We started with scissors and a question
Could cutting hair be taught differently?
Three years ago, two instructors frustrated with cookie-cutter curriculums decided to build something responsive to how people actually learn technical skills
Started in a Kharkiv salon, grew into something unexpected
In 2022, Lilja and Petra were running weekend workshops out of a small salon space on Peremohy Square. They'd both spent years teaching at larger institutions and kept hitting the same wall — students who thrived in hands-on environments struggled with rigid group pacing, while those who absorbed theory quickly got bored waiting for everyone else to catch up.
The breakthrough came when they stopped trying to teach everyone the same way at the same speed. Some learners wanted detailed breakdowns before touching shears. Others needed to feel the motion first, then understand the mechanics. A few worked best bouncing ideas off classmates, while some required quiet, focused one-on-one time to build confidence with unfamiliar techniques.
What began as informal Saturday sessions turned into a structured program where students could shift between group workshops and private instruction based on what they were trying to master. Layer cutting might work better in a group where you watch five different interpretations. Razor work often needs isolated practice with immediate correction. Tirnol Iru became the framework that made both possible without forcing anyone into a single learning mode.
340+
Students trained since founding
87%
Complete full certification path
6 weeks
Average completion for core techniques
2 locations
Active training facilities in Kharkiv
The people behind the program
Two educators who got tired of watching talented students struggle in systems that didn't fit how they learned
Lilja Ohlsson
Co-Founder and Lead Instructor
Spent eight years teaching precision cutting at a technical college before realizing the semester structure was holding back half her students. Specializes in breaking down complex techniques into adjustable learning segments. Still cuts hair three days a week to stay current with what actually works in client chairs versus what looks good in demonstrations.
Petra Aaltonen
Co-Founder and Operations Director
Background in adult education design with a focus on adaptive curriculum. Builds the scheduling systems that let students shift between group workshops and private sessions without administrative chaos. Obsessed with identifying where students actually get stuck versus where instructors assume they'll struggle, then redesigning those learning blocks accordingly.