KEEPING IT SIMPLE.

As John Spanton settles into his role as Artistic Director and General Manager at Arkive by Adam Reed, we had a chat to find out about the quietly triumphant life he’s created in hair and why this move is the start of a satisfying new chapter.

The chances are, you’ll know the name John Spanton. In industry circles, he’s regarded as one of our most talented and influential colourists. Clients enthuse about his magic touch and the quiet reputation he has built for delivering London’s most radiant balayage’s.

He’s won awards both nationally and internationally and been at the helm of one of the world’s most prestigious hair powerhouses. And yet, he does all this with an understated ease. Big fanfares and flashy selfpromotion are not his thing.

John’s latest role sees him settled in at the cozy surroundings of Arkive by Adam Reed where he describes feeling “my most chilled out and happy.” After a career of delivering at the top level, that’s clearly a goal that’s high on his agenda. “Hair is not rocket science, it should be fun!” he says. “There’s a refreshing feeling at Adam Reed that we’re there to do hair but have a good time too.

That’s not to take anything away from the business – we’re a team of grafters and we’re all competent and confident in what we do. It’s just less competitive, a more joyous place to work. The culture is more relaxed, and I’ve never felt so appreciated.”

Despite landing some of hairdressing’s hottest roles, John’s beginnings were humble. Born in Paisley – the same birthplace as Trevor Sorbie, these two hairdressers shared the same roots. Born 10 minutes away from where Trevor grew up, they went to the same primary school and attended the same art class, albeit several years apart. The coincidences were uncanny.

Leaving school four days before his 16th birthday, John followed a path into hairdressing and with a burning talent very evident, became Education Manager for L’Oréal and Matrix in Scotland, going on to become Head of Education in UK & Ireland. Perhaps inevitably, John’s journey to London took him to the doors of Trevor Sorbie.

Whether destiny or part of a well-designed plan, John spent over 17 immensely successful years as Technical Education Director of Trevor Sorbie International and Creative Colour Director of the internationally renowned Artistic Team.

While there, John completed his L’Oréal Colour Specialist Degree and passed with a distinction and a score of 98 per cent. Technically, his talents are irrefutable – something that Sorbie has made a name for spotting.

John recalls an up-andcoming Italian stylist by the name of Angelo Seminara had joined the Trevor Sorbie team. “When I first met him, you could tell he had the potential to be amazing, but he wasn’t yet finessed on stage.” Over the seven years they worked together at Trevor Sorbie, John saw Angelo’s talents and career flourish in front of his eyes.

While with Trevor Sorbie, John had interludes at the Brighton salon for four years and went and set up the Trevor Sorbie salon in Manchester. But these roles took him down a management path and while he was very good at it, he realised he wasn’t in love with that side of things at the time.

It wasn’t the right moment in his life or the right opportunity. Creatively, he was feeling discontent and with a slight tongue in cheek, he confides, “I was beginning to wonder, where do old hairdressers go…?”

After a career rethink that coincided with the calamity of Covid, John was ready to move on in hairdressing and - in another twist of fate - Angelo was just branching out on his own and launching his salon in Knightsbridge. It seemed the natural place to go.

John describes Angelo Seminara at Urban Retreat as: “a smaller salon with a cohort of self-employed colleagues. It was a different culture altogether from Trevor Sorbie. People set their own hours and days. It felt liberating.” Clearly this was the reset that John needed, and he was enjoying every minute of being back with his old colleague. “You feel very relaxed around

Angelo. He’s brilliant - great fun and warm, kind, and sweet. But also, demanding, and exacting. Quite rightly he’s considered a genius.”

When Angelo’s residency at Urban Retreat came to an end, John was left wondering where to go. Arkive by Adam Reed couldn’t have been more perfect for his next chapter. “Creatively, Adam offered me an open door,” John explains. “Adam brings a great work ethic to everything he’s involved with.

He doesn’t just turn up on time - he turns up early. He gets the job done to perfection and with good humour. That culture trickles down and in the same way, he’s created an environment where people come first. We’re a people industry after all, so we have to look after each other.”

John recalls his first day as a Wednesday. “By Saturday I felt like I’d been there for months. It was such an easy transition. I feel like I’m around people who get me and understand how I work.” It’s Adam’s caring spirit that John believes is the real secret to his success. “The best managers look after their team and leave the team to look after their clients.” A simple philosophy but so effective.

Arkive by Adam Reed is fast becoming the place for hair’s creative thinkers to gather. “It’s a different look and feel to other salons,” John notes. “It’s more like a studio than a salon - a welcoming space, not corporate at all.”

John’s approach to hair is similarly unfussy. “I like touchable, feminine, glossy, shiny, hair. That’s the emotion I want to tap into.” John is a hairdresser who want to ‘get his hands’ on your hair – curious and creative, he wants to explore the possibilities of hair as a fabric and art form too.

He cites his idols as contemporaries such as Adam, Angelo, Trevor, and Guido who have all mastered that knack of effectively creating wearable hair while managing to twist the norm.

John is also relishing the fact that his new role as Artistic Director and General Manager at Arkive by Adam Reed will allow him to do something that has always appealed - mentoring, developing and nurturing a team. “I’m happy to lead from the front and I’m more than comfortable up on stage but I’m more passionate now than ever about helping others excel. It gives me a ‘proud Dad’ feeling when I can enable someone else’s success.”

There are other projects rumbling in the pipeline that John is keen to get his teeth into – but all in good time. “I’m going to give myself time to settle into this role and establish myself before exploring other opportunities,” says John. He’s a collaborator, a coach, the consummate pro, a hugely talented creative and a damn good colourist. But of course, you already knew that.