Creative HEAD UK Christmas 2023

£4.50 CHRISTMAS 2023

In print•online•everywhere!

See it. Believe it.

EYES WIDE OPEN TO THE TEXTURE GAP

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TEA TREE LAVENDER MINT Ideal for coarse, curly and dry hair, the Tea Tree Lavender Mint Collection nourishes strands and helps fight frizz. Infused with hydrating ingredients, this hair care regimen provides essential moisture to help define waves, curls and coils, and leaves textured hair healthy and conditioned.

Made without SLS,SLES, ALS. Post-Consumer Recycled Bottles and pucks made from 100% postconsumer recycled plastic. Tubes made from 25% post-consumer recycled plastic. Excludes closures

* Kline 2022 Salon Hair Care Global Series, for John Paul Mitchell Systems® master brand portfolio which includes Paul Mitchell®, based on value sales of products in 28 markets.

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ICON IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. CANNOT BE USED WITHOUT THE COPY DESCRIBING THE ASSOCIATED STEP:

Join JPMS texture expert Paula Peralta for our online webinar, debunking texture hair myths and helping to have the ICON IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.you CANNOT BE USED WITHOUT THE COPY DESCRIBING THE ASSOCIATED STEP: confidence to master any hair texture.

Sulfate Free* Scan QR code for more details. *Made without SLS, SLES, ALS.

Sulfate Free* *Made without SLS, SLES, ALS.

Exclusively distributed by Salon Success For more information on Paul Mitchell, Post-Consumer Recycled* *Bottles and pucks made from 100% post-consumer recycled from458 4565 contact our plastic. teamTubes on made 0800 25% post-consumer recycled plastic. Excludes closures. or email club@salon-success.co.uk Visit our website salon-success.co.uk Also available online at salon-services.com

Post-Consumer Recycled* *Bottles and pucks made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic. Tubes made from 25% post-consumer recycled plastic. Excludes closures.

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24/10/2023 14:29

You asked for quiet, we listened.

We took time talking to professionals to help create the ultimate dryer. Experience exceptional speed and style with BaBylissPRO Falco. Engineered to be 2 x quieter and with a brilliantly lightweight design for easy handling. Powered by an advanced digital motor for a stronger, faster, more precise air flow. With a large newly designed diffuser for optimal frizz-controlled drying of wavy, curly and coily hair, and two slim concentrator nozzles, Falco is perfect for all your hair work. So whatever look you’re creating, experience superior drying designed for professionals.

400

COLOUR BLOCKING

BEFORE

NEW

S HIN EFI NI T Y​

FLASH SHADES​ SHINE YOU CAN FEEL IN 5 MINUTES 010/0 Natural Flash

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010/6 Lavender Flash

010/8 Opal Flash

01/08/2023 11:10

400

CONTRAST BLOCKING

BEFORE

NEW

KOLESTON PERFECT COOL SHADES LONG-LASTING COOL TONES FOR UP TO 8 WEEKS* 44/02

4/82

5/82

*provided hair is washed 3x/week, instrumental testing​

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01/08/2023 11:10

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Join Fresha today

fresha.com/for-business

EDITOR’S LETTER 28 42

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JOIN US!

I don’t know if it’s all the fir-scented candles or the peppermintlaced hot chocolate, but Christmas is guaranteed to make me a little emotional. It’s that feeling of sharing and giving, seeing more smiles on faces, and spending quality time with people who matter. It always makes me appreciate our industry more, and so in this issue we applaud our Heroes of 2023, the exceptional individuals who have fuelled innovations within their own businesses, while also doffing our cap at some of the big launches of the year, too (from page 42).

Following two disturbing pieces of recent research identifying both a texture gap (of services, support and product innovation) AND a ‘texture tax’ suffered by Type 4 hair clients, we investigate how salons and stylists can start to turn things around and improve all texture services (from page 52). And we sit down with Tom Smith – TikTok’s ‘Hairvoyant’ trend forecaster – to see what’s in his crystal ball (from page 36). We hope that you have a wonderful Christmas and New Year in your future – can’t wait to see you in 2024!

Amanda Nottage Editorial director

amanda@alfol.co.uk

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creativeheadmag.com

creativeheadmagofficial

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, which means this year’s event calendar is drawing to a close. But we have a couple of treats still in store for you. Couldn’t catch Self/Styled Sunday on 29 October? Don’t miss out!

Visit the Creative HEAD Facebook page to replay exclusive content from the day, including awesome creative demonstrations given by Jordanna Cobella and Abbey and Andy Smith.

Next, book your place at The Coterie – the perfect pre-Christmas gathering for hair and fashion fanatics.

For just £15, enjoy drinks all evening and cool conversation with collaborative artists including Halley Brisker, Laura Chadwick, Adam Garland and Darcie Harvey. See page 62 for more information. creativeheadmag.com/events

@creativeheadmag

24/10/2023 14:37

THE FUTURE OF PROFESSIONAL HAIR COLOUR HAS ARRIVED!

alfaparfmilanopro.com

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Christmas WHAT’S INSIDE

OUR CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

£4.50 CHRISTMAS 2023

In print•online•everywhere!

SOPHIA HILTON, NOT ANOTHER

LUKE HERSHESON, HERSHESONS

KAYE SOTOMI, CHOP CHOP LONDON

JORDANNA COBELLA, COBELLA

FRAZER WALLACE, HAUS STUDIO

ASHLEIGH HODGES, HAIRDOTCOM

LUKE PLUCKROSE, SAKS

CLAIRE MARTIN, CLHAIR

See it. Believe it.

EYES WIDE OPEN TO THE TEXTURE GAP

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ON THE COVER

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19/10/2023 09:49

Hair by Noogie Thai for Paul Mitchell.

Make-up by Francie Tomalonis.

Photography by Daeja Fallas.

TOM SMITH We get mystical with the man of the moment to discuss his uncanny trend predictions

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SCENE

Stars triumph at Wella TrendVision, and Redken takes to the stage LEAH HAYDEN CASSIDY, UNIT8

ROB WHITE & LEE NASH-JONES, NASHWHITE

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

DIGITAL DESIGNER

COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR

DEPUTY EDITOR

DIGITAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA ASSISTANT

CREATIVE PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER

AOIFE CONNELL

JENNY BROOKS

DIGITAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR

CREATIVE PARTNERSHIPS DIRECTOR

AMANDA NOTTAGE

ANNIE MAY BYRNE NOONAN

ART DIRECTOR NICK JABBAL

CHIEF SUB EDITOR ADAM WOOD

EVA VESTMANN

KELSEY DRING

LAURA TUCKER

JOANNA ANDERSEN

PUBLISHER

CATHERINE HANDCOCK

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Creative HEAD is printed on paper certified as being from sustainable sources using only vegetable-based inks. Printed

by Buxton Press, Environmental Printer of the Year and Printing Company of the Year.

WRITE TO US AT: Creative HEAD, Alfol Ltd, 15 Priestpopple, Hexham, NE46 1PH 01434 610416 enquiries@alfol.co.uk

Creative HEAD is published 10 times a year by Alfol Ltd. Creative HEAD is a registered trademark. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without prior permission of the publisher. All information correct at time of going to press.

26/10/2023 14:10

LIVE THE

BLONDE LIFE HAIR JOICO EMEA Creative Team ART DIR. Bruno Marc Giamattei PHOTO Jamie Blanshard | Henkel Nederland B.V. – JOICO | Grasbeemd 4 | 5705 DG | Helmond | The Netherlands

NEW & ENHANCED

Our complete lightening and brightening system is just for blondes and those who want to be lifted to new heights without sacrificing hair’s shine or condition.

FOR ALL YOUR BLONDE SALON SERVICES. www.joico.eu #joicoeurope #blondelife

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04/04/2023 14:15

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Stevan Dulay’s winning look

UK SCOOPS COLOUR WIN AT KAO AWARDS

Angelo Seminara

Beauty giant Boots has launched a premium haircare hub that is selling professional brands including Redken, L’Oréal Professionnel Paris, and Wella Professionals, alongside a retail partnership with Live True London.

A new Live True London x Boots salonled retail space has opened at the Live True Vauxhall site as Boots introduces more than 400 products from 10 professional and salon haircare brands at boots.com. Other brands include Pureology, Matrix, Color Wow, and FUL, Live True London’s own range.

At boots.com, consumers will find a content-led haircare hub, with education, inspiration and advice.

“We want to support the salon industry and to behave in the right way,” Jenna Ward, head of beauty reinvention at Boots, told Creative HEAD. She added that the hair hub would feature a salon locator to help customers find their nearest L’Oréal Professionnel Paris salon.

When asked about the potential knock-on effect of Boots selling professional brands on salons’ own retail sales, she added that Boots was “working hard to ensure it doesn’t impact on those who are strong on retail”, stating that she saw Boots filling the role of “replenishment of products rather than taking it way from salons”.

New ‘haircare specialist’ roles will be trialled in selected Boots stores, trained

by Live True London team members. The specialists will offer personalised product advice. Valerie Maine, founder at Live True London, said that the retail concept collaboration could provide a “roadmap” to others in the industry when it comes to expanding the in-salon experience.

Stevan Dulay

Boots sells salon brands in premium hair move

Rush Artistic Team

A SELECTION OF THE ESSENTIALS

HARE & BONE Art Team

IN THE KNOW STEVAN DULAY OF POMOhair in Glasgow has won the gold award for Editorial Colorist of the Year for the UK at Kao’s Global Creative Awards in Chicago. Held as part of the annual Kao Salon Global Experience, the UK’s Caroline Brand won silver in the same category.

Elsewhere, Angelo Seminara premiered his new Hair Every Wear 3.0 collection, while the Rush Artistic Team paid homage to British fashion with its ‘Eras of Anarchy’ collection. Artist Sessions also saw the HARE & BONE Art Team take to the stage.

Everybody’s talking about…

Creative HEAD’s fashion and networking evening, The Coterie, is back on 20 November for the final gathering of the year. Hear from session stylists (pictured, from left) Laura Chadwick, Adam Garland, Halley Brisker, and 2023 It List Editorial Stylist Darcie Harvey, on how their creative connections are setting their feeds on fire and seeing their profiles soar. Tickets £15 exc. VAT; creativeheadmag.com/store CREATIVE HEAD

26/10/2023 14:10

Images courtesy of Alex Barron-Hough

Alternative Hair Show raises £121k

For all the winners, visit creativeheadmag. com

The 41st Alternative Hair Show (AHS) raised a whopping £121,000 for Fighting Leukaemia. The live event, entitled ‘Tapestry’, saw an array of inspiring, innovative hair artists showcase their talent, as well as 51 hopeful finalists in the International Visionary Awards. Hairdressing legend Trevor Sorbie MBE was revealed as the new Worldwide Honorary Patron of the AHS, while artistic show teams sharing presentations included Saco, Sanrizz and the Trevor Sorbie Creative Team.

ALFAPARF REVEALS WINNERS

Jimmy González from Guatemala was crowned the winner of the global ALFAPARF Milano Professional Next Color GenHAIRation Award at London’s Proud Cabaret. His colour concoction, Ice Cube Blue, will join the ALFAPARF Milano Professional product shade portfolio.

The Little Princess Trust launches new campaign The Little Princess Trust is launching a new awareness campaign, Hair for Each Other, to boost hair donations sourced from salons.

The charity provides real hair wigs for free to children and young people experiencing hair loss due to cancer and other conditions.

Salons can order a newly designed pack for free that includes window stickers, mirror clings and leaflets to encourage donating clients to get sponsored. littleprincesses.org.uk

Untitled, Eileen Perrier, 1998

SEE IT!

Four Twins, Rotimi Fani-Kayode, 1984

The Missing Thread: Untold Stories of Black British Fashion Spanning from the 1970s to the present day, The Missing Thread at London’s Somerset House charts the shifting landscape of Black British culture and the unique contribution it has made to Britain’s rich fashion design history. Set against a backdrop of politics and culture, the show examines how Black style and creativity has evolved across the decades and in turn influenced the world of fashion through music, photography, art and design.

It includes a spotlight on one of Britain’s most influential Black fashion designers, the late Joe Casely-Hayford OBE, presenting the first major staging of pieces from the designer’s archive.

From £9.50, ends 7 January 2024, somersethouse.org.uk CREATIVE HEAD

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Lisa Farrall, 2023 Most Wanted Texture Expert winner, has been revealed as a new global ambassador for Schwarzkopf Professional

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CATCH-UP Sam Austin Smith, former managing director of The Fantastic Hairdresser and daughter of famed business coach Alan, is unveiling Floomly – a new profit-focused salon software.

Yuv Beauty has announced the grant of a patent for its yuv Lab, the sustainable system that offers bespoke formulations and runs on a pay-as-you-dispense model.

