Hair Life

Quick fire round. What’s your client retention rate? Your average ticket value? Revenue per stylist? Column occupancy rate? Could you answer in 30 seconds with actual numbers?In this episode, I break down the 12 metrics I review every single Monday morning inside our salon software, the exact dashboard that runs our seven figure salon. Not 50 reports. Not vanity stats. Just 12 numbers that tell me where we’re winning, where we’re leaking money, and where I need to act fast.If you’re a creative salon owner who got into hair to create, not crunch spreadsheets, this one’s for you. Because here’s the truth. Numbers don’t kill creativity. They fund it.What You’ll Discover- Revenue Is a Health Check: How I track weekly income, future bookings and early warning signs before problems hit.- Retention Equals Profit: Why keeping clients within a six to eight week cycle is worth more than chasing endless new ones.- Occupancy, Rebooks and Retail: The simple percentages that reveal whether your team is thriving or quietly underperforming.I walk you through everything from average ticket value and retail percentages to rebooking ratios, revenue per stylist and cancellation rates. We talk benchmarks. We talk red flags. We talk honest conversations with underperformers. Because empty chairs are dead money, and guessing is gambling.You’ll also hear why frequency is the key to growth, why high occupancy can actually mean your prices are too low, and why profit, not turnover, is the number that really matters.This is not about becoming an accountant. It’s about becoming a smarter leader. When you know your numbers, you stop reacting and start making confident decisions. You see dips before they become disasters. You build freedom instead of stress.So next Monday, block 30 minutes. Open your reports. Pick your 12. And start running your salon like a business that deserves to grow.

There is a revenue band where salon owners quietly get stuck, and in this episode of Hair Life I’m calling it out. Somewhere between 200K and 400K, you are no longer a start-up but you are not truly scalable either. You have a team, the systems sort of work, you are making decent money on paper, yet you are exhausted and wondering why it still feels so hard.I know that ceiling well because I lived there. Around 275K turnover, five stylists, busy every day, and still firefighting at night. I was behind the chair six days a week, doing payroll on Sundays, taking staff calls on holiday, telling myself I was the best stylist and that the clients needed me. What I had built was not a business. It was a very stressful job.What You’ll Discover- You Are the Bottleneck: If the business depends on your chair time and your decisions, it cannot grow beyond your personal capacity.- Systems Over Heroics: Management by presence does not scale, documented systems and clear standards do.- Profit Changes Everything: More revenue without margin is just exhaustion, pricing for growth creates room to invest and lead properly.If you are hovering around that 250K mark and feeling stretched, this is your wake-up call. Block CEO time in your diary. Review your margins. Start documenting what lives in your head. Stop building a business that collapses when you take a week off.You did not start this to create a job you cannot escape. You started it to build something bigger. Now it is time to act like the CEO.

Last week we tackled the hard questions. This week, we go deeper. In this follow-up episode of Hair Life, I break down what I see as the three types of salon owners in the UK, and where most of you are getting stuck. Because scaling is not just about more clients or more chairs - it is about who you are becoming as a leader.What You’ll Discover- The Three Salon Owner Types: Why 83 percent of the industry stays small, and why the leap from type two to CEO is the hardest transition you will ever make.- Struggling vs Thriving in This Economy: How some salons blame costs and clients, while others use this moment to raise standards, reposition premium and capture market share.- Systems, Pricing and AI in Action: The strategic price rises, value stacking, automation and culture building that turn pressure into growth.We get into strategic pricing, giving more value when you raise rates, negotiating better brand deals, building teams that want employment over freelancing, and why positioning yourself as premium is not arrogance but psychology. People want quality - deliver it properly and they stay.Struggling salons will blame external factors. Thriving salons will use this reset to get stronger. The question is simple, which one are you going to be?Hair Life is produced by Urban Podcasts.

Hair Life is back, and we are not easing into 2026 gently. National Insurance is up. VAT is biting. Electricity is brutal. Clients are spending differently. But here’s the uncomfortable truth. Those pressures might not be breaking your salon. They might just be exposing the cracks that were already there.I’ve run Energy Hair for 28 years. We’re a seven-figure salon with 24 staff. And what I’m seeing right now is simple. Some salons are thriving in this climate. Others are blaming the climate. So this episode is about asking better questions. Not about the government. Not about freelancers. About you.What You’ll Discover- Know Your Numbers: Why profit margin, utilisation, average ticket and retail conversion decide who survives.- Owner or Employee in Disguise: The hard question of whether your salon can run without you for three months.- Abundance Over Fear: Why underpricing, weak systems and mediocre hiring are killing growth more than rising costs ever will.This episode is not comfortable. It is not meant to be. It is meant to sharpen you. If you’re a salon owner feeling the squeeze, this is your moment to stop blaming the economy and start tightening the foundations.Ask yourself the tough questions. Write down the numbers. Raise the standard. Charge what you’re worth. Build systems. Hire better. Think bigger.Because some salons will disappear in the next few years. And some will scale. Make sure you’re in the second group.Hair Life is produced by Urban Podcasts.

As we step into 2026, why do so many of us feel stuck before we’ve even begun and what are we really avoiding when we procrastinate?In this episode, we start the year by looking honestly at procrastination, not as a bad habit to fix, but as a signal worth listening to. At the beginning of a new year, pressure to reset, improve and move faster can make avoidance feel even heavier - especially when expectations are high and clarity is low.Together, we explore why procrastination so often appears at moments of transition, why it has nothing to do with laziness, and how it’s frequently rooted in fear, overwhelm, perfectionism and self-protection. Rather than pushing harder, we ask what might change if we approached procrastination with curiosity instead of judgement.This is a reflective episode for anyone entering 2026 feeling behind, hesitant or quietly resistant to the clean-slate narrative.What We Explore- Why Procrastination Shows Up at New Beginnings: We look at how fresh starts can amplify fear and overwhelm, making avoidance more likely rather than less.- Fear, Perfectionism and the Pressure to Get It Right: We explore how fear of failure, fear of success and unrealistic expectations quietly drive procrastination at the start of a new cycle.- A Gentler Way Forward in 2026: We reflect on how compassion, awareness and small intentional actions can help us move forward without force, shame or burnout.As we reflect, one thing becomes clear: procrastination isn’t a flaw - it’s information. At the start of a new year, it often points to where we feel uncertain, unready or unsupported.This episode is an invitation to begin 2026 without self-criticism. To listen before we leap and to remember that meaningful change rarely comes from pressure but often from understanding.If this year feels slow to start, that doesn’t mean you’re failing. It may simply mean something inside you is asking to be acknowledged first.

What happens when a 16-year-old who wanted to be an interior designer walks into a salon for an apprenticeship and ends up changing thousands of lives?In this inspiring episode of Hair Life, we sit down with award-winning hair-loss and extensions specialist Krisha West. From falling into hairdressing by accident to becoming a British Hairdressing Awards finalist, Aveda artist, and GLOWWA ambassador, Krisha has built a thriving salon (Perfectly Posh Hair) and the Postiche Academy while quietly revolutionising how UK salons talk about and treat hair loss.What You’ll Learn- Hair Loss Doesn’t Discriminate: Why every salon sees clients losing hair (stress, medical, miniaturisation) and most stylists still feel terrified to bring it up.- Confidence Over Cure: Krisha’s game-changing approach - sometimes the win isn’t regrowth, it’s giving someone back the confidence to leave the house.- Education Is the Superpower: How Krisha’s courses and GLOWWA partnership are training stylists nationwide to turn “I don’t know what to do” into life-changing consultations.Krisha West is proof that the most accidental careers can become the most meaningful. If you’ve ever had a client cry in your chair over thinning hair, this episode is your wake-up call: you can be the solution and it starts with knowing what to say.Hair Life is produced by Urban Podcasts.

Walk into a beauty salon and clients happily drop £100 on skincare. Walk into a hair salon and most stylists won’t even recommend a £20 shampoo. We’re leaving money, results, and client loyalty on the table and it’s time to stop.In this episode of Hair Life, we get real about the UK hairdressing industry’s retail problem: most salons only achieve 3–5% of turnover from product sales while beauty salons smash 20–40%. With just weeks until Christmas, we break down why we’re missing massive revenue, how it hurts client retention and results, and simple, non-salesy ways to change it right now.What You’ll Learn- The Gap Exposed: Why beauty clients buy effortlessly while hair clients leave empty-handed and how that’s costing salons £250k–£400k extra turnover.- Mindset Shift: Retail isn’t “selling bottles” it’s letting clients take your amazing salon results home with them every single day.- Practical Wins: QR codes, six-week Christmas challenges, problem-solution prescribing, and team incentives that actually work without feeling pushy.Use this episode as your wake-up call to boost your sales, your clients’ hair, and your Christmas bonus. Let’s stop apologising for recommending products and start owning the value we give.Hair Life is produced by Urban Podcasts.

