Troy Little is one of the hair industries most successful entrepreneurs. Managing some of the world's sexiest hair brands including Oribe, R+Co, Theorie and Living Proof he shares his career and invites editor Trudi Brewer into his gorgeous home.
Troy with Aaron and Lotte.
In salon circles Troy Little and the haircare brands he represents are in hot demand. Company director of Dateline Imports and Style HQ, Little has an affinity with luxury goods. From exotic cars, high-end haircare and beautiful interior design, he and his partner Aaron Hill who works at ECC share the same opulent aesthetic. We take a tour of their gorgeous inner city Auckland home and meet the cheeky love of their lives, schnauzer Lotte.
A snapshot of the gorgeous inner city home Troy and Aaron share.
Career
What do you love most about your career?
I love that we develop and import products that help people to look and feel good about themselves. Great hair care gives people the confidence to face the world head on and hopefully be the best that they can be on any given day.
What's a typical working day for you?
The email reply’s start at 7am, usually with a couple of cooked eggs and the dog beside me. I’m most often in the car by 7.45am and on the phone to the sales team, and then at my office. My days are always varied from financial planning, marketing and PR, to checking in on our new online store StyleHQ, to meeting customers or fixing something that’s broken in the building. Yes, I’m the go-to guy for everything. I’m like the conductor of the orchestra. Some days you can tell a tune up is needed, and on other days it's simply magical.
What makes the hair industry so dynamic?
It’s simply one of the most diverse industry’s I could ever have the pleasure of being part of. It promotes and rewards all personality types, cultures, backgrounds, views lifestyles and perspectives and I love that. No day is ever dull or ever the same.
Troy and Lotte in the home office.
What are the brands in your stable that you're you most excited about?
I'm excited about everything we represent. A couple of stands outs would be Oribe and R+Co, these are relatively young on the global stage but are rapidly gaining worldwide status in the luxury end of the business, and are brands to watch. Also, Parlux hair dryers are a product that everyone who cares about how their hair looks, should own. It's an Italian handmade brand - what’s not to love.
What advice would you give other business owners?
Don’t give up and stay true to yourself and your dream. Listen to others who are successful and keep an open mind. Don’t forget to be gracious and kind along the way. In business a closed door can always be opened - you just have to try.
How has your career influenced your style?
I think I have always been slightly eccentric and my style matches this, to be honest. I started life in the motor industry which ironically has helped me in what I do now. In our industry people wear black, that cool kid's vibe, and this was my modus operandi with the clothes I wore. However, over time I have become more outrageous I guess. Colour is vital in my life today to feel inspired and free, so I wear super-loud clothing some of the time. I also love to drive exotic cars which I have a terrible reputation for.
The living room, spare bedroom and objects in Troy's Auckland home.
Home
What do you like most about living in your house?
My neighbours. My best friend lives next door and the couple who live on the other side of us, we adore. It feels like you belong to something beyond your front door - we have a lot of laughs together.
How would your friends describe your home?
Warm, inviting, surprising.
Where do you look for inspiration when styling your home?
Both Arron and I love architecture and art, so a lot of what we do is a mix of these elements. Smell is important to us, so we always have Tom Dixon candles burning and lots of fresh flowers in our home.
What do you think makes a great interior?
For me it’s simple, it should be about you and the things you love or have an emotional attachment to. I love trends, but I like to mix that up with my personal history and life experiences.
What is always on the bedside table?
The dog's bed is always beside the bed, not that she’s ever spent a whole night in it, and on the bedside table a candle.
What products would we always find in your shower?
Oribe Signature Shampoo and Treaclemoon One Ginger Morning Shower Gel.
What is your favourite room and why?
Our large balcony, that looks directly across the water to the Chelsea Sugar Refinery on Auckland's North Shore. That view is always changing especially at this time of year.
What are your most treasured possessions?
My dog Lotte - of course. And a porcelain French bulldog that was a gift to my mum on her wedding day. Its 52 years old, so there's a certain sense of responsibly attached to it. I still feel three when I look at it and know that if I break it, the heavens will erupt on me.
What’s your best interior advice?
Don’t be swayed by other people’s likes and styles, do what you feel suits you and don’t be afraid to change it if the mood takes you. Also, all the rooms in your home should have a makeover every five years - minimum.
Photography Keryn Sweeney.