How To Cut It in the Hairdressing Industry

Latest Episodes:

EP240: How to Build a Successful Salon Business Around Your Team, with Lara Johnson & Dom Capel May 23, 2022

Show notes

Today, you’re going to learn how husband and wife duo, Lara Johnson and Dom Capel of Lara Johnson Lifestyle, have built a successful salon business around their team and family. Social proof of this success is celebrating 27 years of being in business this year.

Now, you might be thinking, “This all sounds great, but I don’t own a salon business, let alone having a team. What’s this podcast got to do with me?” Well, think again! Let me explain.

By listening to this conversation today, Lara and Dom share their experiences that could be your trigger to exploring the idea of opening up your very own salon business. And if so, Im certain their insights will help you on your way to doing just this.

Like most successful salon business owners, it starts with a dream of one day owning their own salon business. That dream became a reality for Lara and Dom, when after working at Charles Worthington in London, Lara moved back to her native Swansea to open Lara Johnson Lifestyle. Then followed later with Dom joining her in the business.

They’re going to share how they brought a piece of London fashion to Swansea, South Wales, and along the way the importance of education and their team – an industrious family of like minded professionals. They will also give you some sound advice to why brand association matters to the success, plus learn about their daughter, Tilly, becoming a part of the business.

Whether a current salon owner or future one in the making, this is an insightful episode from two of my favourite people in the hair industry. Let’s dive in!

A podcast produced by Hairy Media Productions

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Thank you to Lara Johnson and Dom Capel for joining me on todays podcast.

Until next time, Peace, Love and Smiles all the way… Goodbye.

EP239: Anything is Possible! Just Follow Your Dreams and Passions, with Paul Watts May 16, 2022

Show notes

Today I’m joined by multi Salon Owner and one of the UK’s biggest YouTube hairdressing educators, Paul Watts of Paul Watts Hair. Paul is proof that anything is possible if you just follow your dreams and passions. But here’s the disclaimer; you’ve to go above and beyond to making it happen!

Its busy for Paul. Working 7 days a week that includes running his two salon businesses in partnership with his dad, working behind the chair, ambassador roles for both Joico Europe and Alfa Italia, educator for Lee Stafford Education, plus creating free hair education content for his fast growing YouTube channel and social media channels.

It’s a fair comment to say that Paul’s hair industry profile has grown twofold since I first got to know him back in 2013. Paul tells me about how he went from a possible career as a professional footballer to becoming a multiple salon owner of his boutique salon brands, Paul Watts Hair. And then why in 2019 it was a year of big changes for him.

We’re gonna dive into so much today and learn exactly how Paul manages all the rad stuff going on with his salon businesses, ambassador roles and his fast-growing YouTube channel with over 66K subscribers.

I’ve known Paul for quite some time, and its great to finally have him here on the show. I believe this conversation is going to inspire a lot of you on whats possible, no matter where you are located!

A podcast produced by Hairy Media Productions

Thanks for Listening

To share your thoughts:

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Ask a question by emailing me HERE
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Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one.
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Thank you to Paul Watts for joining me on todays podcast.

Until next time, Peace, Love and Smiles all the way… Goodbye.

EP238: Alan Beak – Don’t Stand Still, Grow and Develop! May 09, 2022

Show notes

It’s a pleasure to bring back on to the How To Cut It podcast, Alan Beak, co-owner of Ruger Barber. Theres some big changes afoot for the Ruger Barber business, and today we’re learning what’s dropping soon for it. It’s exciting stuff!

In Part 2 of our collaborative podcast series with Denman Professional, we get to hear from Alan on how and why Ruger Barber is moving to a new site location along with a new pioneering concept for it. A big slice of this is centred around re-branding the business to hair that has no genders.

Alan also gives us a lot of things that are happening for him as Ambassador for Denman Professional. This includes the tools he loves using, and a big exclusive on how he will be working on the forthcoming Denman’s Global Ambassador Collection. You must stick around for this, it’s a super cool idea!