Can reinvention be the secret to longevity in a creative industry?In this episode we sit down with the legendary Jo Mills - founder of The Lounge Soho, Jo & Co, and Woolf Kings X to unpack how a career built on instinct, innovation, and adaptability has kept him at the forefront of British hairdressing for over three decades.From his early days cutting hair in Margate to redefining what a modern salon can look like, Jo shares the mindset behind constantly evolving his craft and business. He opens up about the burnout that nearly made him walk away from it all, and how that moment led to a bold new hybrid salon concept combining the freedom of self-employment with the stability of traditional models.We explore how Jo’s model is transforming what it means to run a creative business today - one that is built on flexibility, mentorship, and community over convention.What You’ll Learn- The Hybrid Model: How Jo’s new salon structure blends employment and independence, creating flexibility without chaos.- Creative Longevity: Why reinvention is essential for staying inspired, relevant, and resilient in a changing industry.- Leading with Purpose: How empathy, mentoring, and adaptability have shaped Jo’s leadership style and why it works.Jo proves that success in hairdressing isn’t just about cutting hair - it’s about cutting through old systems and shaping new ones. His story is a masterclass in creative reinvention, business bravery, and building something that lasts.Hair Life is produced by Urban Podcasts.

What if building a career in hairdressing was less about salons and more about sheer grit?In this episode of Hair Life, we are joined by the incredible Ky Wilson, a hairdresser and educator whose journey spans from small-town beginnings in the Lake District to the global stage. From sleeping rough in airports to hustling through competitions, to opening unconventional salon spaces in warehouses and even cutting hair on park benches, Ky's story is one of determination, creativity, and resilience.We dive into how competitions shaped his early career, what it was like to work under industry icons, and how he pioneered flexible freelance salon spaces before they became the norm. Ky also opens up about the health challenges and sobriety journey that have reshaped his life and perspective, showing how hairdressing has always been both his craft and his form of meditation.What You’ll Learn- Breaking In: How competitions, mentoring, and hustle create opportunities in the hair industry.- Innovation & Resilience: Why thinking differently about spaces and services can redefine success.- Sobriety & Growth: How stepping away from alcohol reshaped Ky's health, mindset, and creative energy.Ky's story is proof that passion, persistence, and a willingness to carve your own path can turn obstacles into opportunities-and inspire others to do the same.Hair Life is produced by Urban Podcasts.

What if money could be your greatest teacher in life and business?In this Rewind episode of Hair Life, we get real about our journeys with money-from scraping by as single parents to building comfortable lifestyles. We chat about the highs and lows, how financial struggles sparked our drive, and why true joy comes from time with loved ones, not just the bank balance.What You'll Learn- Embracing Struggles: Turn financial hardships into motivation to push harder and grow personally.- Smart Spending: Align your money with values by saving, investing wisely, and avoiding impulsive buys.- Setting Targets: Use goals like funding dream holidays to fuel your business hustle and create lasting memories.We share our tips like appreciating simple joys (dog walks or family time), educating yourself before big decisions, and remembering that freedom and time matter more than material things. This episode is your reminder that money's true value lies in the freedom and experiences it unlocks, not the stuff it buys.Hair Life is produced by Urban Podcasts.

What if entering awards could transform your salon's reputation?In this Rewind episode of Hair Life, we dive into the power of awards for salon owners. Callie shares her journey of winning nine awards, from Surrey Stylist of the Year to Marketing Trailblazer, and how these accolades boosted her business's credibility, team morale, and local profile. We discuss choosing awards that align with your brand, the benefits of regional recognition, and how even not winning can inspire growth.What You'll Learn- Strategic Award Selection: Pick awards that match your business model to maximise impact.- Boosting Credibility: Use awards to enhance your salon's trust and local reputation.- Inspiring Growth: Learn from finalists or winners to elevate your business practices.We share tried and tested tips like celebrating wins with clients to make them part of the journey, taking a helicopter view to assess your business strengths, and networking with other hairdressers at award events.This is your call to step out of your comfort zone and let awards fuel your salon's success.Hair Life is produced by Urban Podcasts.

What if procrastination could spark a smarter way to work? In this Rewind episode of Hair Life, we dive headfirst into the messy world of procrastination, sharing our own tales of half-finished projects and broken salon heaters. We explore why we delay tasks, the mental toll it takes, and practical ways to break free from procrastination.What You’ll Learn- Spotting Triggers: Recognise tasks like admin that derail you and tackle them strategically.- Smart Outsourcing: Hire a PA or delegate tasks outside your skillset to keep momentum.- Accountability Boost: Team up with a coach or mate to turn intentions into action.We share tips like setting dedicated task days (and sticking to them!), embracing your strengths, and leaning on a support network to stay focused. Whether it’s a brain dump to clear your mind or finding someone like our mate Graham to fix what’s broken, we’ve got you covered.Hair Life is produced by Urban Podcasts.

Are you constantly scrolling or wondering why your kids can’t put their phones down at dinner? In this Rewind episode of Hair Life, we dive into social media’s grip on our lives - its effects on focus, self-esteem, and even our salons. Callie and I share honest stories about its influence on our work and families.We unpack the psychological toll, like content overload and pressure to match filtered ideals, and provide actionable tips for a refreshing detox. You’ll discover how to balance social media to boost creativity and connections without sacrificing peace, with practical advice on setting boundaries, recognising addiction, and using it smartly in hairdressing.Hair Life is produced by Urban Podcasts.

Would you let an untrained doctor operate on you? So why risk your hair with an unqualified stylist? In this episode of Hair Life, we sit down with Rae Palmer, a hairdressing legend with 40 years of experience and the founder of WELOVE. She shares her journey from sweeping floors in a barber shop to owning buzzing salons, driven by her passion for teaching and frustration with the UK’s wild-west hair industry - where anyone can grab scissors or chemicals without training.Rae shares shocking salon mishaps and her fierce fight with the Hair and Barber Council to push for proper standards. This episode is a wake-up call for stylists and clients to demand better, stay safe, and help turn hairdressing into the respected craft it deserves to be.Hair Life is produced by Urban Podcasts. 

Welcome to the first Hair Life Rewind, where we revisit highlights from past episodes. Today, we’re diving back into our chat with PR expert Sally Learmouth.In this episode you’ll learn how leveraging your salon’s USP can elevate your brand. Sally shares how she transformed freelancer Jack Howard into the “King of Balayage” with savvy PR strategies. This throwback uncovers how bold, decisive action can spark growth for your salon.Hair Life is produced by Urban Podcasts.

Inspired by my 95-year-old client Leslie, who faces the physical and financial challenges of aging, Callie and I dive into whether we can afford our own futures. We question if retiring at 65 is outdated, especially for hairdressers and small business owners like us with limited pension options.With raw honesty, we unpack the emotional toll of boredom and the search for purpose in later life.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why living to 100 is more likely than ever.How small pension pots could mean working into your 80s.Why inflation and mortgages might force you to rethink downsizing or side hustles to keep your lifestyle.This episode is a wake-up call for anyone who wants to age with dignity, not desperation.Hair Life is produced by Urban Podcasts.

Are hair industry awards the golden ticket for your salon or just a shiny distraction? In this episode of Hair Life, myself and Callie cut through the noise and get real about the value of chasing awards.In this episode, you’ll learn: How regional wins can amplify your local rep and turn free press into marketing wins.Why awards season can light a fire under your team, boost morale, and spark industry connections.The hidden costs—entry fees, gala tickets, and time—that can drain your focus if you’re not strategic.Packed with honest insights and practical tips, this episode is your guide to deciding whether to chase that trophy or keep your eyes on the salon floor.

Reflecting on our own childhood experiences, we reminisce about the joyous freedom we had back in the '90s, where our outdoor adventures were filled with simplicity and creativity—improvising games, exploring nature, and engaging in hands-on play without the distractions of screens.In this episode, we grapple with the question of whether today's children are, in fact, over-protected from real-life experiences, yet simultaneously under-prepared to handle the digital interactions. I share personal insights, including my son’s first dating experience and my plan to introduce a month-long family experiment to disconnect from screens.

Curious how a Netflix show can reshape your take on parenting teens today? In this episode, we dive into Adolescence—a series sparking buzz among parents and teens alike.We ask: who’s guiding kids through this digital maze—parents, schools, or tech giants?In this episode, you’ll learn:Why Adolescence hits home for parents and teens.The big questions on who shapes kids today.Real ways to spark trust and talks with teens.Raw and relatable, this episode’s for anyone navigating parenting in a digital world.Hair Life is produced by Urban Podcasts.

Feel like self-doubt’s holding you back? In this episode of Hair Life, Cally and I dive into confidence, unpacking why so many of us—especially women—struggle to feel "enough." From childhood stings to social media’s comparison trap, we get real about what fuels insecurity.We go beyond the why, sharing actionable ways to grow confidence—like Cally’s self-love day or my lessons in coaching my son to stand tall. Expect honest talk on failure as growth, the pressure to do it all, and creating spaces that spark courage over comparison.In this episode, you’ll learn:Where self-doubt comes from—childhood scars, social media traps, and more.Small, actionable steps to build confidence, like power poses or saying no.How failure fuels growth and why perfection is the enemy.Ways to create environments that lift everyone up, from salons to boardrooms.Packed with real stories and practical tips, this episode is for anyone ready to quiet the inner critic and step up.Hair Life is produced by Urban Podcasts.

Ever let a great idea fester in our heads too long? We’ve been there—overthinking while time slips by. In this episode we’re unpacking why doing beats hesitating, no fluff—just real talk.In this episode, you’ll learn: Why action always outshines hesitation. Why fear of judgement is a trap worth dodging. Why perfect timing is a myth that’s holding us back. Loaded with real talk and actionable steps, this episode is for anyone ready to ditch the delays and make moves.Hair Life is produced by Urban Podcasts.