BOOK IT! ADVANCED SHAPES

You can’t underestimate the power of a superbly crafted cut. Just like colour, you can take things to exciting new heights and tempt clients in for standout looks. The Advanced Shapes Course at Kao Academy is for stylists who have the Essential Shapes and Contemporary shapes courses under their belt. Are you ready to become an expert?

WHEN: 21 to 22 November WHERE: Kao Salon Academy, London PRICE: £260 CALL: 020 3540 1200

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

CONSERVATIVE

The Westrow Academy in Leeds has become the second Centre of Excellence for The Fellowship for British Hairdressing, alongside West Suffolk College.

Paul Falltrick and Lisa Whiteman are the latest names to join ALFAPARF Milano Professional as ambassadors. Paul becomes a brand ambassador for the UK and Ireland, while Lisa enters the fold as a colour brand ambassador for the two countries.

PARTY POLITICS

The NHBF has monitored the recent political party conferences to find out how our industry could be affected if elected.

Here’s what you need to know…

National Living Wage will rise to two-thirds of average earnings.

The Chancellor committed to the recommendations of the Low Pay Commission, with the full announcement coming in November. A new Advanced British Standard combining A-levels and T-levels in one qualification is to be launched. The sector has long preferred the apprenticeship route as apprentices arrive ‘job ready’. However, at a time of skills shortages, T-levels are a useful extra route for recruiting. The new Standard is a 10year plan and our industry’s T-level is still set to launch in September 2024.

‘Left-behind’ towns will have access to £20 million endowment-style funds. This adds to existing ‘levelling up’ funds previously announced, benefiting 55 targeted towns. How this effects your business will depend on how your local authority decides to spend it, but we will be keeping a close eye and so should you.

Darren Ambrose delights at Congress L’Oréal Professionnel Paris Colour Congress welcomed guests into its new HQ and Academy in London’s White City to hear expert advice. Darren Ambrose (pictured), of D&J Ambrose, talked about the importance of ‘the biology of hair’, while Hayley Jepson discussed the risks of burnout. And Rachel White of Bloggs Salons revealed model tips ahead of the launch of L’Oréal Colour Trophy 2024.

LABOUR There was expansion on previous announcements about the creation of Skills England to improve England’s skills system and a ‘Growth and Skills levy’ to support training. They have plans to transform existing further education colleges into new specialist Technical Excellence Colleges with additional investment from local businesses and improved links to local universities.

Previous announcements referred to establishing Great British Energy, a state-owned energy firm to invest in renewable power. They also announced plans to cut energy bills by £93 billion by 2030, lowering the price through bulk purchasing and standardisation. There’s commitment to introducing a Living Wage that accounts for the cost of living in place of the National Minimum Wage, and to finding a way to end the gender pay gap.

OTHER PARTIES The Liberal Democrats would like to introduce an overall strategy that includes encouraging apprenticeships and helping SMEs utilise more digital systems/products to enhance their businesses. The Scottish National Party promised further support to cut NHS waiting lists in Scotland and the Green Party supports a four-day working week.

We will continue to push our industry’s concerns to help frame policy but we need to hear from you. @nhbfsocial

To find out more information and how to join the NHBF, call 01234 831 965 or visit nhbf.co.uk

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CREATIVE HEAD

26/10/2023 14:11

Double up with maximum power & shine.

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THE AGE OF DEMOCRACY Luke in 2008

As Luke Hersheson marks 25 years in the industry, he celebrates the evolution of the modern hair stylist’s career.

It’s no longer who you know…

2023 marks my 25th year in the hairdressing industry; I started young and was quickly successful so I suffered with impostor syndrome for much of my career.

I was always the youngest on a set, and I have carried a sense of “not being good enough” around with me. But one day you wake up and realise you’ve taken the place of the previous generation, of The Establishment, and you can’t help but look at the up-and-coming talent. This feels like the right moment to reflect and to tell my story from my newer perspective, a place where I have realised my talents and lost my impostor self-image.

In 1998 there was an enormous disconnect: salons were salons, session artists were session artists, and red carpet work didn’t really exist. Education was limited to a handful of multi-nationals. There was no crossover. In fact, there was a real snobbery about session work. The early ’90s had seen the introduction of grunge and salons appeared to lose their edge and desire.

Salons and their stylists were disconnected from fashion, from cool, and I felt it my calling to join the two together.

I grew up in a salon, and was lucky to watch my dad at work. I saw a real difference between his approach and the majority.

He was constantly evolving his work, his technique, and his appetite for newness was powered by a desire to make people look great, relevant, current.

I started assisting everyone from Sam McKnight and Guido to Neil Moodie and Malcolm Edwards. I wanted to understand the session industry and all its approaches, but most importantly, I wanted our salon, Hershesons, to be cool, to be thought of differently. The only way I could do this was to be a session and salon hairdresser together.

I was fortunate to get a lucky break with an introduction to the photographers Mert & Marcus and my agent set up work with David Sims, who really taught me the difference between doing hair in real life and for a picture. It was a time where this top echelon of fashion was well guarded.

It was telling when L’Oréal Professionnel started to sponsor LFW shows, realising the importance of that link to fashion.

I also saw a new generation of hairdressers desperate to become session stylists, sadly wanting to shun the salon in their belief that this was the way to fame and fortune.

But here is my key point – the ability to be successful has become democratised. You no longer have to know someone in a powerful position, or be chosen by a small group of beauty editors. Now your work can tell its own story via social media, and the ability for real talent to float to the top is more straightforward. It’s fairer, more equal and in that we’re really lucky.

A decade ago it was inconceivable to work at the top of fashion while simultaneously doing a TV show (Sam McKnight), or a Vogue cover next to an episode of The Kardashians (Chris Appleton). Gone are the days – and the rules – about what you can and can’t do.

Maybe it’s the dwindling number of magazines that has changed fashion’s face forever. Or maybe social media has transformed how we buy, what we choose and how we learn.

Whatever the reason, it’s exciting and allows us to dream and see a future that doesn’t look like it used to.

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IA L CR EATIV E HE AD AD VE RT OR

Shake it up

Salon services start with the best intentions, but too often stylists get dragged down by hair that’s more ‘moody Medusa’ than mega-nourished. Send tangled tresses and other undesirables packing with a simple shake-up thanks to Equave, a genre-smashing detangler and conditioner combo by Revlon Professional

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24/10/2023 09:33

Six of the best

Tangles? Equave doesn’t know them. Revlon Professional prep and primers deliver six targeted versions for different hair needs

Cut down on the aggro and wasted time combing through knots with Equave, the revamped detangling collection from Revlon Professional. For all hair types, Equave comes in six shake-themto-wake-them versions to proactively target various hair issues.

This is you and your client’s route to voluptuously smooth and revitalised hair, creating a better styling experience for all…

Knotty hair means laborious combing for the stylist, pain and discomfort for the client, not to mention dried out and wispy strands after hot styling. If you’re keen to avoid that look of disappointment as your customer glimpses the flyaways in the mirror, you’re in luck, because Equave cuts all of this out. Shake then spray this cleverly engineered hybrid onto a mane near you

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and feel its vastly improved manageability. Marvel at the boosted shine and serious heat protection* up to 220ºC – your typical detangler this ain’t.

A priming revelation for hair that’s sick of the rigours of knots, relentless styling damage, and the dullness that comes with it, Equave is for better protected and more beautiful-looking and feeling manes. A whopping nine-times more efficient, it’s a crucial addition to all heads everywhere, whether in the salon chair, or the bathroom at home.

Hair needs are diverse, but all heads should be able to enjoy a tangle-free and nourishing hair priming experience. Here, Equave’s dual action detangling and conditioning formula delivers

27/10/2023 11:10

IA L CR EATIV E HE AD AD VE RT OR Except for Curls Definition & Hydro Fusio-Oil *

via six unique options, with each one specifically targeting a different hair issue: Anti-Brassiness – to combat unwanted yellow tones Colour Vibrancy – stops colour fade with antioxidants and pro-vitamin B5 Curls Definition – packed with cold-pressed natural apricot oil controls frizz, this is spot on for waves, curls and coils Strengthening – a lightweight formula with a thickening effect that prevents breakage of finer hair Hydro – for smoothness for normal to dry heads after supple smoothness Hydro Fusio-Oil – to instantly nourish hair and body

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“Because Equave doubles up as a conditioner and a primer, people really see it as a multi-purpose product. It is leave-in, so it cuts down on minutes in the shower, making it an efficient option for those who are pushed for time or want something they can pop in their gym bag” MARK LEESON, REVLON PROFESSIONAL GLOBAL ARTISTIC AMBASSADOR

24/10/2023 09:34

IA L CR EATIV E HE AD AD VE RT OR

Prime time

Equave from Revlon Professional makes detangling and styling easy. Yet inside it’s packed with hard-working tech to deliver priming power in a way that will help rocket-boost your retail. Just shake that moneymaker…

Offering smart detangling and conditioning results from the inside out, Equave is the solution we have all been waiting for when it comes to prepping hair for what’s to come.

Inside, powerful kinetic technology comes alive with just a shake. In what couldn’t be an easier activation process in the salon or at home, this simple movement unleashes the professional performance formula. The result is instantly detangled and protected hair, an optimum priming base for all the heat and styling work you could throw at it…

Whether you’re spraying it in the salon or selling it to a client who’s after some detangling muscle to incorporate into their busy day, Equave is your new essential shelf buddy. It’s a triple detangling, conditioning and priming threat sure to please today and tomorrow, and all the days after…

WANT TO SHAKE UP YOUR SERVICES? DISCOVER YOUR OPTIMAL PRIMER THAT KICKS KNOTS TO THE KERB WITH EQUAVE FROM REVLON PROFESSIONAL. TO BECOME A REVLON PROFESSIONAL STOCKIST, CONTACT 020 7391 7440 OR VISIT REVLONPROFESSIONAL.COM @REVLONPROFESSIONALUK

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24/10/2023 09:34

£4.50 OCTOBER 2023

In print print•online•everywhere! print• online•everywhere!

I feel

LOVE

SUBSCRIBE NOW TO CREATIVE HEAD AND RECEIVE A CERAMIC HOT BRUSH FROM DIVA, WORTH

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Be one of the first 10 new subscribers to Creative HEAD and you’ll receive a Ceramic Hot Brush from Diva. With a macadamia oil, argan oil and keratin-infused ceramic barrel, this brush can be used on its own to quickly create big, loose curls or for smoothing out

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straight. The long, cooling bristles work to set curls in place for an extra long-lasting style. Already a Creative HEAD subscriber? Then we’ve got something for you too! One lucky subscriber will win a Gold Dust straightener, worth £240. For more, visit divapro.co.uk

For the first 10 new subscribers to sign up between 1 November and 31 December 2023. Subject to availability, no cash equivalent will be offered.

15/09/2023 11:31

*

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24/10/2023 09:24

In association with

IS BUSINESS KEEPING YOU AWAKE AT NIGHT? MAYBE YOU NEED ACTIVATOR, THE FREE MENTORING SCHEME FROM CREATIVE HEAD AND THE INDUSTRY, PROVIDING HELP AND SUPPORT FOR ALL HAIRDRESSING BUSINESS OWNERS. EVEN BETTER, THIS YEAR WE’RE PARTNERING WITH FLOOMLY, THE SOFTWARE BRAND WITH HAIRDRESSING AT ITS HEART AND PROFIT AT ITS HEAD! Running your own business can be a lonely experience. If you feel overwhelmed by yours, want to change direction or simply have a good idea and don’t know how to take it forward, perhaps you’d benefit from a mentor – someone who understands your work environment, has experience of the kind of hurdles you’re facing and can provide practical and personal support.

Activator is the free mentoring scheme from Creative HEAD and The Industry, open to all business owners at any stage of their careers, that could see you being paired with a top industry name – an Activator – who will act as your mentor for a full 12 months, commencing January 2024.

During this time your Activator will act as your sounding board, provide honest advice, introduce relevant and valuable contacts and networks and help you learn and grow.

Activators and mentees can also take advantage of a series of business-building workshops, organised by Floomly – the problem-solver, task do-er, phone-afriend business developer and educator that distils 30 years of Alan Austin Smith’s industry knowledge into a single software programme – meaning everyone can become part of a like-minded Activator community. Go on, go for it!

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WANT TO SPEND 2024 WITH AN ACTIVATOR? Apply now at creativeheadmag.com/ activator Applications close Friday 24 November 2023

23/10/2023 15:32

MEET THE ACTIVATORS IT’S AN ALL-STAR LINE-UP FROM ACROSS THE INDUSTRY!

