My Journey to Becoming a Trichologist: From Germany to Ireland

Hi, und willkommen! 

I’ve been told that starting a blog is a great way to share your story and connecting —so here I am. And what better place to begin than at the beginning: to tell you how I found my way to Ireland and how I became a Trichologist.

I was born and raised in Germany, and over my first 19 years, my family moved around a lot. From a young age, it became clear (to me and my parents) that I struggled with reading and writing. Even with extra help, it didn’t come easily. But I worked hard and found my own way through school. Someone once told me, Take the scenic route, not the highway.And that stuck with me.

During school, I discovered I loved working with people. I loved making them feel good, even if I wasn’t quite sure yet what I wanted to do. I tried lots of different types of work experience outside of school. Then one day, at age 15, I started working in a local hair salon in a lovely little town on the outskirts of Koblenz, Germany. Every Saturday, I went in—working for free—and I absolutely loved it.

What I enjoyed most was chatting to clients and seeing relationships build, from young to old. I’ll never forget how a simple blow-dry made a lady in her 80s feel like a million dollars. That was the moment I knew: this is what I want to do.

So I finished school at 16 and started my career in hairdressing.

I remember asking my boss when I’d be allowed to start cutting hair. He just smiled and said, “Organise a model and you can do it tomorrow.” So my poor mum came in and sat for five hours while I tried my very first haircut—on day three! (Don’t worry, I’m much faster now.)

In Germany, hairdressing includes college to learn the science and theory, along with hands-on salon training. That’s where I discovered something very important: I learn extremely quickly when I can do things hands-on. That’s when my passion truly sparked—especially as we learned about hair loss and the difficulties clients face.

Even as an apprentice, I found myself drawn to clients struggling with their hair. I wanted them to feel beautiful and confident again.

In 2005, I completed my apprenticeship and told my parents I needed to learn English—something I didn’t speak at all, partly due to my dyslexia. So, I packed my bags and moved to Birmingham to become an au pair for three beautiful kids. I had the best time, and quickly there was no stopping me—I was chatting away in English thanks to all our “playing school” sessions.

As my year came to an end, the family I worked with invited me to join them on a holiday to Ayia Napa, Cyprus. Little did I know, that trip would change the course of my life. I met—and fell in love with—an Irish man. Two weeks of babysitting and holiday madness later, I was back in Birmingham thinking about my future.

And I did what I do best: I fully committed again. I followed my heart to Dublin and packed my bags, moving to a new country once more. Since October 2006, Ireland has been my home.

I had the pleasure of working my way up to Style Director at Toni & Guy, where my passion for helping clients with hair challenges really grew. More and more people came to me with hair loss concerns—but I didn’t always have the full knowledge to understand why or how it was happening. Still, I did my best to make each person feel confident, beautiful, and truly seen.

After over a decade at Toni & Guy, I felt it was time for a change. I put on my big-girl pants and went out on my own.

Before having my two beautiful children, I experienced Telogen Effluvium after pregnancy. I had an emergency surgery to remove a fallopian tube, and that’s when I personally came into contact with hair loss for the first time. I didn’t understand why it was happening—I was shedding a lot of hair, and it was frightening. Thankfully, it recovered. But after I had my kids, it returned, and this time I was determined to look deeper into it.

I began researching and realised how closely hair and scalp problems are connected to the whole body and mind. I started digging into it more and came across trichology. I’ll be honest—it scared me. For the first time, I doubted myself. Could I really do this?

For a couple of years, I helped my clients the best way I knew how. But deep down, I felt frustrated because I knew I could do more. Then COVID happened, and like many of us, I had a lot of time to reflect. I thought back to how I felt when my own hair was falling out—and how scary and emotional that was. I imagined what my clients with permanent hair loss must feel. That was the moment I said: enough. It’s time.

I researched everything I could and found the Institute of Trichologists in London. And I just *knew*—this is where I’m meant to be. I applied in January 2023 and got in, starting the six-month induction course. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done—especially since it was all online, with loads of reading and writing—but I did it. I passed. A light had been lit, and there was no stopping me now.

That brings me to the present. I’m now in the final stretch of my first year with the IOT London, and what a rollercoaster it’s been. Challenging, emotional, but incredibly rewarding.

I’ve started working on real case studies, learning through real-life results and challenges. And the outcomes have been incredible. Because for me, knowledge is power. Just like I need to know the ending of a fiber before i watch a film, I need to understand the worst-case scenario first—so I can work backwards and find the best solution before things get worse.

My goal is to be your first point of contact—to help identify and name your concern, guide you in the right direction whether that’s your GP, a dermatologist, PRP treatments—you name it. But I want you to be armed with all the right information. On top of that, I’m also offering in-house support including LLLT (Low-Level Laser Therapy), high-frequency treatments, and personalised scalp treatments. It’s about creating a space where you feel informed, supported, and empowered.

Because I believe every head of hair is beautiful—and helping someone feel their best is truly powerful.

Have you ever had moments where you looked in the mirror and didn’t recognize the person staring back at you? If so, I’d love to hear your story. Together, we can find the right path to restore not just your hair, but your confidence and well-being.

Thank you so much for reading my story. I can’t wait to continue this journey with you, and I’m excited to share more about what’s coming up next!

Tschüß,

Carolin x