Money does more than pay the bills—it shapes your life. In this episode of Hair Life, we share our real, raw stories about cash, from losing it all to building successful salons.In this episode, you’ll learn:How we turn financial struggles into wins.Why money feels like a blessing and a burden.How it affects choices, relationships, and happiness.Callie’s 11-year plan to gain freedom.Nathan’s dream of sharing salon ownership with his team.With honest tales of resilience and lessons learned, this episode is perfect for salon owners or anyone ready to rethink money’s role in their life.Hair Life is produced by Urban Podcasts.

This week, we reveal the secrets to keeping clients loyal and coming back for more.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why retaining clients costs less than acquiring new ones.Why loyalty programmes increase retention.Why understanding client habits leads to loyalty.With actionable tips to maximise your revenue and build lasting client connections, this episode is a must-listen for salon owners ready to kick-start a successful year.Hair Life is produced by Urban Podcasts.

What’s ahead for your business in 2025, and how can you use the first few months to set a strong foundation? In this episode, we discuss our plans for the year and share practical tips on setting goals and preparing for challenges, including:The value of having a coachThe power of goal-settingHow small steps lead to big winsTips for maintaining a healthier work-life balanceBy using the early months of 2025 to focus on goal-setting, taking small steps, and prioritising balance, you can build a solid foundation for success.Got a question or a suggestion? Connect with us at hairlifepodcast.com.Hair Life is produced by Urban Podcasts.

How will the recent budget changes impact your salon’s finances, and what steps can you take to navigate the challenges ahead?In this episode of Hair Life, accountant Melanie Beach joins us and breaks down the financial changes hitting small salons, including the rise in national insurance and its effect on SMEs with five or more employees. Melanie offers actionable advice on cash flow management, transparency with staff, and how to create a strategic financial plan to stay ahead. We also explore the importance of consistent reporting, managing costs, and the value of investing in apprentices.

Are we truly living in a way that honours the time we have left?In this episode of Hair Life, we explore the often-taboo subject of death. Inspired by recent, raw conversations with salon clients and our own experiences, we share the challenging realities of loss. I open up about losing my father nine years ago and the way his passing forever changed my perspective on life and mortality. Cally adds her own reflections on how grief can isolate, with friends and family often unsure how to stay supportive after the initial loss.We share the powerful notion of intentional living: making each day matter and prioritising our well-being, joy, and relationships. Reflecting on the limited nature of our time, we discuss how self-care, conscious choices, and meaningful connections can transform how we experience the time we have.

After facing a significant health scare, Cally discovered the transformative power of setting boundaries and valuing time with family over material wealth. This personal revelation echoed a broader societal shift we've noticed, especially in a post-COVID world, where people are now more inclined to seek a balanced lifestyle despite financial pressures. In this episode, we share heartwarming stories and discuss how older generations are adapting. We'll also shine a light on the immense pressures that today's youth face regarding their financial futures. As parents make significant investments in private education and young adults navigate the rising costs of university, debt becomes a heavy burden.Lastly, we tackle the VAT debate within the salon industry, an ongoing challenge that we believe needs immediate attention. Salon owners are struggling with high VAT rates, and freelancers are opting for independence to escape these financial constraints. We explore potential solutions such as lowering the VAT rate and creating a supportive salon culture to retain staff.

What’s the secret to keeping the spark alive in a long-term relationship? In this episode of Hair Life, we share the tips and tricks we’ve picked up through personal experiences and conversations in our salons.We discuss the importance of prioritising time together, exploring shared hobbies, and keeping playfulness at the heart of their relationship. 

Are you putting off tasks you know you should tackle?In this episode of Hair Life, we dig into the all-too-common struggle of procrastination and why so many of us in the beauty industry (and beyond) fall into its trap. From delaying admin work to avoiding the final steps of a creative project, we explore the psychological triggers behind procrastination—and how to overcome them.Cally and I share our own procrastination confessions, from Cally distracting herself with her dog instead of finishing paperwork, to my tendency to stall when projects move from exciting ideas to tedious execution. We talk about the importance of recognising your weaknesses and how outsourcing certain tasks can be a game-changer in staying productive.We also explore the emotional side of procrastination, including the fear of failure and the self-doubt that many creatives feel. Plus, how accountability—from friends, colleagues, or coaches—can push you to follow through on your goals.

In this episode, we dive into the messy, hilarious, and oh-so-real world of parenting. From chaotic kid moments to navigating the teenage years (when all those parenting books seem to go silent), we share stories that will have you laughing and nodding in agreement.We also get into the financial reality of kids' ever-changing fashion choices, the struggle to keep up with "perfect parent" standards in the digital age, and the quirky dynamics of family group texts.Don't forget to follow us on socials, @HairLifePodcast.

Have you ever felt like your salon is running you, instead of the other way around?In this episode of Hair Life, we tackle the hot topic of burnout and the economic challenges facing salon owners today. Inspired by the eye-opening Creative Head article, "Is Your Business Keeping You Awake at Night?", we dive into the delicate dance between personal well-being and professional demands. Cally shares her story of taking on extra work to keep her salon's reputation intact during staff changes, and the toll it’s taking on her mental health. With one stylist traveling and another on maternity leave, she's in overdrive—juggling multiple clienteles and feeling the weight of it all. Is this sustainable, or is it time to rethink her approach?I bring a broader perspective, discussing how rising costs, interest rates, and VAT are squeezing the industry. I share my fear of losing clients when raising prices and how I’ve found a way to encourage open dialogue and understanding with my customers.Together, we explore how salon owners can navigate these financial pressures without losing our sanity—or loyal clients.

Is social media running your life, or are you in control?In this episode, we take a hard look at the grip that social media has on us—and how we can break free. From endless scrolling to social comparisons, we explore how social media seeps into our daily routines, impacts our attention spans, and shapes our relationships—especially with our kids.We ask the question, what’s the cost of constant connectivity? We get real about the anxietysocial media creates and the boundaries we need to set, both for ourselves and for the next generation.

What role does consistency play in shaping our lives?In this episode of Hair Life, we explore the power of sticking to routines and habits, even when things get tough. We reflect on how showing up consistently—whether it’s in the salon, in personal fitness, or within relationships—can create lasting benefits.We also explore how the challenges of maintaining health goals resonate with the feedback we receive from clients. Together, we discuss how small, consistent actions can lead to big rewards, both mentally and physically.If you’ve been struggling with sticking to goals, or you’re looking for that extra push to keep going, we’ve got real talk, insights, and encouragement to help you stay on track.

In this episode of Hair Life, Nathan and Callie sit down with PR powerhouse Sally Learmouth from Gloss Communications to uncover the secrets of successful marketing, branding, and public relations in the salon industry.Together, we explore the ever-evolving role of social media in PR and Sally, and Callie discuss how platforms like Instagram have become essential tools for connecting with clients and building a loyal community.Sally also shares what PR means—going beyond press releases to create impactful communication strategies that resonate with clients and build strong internal teams and the critical balance between meeting rapid consumer expectations and traditional PR's slow, steady work, emphasising that patience and consistency are essential to long-term success.

We can expect to take a few punches in life and business, but the ability to get back up truly defines us. In this episode of Hair Life, I explore the often-unspoken challenges of mental health and stress that come with navigating difficult times.I share my experiences with personal growth and how it positively impacts our teams and communities, emphasising the importance of leading by example.This episode also marks a new chapter for HairLife as I introduce a new co-host who brings a wealth of creativity and entrepreneurial prowess to our upcoming episodes.

In this episode Nathan Plumridge talks about being vulnerable, something that he’s had a lot of discussions about in the last few months, mainly due to an experience he had in early December which he shares with you. This is about learning from things both in business and from a health point of view. KEY TAKEAWAYS I’ve started thinking about health not just from a physical point of view, but from a mental side as well. Opening up, being vulnerable and sharing has helped me mentally and has enabled me to have some incredible conversations and opened up some incredible relationships. One of my best friends recently opened up to me about his childhood and the impact that it had on him and the direction it had taken him in his life until now. He started finding demons that had been buried and I was really blown away with what he shared with me. It was highly emotional, highly charged and as a result I had something click inside me which enabled me to firstly, open up about my childhood and my experiences, and how I could now see how the impact of that childhood was having an impact on me as a 45-year-old male. I can’t help but imagine how we all might feel if we opened up a little bit more and shared those things that we carry around with us, particularly men. Though I think it’s a generational thing, the younger generation seems to share everything – perhaps too much – but that’s something we can definitely learn from. The impact of being truly listened to with no judgement, no bias, no advice – so many people want to give you their advice and I don’t think that’s a good thing because a lot of those people are giving you the wrong advice. My friend listened to me so intently, with 100% focus, it was one of the greatest experiences I’ve ever had. What an incredible thing that is. How much stronger would your relationships be if you listened 100% to the person sitting in front of you? BEST MOMENTS ‘It wasn’t until someone had been vulnerable with me that it enabled me to be able to reciprocate the same thing. The impact of that was that I got very emotional. For two days I couldn’t stop crying, even in the salon.’‘My team was absolutely amazing. I think seeing their boss being vulnerable and truly open and showing them that you can’t always be this superhero type was incredibly powerful. It’s only done great things.’‘Opening yourself up and really showing your vulnerability gives you an incredible sense of relief, both emotionally and physically.’‘I’d like you to hear that voice that tells you not to do things to piss off!’ ABOUT THE HOST Welcome and thank you for reading this, I’m Nathan Plumridge salon owner and Hair Stylist. I’ve been in the industry for nearly 30 years and have been a salon owner for 23 of them. I have been fortunate enough to work and learn with some of the biggest names in the industry and this has given me the experience and drive to now be here with you sharing my experiences. CONTACT DETAILS  www.hairlifeshow.com Instagram is @nathan.hairlife  Email me at [email protected] show was brought to you by Progressive Media