COLIN MCANDREW Medusa

JANICE BECK Arapio

CHARLIE COLLINGE Collinge & Co

KATY GRIMSHAW Spectrum One

CHRIS FOSTER freelance

FRAZER WALLACE The Haus Studio

CRISTINA FAZZONE freelance

LISA FARRALL WIG London

ASHLEIGH HODGES freelance

LEE NASH-JONES AND ROB WHITE NashWhite

PHIL SMITH Smith England

JAYE MACDONALD Linton and Mac

LYDIA WOLFE Jack & the Wolfe

ANGIE GOUDIE Gaudi Hair

RICHARD PHILLIPART The Boutique Atelier

KAYE SOTOMI Chop Chop, London

LEE STAFFORD Lee Stafford Education

ANNE VECK AND KEITH MELLEN

KAREN WHARTON Obsession Salon & Spa

SARAH MASON Sarah Mason Hairdressing

Apply now at creativeheadmag.com/activator. Applications close Friday 24 November

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23/10/2023 15:33

Gift stronger, more resilient and show-stopping hair for the party season, with these three limited-edition holiday gift sets from OLAPLEX. There’s the Strong Days Ahead Hair Kit for musclebuilt locks, the Smooth Your Style Hair Kit for sleek seekers, and a charming No.3 Gifting Ornament, the perfect addition to the Christmas tree.

RRP from £16

salon-services.com salonpromotions.co.uk

Bid goodbye to physical pain and strain with Ergo brushes, a professional range of ergonomically designed styling brushes fresh from the US, created for stylist comfort. Smart engineering means high heat protection and damage-averse styling for all hair types, for softer, smoother and shinier-looking locks without adding any product.

RRP from £44.95

ergostylingtools.co.uk

Fresh from the colourful favourite Manic Panic comes Mermaid, a hair repair mask that protects those vibrant hues from fading and encourages greater hair strength.

RRP £13.99

that reduces frizz Looking for a high-performance anti-static brush the Head Jog than r furthe no Look ys? and those dreaded fly-awa double curve Its hair. dry and wet on use for , 27 Anti-Static Brush while its flexible antidesign fits perfectly to the scalp for better grip, brushing. This is some knot bristles ensure gentle, pain-minimising smart engineering.

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RRP £8.95

hairtools.co.uk

Vitalshot from Keratin Complex is a one-step bond rebuilder that repairs and rebuilds the hair’s inner bonds with a single application… and there’s a new backwash-sized bottle to make dispensing and storage even easier.

In-salon service

rebelbeautybrands.com

Want hair that’s primed to perfection? Achieve it in one simple shake with Equave by Revlon Professional, an epic detangler and conditioner in one. There’s an ideal bottle for every head!

RRP from £4.85 revlonproshop.com 22

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CREATIVE HEAD

26/10/2023 14:13

STOCK IT!

LAUNCHES AND INNOVATIONS READY TO HIT YOUR SALON SHELVES

This Christmas, entice clients to enter the ghd Dreamland and its limited edition of festive treats, such as this platinum+ styler in alluring jade with complimentary velvet vanity case.

RRP £239

ghdhair.com

Made from recycled materials, Maria Nila Beauty Boxes can be reused to store personal items, and five per cent of the proceeds from each box is donated to The Friendly Year, which helps endangered animals.

RRP from £46 marianila.com

For a high-luxe gift offering, point clients in the direction of R+Co Bleu’s festive gift set shampoo and conditioner combos.

Here lies a set for every Christmas wish.

RRP £90 each

xpertprofessional.co.uk

Love your precision grooming?

Then look out for the Hi-Viz Trimmer from Wahl. Built with a slim neck, where the body meets the blade, it allows for more visibility and control, while the redesigned wide T-blade is coated to last eight-times longer than stainless steel blades.

RRP £227.99 wahl.co.uk

CREATIVE HEAD

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With a unique charcoal formulation that purifies the hair while neutralising yellow and orange tones, System Blonde Charcoal Bleach Powder Lightener from ASP Expert Haircare delivers the brightest blonde results, with up to 10 levels of lift. Ideal for both on- and offscalp techniques.

In-salon service asphair.com

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26/10/2023 16:01

THE FACES THE PEOPLE IN ACTION

What would Phil Smith do?

In April, Phil Smith closed the doors to his TONI&GUY Salisbury franchise and re-opened it as Smith England. He shares how his move proved a masterstroke

“AFTER 30 YEARS of running TONI&GUY Salisbury, our franchise agreement was up for renewal, and various factors meant it was ideal timing to go it alone. We parted on good terms and with immense gratitude. I launched my first TONI&GUY franchise in the same building on Silver Street when I was 23, as the company’s youngest franchisee.

I had just three clients to my name! Over the next three decades, the salon flourished with my wife Louise at the helm, and our children, Ellie and George (all pictured), eventually stepped into the business.

By 2009, I had reached breaking point.

I began to sell off my by then 28 salons until just Salisbury remained. Around three years later, I began restoring a small, former wool shop on the boundaries of the city’s historic cathedral. Midway through the project, I decided it would be the perfect location for a salon. We opened this salon as Smith England in 2013, and really it was an opportunity to get back to grass roots and pour everything I’d learnt over the years into one perfect salon. It reignited my passion for hairdressing and allowed

WHAT MADE ME JANENE HAWKINS-BUSH HEAVENLY HAIR

@heavenlyhair_amayaspa After years working towards owning two salons in the UK, in 2004 I decided to sell up and move to France before I hit burnout!

I started to work in a salon by the beach in the Languedoc-Roussillon region.

I underwent a thorough medical to ensure I was fit for work, which I think is an excellent idea. Six months of picking up French terminology was overwhelming, but I learnt so much from my colleagues. I then moved elsewhere in France and found

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me to do things entirely my way – from how we style the salon environment, to our principles of community, kindness, and social conscience, while creating a business model that supports the growth of our two product ranges. In our new location, the chance to grow the Smith England business under one roof, alongside my family and a team who have been with us for many years, was too good to ignore.

Moving back to being an independent owner has been a masterstroke. It has shored up my family’s future and the cash that would be going on a franchise arrangement is now available to spend on things that really matter to us – like supporting our younger team members and creating solid structures for the next generation. I place less importance on my own achievements and more now on passing on opportunities.

Creating a legacy, setting an example, and shaping opportunities for your team to thrive all define success to me. Greater wealth does not buy happiness, but what I’ve realised is that job satisfaction does. @smithenglandhair

a small salon for sale. The retiring owner explained that the process to own a salon was not going to be easy, but I persisted. My qualifications were translated and verified by a solicitor, and I had to prove that I had either owned or managed a salon for at least six years. In France, you are regulated and insured in the same way as a medical professional. My time in France was incredible, and I ended up out there for six years. I really enjoyed learning the language for my craft and although some techniques were different, this really helped to add to my skill set. It was incredibly enriching to understand the cultural differences of another country. A highlight was my salon being featured in the French equivalent of the Sunday Telegraph Stella magazine as a great business run by a Brit.

CREATIVE HEAD

24/10/2023 15:03

the Forecast

boundary-less beauty, and experiences that mix care and tech. Each of the trends emerging from these drivers holds the key for salons to not only prepare for the future, but to make the most of it, too.

Trends like dopamine beauty, ‘phygital’ exploration – which blends physical and digital experiences – and gender-fluid futures all represent growth opportunities, and the report will show salon owners what they can implement now, what they can do next, and what they can work towards, long-term.

With input from the best in the business, consumer surveys conducted across the globe, and Fresha’s own appointment data, the trend report will be an unparalleled resource to help you understand the trends for 2024 and beyond, and then apply them to your business.

Through simple ideas such as changing up your playlist, to bigger moves such as training your staff to support your clients’ mental health, you’ll be doing what you do best – putting client care first – but in a whole new way. The future is bright for salons that evolve to meet consumer demands with a personalised and holistic approach. With the right strategy, a forward-thinking attitude, and a customer-centric vision, you and your team will stay ahead of the curve.

Decode trends for 2024 POWERED BY

Prepare your business for the trends set to shape the industry The beauty and wellness industry is everevolving. As clients’ needs shift and overall health becomes even more important to them, hair services will – and should – change. But how will those consumer and cultural shifts affect the industry?

To help salon owners chart a course through those changes, Fresha, the world’s number one booking software for beauty and wellness, partnered with leading trend forecaster WGSN to produce the ultimate guide. This trend report will decode what’s set to shape the industry and drive it forward, and with it, you can futureproof your business.

From consumers’ changing expectations of beauty and wellness in the next two to five years, to the treatments and services that present new opportunities, the report’s insights and ideas will help salons adapt their services to the client of the future.

The key consumer drivers identified in the report are a more holistic approach to wellness,

Get ready to deliver the best client experience and outpace the competition with Fresha’s trend report, launching this year.

Discover more now at fresha.com CREATIVE HEAD

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27/10/2023 15:04

24/7

A DAY OF WORK/LIFE BALANCE FOR JACK MEAD, CO-FOUNDER OF JACK & THE WOLFE

MY SPOTIFY PLAYLIST INCLUDES… ’60s, ’70s and ’90s.

I’M ALWAYS PLANNING… How to better myself.

I GET UP AT… 7am and it’s a mad rush to get my daughter dressed and ready for nursery while she changes outfit three times. She’s four years old. I’d love to say it was a calming ritual of a morning… unfortunately this is something I’m still working on.

WHEN I GET STRESSED I… Go to the gym.

WHEN I GET STUCK I… Ask for help.

THE HABIT I NEED TO BREAK IS… Working too much.

MY WORK WARDROBE CONSISTS OF… Everything from punk to chav.

THE MISTAKE I LEARNED THE MOST FROM… Understanding that not everyone thinks the way I do.

MY JOB ENTAILS… A lot of hair!

THE ADVICE I’M GLAD I IGNORED… To not follow my heart.

I GOT HERE BY… Practice.

MY DAY CONSISTS OF… Looking after clients, admin, educating, creating social content, and looking after my daughter.

MY INBOX LOOKS LIKE… Chaos!

MY BIGGEST INDULGENCE IS… Coffee.

MY FAVOURITE WORK TOOL IS… The Oribe flat brush.

AFTER WORK… I look after my daughter and plan ahead.

MY DAILY FUEL IS… Coffee is my daily treat! I can’t start the morning without getting a flat white from my favourite coffee shop.

Vagaro I check in every morning to see my week ahead. It is so easy to see the health of my business.

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I don’t know if it’s psychological or I’m truly addicted, but it’s like a ‘go’ sign to start the day. I only have maximum two coffees a day but it’s quality over quantity, right?

I DECOMPRESS BY… Having some alone time.

In shot A fantastic app for editing videos.

It’s very easy, which is perfect for me!

Instagram I’m still mega-passionate about it.

I love sharing and building an online platform and being inspired.

CREATIVE HEAD

26/10/2023 14:15

IA L CR EATIV E HE AD AD VE RT OR

FIRED

UP

SAVING HE DOLLSHOUR HOURS ON CLIENT SE SALON, C ROCHELLE OMMUNICATIONS, TH RAYE ANTH E ONY, SAYS APPRENTICE FINALI S USING VAG ARO HAS BT AND OWNER OF TH EEN A SMA E RT MOVE

Hairdressers are creatives, yet it’s hard to find the perfect balance when managing a business alongside your craft. Freelance hairdresser turned salon owner and TV star, Rochelle Raye Anthony, uses salon scheduling software Vagaro to run her business more smoothly. Here, she shares her backstory and how Vagaro has taken a huge chunk out of her admin pile, letting her get on with the most important order of the day – hairdressing!

Creative HEAD: You started out as a freelancer.

Tell us more...

Rochelle Raye Anthony: I started mobile hairdressing then moved my business to my parents’ living room. I remember them in the dining room eating as quietly as they could! I put my clients in front of the TV, and it would just be me and them. I’ve done all aspects of business, and freelancing is the most normal way to grow. I don’t want any soloentrepreneurs to put themselves down, you are a business owner! Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

CH: As a business owner, is it possible to handle everything?

RRA: It’s about understanding that you can’t do everything, and that’s okay. One of the key things is

to recognise when your brain is tired. In this industry we are so physical. So when we get ill or have brain fog, that’s our body’s way of telling us to slow down. It’s about recognising the signs, in order to avoid burnout. I used to manage my entire diary and send out text messages reminding people of their appointments every week, which was adding on two-to-three hours to my day. So, it’s about finding and utilising a platform that cuts these jobs in half, or does these jobs for you, so you can be the best stylist possible.

CH: Vagaro helps manage things like reminders to avoid no-shows.

What else can it do?

RRA: One of the reasons why I chose Vagaro is because it is trusted, and I struggle to let go. I know that clients can log in, request and change appointments, but ultimately, I am still in control. Vagaro reminds them prior to an appointment and even allows you to customise your email or text correspondence. As it’s a safe and secure platform to store clients’ card details, it also helps you protect your reputation as a business that is trustworthy.

