Renowned Cork salon owner Val swaps scissors for trowel on South Africa charity trip

Owner of Ikon Hair Val Cahill one of several Irish volunteers on trip for Mellon Educate

Salon owner Val Cahill inside Ikon Hairdressers on Marlboro Street, Cork, as she prepares for her 14th volunteer trip to South Africa with Mellon Educate. Picture: Chani Anderson.

One of Ireland’s leading hair stylists believes the industry has finally recovered from a huge loss of talent caused by the covid pandemic.

Val Cahill is the owner of award-winning salon Ikon, now based on Marlboro Street in Cork city. One of Cork’s best known hair stylists, Ms Cahill is about to swap her scissors for a trowel as a volunteer with Mellon Educate, where she will work as a plasterer, on her 14th trip there.