The Person Behind The Chair

Sophie Sharp

Hairstylist & Business Owner

Hi everyone, I'm Sophie. I've been in the hairdressing industry for 15 years starting of as a Saturday girl at the salon I went to. I completed my apprenticeship then went on to work in a Barbers shadowing the owner. That's when I made the decision to create Sophie Sharp Hair, its been a hard few years but I wouldn't change it for the world.

Since going Self-employed I've gained a love of all things colour related and love to push myself to be creative. I also book myself on at least two courses a year to keep myself motivated and up to date with trends.

For everyone that doesn't know me, I absolutely love dogs, especially my Sproodle Brax and my family dogs Frank & Monty. Other things I love are Strictly come dancing and Christmas, I'm all for abit of glitter and some sequins! My favourite places in the world are New York, Newquay & Brockenhurst, they all have a special place in my heart. When I'm not at work I can often be found at a garden centre, drinking prosecco or at a concert (McFly are my fave). I also have a love hate relationship with running and recently completed the Rob Burrows Marathon, the London marathon and have eight half marathons under my running belt.

Motor Neurone Disease Association

If you've never met me before, you wouldn't know that I do a lot of fundraising for the MNDA.

Here's my story.

In 2016 on a Sunday afternoon I remember my mum and dad sitting me and my sister down, saying they’d got something to tell us. Right away I knew something was wrong. My grandma had been suffering for around a year at this point but we never really knew what was wrong, until now. They told us that my grandma had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease. I didn’t know much about the disease but knew it wasn’t good. All I can remember them saying is that the doctors told her that you have the life expectancy of 2 to 5 years after diagnosis. My heart felt broken.

We watched my grandma lose the ability to walk, lift her arms and feed her self. My poor grandad had to do everything for her, not that he minded. True love for you! She’d get tired very easily as doing simple things like talking wore her out. It was horrendous watching her live her life like that but I’d do anything to have her back, just for a day.

It came to December 2018, my grandma had got Pneumonia so they took her in to hospital. She was such a fighter and hadn’t let the disease get to her until now, it was awful being told she’d only got days to live, just before Christmas & her birthday. We spent everyday visiting her whilst she was on a nightingale Macmillan ward. We celebrated her birthday by taking cards and a cake in for her, and even taking a Christmas dinner for her and my grandad. I was working flat out at work ( hairdresser just before Christmas) and going to the hospital just so I could see my grandma everyday. Boxing Day was the last day she properly spoke to us and then she left us on the 2nd January.

This cruel disease had taken everything from my grandma then had taken her from us. That’s why I take part in all of these crazy races as it's nothing compared to what someone with MND has to go through.

Over the years since 2016 I've completed various half marathons, had a cake sale, Raffles and completed two marathons.

The London Marathon was the most incredible experience.

This year I completed the Rob Burrow marathon in Leeds which was a day I'll never forget.

Just Giving