With his successful co-owned business, product company and ambassadorial roles, I just love the approach Alan has to continually developing and growing. It’s his never-stand-still-approach that inspires so many in the hair and barbering industry. And thats why I’m really excited to bring Alan back on this episode today in collaboration with Denman Professional.

A podcast produced by Hairy Media Productions

Thanks for Listening

To share your thoughts:

Leave a note in the comment section below.
Ask a question by emailing me HERE
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To help out the show:

Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one.
Subscribe on iTunes.
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Thank you to Alan Beak for joining me on todays podcast.

Until next time, Peace, Love and Smiles all the way… Goodbye.

EP237: Instagram Lessons for Hairdressers in 2022, with Vivienne Johns May 02, 2022

Show notes

Today’s show is a masterclass lesson for all hair and beauty professionals wanting to survive and outsmart the Instagram Algorithm in 2022. If you’re serious about keeping up to speed with the quick changing face of Instagram, then this is one podcast you cant afford to miss.

I’m very happy to have Vivienne Johns back on the show. Vivienne is the Founder of The Hairdressers Social Club, working as an Instagram Coach for hair and beauty professionals.

If you haven’t heard of The Hairdressers Social Club, it’s all about helping hair and beauty professionals to understand the Instagram techniques needed when it comes to branding, content and engagement on it’s platform that will bring results that really matter to hairdressing and beauty businesses. Getting more guests through your business doors!

Over 1000 people have gone through courses with Vivienne at The Hairdressers Social Club. And today you have the opportunity to get some of these valuable Instagram Lessons that Vivienne shares.

I know Instagram can be minefield for many, but Vivienne has a beautiful way of simplifying it for us all to easily understand. You’re going to be excited and more confident on using Instagram after listening in on this conversation.

A podcast produced by Hairy Media Productions

Thanks for Listening

To share your thoughts:

Leave a note in the comment section below.
Ask a question by emailing me HERE
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To help out the show:

Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one.
Subscribe on iTunes.
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Thank you to Vivienne Johns for joining me on todays podcast.

Until next time, Peace, Love and Smiles all the way… Goodbye.

EP236: Your Brand! What Does it Say About You & Your Business? Apr 18, 2022

Show notes

Let’s be honest here! What does your brand say about you and your business? This is something that I’ve been asking myself a lot recently.

In this episode today I will be sharing with you some of the questions that I have been asked by the branding agency currently rebranding the undertaking for How To Cut It. I think you’ll find it very helpful resource in understanding what your brand says about you and your business in 2022.

Now celebrating 5 years since we launched the ‘How To Cut It in the Hairdressing Industry’ podcast, it’s fair to say that the brand has come a long way in that time. A vibrant community, live events, collaborations and much much more to come, I saw that How To Cut It has naturally grown into much more than just our podcast. So I needed a new brand look to reflect this era going forward for How To Cut It –– something I cant wait to share with you all very soon.

So if 2022 is the year that you want to unlock who and what your brand is, then Im sure you’ll find answering these question very helpful. So come join me as we all go on a journey together discovering our new brand identitities. Enjoy!

A podcast produced by Hairy Media Productions

Thanks for Listening

To share your thoughts:

Leave a note in the comment section below.
Ask a question by emailing me HERE
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To help out the show:

Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one.
Subscribe on iTunes.
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Subscribe by Email.

Thank you for joining me on todays podcast.

Until next time, Peace, Love and Smiles all the way… Goodbye.

EP235: A Unique Approach to a Different Type of Salon Experience, with The Chapel Hairdressing Apr 11, 2022

Show notes

Today we’re learning how The Chapel hairdressing salons was founded on a vision to help the hairdressing industry evolve. By listening to what women universally disliked about visiting the salon, The Chapel has set out to create a different type of experience where each individual receives the care and attention they deserve.