In this episode Nathan Plumridge talks to entrepreneur, award winning stylist, and salon owner Cally Borg to talk about her background and journey through her career. KEY TAKEAWAYS I wasn’t very academic at school, I couldn’t sit still in a classroom, that’s just not my thing at all. However, when I got into hairdressing I was so focussed from day one because I just knew it was for me. My freelance career was really busy, I was in and out of London and Surrey taking any job that came to me. One minute I’d be doing highlights and cut and blow-dry, the next I’d be doing a photoshoot or at a show, it was really crazy but it was great. That worked until I had my daughter. I started doing local stuff and basically winged it for about three years while building up a regular clientele around looking after my daughter, in the day while she was at nursery and in the evenings while she was in bed. Lockdown offered a great opportunity to re-write the brand. I thought to myself, what do I really want from life and what’s most important to me. My partner and my kids are the most important thing to me so I don’t want to work evenings and weekends any more. So, do I cull 50% of my business or look at a new strategy and bring somebody in to look after those clients? And, that’s what I did and I realised I really liked helping and mentoring people. There’s been a massive rise in home salons in the past few years. I think that’s down to the lockdown, but also it’s to do with the freedom and flexibility that you get with working from home. I’m not in salons any more, so I don’t know the opportunities there any more, but I can only presume that the rules are stricter and that’s why people are looking for freedom and flexibility. BEST MOMENTS ‘I liked being in the salon, what I didn’t like was being told when I could and couldn’t go on holiday. I’m a team player, but I don’t like to be controlled in any way.’‘I did Amanda Holden’s personal styling, I’d go to her house, blow-dry her hair a couple of times a week and I started working at ITV, which was great.’‘People used to say: “you really work a lot of hours”, but I love my job, I love talking to people, yes I was knackered and unhealthy. Then I had a health scare and life changed like that.’‘I learned by working for free when I started out, but it’s a lot easier now to be educated, there’s a lot of free education, but people don’t seem to tap into that. This is the best time to be a freelancer.’ ABOUT THE GUEST Cally Borg is an Award-Winning Hairstylist, Educator and Business Mentor; she’s been hairdressing for over 20 years, working for salons such as John Carne, Toni&Guy and Charles Worthington before going freelance and starting her own business. She recently won 'Surrey Hair Stylist of the Year 2020' and the ‘Marketing Trailblazer 2021’ at the Salon Awards. Cally is on the Art Team and an Educator for the brand 'We Love Salons.' and the UK brand ambassador for TUFT international. Website: https://www.callyborg.com/  ABOUT THE HOST Welcome and thank you for reading this, I’m Nathan Plumridge salon owner and Hair Stylist. I’ve been in the industry for nearly 30 years and have been a salon owner for 23 of them. I have been fortunate enough to work and learn with some of the biggest names in the industry and this has given me the experience and drive to now be here with you sharing my experiences. CONTACT DETAILS  www.hairlifeshow.com Instagram is @nathan.hairlife  Email me at [email protected] show was brought to you by Progressive Media

In this episode Nathan Plumridge talks to Tom Johnson, Ex-England Rugby Player about his career and the transition to the second half of life as a coach now he no longer plays. KEY TAKEAWAYS My happiest times were when we were playing rugby for the craic, giving it a go. The reason we did it was to find out our boundaries and what we could do, then we started to bring it into focus on areas of risk and reward, where we can dominate games and where we can give ourselves the best chance of winning games rather than putting ourselves under the cosh needlessly. I have huge imposter syndrome, even when I played in the first test for England, and I saw these huge South Africans come running out the tunnel and I’m sitting there cracking myself: What on Earth?! I used to run around at Oxford Brookes University drinking lots of booze having a great craic and now I’m on this international field! Facing the Haka from New Zealand was a tick off the bucket list though, and then nearly beating them on my last game, it was an amazing thing to be part of. When I was in rugby I had my head in the sand a bit and thought it would never end. Coming out of it, there’s a huge amount of anxiety – for professional sports people in general – and worry about what the future entails. In the last six months or so I started thinking about how much I wanted to be present and enjoy the now and look forward to the future rather than getting everything lined up and pushed away from the future, pretending it wasn’t going to happen. I want to be fiercely independent and be able to look after myself, my family and those around me. What we decide to do now and tomorrow is going to have a direct impact on that future. By nailing down what that future looks like you can start to plan and really enjoy the now. You can link this thought to business, or homework, or whatever, if you’ve got a big meeting and you haven’t prepared you’re going to have to try and blame it. But if you’re prepped and up to speed you go in there confidently, exuding confidence, come across really well and nail the pitch/meeting. It’s the same with getting enough sleep, you set yourself up for a great day ahead. If you wake up tired you start off on a negative path where everything’s an effort. The link between mental health and sleep is undeniable, good quality and consistent sleep can put you in the right frame of mind to help you overcome. BEST MOMENTS ‘You really find out a lot about yourself when you play in a team.’‘Coaches have to give an awful lot of thought about their pre-match speech, their half-time speech and things need to adjust on the fly depending on how that first half has gone.’‘The future is coming for everyone, can you be prepared for it and can you enjoy that journey all the way up to your deathbed? We can do something about how the last six months of your life is going to look like now.’‘Enjoyment comes in the here and the now, not achieving goals.’ ABOUT THE GUEST After graduating from Oxford (Brookes!) With a degree in Sports Science, Tom was about to follow his family’s traditional military path by joining the Parachute Regiment. By chance just before embarking upon his officer training, he was scouted by Coventry RFC whilst playing for Reading in the then National League 3 South. Two successful years at Coventry then led to a move to Exeter Chiefs, where he played professionally for 10 years, even earning a few England Caps along the way. Tom is a bit of a rarity in that he didn’t follow the traditional academy route into professional rugby – up until the age of 18 he even played scrum half! A professional rugby career allowed Tom to experience some of the world’s best training facilities and nutritional plans all whilst teaching him the importance of keeping yourself as fit and healthy as possible, for both body and mind. And so, in 2017, upon retiring from professional rugby, Tom Johnson Lifestyle was founded, as a way to help others on their very own health and wellbeing journey. Tom practises what he preaches, he loves nothing more than a good workout session in the gym and constantly amazes people with his insatiable appetite – this is a man who eats 4 eggs for breakfast each day. Often found conjuring up a DIY creation for his daughters, browsing Netflix, playing golf or sending memes to former teammates. Website: https://tomjohnsonlifestyle.co.uk/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-johnson-b98b0013a/  ABOUT THE HOST Welcome and thank you for reading this, I’m Nathan Plumridge salon owner and Hair Stylist. I’ve been in the industry for nearly 30 years and have been a salon owner for 23 of them. I have been fortunate enough to work and learn with some of the biggest names in the industry and this has given me the experience and drive to now be here with you sharing my experiences. CONTACT DETAILS  www.hairlifeshow.com Instagram is @nathan.hairlife  Email me at [email protected] show was brought to you by Progressive Media

