EP397: Michael Douglas — Serving Consumers, or Selling Out? You Decide.

Can a hairdresser and brand truly serve both consumers and the industry? That’s the hook of this episode—and the focus of our follow-up to our most-downloaded podcast of 2025. Recorded live at HairCon, with renowned celebrity hairstylist and founder of mdlondon, Michael Douglas. Friend of the How To Cut It podcast, Michael Douglas is back to share why he’s returned to an industry event after building a consumer-led platform and launching mdlondon tools and styling products. He argues there’s no real divide between “professional” and “consumer” because it’s the same client, and says his lockdown Instagram Lives proved that sharing expertise fuels salon bookings rather than replacing them. Michael addresses the industry backlash he faced, charts mdlondon’s evolution—from a shelved cordless concept during lockdown supply issues to early sales struggles and a Black Friday turnaround—and urges hairdressers to share knowledge, go live to attract clients, and help bring new talent into the industry. This is a conversation you’ll have an opinion on, either way!   Chapters   4:19 Lockdown Consumer Pivot 11:12 Lives Build Demand 15:58 MD London Origin 18:47 Shampoo Myths 20:05 Retailing in Salons 25:22 Building the Next Generation 27:17 Breaking Into Celebrity 29:14 Education and Opportunity 31:04 Salon Partnership Deal     Resources MD London Website: mdlondon.com  MD London on Instagram: @mdlondon HairCon on Instagram @hairconshow Spotd App find out more getspotdapp.com Connect with Spotd on Instagram @getspotdapp How To Cut It on Instagram @howtocutit