Joining me for this conversation is The Chapel’s Co-founder, Amanda Faith and two members of The Chapel team, Colour Specialist from the Tunbridge Wells salon, Symon May, and Stylist George Oughton, based in the Marlow salon.

Each of our guests shares their own personal experience on how and why the salons is a unique destination, a natural gathering place, with its own individual atmosphere that benefits both guests and stylists.

Plus we get some great knowledge on why The Chapel instead of being restricted to booking a specific style, treatment or hair colour for guests, each stylists works by time. It’s refreshing and inspiring to hear, especially if you’re looking to explore a new approach to how we work as a hair professionals in 2022.

So sit back, listen in and make sure to take notes. It could change the way you work forever!

A podcast produced by Hairy Media Productions

Thanks for Listening

To share your thoughts:

Leave a note in the comment section below.
Ask a question by emailing me HERE
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To help out the show:

Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one.
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Thank you to Amanda Faith, Symon May and George Oughton for joining me on todays podcast.

Until next time, Peace, Love and Smiles all the way… Goodbye.

EP234: Putting Hair Professionals at the Very Heart of all That They Do, with Martyn Wady Mar 21, 2022

Show notes

A podcast brought to you by Denman Professional, we are going to be learning why one of the most iconic hairdressing brush brands of all time puts the hair professional at the very heart of all that they do.

I’m chatting today with Denman’s International Business Manager, Martyn Wady. Martyn’s been hairdressing since leaving school early, eventually going on and working as a Salon Educator and Session Hairdresser for 15 years in London, New York and Tokyo. So you can see, Martyn knows exactly what it means to be a hairdresser just like you!

He will be taking us behind the scenes to the Denman brand and explaining why their products are the supporting cast in hair professionals creativity. We also get some of Denman’s exciting developments for 2022, including how us hairdressers can be part of these developments, too. Theres some great opportunities to be heard here.

We also talk about the environmental ethos of Denman with it’s plastic bank, recycling, hearing why plastic is not the bad guy and how products that seem environmentally friendly, may not actually be!

All this and more with Martyn Wady.

A podcast produced by Hairy Media Productions

Brought to you by Denman Professional

Thanks for Listening

To share your thoughts:

Leave a note in the comment section below.
Ask a question by emailing me HERE
Share this show on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.

To help out the show:

Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one.
Subscribe on iTunes.
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Subscribe by Email.

Thank you to Martyn Wady for joining me on todays podcast.

Until next time, Peace, Love and Smiles all the way… Goodbye.

EP233: Why You Need to Work ‘ON’ and Not ‘IN’ your Salon Business, with Jessica Crane Mar 07, 2022

Show notes

Ask yourself this: Right now, are you working ON or IN your salon business? Answering IN could be the reason why your salon business always seems to struggle compared to the ones that are reaching massive successes.

Two weeks ago, we chatted with leading Salon Business Coach, Jessica Crane. With over 20 years industry experience, Jessica has helped hundreds of salon owners across the globe run the business of their dreams. Dreams like living the life they dreamed of when they first opened their salon door.

Today I want to talk to Jessica on the things that could help you reach them dreams, too. I mean dreams like HOW to make more money without working in your salon.

In typical HTCI podcast we’re about to deep-dive into mastering the right business mindset to achieving these dreams – because I think it’s important to understand your salon business will only ever be as successful as you are.

This conversation with Jessica is absolutely going to shape how you look at running and marketing your salon business in a new approach, and how we can plan to pivot quickly with market changes and buyer behaviours. In truth, there’s so much to get from this episode today! So let’s get stuck in.

A podcast produced by Hairy Media Productions

Thanks for Listening

To share your thoughts:

Leave a note in the comment section below.
Ask a question by emailing me HERE
Share this show on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.

To help out the show:

Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one.
Subscribe on iTunes.
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Subscribe by Email.

Thank you to Jessica Crane for joining me on todays podcast.

Until next time, Peace, Love and Smiles all the way… Goodbye.