In this episode Nathan Plumridge talks to Colin McAndrew, MD of Medusa Hair – one of the fastest growing salons in Scotland, about his inspirations, his challenges and his passions. KEY TAKEAWAYS Growing up I had three central female figures in my life, my two older sisters and my Mum – Dad disappeared. I went to salons with my sisters when they were baby-sitting me, Mum worked two jobs. I loved the atmosphere in that space. After I left school I got an apprenticeship in a beautiful salon on Prince’s Street in Edinburgh where I learned how to make coffee and tea. Within nine months I was a hairdresser in their eyes. I had a real desire to not be in poverty so I worked two jobs, seven days a week. Mental health is a big concern and well being. I don’t say that flippantly or cheaply. I think the onus is on us to have the right balance between targets, driving and moving forward without adding to anxiety and levels of stress. If you’re still running your business and your team in the same way as you were 15 years ago, you’re really outdated – 15 months ago is outdated. But on the back of that, as correct as it is to say it's OK not to be OK, it’s also OK to say I’m going to try my hardest to change that feeling. I have a horrible feeling that resilient young people are becoming more alien than the norm. Everyone deserves the best life, but the reality is (unless you marry a footballer), you’re going to have to work really hard to get your best life. That message is missing at home and in schools. I’ve always been obsessed with personal security rather than wealth. I’ve always wanted to know that if, god forbid, something went wrong £1000-£5000 can probably cover it. When my Mum’s fridge broke down we’d have to wait two months without a fridge, so I’ve always wanted enough money to buy white goods whenever I need to. At 46 it’s still my attitude: “Have we got a fridge-freezer in the bank?”  Without the team there is genuinely nothing. I want the team to have as many opportunities – always say when someone joins Medusa: “We’re a company of opportunity, I don’t care if you’ve been here six days, six weeks or six years, if there’s something coming up and you’re good, we’ll help you, or if we think you’re the perfect fit for it then we’ll do it. BEST MOMENTS ‘When I went to Medusa I had two other jobs in the city that were much better paid, but I knew Medusa was my opportunity to grow in an artistic sense – I didn’t imagine buying the company in the future, but I thought this is going to give me a platform.’‘Every team member thinks we’re millionaires, and I know we’re remunerated better than anybody else in the company, but ultimately we’ve got the bigger risk: If things go wrong we could lose our house. People don’t see the risks that we put in, before we even talk about expenditure. But, everybody’s human, not supermen or women, we’re all taking punches, especially in the last two years.’‘You don’t want to die the richest guy in the graveyard, I want my last cheque to bounce.’‘I want to create a clear reward for hard work and that people are paid what they deserve to be paid – a good salary with a decent bonus structure. There’s no limit from the top.’ ABOUT THE GUEST Colin McAndrew is the managing director of Medusa Hair, an award-winning Edinburgh hairdressing salon consistently creating new styles at the vanguard of fashion, but all the while exuding a genuine warmth and welcome. Website: https://www.medusahair.co.uk/  Email: [email protected]  Instagram: @colin_medusa ABOUT THE HOST Welcome and thank you for reading this, I’m Nathan Plumridge salon owner and Hair Stylist. I’ve been in the industry for nearly 30 years and have been a salon owner for 23 of them. I have been fortunate enough to work and learn with some of the biggest names in the industry and this has given me the experience and drive to now be here with you sharing my experiences. CONTACT DETAILS  www.hairlifeshow.com Instagram is @nathan.hairlife  Email me at [email protected] show was brought to you by Progressive Media

In this episode, Nathan is joined for the second of two episodes by Luke Doolan and Paddy Monahan, manager and head of product at Phorest Software respectively, as well as Nathan’s head of operations, Candice, to talk about Phorest Software (that Gavin has worked with for a long time) and what they do. KEY TAKEAWAYS In order for you to say your average ticket is £120 or whatever, to look at that and say “why is that?”, at a business or a staff member level, within the new Phorest Reports you just click the number and it drills you in showing you day-by-day service rev, average retail ticket, total ticket, is it up or down and week-to-week comparison. We tell you straight away if it’s up or down and automatically run a drill report for you. That’s why we had to rebuild the reporting from the ground up because it’s no longer about running a report, it’s about whatever direction it takes you. We have to be able to have that data to you within seconds. From a staff member point of view, management can’t be quarterly any more, you can’t be sitting down with them at the end of the month going over what they should have done three weeks ago, that’s useless. In the new reporting suite, on any number there’s an alert bell, if you don’t want a staff member’s service level to drop below 12% you can set it to send you a message if it drops below 12% and it will check on it every hour. Even though you’re working with them in a coaching capacity, you’re able to address the issues at the time that they happen. The industry is amazing at building these long term relationships, at Phorest, what we try to do is cut out all the day-to-day things that salon owners need to do. If we can get better at that and free up the time for salon owners to go and do what they really enjoy doing, that’s the part where we’ll win.  We’ve launched a new ecommerce store recently, the idea behind that was it can be set up to be click and collect only, you can set up one product on it, we’ll host it for you, you don’t even need to put it on your website, and you can run a campaign just off people who’ve bought that product in the past but haven’t bought it in the last three months. When we get feedback  on ecommerce, sometimes it’s logistics, sometimes they want to try it but aren’t sure if it would take up too much time. The next piece of challenging  feedback we’ve had is that staff aren’t all that enamoured with ecommerce because they want the commission. We’re now working on bringing staff members into this so that they get the reward. BEST MOMENTS ‘Phorest is there to make booking as convenient and not-time-consuming as possible, we don’t want someone standing there rescheduling appointments on the phone, we want someone standing there having conversations and building relationships.’‘For us, it’s about making the relationship last outside of the salon, that’s where we’ve been more successful in retaining clients. Our re-booking rate has improved since we’ve had Phorest.’ ‘Retail conversations came across so sales-y, that was a problem we really wanted to fix. So, we’ve enabled the software – through ecommerce – to actually do the selling for the stylist. Not to replace, but to be additional to what they’re doing.’‘You’re giving bad service if you’re not talking to your clients about retail, especially if they’ve said they want to talk about products.’ ABOUT THE GUESTS Website: https://www.phorest.com/gb/  ABOUT THE HOST Welcome and thank you for reading this, I’m Nathan Plumridge salon owner and Hair Stylist. I’ve been in the industry for nearly 30 years and have been a salon owner for 23 of them. I have been fortunate enough to work and learn with some of the biggest names in the industry and this has given me the experience and drive to now be here with you sharing my experiences. CONTACT DETAILS  www.hairlifeshow.com Instagram is @nathan.hairlife  Email me at [email protected] show was brought to you by Progressive Media

In this episode, Nathan is joined for the first of two episodes by Luke Doolan and Paddy Monahan, manager and head of product at Phorest Software respectively, as well as Nathan’s head of operations, Candice, to talk about Phorest Software (that Gavin has worked with for a long time) and what they do. KEY TAKEAWAYS We’re not just an appointment system or diary, we take it in a slightly different way than most do. We're not a software company, we're a salon company, we’re aimed at the industry. Our whole existence is to understand how salons work and to build things that help them to grow their business, which is not all that common in the industry. We listen to salons and understand the problems that they have. We recently launched the Phorest Collections – we used to build a feature and ship it and maybe a month later we’d have something else from another team and we would ship that. Then we’d get feedback from salon owners saying they were really busy and couldn’t keep track of all these updates dropping so we changed tact and started doing like the fashion industry with Autumn Collections where we gather a load of stuff together and launch it all at once with all the training programmes put together so, as a salon owner, you can simply take an hour out of your day to learn about all of them and that’ll be it for a couple of months. We asked salon owners what the pain points around card payments on readers were. Tips for staff was an issue but also at the end of the day, cashing up is an absolute pain, if someone accidentally overcharged a customer by tapping the wrong number or put it through as cash instead of card, you can waste 30-40 minutes trying to find that £10 that’s gone somewhere. We take that as the starting point to solve it. The only way to light up the terminal to take a payment in Phorest is to key in, tap ‘credit card’ and then it will light up, in doing that, at the end of the day it automatically reconciles between the two, so you can look at your cash (which is next to nothing these days) and just walk out. For me, creating, innovating and figuring out these things is about pairing together a problem – and deeply understanding what that problem actually is – and then matching that with what technology is possible. What we’ve seen is our tech team really understands what technology is now possible. If you just start building things based on the tech you’ve got a solution looking for a problem. Salon owners, the people on the ground, know the problem the best, but often if you say “what feature do you want? Or how would you like this feature to be better?” they might discuss it just in terms of their own understanding. We’ve taken a different approach, instead of asking that, I often say “if we were to send somebody out in a Phorest T-shirt and they were an expert in everything (finance, marketing, everything) and I sent them to work for you for a week, what would you have them do, what problems would you have to solve?” It’s the magic question, it answers so much about the problems we have to solve.  BEST MOMENTS ‘Our goal is to help salons to grow.’‘I didn’t come from the industry. But I know it now because I’ve gone and taken the hard steps of just standing in front of the house.’ ‘When the company’s goals are completely aligned with the salon’s goals, you build the right products, and you serve in the right way. As soon as they grow, we grow as well.’ ‘We’re motivated by the impact it has on salon owners.’ ABOUT THE GUESTS Website: https://www.phorest.com/gb/  ABOUT THE HOST Welcome and thank you for reading this, I’m Nathan Plumridge salon owner and Hair Stylist. I’ve been in the industry for nearly 30 years and have been a salon owner for 23 of them. I have been fortunate enough to work and learn with some of the biggest names in the industry and this has given me the experience and drive to now be here with you sharing my experiences. CONTACT DETAILS  www.hairlifeshow.com Instagram is @nathan.hairlife  Email me at [email protected] show was brought to you by Progressive Media

