She was loved by everyone who had the pleasure of meeting her. Janet died peacefully in her sleep on January 2nd 2021.
Local businesswoman Janet was a formidable woman who adored her clients, her team and most importantly her husband, Peter.
At 15, she left school with no qualifications on the condition that she took a job with training. She found a role at a salon in Durham and thought she’d be lucky if she lasted the 3-year apprenticeship. A life-long love affair with hairdressing began.
Janet opened her first salon in 1979. It is now a thriving three-salon group, Janet Maitland Hair Excellence, which is known and loved across Durham. Janet was a talented hairdresser who was committed to her craft but nurturing and helping young team members to develop and grow was truly her vocation.
She moved further into this calling when she was invited to be a part of the Schwarzkopf Professional Shaping Futures initiative, for which she worked tirelessly as the UK Ambassador from 2012 to 2019.
Shaping Futures teaches hairdressing skills to disadvantaged children with the goal of helping them to get a job at the end of the programme.
Janet led teams in India, Jordan and the Philippines and was dedicated to ensuring that each of the young people she helped to educate was rewarded with a job. “It cannot be over-stated the incredibly positive impact that Janet had on Shaping Futures from the fundraising through to the delivery of training and the support of the volunteers, Janet was our very own super-woman and we will remain forever grateful to her and thankful that we worked alongside her as an ally of 17 years and she will be dearly and deeply missed, our hearts go out to Peter and her amazing team.” Commented head of education for Schwarzkopf Professional Kay Brady. A true philanthropist, Janet helped to raise money for a number of causes she held dear, including Stray Aid, SOS Villages and The Hairdressers’ Charity (formerly HABB); she was also a passionate and inspiring businesswoman.
Her entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen were recognised when she was given the Inspire Me Award at the Women into the Network North East Business Woman of the Year awards, followed by the Business Director of the Year at HJ’s British Hairdressing Business Awards.
Throughout, Janet was committed to offering the highest possible standards at rates that were accessible and loved nothing more than nurturing the teams and helping young people to find their vocation.
Janet’s team posted a heartfelt tribute on the Janet Maitland Hair Excellence Facebook page which said:
“It is with deepest sadness we share the news that our much loved and inspirational Janet Maitland passed away on Saturday 2 January. Your continued and kind support is always and will continue to be deeply appreciated at this very difficult time. With love Peter and the team.”
Janet was an inspiration who was loved by so many and will be sadly missed. It was Janet’s wish that no flowers be sent, but she requests that donations be made to the salon’s fundraising account, so they can be sent to the causes she and Peter are most passionate about.
This can be done in the following ways:– paypal.me/jmfundraising or alternatively, cheques can be made payable to JANET MAITLAND FUNDRAISING and posted to FAO Peter McDermott at Janet Maitland Hair Excellence, 29 – 30 Marshall Terrace, Gilesgate, Durham, DH1 2HX.
Any money given in memory of Janet will be distributed to causes close to her heart including the Hairdressers’ Charity and Stray Aid local charity that cares for dogs.
