THE POWERHOUSE BEHIND THE ICONIC MARK LEESON BRAND.

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As Global Artistic Ambassador for Revlon Professional, Mark Leeson’s name is synonymous with glamorous, wearable hair.

He’s achieved huge success on his home turf and also on the international stage as one of global hairdressing’s biggest stars. But as everyone knows, big success is often down to the team around you. And Mark has one person in particular who has been instrumental in this illustrious career.

As awards shelves go, Mark Leeson’s is extremely well stocked. Since his iconic style saw him scoop the coveted British Hairdresser of the Year trophy in 2014, he’s picked up almost every other title going, including his most recent - International Hairdresser of the Year at the Australian Hairdressing Industry Awards (AHIA) 2023.

While Mark has undoubtedly gained an unrivalled reputation, his partner Richard Darby - co-director of the Mark Leeson brand - has quietly been at his side almost the entire way through his rise to success.

But running a world-class hair salon was an accidental career shift for Richard. In fact, his original career ambitions couldn’t have been more different. “In my younger years, I used to be incredibly sporty,” explains Richard. “I ran competitively for England and swam at a county level too.

Growing up, I always wanted to go into the police, but the shift work put me off. Instead, I studied business at A-Level and ended up getting a job in a bank instead.”

At the time, Mark was a fledgling hairdresser with the John Hawley salon group, graduating from salon junior to shop manager and eventually becoming an educator. While steadily working on the shop floor, he was also gaining a name for himself as a leading platform artist. A commanding manner on stage was matched by an exacting finesse and creativity.

Demanding unflappable skill under scrutiny, this circuit no doubt shaped his future ability for conjuring up incredible hair at the drop of a hat.

Mark and Richard met when Richard was just 17 years old and – still in the early stages of their relationship - when the opportunity for taking over a franchise came about, the pair decided to go for it together.

Within two years, they had trebled the turnover. “I had very little experience in hairdressing apart from being involved with the competition circuit but I knew a fair bit about business and finance, so it made sense that Mark would lead the brand creatively, and I’d concentrate on everything else,” Richard says.

Opening in 1996, after ten years of staggering success, Mark and Richard secured a larger site in 2006 to cater to an evergrowing client list.

With a proven formula for full columns, the duo saw one of the country’s first ‘super salons’ come to life. Mark Leeson offered the ultimate hairdressing experience - a luxurious and tranquil setting in which clients can enjoy top-to-toe treatments, carried out in a space spanning over 3,000 square feet.

Today, the same style that was gained in Mark’s early career has become synonymous with the Mark Leeson brand. The salon has an unbeaten local status due to that intuitive understanding of ‘simply great hair’ that their clientele has fallen in love with.

Alongside growing the Mark Leeson business, Mark had an increasing hunger for winning awards and Richard was the driving force in steering Mark away from competition hairdressing and into a more commercial arena.

Having won Eastern Hairdresser of the Year at the British Hairdressing Awards three times, Mark set his sights on winning British. “For me, it was the ultimate title,” Mark confesses.

“I cherry-picked the photographic team I knew could translate my vision, and just felt that we had the formula to make it happen.”

By the time he won the award in 2014, he’d notched up a truly outstanding track record of finalising for 32 British Hairdressing Awards and winning an incredible 14. Richard describes all roads leading to that point as a dream he knew was always going to come true. “Mark is a creative genius,” Richard says with unapologetic pride.

The pair stand side-by-side on shoot days, education and stage presentations; and in the salon, Richard is Mark’s personal colour technician.

Their working relationship is seamless, and Mark trusts Richard’s opinion implicitly. “Richard sees things in black and white – he has a different but complimentary perspective to mine,” says Mark. “He can simplify a thought to make it absolutely work.

Sometimes it’s the adjustment he suggests that makes all the difference. Fundamentally, we like the same things, and we have a lot of fun bouncing ideas around.”

The pair are supported by a hugely talented art team. “We are 100 per cent team players at Mark Leeson,” says Richard. “We celebrate each and every success and believe in giving everyone an opportunity to shine.” Today, the team travel the world and fly the flag for British hairdressing. And they have all individually gone on to emulate Mark’s success, winning multiple awards at the British Hairdressing Awards in the Men’s, Eastern and Midlands categories, as well as on the international stage. “The truth is that the brand is not just about me,” admits Mark.

Back at base, Mark and Richard have clearly defined roles and that is possibly the secret to their dynamic match. “We don’t tread on each other’s toes,” Mark says. And Richard agrees, “Mark doesn’t need to get too involved in the day-to day stresses of salon life and that frees him up creatively.

We communicate really well and ultimately we have the same end goal.” Richard describes himself as the “conductor of the orchestra”

- a man with many hats, his steady focus and endless support for Mark is no doubt what has brought the pair to the enviable position that they are today.

As a team, they are known for their immaculately executed photographic collections, combining technical expertise with commercial appeal, and cutting-edge precision with flawless, feminine style.

They have created an entire brand with beautiful hair as its hallmark. The drawback of creating such a winning formula is of course that it’s open to imitation. “I take it as a compliment,” Mark says. “It’s true that our look, vibe and feel has become instantly recognisable, but it inspires us to keep trying new things while staying true to what we do. We’ve never stood still and will always continue to push boundaries.”

When asked what’s next, the two are unsurprisingly on the same page. It’s about developing the team around them, nurturing the talent under their roof and to keep pushing artistic boundaries. “Creatively, we are always turning the wheel,” say Mark. “We try not to repeat ourselves; we’re always looking forward and we’ve continually got an eye out for the next big thing.

I want to carry on creating beautiful imagery that inspires other hairdressers and leaves our very own piece of history.” As always, Richard is in agreement – every step of the way.

Credits:

Hair: Mark Leeson