In this episode, Nathan is joined by Adelle Martin, founder and creator of the Menopause Resilience Club – a private group where women can come together to build strong business and strong bodies through their hormonal change. KEY TAKEAWAYS I’ve always been sporty, but when I got to 15 my Dad told me I had to get a proper job – things like Britain’s Got Talent didn’t exist at the time, so I couldn’t make money out of dancing and gymnastics. A proper job at the time meant a job for life in a bank, which I absolutely loved and enjoyed. But, my colleagues bought me the book ‘How To Win Friends And Influence People’ because I was a bit direct and rude. But that got me into people, psychology and leadership and everything else around that, so I took evening classes and became resilient and built my career on that. During the financial crash in 2008 work suddenly got really busy, but you also didn’t tell people you worked for a bank – if was like being an estate agent! At the same time my daughter had grown up and was of an age and my parents were ageing and I was the one in the family were people asked me for time here and there to help with things. All of a sudden it all added up and I felt really tired and fatigued. After a while it got really difficult, flying between Edinburgh and London for work and we didn’t have the time to check in on each other to make sure we were OK. I remember small things happening, like a speech impediment as a child, that I’d got rid of, started to come back and my performance at work started to be affected. Eventually I collapsed and was taken to hospital and was diagnosed with anxiety and depression, which I know I didn’t have. I made them do blood tests and the results cam back saying my hormones were so low I’d suffered a very quick menopause. I had to take extended leave to understand it and how best to fight it. I went back into HR so I could change the way people talk about menopause. I couldn’t let another woman go through what I did. Management don’t always understand it, they often see a top level woman on a career path suddenly drop in performance. It’s easy to say it’s this, this and this. I ask: how old are they? What are the clues? I didn’t know what I didn’t know, but the performance and confidence change due to hormones, we lose it for a moment. Rather than say “she’s up and down with performance issue” we got people to look for the clues and create a conversation around it. I’m an action-orientated person. We can talk all we like about the issues but when are we going to move to solutions? As hard as it is, it is a process a woman goes through. When I was pregnant people would tell me what happened to them in their pregnancies and now we’ve got the same with menopause, although we’re all different and our lifestyles are different. I can explain what happens with your hormones, but how you react to that is different. You won’t have your mother’s menopause if you don’t want to. BEST MOMENTS ‘I had to Google menopause. I can do this the easy way or the hard way, if you ignore the menopause, you’re going to get in a lot more trouble than if you face into it.’‘Women leave work or reduce their hours due to menopause, not just to set up their own business for the flexibility. We set up menopause cafes and line-manager training around talking about menopause with women.’ ‘Not only do we have female advocates from all levels of the business who talk about their challenges, we also have men who talk about their experiences and perspectives with their wives or co-workers. The ripple-effect of that makes a huge, huge difference.’ ‘If you can’t see it, you can’t be it.’ ABOUT THE GUEST Adelle Martin is an accredited Menopause Strength Coach & Bodybuilder as well as Founder of The Menopause Resilience System.  She started her company, The Menopause Resilience Club,  after leaving her 30-year corporate career working in financial services as an HR Professional. As well as being an Accredited Menopause Strength Coach & Bodybuilder, Adelle is a Public Speaker, Menopause Campaigner, sharing her story with the BBC, Member of the Women & Enterprise All Parliamentary Group, Co-Host of The Women in Business Radio Show, soon to be published Co-Author of Women Leading in Our New World, Founder of The Women’s Fearless Community Interest Company and runs a family hospitality business. Website: https://executivemidlife.coach/ Instagram: @menopause.strength.coach ABOUT THE HOST Welcome and thank you for reading this, I’m Nathan Plumridge salon owner and Hair Stylist. I’ve been in the industry for nearly 30 years and have been a salon owner for 23 of them. I have been fortunate enough to work and learn with some of the biggest names in the industry and this has given me the experience and drive to now be here with you sharing my experiences. CONTACT DETAILS  www.hairlifeshow.com Instagram is @nathan.hairlife  Email me at [email protected] show was brought to you by Progressive Media

In this episode, Nathan is joined by Mary Centofanti, one of the owners and creators of the vegan brand, Davroe, which is maybe the best kept hairdressing secret. KEY TAKEAWAYS In 2006 we needed to make changes to the company that we purchased. I went to the formulating chemist and said: “I want this range to be sulphate-free and vegan”. To his credit he agreed and it took us two years to get the formulations and fragrances right because they’re key to the product as well as performance. We launched in 2008 and a lot of people were asking why we were doing this because no other producers were doing this in Australia. It took another 5 years to get momentum going and convince hairdressers and salons that this was a good thing. Australia is the hub, it’s where we manufacture everything, we’ve built the laboratory, we do our R&D, we do our compounding, our upscaling, we distribute everything from there, we’re very, very hands on. All the products in the range are products I wanted to bring to market, it’s about us looking at what we think the industry is moving into and what the consumer is looking for. When I started at 15 years of age, it was never in my wildest dreams that I entertained owning this company or doing what I’ve done with Davroe. But, I had really good bosses who were very open about a lot of things and gave clear parity between us and them. They’d have lunch with us in the lunchroom and they’d talk business and I would listen in to their conversations and I learned so much. From the minute I walked into the office on my first day I felt like it was my second home. I felt part of something. There was a moment where John and I had to find a balance between our personal lives and work, because we live and work together with each other and our kids, we all want space at certain times. Finding the balance is really tricky. We all go to work and come home separately, even though it’s two to three minutes away. We all seem to gravitate towards each other at lunchtime and we have dinner together every night but then we all go our separate ways in the evening, the evening is our own time. BEST MOMENTS‘It feels great to be away from home, we haven’t travelled for up to three years, before that we travelled quite a bit overseas. It’s amazing to see people face-to-face again and catch up.’‘The consumer knew they wanted a change which was one of the driving forces for us as well.’‘We watch what we eat and what we put on our faces, so why should hair be any different?’‘We jumped in, it was full-on, we made some really major changes but I’m so very happy that we did. We’ve met some wonderful people along the way and now my children are working with us, it’s a real family business.’ ABOUT THE GUESTMary Centofanti has a real passion for the brand and commitment to delivering premium quality hair care products and has been at the forefront of the business for over 35 years.From humble beginnings, Mary Centofanti began her career with Dresslier as a fledgling receptionist in 1984. 23 years later, in 2007, Mary and her husband John acquired the then struggling business motivated to turn things around. Armed with a strong vision and a set of guiding principles that are steeped in passion, determination, integrity and community, they embarked on a decade long journey that has led them to where they are today, one of Australia’s leading hair care manufacturers. Website: https://davroe.co.nz/Instagram: @davroe.girlLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marycentofanti/?originalSubdomain=au  ABOUT THE HOSTWelcome and thank you for reading this, I’m Nathan Plumridge salon owner and Hair Stylist. I’ve been in the industry for nearly 30 years and have been a salon owner for 23 of them. I have been fortunate enough to work and learn with some of the biggest names in the industry and this has given me the experience and drive to now be here with you sharing my experiences. CONTACT DETAILSwww.hairlifeshow.comInstagram is @nathan.hairlifeEmail me at [email protected] show was brought to you by Progressive Media

In this episode, Nathan is joined by Jessica Crane, author, entrepreneur, business coach, mother of two. And much more, to talk about her career and how salon owners can create generational wealth from their businesses. Here is your affiliate link to the 2 Day Salon Summit 6th and 7th November – anyone who purchases a ticket through this link you will receive 50% of the ticket sales - all the details are on the page: https://siss.jessicacrane.co.uk/salon-summit?affiliate_id=3991444 KEY TAKEAWAYS I realised from a young age – starting work at age 12 – that I was going to have to support myself, ain’t nobody coming to help me, I’m getting hand outs, no leg up, nothing. I need to decide what I want to do, get out there, create a plan, create an action plan and start these things in motion to be able to support myself. In business you always have to be looking for the problems: What is the problem with this current business model? Because the solutions are you next business evolution. We want to have the flexibility to do the things we need to do as business owners but do them around our families so we can be there for our families too. Just being good at your treatment/service/product is not enough. You could do that 10-15 years ago, but not anymore. Even if you’re talented, you will still be a best kept secret if you can’t properly market what you do to your clients and you’re not making those decisions from your numbers to your ideal clients and your vision, these are the big three dominos where every single business decision should come from. You can’t afford not to, it’s not an option anymore. What’s missing from getting from where you are now to where you want to be? Most of the time it’s a gap in your knowledge, it’s something that you don’t know how to do. You can spend years trying to figure that out, or you can go and find somebody and ask them to teach you. When you’re looking for free information in Facebook groups and on Google, you don’t even know if those strategies work, you don’t know if that person is really able to help you or that the information and advice they’re giving you is correct, you’ guess and winging it. For most businesses you don’t have the luxury of that amount of time, cash flow and money to support you whilst you figure it out. You’ll likely run out of money first. BEST MOMENTS ‘We run a business so that it provides for us, not us feeling a slave to our business.’ ‘I have itchy feet. If I’m not learning, I don’t know what the next goal is or the next progression route, it’s almost like I feel trapped.’ ‘Every year we set a budget aside to invest into coaches, it’s a first priority.’ ‘Do your due diligence when looking for a coach before jumping in feet first, make the right decisions.’ ABOUT THE GUEST Jessica Crane is an internationally award-winning salon business coach. Since the age of 12 Jessica has worked at every level within the industry. Starting out as a Saturday girl, commercial stylist to managing multiple award-winning salons and chains, to assessor, centre manager and internal verifier for a top outstanding private training provider. Jessica holds a degree in consulting and has spoken on multiple global stages for well-known industry brands. With over 20 years industry experience she has helped hundreds of salon owners across the globe run the business of their dreams living the life they dreamed of when they first opened their salon door. Website: www.jessicacrane.co.uk Online consultation booking link: https://calendly.com/jessica-ssc/free-50-minute Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicacranesiss/ ABOUT THE HOST Welcome and thank you for reading this, I’m Nathan Plumridge salon owner and Hair Stylist. I’ve been in the industry for nearly 30 years and have been a salon owner for 23 of them. I have been fortunate enough to work and learn with some of the biggest names in the industry and this has given me the experience and drive to now be here with you sharing my experiences. CONTACT DETAILS  www.hairlifeshow.com Instagram is @nathan.hairlife  Email me at [email protected] show was brought to you by Progressive Media