To hear more about Rochelle Raye Anthony and her journey with Vagaro, watch the full interview by scanning the QR code CREATIVE HEAD

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26/10/2023 14:15

THE PLACES

NEW SPACES, FRESH LOOKS AND LOCATIONS TO HELP YOU WORK BETTER CRATE CHESHIRE. MACCLESFIELD @cratecheshire

Charles Rose, It List Business Builder 2023 and owner of Crate Cheshire, wanted to create an atmosphere that was both laid-back and stylish. The team has curated a space that is smart, multi-functional and fashionable, making it a real destination for clients.

“Whether they want to work, relax, or even hold meetings, we’ve got it covered,” grins Charles.

There’s plenty of space, a dedicated lounge area and a well-stocked drinks bar, ensuring guests have everything they need. It’s the third salon in the Crate Cheshire group, and the design is consistent to maintain a comfortable, welcoming and relaxing environment. “It’s not just about a space to wait for a haircut,” explains Charles, “it’s about offering a place where clients can truly make themselves at home.”

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CREATIVE HEAD

24/10/2023 09:28

CARVE BARBER AND LIFESTYLE, HOYLAKE, MERSEYSIDE @carvebarberandlifestyle

This new studio from barbering favourite and BaByliss PRO ambassador, Pete Cranfield, is delivering more than tight fades and enviable cuts. It’s the first time Pete has opened his books to new clients in more than five years, and he’s already fully booked for the next two months. The decor is inspired by surf and skate culture, and features PETE CRANFIELD branded merch and some TAKES US ON A TOUR tempting grooming and lifestyle OF CARVE – CHECK OU T goodies too. @

CREATIVEHEADMAG

SUPPLY 91, LONDON

@supply.91 Nestled in the Quadrant Arcade off London’s iconic Regent Street, this calm and relaxing barber space joins outposts in Islington and a residency at 180 The Strand in the barber brand’s group.

CREATIVE HEAD

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BILLI CURRIE, MARYLEBONE

@billicurrie Home to 2023 Most Wanted Colour Expert and Creative Talent, Grace Dalgleish, and TikTok Hairvoyant, Tom Smith, this London favourite has enjoyed a classy little refresh of its interiors.

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25/10/2023 14:06

LET’S GET ZEN A mental health-positive salon is built by good leadership.

L’Oréal Professionnel Paris ambassadors Adam Reed and Norma-Jean O’Reilly tell us how

NORMA-JEAN O’REILLY,

CO-OWNER, THE ROOM, DUBLIN Creative HEAD: As a junior, did you talk much about mental health?

Norma-Jean O’Reilly: Mental health was never discussed; the approach was stay busy, do your job, work hard, and don’t complain. There were a lot of tears as I struggled with criticism and took it personally. I look back and wish that I could have been a junior now, especially with tools like Head Up Keys on offer.

CH: Is it hard as salon owners to take on the concerns and worries of your staff?

NJO’R: It’s hard and you must tread carefully about what’s appropriate or inappropriate. My business partner Orla and I try to encourage the staff to talk to us, that we are always there for them no matter what.

CH: How else do you support each other?

NJO’R: We have open chats with our staff even about our personal lives, not everything, but enough for them to feel they can come to us. I recently lost my sister Melanie, and I feel that being open about my grief will encourage them to speak up. Talking to each other helps.

CH: How do you manage the many pressures of a busy salon?

NJO’R: We all help each other with jobs, and just because I’m the owner it doesn’t mean I can’t muck in.

I shampoo my own clients when I can, I clean, and get stuck in. We are a great team, and we know when someone needs help.

CH: How do you ensure everyone feels cared for in your team?

NJO’R: We close every Tuesday after a bank holiday so that’s 10 long weekends a year. We close at 4pm every Saturday, so all employees get to have a good weekend; and we only do one late night a week. They appreciate that it’s not all about the business making money, it’s also about creating a happy salon.

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23/10/2023 15:14

IA L CR EATIV E HE AD AD VE RT OR

ADAM REED,

ARKIVE BY ADAM REED Creative HEAD: What do you wish you’d known about mental health earlier?

Adam Reed: Most of us had other jobs to sustain a living as salaries were low when I began hairdressing, so physical exhaustion and burnout were prevalent. Talking about it was such a no-no then. It would have been great to have the tools to recognise when things were escalating so you could get in front of problems. Thankfully, that’s where Head Up and its learning modules come in.

CH: What resources do you have in place to support each other?

AR: Open conversations among all staff members at every level is the most vital tool. A friendly ear ethos in the team helps people have the support and safety to take their next steps. We hope to create a safe space for them in work but also encourage them to seek support externally as well, which is as important.

CH: What do you have in place when the salon is busy to ensure everyone feels looked after?

AR: We remind everyone that their physical health is important, so that means taking regular breaks and communicating when they feel over stretched, unwell or unable to fulfil their day’s work.

We have in-person team meetings and briefings, and encourage everyone to talk so that small things don’t become big things.

CH: Do you have advice on how you stay on top of your mental fitness?

AR: I find it very hard to form new behaviours, so I tell people not to work how I work! Although I try to talk about how I feel, I’m not the best at it, but I really try to open up. Being surrounded by the right people and the right team is fundamental.

A successful salon and a happier, more productive team starts with better mental health.

Sign up for free to take the Head Up Keys course – scan the QR code or head to uk.lorealaccess.com

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23/10/2023 15:15

HAPPY PLACE

You’re busy, and sometimes it can all feel like it’s too much. But you’re not alone – here’s how Head Up from L’Oréal Professionnel Paris can really help, giving you the power to be positive

Cuts, colours, restyles, photoshoots, live shows – whether hairdressers are bossing it on the salon floor, freelancing, or in session work, it’s a life lived in the fast lane. In a high-octane industry all about performance, there’s not much time to think about when your tank is running low.

Not just technicians and creative talents, hairdressers are unofficial therapists, fulfilling a unique role as listeners as well as service providers.

The fact that 75 per cent of clients consider a hair appointment a form of self-care* shows the level of responsibility stylists hold. But how are hair pros feeling? According to two studies by L’Oréal Professionnel Paris, mental health is the number one challenge for stylists in six countries, while 65 per cent have experienced anxiety, burnout and depression during their professional career.* Couple this with the fact

hair pros spend an average of 2,000** hours a year listening to clients, it’s no wonder they need more support.

A mental health pandemic is raging in this vibrant industry. If we fail to intervene, we could lose our brightest and best, not to mention the next generation of talent, which tends to prioritise their mental health. Feeling drained and overwhelmed shouldn’t be the norm in a hairdresser’s day. But there is help on hand…

A trusted partner since 1909 – there to help educate and inspire – L’Oréal Professionnel Paris is going further to help today’s hair community where it needs it. Head Up is a movement focusing on improving hair professionals’ mental health, with free education resources so hair pros can help feel better, setting off a ripple effect of mind positivity.

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23/10/2023 15:16

IA L **

*

Study conducted by L’Oréal Professionnel Paris through Instagram (March 2023) reaching up to 1.8 million hair lovers.

Samaritans (2017) ‘Crop, look and listen: hairdressers help Samaritans highlight the life-saving power of listening’.

Through Head Up’s free and easily accessible mental health training, users can expect top-grade teaching for hair professionals by hair professionals, the people who know best what those struggles are like at the coalface.

This is no fl ash in the pan – Head Up will be a permanent fi xture for L’Oréal Professionnel Paris, providing solutions to improve hair pro happiness and mental health on the salon and session fl oor, helping to create a more harmonious, inclusive and prosperous industry.

Hosted by former colourist and working psychotherapist Hayley Jepson, and hair professional and brand educator, Daniel Mason Jones, Head Up Keys offers four certifying and easily digestible modules to supercharge stylist mental health. Those on the Head Up journey will also have use of a digital workbook for both online and offline training. Stylists can access Head Up Keys online via lorealprofessionnel.co.uk, @lorealpro on YouTube and on the L’Oréal learning platform, Access.

CR EATIV E HE AD AD VE RT OR

Find your head space

LASTING EIGHT MINUTES EACH,THESE FOUR MODULES INCLUDE:

• Head Up Keys Résumé • Mental Health Matters • Self-care • YOU: Setting boundaries Forget buzzwords and lofty statements, Head Up has its mission set to train 20,000 hair professionals by the end of 2023, rising to 100,000 by 2025.

Head Up means getting on with the business of hitting those mental health milestones – that’s why all L’Oréal Professionnel Paris employees are encouraged to complete the Head Up course, meaning the people behind the programme are in it with you.

Get free mental health training with Head Up Keys – scan the UK QR code now 33

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23/10/2023 15:17

LIKE COOL STUFF? WE MAKE COOL EMAILS, TOO.

We’ve got hot news, jaw-droppingly gorgeous fashion, brilliant business tips, swoon-worthy salon interiors, tonnes of events to fill your diary, and loads more…

Come and join our gang at

creativeheadmag.com/newsletter creativeheadmag.com/ newsletter

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23/10/2023 15:34

IA L CR EATIV E HE AD AD VE RT OR

STRONG HAIR SHINES BRIGHTEST In life – and in hair – true strength comes from within. For luscious, luminous locks that outshine even the most decorated tree, it can only be OLAPLEX

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24/10/2023 09:30

THREE UNDER THE TREE

Shimmering outfits are redundant without star-quality hair to match. Offer clients a trio of sensational bond-building stocking fillers from OLAPLEX Togetherness, sentimentality, silliness… the festive season is all this and more. It may seem like fun and games, but underneath it’s all about heart. OLAPLEX’s trio of limited-edition holiday gift sets are underpinned by something deeper too – its patented bond-building technology. In-built into each gift set is this pioneering formula that repairs damage, relinking damaged bonds to boost strength at a molecular level – for every hair type.

Each set contains the game-changing OLAPLEX No.3 Hair Perfector, which dials down on breakage and muscles up all hair types – a perfect gift to share to help hair have the best 2024 possible!

For clients wanting to bestow the gift of stronger hair today and tomorrow, there’s the Strong Days Ahead Hair Kit, for super-strong hair that swishes with purpose. Alongside the No.3 Hair Perfector, there’s the No.4 Bonding Maintenance Shampoo which cleanses, hydrates and softens, and the No.5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner, which nourishes, hydrates and reduces split ends – a comprehensive step-by-step journey to brilliantly better hair.

For others, it’s a smooth finish that really matters, and having hair that’s so silky and sensual it shines like a mirror when the light hits. OLAPLEX has a Christmas treat for them too, and it’s the Smooth Your Style Hair Kit. Alongside the No.3 Hair Perfector, gift receivers will enjoy the No.6 Bond Smoother, which irons out frizz and speeds up blow-dry time, and the No.7 Bonding Oil, which

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adds shine and softness to the hair, as well as heat protection.

Inside, you will also find the No.9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum, a handy helper that promotes style memory and protects hair from both heat and pollution.

Impressive gifts that leave us with a smile are found in smaller packages too. For this, offer the OLAPLEX No.3 Gifting Ornament, a beautiful bauble that can pretty up any festive tree before it’s opened on the big day. Inside is the No.3 Hair Perfector, an ideal start to anyone’s bond-building journey… and is sure to leave them wanting more.

24/10/2023 09:30

IA L CR EATIV E HE AD AD VE RT OR “This season, transform hair into a red carpet-worthy sensation with OLAPLEX exclusive holiday hair kits. These carefully curated kits are the ultimate gift for hair fanatics and trendsetters alike. Packed with OLAPLEX Bond Building Technology in each kit, clients will have show-stopping looks from home at a salon quality, and ensure the health and strength of their hair.”

Tracey Cunningham, OLAPLEX ambassador

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24/10/2023 09:31

IA L CR EATIV E HE AD AD VE RT OR

BEHIND THE MIRACLE A genre-smashing, innovative hair brand doesn’t appear from nowhere.

OLAPLEX is the result of sustained scientific research that’s changed the hair repair game for good

The story of OLAPLEX has become a modern industry legend. How one revolutionary innovation from humble beginnings went on to transform the hair of millions. It’s a fascinating tale to tell, so cosy up by the fire and let’s begin…

It all started in 2014 when two California-based chemists created a whole new haircare category from their garage – bond-building.

This technology meant that broken bonds – created by aggressors such as chemical services, heat styling, mechanical friction and pollution – could now be repaired and hair built back stronger and healthier looking.

Now, nearly a decade later, clients no longer need to choose between damaged tresses and an extreme cut, or to swerve colour to avoid damage... the solution to better hair had arrived! OLAPLEX is the gift that keeps on giving, and a miracle that happens every day of the year.

