out a harsh line of grey. I love showing them that there’s another way.

3PM:

This is usually the most exciting part of the day: the final reveal!

After the last rinse and nourishing treatment, I blow-dry and style the hair to show its full dimension, movement and shine.

Seeing the transformation come together after hours of detailed work is incredibly satisfying.

But what I love most is watching my client’s reaction.

Some women become emotional because they’ve spent years covering their grey, and suddenly they see how beautiful their natural colour can look when it’s blended professionally.

It’s a wonderful feeling to know that I’ve helped someone feel more confident and comfortable with herself.

Before my client leaves, I take photographs and record a short video of the finished result.

As a colourist, lighting is incredibly important to me. I want my photographs to show the true colour, texture and shine of the hair, not an unrealistic filtered version.

These transformations become part of my professional portfolio, but they also inspire other women who may be considering their own grey blending journey.

5PM:

Once my appointments are finished, I spend some time preparing for the following day.

I review my bookings, check consultation notes and make sure everything is ready for upcoming colour services.

Because grey blending often involves complex colour histories, good preparation makes a huge difference.

I also respond to enquiries from potential clients, many of whom discover my work through Instagram or recommendations.

I love hearing their stories and understanding what has brought them to the point of considering a change.

It’s amazing how often a conversation about hair turns into a conversation about confidence, ageing and personal freedom.

6PM:

I usually finish work somewhere between five and six, although in the hair industry, you can never predict exactly how the day will go!

After spending hours standing, concentrating and working with my hands, I’m definitely ready to switch off.

The first thing I do when I get home is take a shower and wash the working day away.

It’s such a simple little ritual, but for me, it’s the perfect way to reset and move from work mode into my own time.

8PM:

Evenings are my time to slow down and enjoy the little things.

I love cooking dinner, usually something simple, fresh and delicious. After a busy day in the salon, preparing a meal can actually feel surprisingly relaxing.

I also enjoy meeting friends, having a nice cold drink and catching up on life outside work.

Living in Dubai, we’re lucky to have such beautiful evenings, and I love making the most of them.

Spending time with people I care about helps me recharge, find balance and come back to work feeling inspired.

And then, of course, it’s time to get some rest before another day of creating beautiful hair and helping women feel their very best.