In this episode, Nathan is joined by Jayne Lewis-Orr who is, quite simply, a hair industry icon. Her passion for the industry over the last 25 years as the executive director of the Hairdresser’s Journal is why Jayne is so well respected by every hairdresser.There’s a slight audio issue on this one that we just couldn’t work around, but I’m sure after a few minutes you’ll tune your ears to it.KEY TAKEAWAYS I was set on becoming a journalist in the hair and beauty industry and I was really fortunate to land a role on hair and beauty and, frankly, I’d have taken any role on that. I didn’t have a background in hairdressing, mu Auntie was a hairdresser, but that was it really. When you work in a publisher with all different titles you could tell the people that were coming in to see the Hairdressers Journal team, they were vibrant and fun and enigmatic and I thought “that’s going to be a cool place to hang out” and I’ve never gone away! I started off in the sales team in an admin role and moved into an editorial role eventually becoming the editor-in-chief. The pandemic has changed the way people want to work and that’s fine. But, one thing we have to do collectively and as a united front is make sure that people know that hairdressing is a fantastic place to work. The opportunities in the industry are second to none. You can travel the world, you can be self-made, you can be successful, the only thing that limits you is your own imagination, not age, sexual preference, anything. But it is hard, hard work. Hairdressers are with you through the best and worst times of your life. They’re there when you get married and have a family, they’re there when your hair falls out because you’ve had a baby, they’re there when you lose a relative, they’re a constant. I tell my hairdresser more than I tell anybody else. Hairdressers have amazing empathy and that skill can make people feel great. We’re only as good as the last magazine we put out or the last event. Whilst we are the market leader, I never take that for granted. It’s getting people to understand how passionate this industry is about their own craft. Like at this event, people are supportive of other people winning, even if they’ve lost themselves they are genuinely supportive of other people winning and that’s a cool place to be. BEST MOMENTS‘Whilst, obviously, you have to have a commercial aspect to the magazine, we’re recognised by our partners for writing for our readers, that makes it authoritative, independent and honest.’‘The only good thing to come out of Covid was that hairdressing became recognised as a fourth emergency service.’‘I love this market, it’s my preferred child… my sons are actually here, so I probably shouldn’t say that but it really is.’‘I’m hugely passionate about extolling the virtues of the craft and why it’s such a good place to be.’ABOUT THE GUESTJayne Lewis-Orr started her career as a junior assistant in the Hair & Beauty Group at Reed Business Information and worked her way up, having qualified as a journalist, to become Editor-in-Chief of the portfolio. She is now Executive Director of the Professional Beauty Group that includes the Hairdressers Journal International, Salon International, Professional Beauty and Aesthetic Medicine brands.  All of these have a multi-channel approach to their content with events, awards, print, online and social media channels.Actively involved in the hair and beauty industry for 30+ years, Jayne is an effective member of industry associations and bodies and is a director of the industry charity.ABOUT THE HOSTWelcome and thank you for reading this, I’m Nathan Plumridge salon owner and Hair Stylist. I’ve been in the industry for nearly 30 years and have been a salon owner for 23 of them. I have been fortunate enough to work and learn with some of the biggest names in the industry and this has given me the experience and drive to now be here with you sharing my experiences.CONTACT DETAILSwww.hairlifeshow.comInstagram is @nathan.hairlifeEmail me at [email protected] show was brought to you by Progressive Media

In this episode, Nathan is joined by Angeline Hayden, a teacher, salon industry educator, award winning business coach, podcaster and outdoor challenge seeker, to talk about how to provide better service in the hair and beauty industry. KEY TAKEAWAYS I was a salon owner for 12-13 years who ran the business. I always looked at things from the point of view of the client as well as the stylists, the team and running the business. I got to a point where I got as far as I could go for myself and I wasn’t interested in training stylists and beauticians, I wanted to go into the education side of the salon while staying in the industry I love. I trained as a teacher, I’m now an assessor, I did a body language specialist course as well as mystery shopping. Then I developed Midas Customer Service Training, with my  husband Gary, and I now do one-to-one and group coaching and I love my job. Sometimes the only thing that separates you from the salon up the road is your level of customer service. That’s why it’s so important to give, not just to every client, but every single day they’re in the salon to every single client. You’ve got to look at the customer’s journey through the salon. There are different touch points. When the client comes into the salon, the first thing I do is to teach them meet/greet body language and first impression. Especially with younger people, because our younger professionals don’t always have the confidence to make really good eye contact with someone. When you make eye contact with somebody you begin to trust that person. We teach them to build and make trusting relationships in the salon because, as we know, if you trust someone you’re more likely to buy from them. Complacency is a big issue. Never assume what the client wants every single time because they’ll surprise you sometimes. You are the professional, you are the one who should be educating them and solving their problems. They come to you because they’ve got problems, whether it’s hair, nails, skin, lashes, whatever. What you’ve got to do is use a bit of empathy skills, put yourself in their shoes, how would you feel if it was you? We get better at empathy as we get older, so coaching young people empathy skills is vital to their success with their clients. BEST MOMENTS‘If you stay in the industry that you know, you’ll be able to use your own expertise to be able to service your own customers.’‘People will forget what you said and people will forget what you did, but people will never forget who you made them feel.’‘If you make a bad impression it can take up to seven more times after that for someone to begin to change how they feel about you, get it wrong and you’ve got lots of repairing to do.’‘If you don’t recognise bad customer service you can’t make it great.’ABOUT THE GUESTAngeline Hayden has been in the Hairdressing and Beauty Industry, owning salons for over 10 years. Prior to this she was working in telecommunications with BT. She is also a body language specialist and qualified mystery shopper.Angeline will be a great contact for you to discuss your customer service requirements. Her attention to detail will surpass all expectations ensuring that her clients’ journey is exceptional,Royal Marines Commando assault course is a firm favourite for a weekend pastime! But she also loves a Spa day!Website: https://midascustomerservicetraining.co.uk/ ABOUT THE HOSTWelcome and thank you for reading this, I’m Nathan Plumridge salon owner and Hair Stylist. I’ve been in the industry for nearly 30 years and have been a salon owner for 23 of them. I have been fortunate enough to work and learn with some of the biggest names in the industry and this has given me the experience and drive to now be here with you sharing my experiences.CONTACT DETAILSwww.hairlifeshow.comInstagram is @nathan.hairlife Email me at [email protected] show was brought to you by Progressive Media

In this episode, Nathan is joined by Joe Hemmings, a multi-salon owner, multi-award winner, and part of the new generation of salon owners that are challenging the norms by giving his team and his guests truly something different. KEY TAKEAWAYS I started on the 13th July 2010 and it naturally evolved from doing A-Levels at school to apprenticeships. I was talked out of becoming a hairdresser at school because it wasn’t seen as a great career, and ever since then I’ve had a bit of a bugbear to prove people wrong, it can be a great career. I went self-employed at first to get a feel for accounts and paperwork. Then I opened my own salon and went from there. I learned a lot more lessons than I thought I was going to! For the first year I was on my own at the shop, working 12-hour days six days a week to pay off what I’d spent setting the salon up. Then I started to employ. I feel like I’ve just about nailed balancing multiple salons, I didn’t for years and years. Thankfully my partner is massively supportive. My working week is: Mondays is my day for personal development or pushing myself (two years ago I started doing public speaking workshops, for example), Tuesday is a management day where I spend it with the managers of the shops, Wednesday is clientele from 8am-8pm, Thursday is free so I can be with my team, Friday I’m with my daughters, Saturday in the salon and Sunday is my day off. Though that’s a recent thing. I took until Covid for me to pass on certain jobs to other people in the company so I can spend more time with my family. What is culture? It’s so hard to put your finger on it, and every salon id different. But I think it’s what people do every day without even thinking about it. You don’t need contracts written down every day to create culture, it’s just how people behave, what they believe in, and I’m really passionate on that – I want a team where everyone is equal, the same as the owner. I’ll do the bins, sweep the floors and the apprentices can do a blow dry or a toner. I try to mix it up as much as I can to keep it a level playing field. We’ve all worked for bosses in the past where you’re terrified you’ll make a mistake and you’ll get an absolute rollicking on the shop floor or in front of everybody. You don’t get the best out of people in that situation. You need to get people who want to be themselves and celebrate them being themselves and working how they want to work under the umbrella of a company where everyone is an individual, but they come together and work together. BEST MOMENTS ‘The first person I employed was an old boss of mine who had retired. I wanted someone I could trust and knew how to run their own business.’ ‘Be the bigger person and go with your gut feeling.’ ‘Delegation wasn’t something I naturally wanted to do because from day one I always held all the strings and made the decisions, it was my business my way. But, in the last few years, I’ve realised that’s the wrong attitude to have as a business owner. You should have people alongside you in the business who can make decisions that have an impact on the business.’ ‘Recently I’ve had a couple of members of staff go through really tough times, and everybody steps up, everyone helps them out, no one blames anyone. We move clients around, people on their day off comes in, people stay late. That, to me, means more than awards ever will.’ ABOUT THE GUEST Joe Hemmings is the owner of Bloggs Salons: My passion within hairdressing was to create something special that everyone involved could be proud of and that betters its people’s lives. The salon is such a creative and fun place to be and has been built on the incredible loyalty by the team and also our clients who over the years have become one big family. The community that we have built around us means that our salons aren’t just places to get your hair done but where you can be you and tell your own story. My favourite celebrity hairstyle is Michelle Williams as she looks beautiful with a short pixie crop or a grown out bob. My passion is shorter styles whether it be a pixie or bob but still allowing femininity and a softness within the style. Website: https://www.bloggssalons.co.uk/ Socials: @joehemmingshair ABOUT THE HOST Welcome and thank you for reading this, I’m Nathan Plumridge salon owner and Hair Stylist. I’ve been in the industry for nearly 30 years and have been a salon owner for 23 of them. I have been fortunate enough to work and learn with some of the biggest names in the industry and this has given me the experience and drive to now be here with you sharing my experiences. CONTACT DETAILS  www.hairlifeshow.com Instagram is @nathan.hairlife  Email me at [email protected] This show was brought to you by Progressive Media

