THE FACES THE PEOPLE IN ACTION What Would Tim Scott-Wright Do? THE FACES

The Hair Surgery founder shares how he handles clients with unrealistic expectations when it comes to colour

“WE’VE ALL BEEN there. A client has come in, with box-dyed dark hair who expects to go platinum blonde in one appointment. It’s a big colour project, but this is really all about managing client expectations. The consultation here is crucial so that you can explain to the client how the process of lightening hair works and how we, as stylists, always prioritise the health of the hair in any colouring process.

“First, I would never recommend even attempting to go from dark, box dyed hair to platinum blonde in one sitting! Although clients may have seen celebrities such as Kim Kardashian achieve this, the damage inflicted on the hair is significant and results shown on social media are not realistic.

“Talk to the client about their hair history and examine the hair, looking for signs of damage and to better understand previous hair dye applications. Explain how box dye can have lasting effects on the hair and recommend a strand test so that they can see the shade that their hair will lift to. If the hair lifts to an uneven red, orange tone I would explain that the first step of going lighter would be to aim for a copper blonde. The strand test is often a deciding factor for clients as many are not willing to accept warm tones, even initially.

“A great visual tool is the widely shared Khloe Kardashian ‘blonde hair journey’ which is a photo collage to demonstrate the shades and stages your hair goes through when transitioning from dark to light. Explain that this process could take up to two years to ensure we are maintaining the health of the hair. Honest conversations are sometimes tricky; you may be delivering news that the client does not want to hear. However, you need the confidence and assurance that you’re the expert. You must be honest about whether you think the result is achievable. Only then will you be able to effectively manage your client’s expectations.” @thehairsurgery

WHAT MADE ME DAVID BAKER The Vault Hair & Spa @davidvaultbaker

I got into hairdressing after being inspired by my childhood hairdresser. He was a cool, lad’s lad from London who had moved to the suburbs of Surrey and he made hair seem fun, masculine and energetic.

He gave me my rst proper-sick haircut when I was about 12, and after that I was always known at school for having quite cool and different hair. The salon was also cool. It was a trendy boutique salon and it felt like the heartbeat of the town to me.

It was a place where you could go to express yourself and be different.

That hairdresser – David – and the salon have had a massive impact when it comes to my career. After my stint as a semiprofessional footballer ended due to injury, I needed to nd a new direction and I ended up training and working at that salon alongside my childhood hairdresser! David was the art director, and aside from being very creative, he was patient and kind.

Watching an artist perform and have fun doing it really appealed to me. I’ve always loved the idea of creating something bespoke that makes people happy. I still, to this day, love this more than anything else I do.

Now I own my own salon and travel the world educating, and I love the idea I might be inspiring future generations in my salon.