Cutting Edge

His clients know that when he’s tending to their tresses, they can reveal whatever they want, and their words will go no further. “I get told things I don’t tell my wife,” he says.

The listening skill is a portable one, which comes in particularly handy for Ben. When he’s not at Ryder, he’s on the international circuit. Twice a year, he goes to London, Milan and Paris for the ready-to-wear fashion shows, where he executes the looks for some of Europe’s top models before they take to the catwalk. Whose hair does he handle there? “When they sit in your seat, the name is irrelevant,” says Ben, smiling. What do they talk about? Ben’s not telling.

He has been at Ryder on Customs St East for three years, and in the industry for nine. He calls himself a “dresser of hair” rather than a hairdresser.

But there was a time when you would never have seen Ben anywhere near a salon. Born and raised in Lower Hutt, he originally trained as an electrician. Redundancy forced him to reconsider his career options. It was his wife, Jess who suggested he finally follow his dreams.

“Jess said, ‘Why don’t you be a hairdresser? You already cut your friends’ hair; you’re very good at it and you love it’.”

An apprenticeship followed and then Ben decided to spread his wings. He sought advice from Ryder founder Greg Murrell on where to head in Auckland — and was soon on a plane to meet him. Within an hour of introducing himself to Greg in person, he had been offered a job at the salon that he now regards as his second home. He’s also got an in-house dresser of hair himself now: it’s Greg who cuts Ben’s hair. “I’m very lazy,” Ben confesses, “because I work with hair all day, I don’t want to be grooming my own.”

He observes a strict daily routine: after taking a short walk from the Britomart Transport Centre, he makes a cup of tea, checks his emails and is then ready for his first client. “One of the things that I love about this place is that it doesn’t feel like a salon,” says Ben. (Certainly as any client will attest, it offers a sense of being discreetly cosseted from the moment you walk in.)

Ben’s electrician’s training has some application in the career in which he’s now made an international name for himself. There’s lots of logic involved in both practices, he says. “Systemic things that have to happen to get you in the right direction.”

There’s something he does not miss about his past. “I don’t have to wear a tool belt or steel-capped boots.”

Ben’s next off to Europe in September for another three-and-a-half week stint on the fashion-show circuit. The regular travel brings double benefits for the former sparky who, as a child, wanted to be a Ninja Turtle.

Each European tour is, he says, a “crazy, inspirational” time — the ideas from which he brings back to Auckland. “When I come back here, the hair just works.” He describes his Ryder clients as very open to being contemporary with cut and colour. And, he adds, they all have very good taste. “Either that, or our tastes align,” he says, laughing.

And he’s always delighted to come home to Jess and 7-year-old son Levi — a budding karate practitioner.

Despite his international connections; regardless of his Lower Hutt origins, Ben now considers himself an Aucklander in every sense.  “And I just love the impact of this big city.”

BEN WILLIAMS’ TOP CITY GEMS

The Store, Britomart. "I love their food; I really love the ethics of their [Hip Group's] business and how their food is produced. My favourites? Their vegetarian baguette is absolutely awesome. They do a really great frittata too — especially the vegetable one. And the carrot cake — oh my God — that's the very best."

Supreme Coffee from Oaken, on Gore St. "Oaken is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The girls and I get on really well; we're all coffee geeks. I like to sneak in through the side entrance and get a take-out coffee, which I take back with me to Ryder."

Oaken, 130 Quay St. Open seven days.

The Britomart Transport Centre. "I really like the connection between where we live, in Ellerslie, and Britomart. I get the train to work every day. I've got the choice of a number of trains to catch, and any one gets me to Ryder by 8.30am. It's only a short ride, and very relaxing. I've been on metros all over Europe but Britomart is very special; it's not heaving with people like a mad metropolis."

Britomart Transport Centre: 8-10 Queen St.