WANT TO ADD SOME CHRISTMAS CHEER TO YOUR SALON SHELVES? STOCK THESE THREE LIMITED-EDITION FESTIVE GIFTS BY OLAPLEX AND HELP YOUR CLIENTS GIVE THE GIFT OF HAIR MIRACLES. VISIT OLAPLEX.COM @OLAPLEXUK

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24/10/2023 09:32

creativeheadmag.com

Pushing the boundaries of traditional hairstyling and the conventional notions of what a haircut can be, ‘Read between the lines’ by Peter Healy seamlessly blends sharp lines with a futuristic flair

Find out what happened when session star Syd Hayes put BaByliss PRO’s latest launch to the test during a quick-fire styling challenge at @creativeheadmag

Will you be joining us for our final Coterie of the year? Hear from session stars (pictured above, from left) Laura Chadwick, Adam Garland, Halley Brisker and Darcie Harvey

creativeheadmag.com

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creativeheadmagofficial

Want to get the inside scoop on the trends that are set to dominate hair?

‘Hairvoyant’ Tom Smith has consulted his crystal ball!

@creativeheadmag

23/10/2023 15:35

This man can

predict

the 36

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future CREATIVE HEAD

24/10/2023 15:32

PROFILE

The mystical has followed international Hairvoyant, Tom Smith, since he was 16, when a local salon owner told him that hairdressing would be his calling. From an apprenticeship with Sassoon to the hair trend forecaster with almost spooky abilities today, Annie May Byrne Noonan steps behind the veil to glimpse his past, present, and future

Exceptional client work and a touch of elbow grease can land a stylist a full-to-the-brim column. But to become an authority, to be the person others look to in order to discover what trends are coming next, requires something extra. So influential is Tom Smith, international artist at Billi Currie, tantalising trend forecaster, OLAPLEX artist and more, that beauty editors are scrambling over each other to hear his divinations. You only need to glimpse his TikTok (@tomsmithhd), which commands an 86k plus following built in just two years, as evidence.

But plenty happens IRL, too. This year marks 12 years for Tom at Billi Currie, the Marylebone-based salon, which is no small feat considering we’re told that Millennials switch jobs on average every two years or so (the Rochester native is 31 years old). So, what’s kept him there for so long? Billi and Debbie Currie’s “openness for give and take” for one. Describing the pair as “the most beautiful, humble, quality people”, Tom admires the way they “look for collaboration with their team members”.

The Billi Currie blueprint, according to Tom, is “really strong and honest communication and transparency”. A person who prefers to cultivate his own plot where he is, the open culture at the salon has enabled Tom to also undertake his creative director

CREATIVE HEAD

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role at Australia-based Evo Hair while staying and prospering at the base he loves. Clearly, Billi and Debbie know a thing or two about the importance of talent retention.

Sitting opposite Tom at the Marylebone Hotel – he’s impeccably dressed with not a golden strand out of place – it’s clear why he puts the ‘trend’ in trend forecaster. However, his approach is no “finger to the wind” exercise, but the result of sustained research and work. Jokingly referring to it as “muscle training”, he offers three simple starting points. Opt for a separate Instagram account for research; Tom’s own contains “pre-curated content” from interiors to publications about the business of fashion. Passionate? Yes, but he’s not preachy. “Not everyone has to take it as seriously as me,” he jokes.

In the Tom Smith world, trends don’t come and go but shift and evolve. Dubbed “threads”, he advises paying attention to or tracking their “direction and the way things are going”, simply noting them down on your phone. Then, scroll through apps such as Matches Fashion and Net-A-Porter to spot emerging themes.

“I could feel a western influence building at the beginning of the year,” he explains. “Celine, Sonia Rykiel, and others were doing it, and I noticed a pattern. For me, that’s a shortcut

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rather than having to sit at Fashion Week for days on end.”

So, Mystic Tom, what’s on the horizon? First, he says, the quiet luxury trend is here to stay. Heir Hair, one of Tom’s biggest autumn/winter trend predictions, sits in this space. This is extra-long, thick hair that looks expensive but not showy.

Texture-wise, think a two day-old blow-dry which is cared for but not salon fresh. For colour, it’s about subtle precision.

Tom compares the aesthetic to a “beautifully knitted cashmere jumper”, so smooth you “can’t see the loops of the knits and there are no loose threads”.

This trend is inclusive too. “When it comes to quiet luxury, it’s about not being able to see where things begin, nor the angle at which the foil was placed, even as a hairstylist. So that’s about blend and subtlety, which can be achieved for any colour, length, texture, or shape.”

There will also be a plethora of “quiet luxury colours” that are truer to natural bases as part of the “post-summer fade”. Yet, the bright influence of Barbie remains, which he credits for “taking out the fear around high-maintenance colours”. He believes clients will embrace colour change in 2024, with concerns around upkeep part of the bygone pre-Covid era. And copper is back again with a vengeance. “What I mean is non-naturally occurring versions of copper – red, mahoganies, violets. They’ve been unexplored for a long time,” he explains. “They’re about to have their moment, but it might be 2024 that we really see it.”

Can non-natural and quiet luxury coexist? In short, yes.

“Colour trends overlap, and they can also be combined because some are about placement and others are about particular shapes.” Tom’s excitement about the confluence of these seemingly opposite trends is palpable. “I’m really interested in the way the movement towards the less naturally occurring shades plays with that level of refinement, craftsmanship, and precision taking hold in our industry.”

The undisputed connector between stylists, the hair community, and those all-important clients, social media is king when it comes to exposure and Tom, with his hefty TikTok following built in a mere 24 months, is a social media authority.

He knows the rush of going viral on TikTok; his best performing posts include a summary of trends for a season (he says multiple trends work better than just one). Myth-busting posts about products also perform well. “It’s about finding a misconception and providing an answer that’s based in fact and in a fast-paced video, so people don’t swipe past.”

While going viral can be an “ego boost”, numbers aren’t the goal. “The consistency of being specific and posting often is far more valuable,” he explains. Just remember to consistently post videos related to your niche because it’s rewarded by the TikTok algorithm, he adds.

While Instagram is polished, TikTok is “pure personality”. In a hairdressing context, it’s an opportunity for local salons to share a backstage look. Rawness works, but avoid “quick and cheesy trends” and instead, combine what you have to offer with a behind-the-scenes vulnerability. “Think about whether doing those two things will contribute to your bigger business goal,” he warns.

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PROFILE

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We’ve talked about the future plenty; what about the past?

Tom had a burning passion for hair from childhood, sitting rapt during his mum’s salon appointments, “I loved the energy, the smells, the sounds,” he recalls. He started in that same salon aged 14; the shifts were a welcome refuge from school, which he admits he didn’t enjoy.

At 16, Tom wanted to train there, but the owner told him to try another direction. “She saw something in me, said: ‘you must go to London and get an apprenticeship with Sassoon’.” It was a “five-hour return trip”, five days a week, between Rochester in Kent and the old Sassoon base on London’s South Molton Street (his apprentice wage just about covered the coach fare). There, Tom learnt “the skill to have that magnifying glass to zoom in”, to which he credits his success today.

Tom may be a seasoned brand ambassador, but he’s a passionate and principled one, too (“I only work with brands that I believe in”). Associated with OLAPLEX from early on, Tom could feel its impending success in the water. “I had known from the beginning that it was going to be a pivotal moment in our industry,” he admits. With Evo Hair, he’s been very hands on, culminating in the creation of Hue-verse, a permanent and demi ammonia-free colour line. There are some Evo Hair shaped plans for next year, with the launch of new Hue-verse shades which Tom helped develop. He’s not long back from Australia where he was shooting the campaign.

Is there a Tom Smith aesthetic? No, instead he prefers to get to know his clients and find out “how to make the version of themselves they want to present”, while understanding this “changes throughout their life”. But ever the artist, he does have a personal preference – hair “where you can’t see how it has been done”.

But Tom’s a sensitive soul, too. This much is clear from his emphasis on emotional intelligence at work. Being emotionally

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PROFILE

intelligent evokes a “calmness in the way you communicate”, but this doesn’t mean being quiet or slow. Instead, it’s about “being considered, rather than reactive”. Like trend spotting, it’s a muscle that requires exercise. “Mirroring the energy of your client” is key, as is creating a “bubble” around the pair of you, which he maintains is crucial to building a strong clientele.

Social media, salon clients, brand ambassadorships, product development… does he fear being overwhelmed? If it happens, he opts for an ice-cold shower. “It’s slightly masochistic,” he laughs. “But I have found through experience and science that it gives you a rush of dopamine.” Halloween is another outlet, and he has thrown a scary bash each year for the past 10 – with five of them in New York. “I take it very seriously and plan costumes from March,” he chuckles. Could there be an invitation for Creative HEAD in 2024? We’d better peek into Tom’s crystal ball…

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ALL THE HEROES

W E ’ V E M A D E I T T H R O U G H 2 0 23  N O E ASY F E AT ! C R E AT I V E H E A D TA K E S A B R E AT H TO S P OT L I G H T T H E B I G M O M E N TS O F B R I L L I A N C E F R O M T H E Y E A R A N D C E L E B R AT E H O W I N V E N T I V E A N D I N S P I R AT I O N A L O U R I N D U S T RY I S , E S P E C I A L LY D U R I N G C H A L L E N G I N G T I M E S

Actively repairing hair damage in under two minutes?

Ultimate Repair Miracle Hair Rescue Treatment

by Wella Professionals is a game-changer for 2023 and beyond.

This leave-in spray may be lightweight, but it packs a punch.

N AO M I B R O O KS , T H E H A I R S A N C T U A RY Naomi Brooks of Manchester-based The Hair Sanctuary isn’t only helping to bridge the texture gap in her salon with diverse hair services on offer, but is helping to stem knowledge gaps in wider society too, making her a true advocate for hair inclusivity.

Earlier this year, her salon launched an initiative to educate foster carers of Black and

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mixed heritage children on Afro and textured hair care, in collaboration with Manchester City Council, winning her the 2023 Most Wanted Award for Innovation.

It teaches the basics of natural and protective haircare for Afro and textured hair to help carers support the children in their care to embrace their identity. A brilliant and practical project.

At the TrendVision UK & Ireland final, Wella Professionals revealed a brilliant collaboration with The Little Princess Trust.

Country champions Lara Johnson (Wales), Charlie Taylor (Scotland) and Liam Fox (England) will encourage more stylists to persuade clients to donate their lengths to the charity, which makes wigs for children who have suffered hair loss due to cancer.

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CREATIVE DIRECTION GIUSEPPE STELITANO. HAIR TIZIANA DI MARCELLI. PHOTOGRAPHY AUSTN FISCHER. MODEL RAIN DOVE. MAKE UP MIRIAM SPANU. STYLING FRANCESCA RUSSO. BTS PHOTOGRAPHY BEX OHTA.

CONOR JAMES D OY L E Education guru Conor James Doyle has really listened to the needs of stylists wanting to learn, and has created methods that benefit the large numbers of neurodiverse stylists in the industry. “I have found 55 per cent of our industry is diagnosed with, or can relate to, neurodiversity,” he says.

This year’s Most Wanted Education Expert understands while there can be no ‘one-size-fitsall’ approach to learning, especially for neurodiverse brains. His Pomodoro Technique, which includes 25-minute concentration periods followed by fiveminute breaks, allows people of all learning styles the bandwidth to digest knowledge and take stock.

By incorporating visual techniques, movement, and a focus on small achievements along the way, neurodiverse learners get the inspiration and buzz they need to absorb it all.

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T R E V O R S O R B I E S A LO N S Gender-neutral services and menus are nothing new; but the approach that the Trevor Sorbie group took to showcase its assurance that each of its five salons would be a safe space for both LGBTQ+ clients and team members, was fresh, bold and carefully thought through.

A collaboration with model and activist Rain

Dove (pictured) and The Dresscode Project, it included a stunning shoot headed up by Giuseppe Stelitano, the salon’s creative director.

With nods to iconic YSL styling and shot in stark black and white, it captured perfectly what the campaign “You – Hair has No Gender” was all about.

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J O H N N Y OT H O N A A N D P E D R O I N C H E N KO , E N A S A LO N At the London-based Ena salon, Johnny Othona and Pedro Inchenko take the wellbeing of their staff and their salon culture very seriously.

They launched the Kindness campaign, which includes life-coaching, access to nutritionists, financial advice, team bonding activities, and tonnes more.

A N D E R S O N B OYC E Barbering favourite Anderson is already a busy collaborator with Macmillan Cancer Support – and now his team have helped curate a family- and barber shop-friendly mixtape, with the help of international DJ and broadcaster Seani B. They worked with other London barbers to create the mix, which also features messages about cancer and early diagnosis, especially prostate cancer.

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The result? A new era of harmonious and happier teamwork, not to mention the 2023 Most Wanted Best Salon Team award.

Employee engagement has sky-rocketed, with an impressive drop in sick days, too.

Proving that if you look after your staff, they will look after your business.

Bespoke haircare stepped up a notch as Schwarzkopf Professional unveiled Salon Lab & Me. Clients enjoy a consultation with the in-salon Smart Analyzer, a hair prescription is curated, et voila, a customised haircare regime is created to arrive at home, including products with their preferred label colour, printed name, and fragrance!