EP232: Zero Damage, Zero Lift – Why You’ll Love Shinefinty! Feb 28, 2022

Show notes

You’ve heard of glossing, but what about glazing? Get ready for lots of Zeros! 2022 is the year the shine-boosting technique is blowing up.

In today’s podcast episode brought to you by Wella Professionals, we’re understanding why Wella’s latest innovation product just launched, glazes hair with a zero damage, zero lift, zero ammonia, zero silicone and zero drying alcohols formula that’s kind and gentle. Fail to be part of this Wella innovation could see you miss out on the opportunities it will bring to your salon business.

A conversation recorded Live from the Wella Manchester Studios, UK, I’m joined by Wella Professionals UK & Ireland Commercial Technical Education Manager, Suzane Alphonse and Top Artists, Jordanna Cobella and James Earnshaw. Today they will talk on why Shinefinity should be your new best friend when it comes to giving your clients spectacular long lasting colour glaze, resulting in a healthy-looking shine and a silky hair feel.

If they wasn’t enough for you, then they will also be revealing some palette and mixing formulas using Shinefinity. How to market Shinefinity to your clients. The diversity of the range. Plus, how you can grow your salon business using Shinefinty.

All that and more, today, on the How To Cut It In The Hairdressing Industry podcast with Wella Professionals UK and Ireland.

A podcast produced by Hairy Media Productions.

Thanks for Listening

Todays podcast is brought to by

To share your thoughts:

Leave a note in the comment section below.
Ask a question by emailing me HERE
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To help out the show:

Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one.
Subscribe on iTunes.
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Thank you to Suzane Alphonse, Jordanna Cobella and James Earnshaw for joining me on todays podcast.

Until next Monday, Peace, Love and Smiles all the way… Goodbye.

EP231: Inside the Mind Of James Earnshaw Feb 21, 2022

Show notes

Todays guest is Wella Professionals UKI Digital Ambassador & Content Hairdresser, James Earnshaw.

We’re talking with James about what it means to be a Content Hairdresser in 2022. We’re talking about his creative process to creating content. And we’re talking about the inspirations and workings behind the latest Wella KP: ID collection shoot day. It’s a podcast made for all you hairdressers mad about creating standout hair looks for both your social images and short form videos.

In the first of a brand new series brought to you by Wella Professionals UKI, ‘Inside the Mind’ goes deep into the thinkings and understandings to the ‘Why’ from Wella Professionals Ambassadors and Top Artists.

Recorded and filmed live at the Wella Studios Manchester, UK, in this episode we had the pleasure to sit down for a enlightening conversation with James – regarded by many as one of the UK’s most exciting hair talents of the digital generation.

With over 66K followers on Instagram, James certainly knows he’s stuff when it comes to creating gorgeous imagery for content posts and videos that deliver outstanding results on social media. Little wonder then when was charged with the responsibility of heading up the project behind the latest Wella KP: ID collection. A diverse hair colour collection he and the Wella team absolutely smashed!

James shares some behind-the-scenes-stuff to the studio day creating and capturing the images to the new KP: ID collection . He also reveals how it excited him to unleashing his full colour creativity using Kolestone Perfect. With it’s 5 new shades – 5/71, 7/77, 8/01, 77/44, 99/44, you’ll also learn how Kolestone Perfect can excite you, too.

This podcast is packed full with James’s top tips for all of you who want to up your game as content hairdressers. Trust me, you’re not going to want to miss this one.

A podcast produced by Hairy Media Productions.

Thanks for Listening

Todays podcast is brought to by

To share your thoughts:

Leave a note in the comment section below.
Ask a question by emailing me HERE
Share this show on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.

To help out the show:

Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one.
Subscribe on iTunes.
Follow on Spotify.
Subscribe by Email.

Thank you to James Earnshaw for joining me on todays podcast.

Until next Monday, Peace, Love and Smiles all the way… Goodbye.