In this episode, recorded after he got back from holiday and a day after the Queen passed away, Nathan talks about service, what it is and how you can deliver service that defines your business in its market.KEY TAKEAWAYS We are now in a time where your business doesn’t really have many things that can truly separate it from your competition. Pretty much everything can be copied, from your salon interior, software system, branding, marketing, apps, the croissants and coffee you give away for breakfast, these are all things that can be replicated. What will define your business is the service you deliver. Think about experiences you’ve had somewhere where they went above and beyond and the journey and all of the things you’d like your guests to feel during that journey. What can you get your team to deliver? It has to come from the top, you have to eat and breathe the culture that you want your business to be and it has to start from outside your business; what does it look like from the outside and does the business represent great service? What does it mean to you? BEST MOMENTS‘I don’t think there’s a greater example of anyone showing us what service is, our Queen gave service for over 70 years and that is and should be a true inspiration to anyone.’‘A huge amount of our reviews now focus on the experience they had with that stylist and how that stylist made them feel, the emotional element of that.’ABOUT THE HOSTWelcome and thank you for reading this, I’m Nathan Plumridge salon owner and Hair Stylist. I’ve been in the industry for nearly 30 years and have been a salon owner for 23 of them. I have been fortunate enough to work and learn with some of the biggest names in the industry and this has given me the experience and drive to now be here with you sharing my experiences.CONTACT DETAILSwww.hairlifeshow.comInstagram is @nathan.hairlife Email me at [email protected] show was brought to you by Progressive Media

In this episode Nathan talks to British hairdressing icon, Errol Douglas, to talk about his career as a hairdresser and salon owner. KEY TAKEAWAYS My ex-wife, Jo, was frustrated with me always coming home unhappy from my job as an ambassador for other salons and companies. She said: “Why don’t you open a shop or start your own business?” I was fortunate enough to live in London and so I was always enthralled by fashion and I was earning a lot of money, my accountant – Kim – became my business partner who had a background in property law, so she was a great fit. That changed my life. But it was the most challenging thing ever, opening up in Knightsbridge where there was a lot of snobbery and the high rental charges. But we got in and are still there 24 years later. People think it’s materialism but it’s not, you’ve got to take in the ambiance of your area; if it’s going to be trendy, Shoreditch, open floors, walls and concrete then do that, but if you’re attracting that person who’s always travelling first class or getting a private jet and you’re getting recommendations from the best hotels in Knightsbridge, come on and do the maths! The lowest point in my life was getting divorced. Jo was my pillar of strength, we had four kids, though our first child passed away, and I thought marriage was for life and we were a team. So, when that broke up I thought someone had buried me, it took me ages to get right. Being a typical Capricorn, I threw myself completely into work and capped everything else off. It was tough. The light at the end of the tunnel was realising we were never getting back together and that I had too many other mouths to feed and I had to pull it together and be a leader, especially for my kids. If you’re trying to find where you’re going, you have to write a few things down that really motivate you. And you have to be realistic, if you live in Wales or Manchester you have to ask yourself if you’re going to stay in that area or come down south. You have to target people, write down who inspires you, what section of hairdressing inspires you, who you want to have an apprenticeship with – because people who flit around on apprenticeships tend not to finish.  BEST MOMENTS ‘Being in business is not all about being creative, you have to understand your vehicle.’ ‘My inspirations in this business were John Frida, but he was a bit of a gentleman, but Nicky Clarke was the first rock star. I was enthralled by them because they were British, I got to know them and work with them, they were iconic.’ ‘Our industry is synonymous with bringing everyone together and our events are copied by other industries. It’s one of the best professions in terms of high points and endorphins in the world.’ ‘Open small, have at least one person you can trust to share the load because you can’t and shouldn’t be doing everything. Also, don’t over-spend on anything, stock, wages, extravagances. Put something aside if you can, try not to have an overdraft if you can, keep it realistic and small and if you can, don’t sign your life away.’ ABOUT THE GUEST Errol Douglas first started working in an East London salon aged 11. He gained his initial qualifications at Roger Heart's age 16. During this time, he met Paul Edmonds and moved to Neville Daniel. When Paul Edmonds opened his own salon in 1984, Errol became Edmonds' Artistic Director until he opened his own salon business in Belgravia in 1998. Errol’s session styling and fashion work is regularly featured in magazines such as Vogue, Harpers & Queen, Tatler, Red, Cosmopolitan and Elle. He has worked with a number of notable clients, including Diana Ross, Brad Pitt, Barbra Streisand, Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Melanie Griffith, Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders, Iman, Kelly Brook, Emilia Fox, Sophie Anderton, Annie Lennox, Cat Deeley, Lady Victoria Hervey, Lady Helen Windsor, Uma Thurman, Pamela Anderson, Lenny Kravitz and Forest Whitaker. Errol has won a host of industry awards during his career and was even presented with an MBE by the Queen in 2008 for services to hairdressing.  He is a regular contributor to live shows and seminars including performances around the globe and has also taken part in the World Hairdressing Congress, BBC Clothes Show Live, Cosmopolitan Show, The Wedding Show, BBC Fashion Live and the Prima Baby Show. More recently, Errol has had a weekly slot on the Boot's Wellbeing channel, appeared on the Disney Channel, Davina McCall's 'Oblivion', Channel Four's 'Model Behaviour' and BBC 2's 'Tell it to me Straight'. Websites: https://www.erroldouglas.com/ and https://www.erroldouglas.club/home  Instagram: @erroldouglasldn ABOUT THE HOST Welcome and thank you for reading this, I’m Nathan Plumridge salon owner and Hair Stylist. I’ve been in the industry for nearly 30 years and have been a salon owner for 23 of them. I have been fortunate enough to work and learn with some of the biggest names in the industry and this has given me the experience and drive to now be here with you sharing my experiences. CONTACT DETAILS  www.hairlifeshow.com Instagram is @nathan.hairlife  Email me at [email protected] show was brought to you by Progressive Media

In this episode Nathan talks about how he’s noticed a lot of mixed up feelings around him lately from salon owners and guests that come into the salon about how they’re currently dealing with everything that’s going on in the world.  Nathan has been working with his mentor recently on things that he hopes, once he’s shared them with you on this podcast, will help you achieve a more positive general outlook. KEY TAKEAWAYS I’ve started to really work on my morning routine – having a good morning routine is proven to have a lasting positive effect on our body and, most importantly, on our brains. The first thing I do when I wake up is drink a glass of water – almost a pint – because you dehydrate so much when you sleep. I make my bed straight away. I do a five minute journal about dreams or thoughts I had during my sleep, what’s ahead for the day, and three things I’m grateful for – it basically clears your head of things and lets you start the day clear. I’ve got what my kids call my “green goo”, which is basically a drink called Athletic Greens, for me it’s an essential mix of all the vitamins and minerals that my body needs to give me a great hit for the day. It’s also really good for gut health which is really important. I’ve started to get more and more focussed on my personal ‘why’. Why am I doing this? Why am I running my business? I’ve also started to think about the impact that I can have, not only on me but on the people around me. It’s really noticeable when you’re in a really upbeat, positive frame of mind and then you get these battery drainers that come into your salon and it’s like they try to take you down to their level. Learn to let these people and their thoughts wash over you. The best way to do this is to have an incredibly positive peer group (others that run their own business/salon) that you can talk to and quash any of those negative thoughts that tend to sit on your shoulders. Where I’ve learned most, and I think it will help you feel more motivated and quash any negativity is to understand that negativity – or that word – is simply just an emotional feeling that you give to a situation. You have the opportunity to change that feeling from bad to good, literally with the flick of a switch, or a smile. Tell yourself out loud “get going!” and take action. BEST MOMENTS ‘Breathe in. Getting plenty of oxygen into the body makes you feel so much better.’ ‘I’ve taken to exercising in the morning, no more than 20 minutes. Studies show that those who exercise in the morning get much better sleep at night.’ ‘Having a broad group of peers is going to really help you because they’re going to give you different feelings and thoughts. We can probably all do with mixing it up a little bit.’ ‘Simply smiling gives you a hit of ceratonin.’ ABOUT THE HOST Welcome and thank you for reading this, I’m Nathan Plumridge salon owner and Hair Stylist. I’ve been in the industry for nearly 30 years and have been a salon owner for 23 of them. I have been fortunate enough to work and learn with some of the biggest names in the industry and this has given me the experience and drive to now be here with you sharing my experiences. CONTACT DETAILS  www.hairlifeshow.com Instagram is @nathan.hairlife  Email me at [email protected] show was brought to you by Progressive Media