¯ STUDIOS S A M A N T H A C U S I C K , S TA A co-working space isn’t revolutionary, we get it. But Samantha Cusick’s evolution of the approach is a fresh one. She understands the challenges and demands from both sides, and has refined all that knowledge into Staˉ Studios, a hybrid approach now open near London’s Liverpool Street.

You’ll find a podcast studio, private styling room, co-working desk space and a content capture photo area with perfect lighting. Membership for stylists even includes business management software to keep. “I wanted to remove every pain barrier for people going freelance,” Samantha explains.

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IA L CR EATIV E HE AD AD VE RT OR

BIGGER AND BETTER

**

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When using Ultimate Repair Step 3. Instrumental test versus non-conditioning shampoo.

From metals and impurities from pollution.

BOND BUILDING HAS HIT THE BIG LEAGUES WITH ULTIMATE REPAIR, A FULL-THROTTLE REPAIR LINE FROM WELLA PROFESSIONALS

Damage – it’s one of the main hair concerns for women in the UK, yet reversing it is one heck of a marathon, and the wait time to see results is yawn-inducing. For clients the outside counts too; they want visibly stronger strands. But there is a range that offers all-encompassing hair transformation from the inner cortex to the external look and feel, providing vastly replenished hair that is 12-times smoother* with 99 per cent less breakage.* Why hello, Ultimate Repair from Wella Professionals!

This is a fabulous, fast acting four-step hair rescue routine. If you’re after a rapid-fire and easy to apply bond-repairing solution, look no further than Ultimate Repair Miracle Hair Rescue Treatment. A feather-light leave-in spray, it actively repairs hair damage in under two minutes. Simply add it onto a salon service for optimal hair quality results.

Whether an add-on service or retail gift set, this line is a strictly no hard sells programme, it does all the heavy lifting by itself. Bonds are rebuilt deep down thanks to alpha hydroxy acid which penetrates the hair cortex.

Omega-9 is the superhero

ingredient working on the outside on the external hair fibre to create a protective barrier.

The four-step ritual includes a lightweight, creamy shampoo with metal purifier technology to detox hair** and remove build up. Next, reach for the Ultimate Repair conditioner to detangle and deeply strengthen strands without weighing them down. After rinsing, take it up a notch with Miracle Hair Rescue, a weightless leave-in spray that offers inside-out repair in 90 seconds,* this is the super-engine of bond repair and rebuilding, taking things into the fast lane.

Finish off with the Ultimate Repair Protective Leave-in, a smoothing cream serum for stress-free styling.

Protection from heat damage up to 230°C is built-in too, as is anti-frizz for up to 72 hours. Step away from surface level hair improvements for good and take a deep dive into healthier, more beautiful hair with Ultimate Repair from Wella Professionals – for envy inducing glances in four simple steps.

HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO • Lightweight leave-in spray • Up to 99 per cent less breakage* • Rapid acting bond repair in 90 seconds* • For all hair types • Amazing shine that lasts up to four washes • AHA to rebuild bonds inside and Omega-9 to replenish hair outside • Easy add-on service for a colour or blow-dry appointment

Damage can do one with Ultimate Repair from Wella Professionals. Visit uk.wella.professionalstore.com @wellaprofessionalsuki CREATIVE HEAD

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Being a hairdresser has its physical, emotional and mental challenges. Head Up, a free mental health programme launched this year provided by L’Oréal Professionnel Paris, is here to help. The free Head Up Keys course, co-created by Hayley Jepson (pictured), includes modules delivered in a digestible and visual format, perfect for time-strapped creatives. Find it all at uk.lorealaccess.com

A L I S O N M C R I TC H I E , THE HEAD GARDENER Alison McRitchie (pictured), salon director of Inverness salon The Head Gardener, has injected community spirit right into the heart of her business. “What I hope I have installed in my team is kindness, compassion and a willingness to give back to the community,” she explains.

What does this civic work look like? A relationship with the Highland Hospice that goes back 10 years is an example. The whole salon team gets involved and shows support through things like fundraising and site visits to care for resident patients. When the pandemic threw a spanner in the works, they set up an area in the salon with a private entrance. A worthy winner of this year’s Most Wanted Best Local Salon.

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Promising to save money, space and be more sustainable thanks to the refillable aluminium cartridges and precision dispensing, yuv might just change the landscape for professional hair colour. Bespoke formulations? A ‘pay as you dispense’ model? An affordable monthly subscription? Yup, all there and more.

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BEYOND BEAUTY BOXES DESIGNED TO BE REUSED.

BEAUTY BOX HEAD & HAIR HEAL RRP £51 | ALL OTHER BOXES £46 INFO@MARIANILA.UK +44 203 154 66 85 WWW.MARIANILA.COM @MARIANILASTOCKHOLM

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Fire damage at the Sink & Anchor

C O L I N M C A N D R E W, M E D U S A Back in March, the Sink & Anchor salon in Edinburgh was destroyed in a fire caused by a neighbouring restaurant. Having seen a post on social media, fellow salon owner Colin McAndrew of Medusa (pictured, inset) offered a lifeline of space in his Bread Street salon to Luke and Rachel Ellis and their team of six barbers.

And indeed that was home for the Sink & Anchor barbering team for five months, until they were able to move back into their own premises. During that time, locals could also support Sink & Anchor by buying one of its branded T-shirts, which helped raise much needed funds for elements of the business not covered by insurance. Luke is effusive in his praise for Colin. “Between Covid, setting up the new salon in August 2022, and the stress of expecting our first baby days after the fire, we had been absolutely devastated. Without him, Sink & Anchor wouldn’t be here.”

LORRAINE NAUGHTON, OB1 HAIR

Lorraine Naughton (pictured above, inset), owner of OB-1 Hair, has made sustainability a front-of-house priority, ensuring customers and stylists alike are aware of her green goals – and she’s been crowned the Most Wanted Sustainability Hero for her efforts. The salon’s hit a major milestone, with zero waste sent to landfill.

Hair waste is reused and made into booms to clean up oil spills while there are also separate bins for hair, PPE, plastic, metal, and colour. A €2 green fee across all services make OB-1 Hair’s sustainability journey financially possible and clients more aware of its green goals, enhancing its reputation.

Imagine a dryer with precision styling tools (hello, pik attachment!), that lasts longer, and with the dial turned down on the noise?

Welcome Falco by BaByliss PRO, the brand’s quietest dryer yet.

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LO U C H R I S TO U Repairing hair at – you guessed it – a molecular level, the four step Absolut Repair Molecular by L’Oréal Professionnel Paris was revealed to boost the swish factor and actually repair damage.

Thy Barber images by Jack Eames

Lots of stylists have been active in supporting former Most Wanted Award for Innovation winner, Haircuts4Homeless, but Lou Christou of Thy Barber on London’s famous Brick Lane has gone one step further.

Inspired by his own struggles with alcohol and drug addiction, Lou started volunteering to do cuts at Acorn House – a hostel for homeless people recovering from addictions.

“It made me wonder if I could find a way to help some of the people I was meeting,” says Lou. “When I was first in recovery, I needed structure, a clear plan, and a reason to get up every day.”

In conjunction with the charity he launched his 12-steps to Barbering Academy, a scheme made possible with the support of American Crew, BaByliss PRO, Denman, and Matakki Scissors. Loosely based on the 12-step programme created by Alcoholics Anonymous, this unique academy offers his own self-devised training programme to give a boost to three candidates from Acorn House.

“Building self-esteem was just as important,” Lou admits. “It was never only about gaining a qualification.” Jump to three months later, and the budding barbers are thriving, with recruits set to attend a special finishing school at the American Crew Academy.

Need a bit of help quickly to support your growth?

Vagaro has you covered. It has partnered with finance platform Liberis to launch Vagaro Capital, designed to help small businesses quickly with funds to support their plans, and it’s launching in the UK soon.

Once upon a time, you had to dry hair with one tool before you got to styling with another. Today, you can do both with one supertool while minimising hair damage. The impossible?

Not with duet style by ghd, a 2023 tool innovation that has changed the drying and styling game for good.

Swap the clutter of hot tools with one solution for damage-free drying and styling, not to mention far softer and infinitely more shiny hair in your chair.

Ensure your salon is a safe space for LGBTQ+ clients with Redken’s Safe Space Initiative, in partnership with It Gets Better. The free online resource includes six five-minute videos covering key topics, and you’ll get certification to display in your salon. uk.lorealaccess.com 50

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IA L CR EATIV E HE AD AD VE RT OR

WIN!

A £250 SELFRIDGES VOUCHER

INSURANCE, MADE SIMPLE

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Ripe annual customer survey, October 2022

A fresh approach from Ripe, designed with your business in mind

A beaming smile from a client after a service and the next appointment booked before they walk out the door – that’s the dream for salon owners. But it’s creative passion that fires up owners and their teams, too. Stylists are artists, armed with the technical skills to craft highlights so blended that clients can’t see where they begin or end. They are the balayage brainiacs, who bring locks to multi-tonal life. They’re also the precision cutters with the ability to take a customer from shabby to sensational in mere minutes, and much more.

We all know how much hairdressers care for the wellbeing of their customers, but who is looking after their business? As an owner, the most fundamental way to protect your salon is to insure it against risk. But who can you trust? What about a specialist with its finger on the pulse of the industry, producing agenda-setting research that lifts the lid on what’s really going on today to help owners and stylists improve their services?

That would be Ripe. By conducting intelligent research, Ripe uncovers the statistics that will help you improve your business. Ripe’s ‘Texture Tax’ report this year found that Type 4 hair customers pay a shocking 43 per cent more for the same service as those with Type 1 (straight) hair, and

highlights the need for more salons to become texture inclusive.

It also published a report on the hair and beauty start-up hotspots across the UK, giving buzz to those small businesses really repping our special industry.

Ripe means specialist cover that delivers and gives you the confidence to get on with the most important work – making your clients happy in the chair. Just as you tailor that blonde balayage to suit your client’s skin tone and eye colour, Ripe offers flexible insurance policies that are laser-focused on your business.

Hair and beauty professionals aren’t just skilled practitioners, they are also unofficial therapists who lend an ear to clients. Let Ripe be your shoulder to lean on with its UK-based customer service team that is always on hand to help.

Ripe is a trusted insurance specialist for more than 320,000 customers, with 98 per cent* intending to renew. Taking out cover online is short and sweet. You only choose the cover you need, and you won’t pay for anything you don’t.

Underwritten by Aviva, and deemed ‘Excellent’ by Trustpilot, you’re in safe hands. Then rest easy with the cover through Ripe, now you can focus on making your clients look and feel absolutely amazing.

For a chance to win a £250 Selfridges voucher and get 10 per cent off your first policy premium, visit ripeinsurance.co.uk/creativehead CREATIVE HEAD

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Hair by 2023 Fellowship FAME Team mentored by Errol Douglas MBE and Sally Brooks and supported by Avlon, photography by Jack Eames

e r u t x te

MIND THE GAP

TYPE 4 AND AFRO HAIR CLIENTS ARE PAYING A ‘TEXTURE TAX’, AND A TEXTURE GAP MEANS THEY ARE OFTEN LOOKING IN VAIN FOR PRODUCTS, SERVICES, AND HELP WITH THEIR ROUTINE. WHAT CAN SALONS AND STYLISTS DO TO BETTER SERVE MULTI TEXTURE CLIENTS? 52

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*

Ripe study of more than 2,113 UK residents, 2023

Back to school

There’s something of a fear factor in salons, with many stylists anxious when faced with textured hair. Yet Paula Peralta, Paul Mitchell artistic director and a multi-texture hairstylist, points out that “on average, one out of every two guests who visit your salon or sit in your chair have some kind of formation to their hair”.

So, you need to be ready with advice, techniques, products and services for a breadth of textures.

Yet salons can’t provide services that textured hair clients need – particularly Type 4 – without the right education. Improve your knowledge, offer inclusive and informed services, promote it on social, and you could become knowledge providers for those beyond the chair, including parents of children from mixed ethnic backgrounds, a fast-growing demographic in the UK. Via better knowledge and education, stylists can offer the best possible consultations to clients, helping them to create a routine they can take home with them. This way, stylists and the salons they represent can become trusted experts. Natural

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Hair by Noogie Thai for Paul Mitchell

Textured tresses may be getting more airtime on catwalks, sets and shoots; but for those salon customers with Type 4 hair especially, equality hasn’t arrived. They pay 43 per cent more for the same service as their straighthaired counterparts, according to a recent report by hair and beauty insurance provider Ripe. It also found they travel twice as far for salon appointments (further pushing up the overall cost), are likely to face discrimination and feel let down by the quality of service and knowledge about textured hair.

Vicky Agbozo, the owner of Diversa hair salon in Newton-le-Willows, understands the accessibility struggles of Type 4 hair customers first-hand. In fact, her experiences inspired her to start her own inclusive salon business. “I grew up in St Helens, which for many years did not have a single salon catering for Afro hair. Myself, my sister and my mum would have to travel to either Liverpool or Manchester just to get our hair done or to buy suitable products. This was one of the main motivations for us to open Diversa, the first Afro-European salon in my local community.”

More research published this year, The Texture Gap by digital personalised haircare platform Carra, revealed that Type 4 hair customers want better advice on haircare routines, hair loss, and products. This texture gap is an inclusion and business failure for salons, who are missing out on crucial extra revenue. For Winnie Awa, the founder of Carra, plugging the texture gap starts with better education. “Afro-textured hair was only recently added to the hairdressing curriculum and only about 305 out of 35,000 salons in the UK cater to Black hair, so the need for more training, more knowledge and expertise is clear.”

hair specialist and founder of The Organic Afro community, Natalya Moosa, agrees: “Stylists should get a good understanding of how to make suggestions for their clients.

Something that’s rarely talked about is how textured hair clients care for their hair in between salon visits. This not only empowers the client with textured hair, but it also makes it easier to perform the services, with greater results when the clients return.”

For 2023 Most Wanted Texture Expert Lisa Farrall, textured hair education isn’t necessarily about learning new skills, but “adapting your techniques and knowledge so you can service whoever sits in your chair”.

Blue Tit salon group has laserfocused on Afro and textured hair education, and its offering includes a three-day course on silk press techniques for straightening and smoothing textured hair without harsh chemicals; natural styling sessions; myth debunking for better styling practices and correct language usage.

If your salon is lacking a textured hair expert, send staff on courses that will help them learn inclusive skills. Textured hair expert Gaia Tonanzi recommends Cross Cultural Curl Collective and the Jennie Roberts Hair Academy. “These courses not only focus on the technical element of cutting and styling textured hair but also on the cultural aspect, which is crucial to make the client feel welcome and respected in the salon.”

It’s vital to also understand common concerns and linked problems, so that you can advise – or refer others such a dermatologists and trichologists. Many salons have stylists with trichology training, but at Cobella London, Jordanna Cobella has introduced a resident trichologist, Tiffany Hall, at her Cobella Clinic. “Recognising how hair loss and scalp conditions manifest differently on diverse skin tones is crucial for accurate diagnosis,” explains Tiffany. “On lighter skin tones, you’d typically notice red or pink, inflamed-looking skin in a particular area. However, the same inflammation on darker or Black skin appears as a deeper purple, resembling a bruise. It’s easy to miss these differences without proper education.”

Language matters

Pashcan’el Mitchell, Blue Tit’s Afro and textured hair educator and part of the Avlon education team, explains that using inclusive language during appointments “ensures clients feel understood and valued regardless of their natural hair type”. He advises avoiding “negative connotations such as unruly or kinky” when describing textured hair, instead, use terms such as straight, wavy, curly, or coily, to describe different textures.

TYPE 4 HAIR CLIENTS TRAVEL

TWICE AS FAR FOR SALON APPOINTMENTS*

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Abigail Butler

Hair by Lisa Farrall

Paula Peralta

Jacqui McIntosh

TYPE 4 HAIR CLIENTS PAY

43 PER CENT MORE FOR THE SAME SERVICE*

Get the price right

Vicky Agbozo

Blue Tit London

Poor pricing can lead to unintended discrimination, so set your prices based on complexity, time, and expertise. Lisa Farrall explains: “Price on the service and time taken,” she states. “It becomes about hair length, hair thickness and time taken; not about texture or gender.”

For those appointments that take longer, how does this fit into already busy columns? Don’t fear as you will reap the financial rewards, explains Jacqui McIntosh, texture management specialist and Avlon’s European director of education. “Keep in mind that while some services may take longer, higher client frequency can compensate for it.”

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Combine products wtih TLC

When it comes to products, for Errol Douglas MBE, it’s a balancing act. “When working with textured or Afro hair, I’d say it’s 50 per cent about the products you use, and the other 50 per cent comes from your technical skills and knowledge.”

“Start by asking guests what products they use and find out what their pain points are when caring for their hair at home,” advises Paula Peralta. “If you take the time to teach them how to care for their hair and do proper product application at home, you increase their chances of a good hair day. Your guests will recommend you to their friends and that’s how your business will build and grow.”

Salon 54’s Emma Simmons says it all begins with understanding the unique needs of textured hair: “Type 4 hair has lower moisture levels and can get dehydrated, brittle, and prone to breakage. I compensate for this by using extra nourishing products and avoiding anything that can be drying.”

Greg Vida, senior surgeon at Harley Street Hair Clinic, also warns stylists to be gentle. “Avoid excessive pulling or rough combing, especially when the hair is dry. Use wide-toothed combs or your fingers to gently detangle, starting from the ends and gradually working your way up to minimise damage and breakage.”

Once everything is in place, use targeted marketing efforts to promote your Afro and textured hair services. “Showcase your expertise, specialised products, and commitment to texture hair equality in your promotional materials,” advises Jacqui McIntosh.

And don’t stop there… “Continuously gather feedback from your clients and adapt your services accordingly,” adds Jacqui.

“This will help you refine your offerings and meet the evolving demands of the textured hair market.”

Natalya Moosa, photography by Rocio Chacon

Naomi Brooks, owner of The Hair Sanctuary in Manchester, also advises being mindful, as words like “frizzy, bushy, difficult, and untidy negatively impact your client,” she states. “Try using words that are positive and will uplift them.”

Abigail Butler, founder of Strictly Xtended in Bishop’s Stortford and a L’Oréal Professionnel Paris artistic educator, advises caution on when you use certain textured hair terms and to whom. “Be confident to understand why you might say Afro hair, textured hair, curls and coils, as certain groups may only see their hair type as Afro, such as if they are from Afro-Caribbean ethnicities, whereas people from mixed heritage backgrounds may see their hair more as textured or curly.”

Indeed, salons should have informed staff who are available to chat through services with textured customers at various points, says ghd educator Rianna Henry. She suggests having a receptionist who “knows the different services and can help suggest the right options while talking to customers on the phone”.

CREATIVE HEAD

24/10/2023 16:28

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Not ‘Just’ A Salon

A national ad campaign has shown millions of people how hair salon owners, managers and their teams are the driving force behind the remarkable impact hairdressing businesses have on their local communities A cut, a chat, a shoulder to cry on. Hairdressing salons wield an extraordinary power: the ability not only to create beautiful physical transformations, but also to form nurturing community spaces. Now a major advertising campaign, Not ‘Just’ A Salon, has demonstrated the remarkable ways hair pros create safe spaces for people to relax and unwind, while extending their support beyond the salon walls to impact positively on their local neighbourhoods.

Created by The Hairdressing Industry, the Community Interest Company dedicated to showcasing the value and opportunity of careers in hairdressing, in an exclusive collaboration with L’Oréal Professional Products, the campaign features the stories of nine salons across Bristol, Dublin and Edinburgh. It demonstrates a wealth of creativity and commitment among hairdressing professionals to support and nurture local neighbourhoods, with initiatives ranging from mindfulness and nutrition advice to charity work and menopause clinics. It was shot by photographer/ videographer Sarah Seal, and art directed by The Hairdressing Industry chief executive, Jenny Brooks.

Not ‘Just’ A Salon highlights the importance of hairdressing salons in their local communities as places of comfort, conversation and expert pampering, as well as judgment-free spaces where problems can be offloaded. The campaign also reinforces the message behind The Hairdressing Industry’s 2022 Not ‘Just’ A Hairdresser promotion, highlighting the salon as a vibrant, inspirational place to work, offering lifelong learning and career development opportunities.

The campaign rolled out on social media across Meta platforms and YouTube from October – geo-targeted to people living in the three cities and also nationally. In Bristol the campaign also appeared on billboards and other outdoor sites around the city, as well as on the sides of two major bus routes. In total, it’s estimated that Not ‘Just’ A Salon was seen by around 30 million people.

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Says Jenny Brooks: “The dedication and commitment of hair professionals to their local communities don’t just impact the services they provide, but also the people they touch, making it a better world for everyone. Not ‘Just’ A Salon reminds people of the benefits of a salon visit to mental health and wellbeing while also showcasing how salons are innovative, exciting and compelling places to work and make a difference.”

Says David Higgins, managing director of L’Oréal’s Professional Product Division UK&I: “We are delighted to be supporting The Industry on yet another important and impactful campaign.

Salons and hairdressers are at the heart of everything we do at L’Oréal and we are committed to elevating the professional hair industry because we recognise that salons go far beyond a cut and colour, they are as the name of this campaign suggests – Not ‘Just’ A Salon. Salons are some of the most vibrant and diverse workplaces, with teams of varying expertise and experience ready to educate and embrace the next generation of hairdressers.

I’m so proud to support this campaign that shines a light on the importance of salons on our high streets. Salons are at the beating heart of our villages, towns and cities and we are so very lucky to have them.”

The campaign comes at a time when the hairdressing industry is facing its greatest recruitment challenge in a generation. According to a 2022 report by the National Hair & Beauty Federation, ‘Careers At The Cutting Edge’, there were 10,000 fewer hair and beauty apprenticeship starts in the United Kingdom in 2020/2021 than four years earlier. With the campaign linking people to a dedicated website, the-industry.co.uk, where they can meet all the case studies and find out how to get started in hairdressing, Not ‘Just’ A Salon is part of a wider drive to create and safeguard a new pipeline of talent to meet the needs of salons and barber shop businesses in the future.

Turn the page to discover more…

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Noco Hair, Whiteladies Road

BRISTOL

Bloggs Salons, Harbourside

Bloggs cares so deeply for its clients, Owners Noel Halligan and Corey Taylor IF EVER THERE WAS A CITY WITH A STORY TO TELL, IT’S BRISTOL. it has undertaken intensive training to have installed a Relaxation Zone, ENVELOPED IN THE HILLS OF SOUTHbe able to offer advice on everything where a hand-painted tree and WEST ENGLAND, IT HAS DEVELOPED from nutrition to the menopause bamboo mural transports guests to AN UNMISTAKABLE IDENTITY AND – wanting to help clients retain a meditative space while they sink FIERCELY INDEPENDENT SPIRIT, FORGED BY their identity, whatever they’re into their fully reclining massage ITS PASSIONATE LOCALS. NOT ‘JUST’ A SALON going through. “Hair salons are the chairs. “We want our guests to FEATURED THREE ‘GERT LUSH’ HAIRDRESSING perfect places to do this because step out of their hectic lives, SALONS – NOCO HAIR, BLOGGS we offer a safe space to be able leave their worries at the SALONS AND GAUDI HAIR – AS ENGAGED, to talk openly about what you’re door and feel relaxed and indulged EXPRESSIVE AND PROUD AS THE while they’re with us. We’re going through,” says owner Joe BRISTOLIANS THEY SERVE all about people feeling Hemmings. “Our team fabulous and looking want to help clients in any way incredible, inside they can.” and out.”

Gaudi Hair, Baldwin Street

Angie Goudie’s close-knit, diverse team know exactly what they are doing with every hair type – the happy result of working together and bouncing off each other for the best part of 26 years. “By offering education and advice to our clients, it makes them feel valued – they come here for the professionalism we offer but also for something more,” she says.

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Bristol advert photography: clockwise.film

As well as rolling out on social media, in Bristol Not ‘Just’ A Salon also appeared on giant billboards and other outdoor sites around the city, as well as on the sides of two major bus routes, seen by an additional 3 million people. See the campaign and read the salon stories in full at the-industry.co.uk

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Hession Hairdressing, Drumcondra Deep-rooted in the Dublin community, Paul Hession still looks after the same families his father Frank did when he launched the original Hession Hairdressing salon more than 50 years ago. “People come to us for high-quality hairdressing, for sure,” says Paul, “but it’s something more than that. We’re so deep-rooted in the North Dublin community.

We create jobs here, we support local charities. Some of our staff have worked here for more than 20 years FAMILY AND COMMUNITY and they have clients who’ve been ARE WHAT MATTER HERE, with them since day one.”

AS THE OWNERS OF HAIR SALONS DYLAN BRADSHAW, HESSION HAIRDRESSING AND WILDFLOWER ARE PROUD TO SHARE

DUBLIN

Wildflower, Ranelagh Every so often the team starts the day with a bliss-releasing Guatemalan cacao ceremony, a moment to gather together in peaceful gratitude and intention for the day ahead. Says owner Danielle Garner: “I need my studio to feel like the core of my heart, a place where no one is left out, where we can be individuals together, working to create a greater life for ourselves and our clients.” New clients are matched with stylists based on personality – it’s about finding the right ‘fit’, creating a bond between the two that will stand the test of time.

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Dylan Bradshaw, South William Street

Although it’s moved premises a couple of times, Dylan’s salon has always been situated on South William Street, a busy thoroughfare that’s long been associated with independent traders.

“It’s been a great experience being on this road for more than two decades,” says Dylan. “Over the years, we’ve grown with the building, and it has grown with us. Our clients and our team have grown with the business, too. It’s like a full circle that keeps on turning.”

See the campaign and read the salon stories in full at the-industry.co.uk

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Charlie Miller, Holy Corner At Charlie Miller, they believe great hairdressing has the power to transform – to instil confidence and beauty, but also to change lives. Since Charlie and his wife Janet launched their first salon almost 60 years ago (there are now four across the city, run today by sons Joshua and Jason), this impeccable family business has believed in giving back to the communities they serve, helping countless local charities and initiatives – in the past 12 months alone, they’ve donated vouchers worth more than £10,000.

EDINBURGH

TONI&GUY, Frederick Street

For 60 years TONI&GUY has brought “hair and fashion” to towns and cities up and down the country. “It’s IT MAY BE SCOTLAND’S CAPITAL, amazing to think you’re bringing the latest trends BUT IN EDINBURGH THE COMMUNITY direct from the catwalk into your local community,” SPIRIT IS AWESOME AND YOU CAN says Edinburgh salon manager Gillian Solley. And for SEE IT IN ACTION AT EDINBURGH a business that was started by two brothers, it’s great STALWARTS CHARLIE MILLER, to hear that it still feels like family. “We have a very RISING STAR NEIL MACLEAN HAIR close bond with each other and with our clients,” says STUDIO, AND HIGH STREET art director Austin Shirley. We’re always looking for ways ICON, TONI&GUY to refresh our salon and improve every stage of your haircare experience. After all, getting your hair done is one of life’s luxuries – it should feel like one too.”

Neil Maclean Hair Studio, Frederick Street Beautiful balayage and beach waves are the order of the day at Neil Maclean’s Hair Studio on Frederick Street, a boutique Instasalon of dreams. Think: crystal chandeliers, neon signs and Porn Star Martinis from the salon’s inhouse free bar. Inspired by their clients, not trends, owner Neil and his talented team of colour specialists are passionate about bringing #hairgoals to life, while making them actually wearable outside the ’gram too.

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30/10/2023 11:15

HAIR AND FASHION

COLLABORATORS HEAR FROM THE ARTISTS WHOSE CREATIVE CONNECTIONS ARE SETTING THEIR FEEDS ON FIRE AND SEEING THEIR PROFILES SOAR. JOIN US AT THE COTERIE FOR DRINKS, NETWORKING AND INSPIRING CONVERSATION

Laura Chadwick Session stylist

Adam Garland Session stylist

Czar Joshua Ventura Make-up artist

FOR FULL EVENT DETAILS AND TO BUY TICKETS, VISIT

creativeheadmag.com/events

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23/10/2023 15:20

event

THE COTERIE Monday 20 November 7pm to 10pm at Stā Studios, London

Tickets £15 + VAT Price includes an open bar and a gift from JOICO

Darcie Harvey Hairdresser and It List Editorial Stylist 2023 Aimée Croysdill Fashion stylist

Halley Brisker Session stylist

BUY TICKETS

THE COTERIE DRINKS, NETWORKING, INSPIRING CONVERSATION Creativeheadmag.com/events

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23/10/2023 15:21

Our flag means death

left to a lone fashionista of y or st e th is s hi T e of nst the crashing tid ai ag f, el rs he r fo fend . tray in the Atlantic as ne go ge ya vo n a fashio e trunk full of vintag a st ju ith w ed rm A let Jayson Gray – r, io D d an d oo tw Wes – transport you AKA Karbon Kyd our vintage to the high seas as the heroine battles with salty billowing wind and ng sea while maintaini r high-octane glamou

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATTHEW LAURENCE 64

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AND TO SEE ARTWORK INSPIR ED BY CREATIVEHEADMAG.COM @ THE SHOOT, VISIT CREATIVEHEADMAG

FOR MORE

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HAIR, STYLING, COSTUME, AND CONCEPT Jayson Gray, AKA Karbon Kyd. SET DESIGN, BUILD, AND PHOTOGRAPHY Matthew Laurence for DCC Studios.

MAKE-UP Models’ own. MODELS Janet Mayer @J’adore La Vie Cabaret, Lucy Feng. LOCATION DCC Studios, Hackney Wick London.

SEE MORE

FROM THE SHOOT AT M CREATIVEHEADMAG.CO

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CREATIVE HEAD

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ART DIRECTION, HAIR, AND PHOTOGRAPHY Danilo Giangreco. HAIR Emy Roccabella, Enrica Russo.

MAKE-UP Kasia Postaremczak. STYLING Danilo Giangreco Art Team.

Feel Good Inc USING VIBRANT AND ENERGETIC COLOURS, DANILO GIANGRECO CAPTURES THE ESSENCE OF HAVING FUN AND ENJOYING THAT HIT OF DOPAMINE WHILE GETTING CREATIVE PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANILO GIANGRECO

CREATIVE HEAD

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SCENE HOB Academy

THE EVENTS AND PARTIES TO BE SEEN AT

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Francesco Hair Salons

Boasting a jaw-dropping view of Canary Wharf, Magazine London is an ideal venue for an event the size and stature of Wella Professionals’ iconic annual competition, TrendVision Award. About 700 guests surrounded an interlocking central catwalk, with hair hosts Patrick Cameron MBE and Fergal Doyle conducting the action.

Alongside the colour and cutting awards – which included the return of the People’s Choice trophies voted for by the public – three exceptional shows kept the artistry sky-high all night.

Digitopia from Cobella delivered otherworldly aesthetics, showcasing new possibilities in design, driven by the rise of AI and virtual realms… all brought to life through Illumina’s dreamy colour palette. Running alongside it was Outré from STIL, offering a hybrid of traditional Scandinavian design merged with unconventional shapes and silhouettes.

From the Light into the Dark – soundtracked by beatboxer Killa Kela – brought together The Wella Collective, who delved into the realms of transformation, drawing inspiration from the vibrant and eccentric aesthetics of Harajuku culture. The exhilarating looks came from Cheynes, Francesco Hair Salons, Lara Johnson Lifestyle, NJUK and Tuckwell & Co. Finally, HOB Academy welcomed us into its Ethereal world, with a showcase of vivid colours and delicate textures, accompanied with strong geometric shapes, illustrating the possibilities using Illumina and Koleston Perfect.

The event also revealed Wella’s partnership with The Little Princess Trust, unveiling four country champions to help encourage salons to get involved – Sarah Mason (Ireland), Lara Johnson (Wales), Charlie Taylor (Scotland) and Liam Fry (England).

After all the winners were applauded, the after party offered a feast of sweet entertainment, including edible (and alcohol-laced) bubbles and instant handmade lollies and ice cream. An evening to leave the mouth watering…

NJUK

TRENDVISION AWARD UK & IRELAND 2023

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Lara Johnson Lifestyle

PEOPLE’S CHOICE EDITORIAL LOOK UK & IRELAND WINNER: Phill Gallagher, Dot Hair RUNNER-UP: Amy Kirwan, Vanilla Hair Design

Amy Kirwan

PEOPLE’S CHOICE XPOSURE CREATIVE COLOUR UK & IRELAND WINNER: Ciara Harrington, ECC for Further Education RUNNER-UP: Rachel Grainger

TO SEE MORE FROM THE STIL SHOW BACKSTAGE, VISIT CREATIVEHEADMAG.COM AND @CREATIVEHEADMAG

Cobella

PEOPLE’S CHOICE COLOUR VISIONARY UK & IRELAND WINNER: Allan Kingsland, Allan Kingsland RUNNER-UP: Katie Andruszczak XPOSURE CREATIVE COLOUR UK & IRELAND WINNER: Ciara Harrington, ECC for Further Education RUNNER-UP: Aoife Halpin, House of Colour EDITORIAL LOOK UK & IRELAND WINNER: Amy Kirwan, Vanilla Hair Design RUNNER-UP: Phill Gallagher, Dot Hair

Vi Pessoa

Cobella

HOB Academy

PEOPLE’S CHOICE CRAFT VISIONARY UK & IRELAND WINNER: Vi Pessoa, Vi Pessoa Hairstylist RUNNER-UP: Manushaqe Marjeta Gashi

Elijah Hourrides

STIL

Ciara Harrington

AND THE WINNERS ARE…

COLOUR VISIONARY WINNER: Paolo Silveri, Regis UK RUNNER-UP: Connor McIntyre, The Bank Hair & Beauty CREATIVE HEAD

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Paolo Silveri

CRAFT VISIONARY WINNER: Elijah Hourrides, HOB Salons RUNNER-UP: Corinne McNaughton, Medusa

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Samantha Cusick

Claire Martin

Conor James Doyle

Tia Lambourn

Michelle Marshall

Photography by Jennifer Downs

REDKEN ON STAGE

Featuring 25 artists, 35 models, four stages and more than 140 guests, Redken on Stage delivered an unmissable day of education at the jaw-droppingly fresh new L’Oréal Academy in London’s White City.

It was chock-full of live demonstrations, including the latest in trending colour, cutting and styling techniques from Redken’s top ambassadors and advocates, such as Tia Lambourn, Michelle Marshall, Samantha Cusick, Claire Martin and 2023 Most Wanted Education Expert, Conor James Doyle.

Kicking off with an opening trend show curated by the Redken Artist team, the day delivered 25 live and interactive sessions across four stations, sharing everything from top tips and tricks to the latest trends and techniques. It took guests behind the scenes of their creative processes and shared insights behind each look.

Yes, this was about hair, but it was also about pushing boundaries and celebrating self-expression.

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CREATIVE HEAD

23/10/2023 15:25

CALLING ALL REDKEN LOVERS WANT TO JOIN REDKEN’S NEW PRO COMMUNITY?

Create, collaborate and connect with Redken on social.

Level-up your social content game, engage with other pros and earn points to unlock exclusive Redken rewards SCAN TO FIND OUT MORE & APPLY NOW

THE LAST WORD ON…

MENTORING

Randy Tarampi for Unsplash

AS CREATIVE HEAD’S ACTIVATOR SCHEME OPENS FOR APPLICATIONS, WE CONSIDER THE POWER OF HAVING A MENTOR TO BOUNCE IDEAS OFF

Being a business owner doesn’t leave much time for anything else. So busy is the daily grind – hitting targets, servicing clients, maybe managing staff – that turning inwards to reflect on the bigger business questions gets left neglected. We can all get in our heads; can a second party help visualise the wider picture?

For Marco Fiori, managing director of Bamboo PR, instructing a coach has been transformative. “I was grappling with losing my business partner and close friend to cancer. I took the plunge, and it was life-changing,” he explains. “It made me a better person; I have stronger relationships and boundaries and have learnt self-compassion, which has produced a healthier business that works for me, not the reverse.”

Timing is one thing, but fit matters too, according to Cos Sakkas, global creative director at TONI&GUY: “It should be someone who you can meet for a chat and who offers guidance; they’re not a taskmaster or babysitter but will push you through your fears and comfort zone.”

Joe Hemmings, owner of Bloggs Salons in Bristol, agrees the stars must align to make it work. “You need to open up and have honest conversations to get the most from them, so it’s essential that they are aligned with you, your beliefs, goals and business direction. There should be no judgement,” he says.

Mentors are useful for ironing out practical points too, like when starting a new venture, explains business coach Alasdair Cunningham. “You may have technical skills and a great idea, but you might lack experience in running a business. Someone who has already built a successful company can provide you

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with guidance on creating a business plan, securing funding and scaling,” he explains.

Alasdair has some tips on how to find your ideal match; look for someone “who not only has the expertise and knowledge but also shares similar values”. Practically, mentor seekers should “identify individuals in your industry who have achieved the level of success you aspire to”. Then, reach out through professional networks, social media platforms, and networking events, he adds. Diversity and inclusion entrepreneur Danielle Baron suggests going online: “Explore reputable platforms like Life Coach Directory, which can help you identify someone tailored to your unique needs.”

Feeling bashful about contacting a potential mentor? Don’t be, says Sally Brooks, creative director of Brooks & Brooks. “You’d be surprised how many successful hairdressers will willingly give their time if you just ask.” But don’t expect one person to solve all your problems. Instead, focus on one aspect at a time.

“Sometimes you need different mentors for different parts of your career. It’s a journey, not a race,” she adds.

Having a mentor will mean some serious self-reflection including exploring the fundamentals of why you do what you do in the first place. Want to get started? Activator from Creative HEAD – a free one-year mentoring scheme for hairdressing business owners at all career stages – is open for applications now (see page 20), and those who are successful will be carefully matched with an industry mentor to get cracking in January.

That could be quite the Christmas present to yourself…

CREATIVE HEAD

25/10/2023 14:06

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