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Your Hair Story ~ Building confidence & providing solutions
Your Hair Story ~ Building confidence & providing solutions
Jacqueline Leponis is the founder of Hair Story, a hair loss clinic in the Cheshire countryside. She is 46 & has 3 girls.
A consultant trichologist with a hairdressing background, she has an NVQ in customer service, and she opened her first salon at just 24.
Having seen so many clients over the years who suffered with issues or anxiety over their hair, she realised she didn't have the knowledge to help them. She considered studying trichology, but thought it was too late in life to retrain!
After meeting a trichologist on a meche integration systems course, it spurred her on to study with the Institute of Trichologists in London.
Her salon & clinic allows anxious clients to have a safe space where everyone understands what they are experiencing.
Wig wearer for life ~ How masking hair loss could change your whole outlook on life
Sam is 40 years old, and she lives in Corby. She owns two childrens' day nurseries in Northampton.
Sam has AuDHD, PCOS, AGA & TE! She shares her story of navigating hair loss, along with her diagnoses and being neurodiverse.
We chat about navigating dating with hair loss, and how she used to spend hours styling her hair to try to disguise her alopecia, and the anxiety it would bring her.
Sam describes her life at the time as a prison of shame, and says that wearing wigs has changed her whole outlook on life.
We also discuss her failed hair transplant, which although didn't work, was the catalyst to her journey of change & healing. Sam bravely shares her vulnerability in the hope that it will help others.
Why Trichology needs to be integrated into hair systems training
Jess has been in the hair industry for many years, along with her business partner, Hayley, who has educated all around the world with Raccoon, and they both have experience with hair extensions.
Whilst trying to meet their clients' needs, they soon recognised that those with hair loss wanted to have hair extensions, but they just weren't suitable. They began to research alternative solutions, and learned different hair systems methods.
Jess joins me today to introduce a new type of system, called signature scalp. This is a silicone based scalp replica system, secured with medical grade adhesive.
They wanted to be able to offer a solution that could incorporate their creative flair, and be able to add a hairdresser's perspective to their hair systems. These systems can be made to suit any colour or style.
We talk about the longevity and versatility of having a hair system, what they can offer, and why it's important to have the education to ensure that each client is a suitable candidate for this service.
Signature scalp offers education, and already have a US ambassador, along with 80 representatives from around the world.
Why we need to start a chemical free revolution when it comes to Haircare
Tymika Chambliss-Williams created her own organic, plant- based product range after being diagnosed with breast cancer. She began to look for chemical free products sourced from ethical, sustainable suppliers, as she began her journey to live a cleaner living lifestyle, and found no real options.
We talk about why, as a consumer, it is our responsibility to try to create change in the hair & beauty product industry, and how Iyanu organics wants to start a chemical free revolution!
The whole ethos behind the brand is to foster a sense of empowerment & wellbeing for their customers.
Tymika shares how she strives to be a positive influence and role model for her daughters, and teaches them to question and challenge societal norms and standards.
Brittane Thames, Atlanta based barber & social media manager, has been living with psoriasis since she was 13. She states that 7.5 million Americans live with the disease.
She speaks about how she navigated this as a teenager, and that it was her hairstylist that recognised that she had a condition and referred her for help. The knowledge and expertise shown by her hairstylist, along with her sensitivity and compassion, has led to her being a loyal customer for the past 22 years!
The Global Healthy Living Foundation has created a free online platform designed to equip stylists to better support their clients with skin & scalp conditions. Brittane is now a HEROES participant and ambassador.
Dr Elle de Moll is a Connecticut- based dermatologist who is in support of the Global Healthy Living Foundation's non-profit campaign, the Health, Education + Reliable Outreach + Empathetic Support, which has been created by, with and for stylists, salons & barber shops to equip stylists to support their clients with skin & scalp conditions.
Dr Elle discusses why it is a benefit to everyone for stylists and therapists to be able to help to address any skin & scalp concerns their clients may be facing.
We talk about new & emerging treatment options, how medicines are getting more targeted & precise, and how she has studied new treatments for melanomas, using the immune system to help fight cancer.
We discuss how to recognise skin cancer and the signs to look for, inequalities and why people of colour are less likely to visit a dermatologist for help. They also may experience undertreatment of chronic conditions. Dr Elle also challenges the misconception that only fair-skinned people can get skin cancer, and how someone may have a genetic pre-disposition.
She urges anyone who is concerned to seek help, and doesn't like to see anyone being preyed upon by unethical marketing companies.
Alopecia Love ~ spreading awareness through Instagram
Jess Mullen is 27, and has Alopecia Universalis.
She experienced rapid hair loss in 2012, when she was just 16 years old! Which led to the total loss of all body hair. She describes her alopecia as the worst thing that has ever happened to her.
Jess shares how she had to do a lot of work to find a way to deal with it and learn to build her self esteem. She has found comfort by building a community with others with alopecia and uses her Instagram page to educate and inspire others.
Her bravery to share pictures of herself with no hair, and sharing her makeup routine with tips and techniques provides valuable help to others, who often reach out to thank her for being such an inspirational role model.
What its like to be the only AIT Associate Trichologist in Bermuda
Shapri Joell began her career as a hairstylist, but as she began to see a large number of clients with conditions she could not help with, which led her to develop an interest in trichology.
She decided to relocate from her home in Bermuda to London for three years in order to study with the Institute of Trichology, to become the only Associate member practicing in Bermuda!
She aims to educate & support hairdressers in her community to make sure their practices are not causing harm to the hair or exacerbating existing problems, such as CCCA and chemical damage, which she sees at lot.
She has worked hard to build connections with local GPs and other professionals, which has been useful in helping her patients get the tests to ensure they get the help & support they need.
Shapri often uses natural ingredients combined with hair science to treat her patients.
How can you get exposure and attract potential clients
Sarah Yorke opened her own salon at just 23 years old! 7 years later and the salon felt more like a prison than a blessing.
She decided to move to Manchester to follow her heart, and found herself in the position of trying to find a new hairdresser herself. She also needed to build a new clientele and wanted to get her work seen by as many people as possible.
Sarah knew that entering a random salon in her local area was a risk, and wanted to create a way to find out what the stylists were like within the salons, and what their work looked like, being able to see what they specialise in and their education and experience.
She created the Stylebook Directory, meaning you can search for exactly what you want and find the stylist perfect for your needs. Following this, she also created Stylebook Education, for students and educators to look for employment, staff, and for them to showcase their work or look for models.
Healthy Hair from Within ~ How a Vitamin B12 deficiency can affect your hair.
Fiona McNulty is a Trichologist. With 10 years in the Hairdressing industry, her career progressed and her role changed to educator.
She began to notice that she was losing a lot of hair. She also started to experience muscle pain, weakness and tiredness.
Tests revealed a deficiency in B12, with extremely low levels. She now has to have regular injections which she will have to continue for the rest of her life.
Fiona offers help and advice on how to recognise a deficiency and how to avoid it, and we discuss blood tests and how they can be a useful tool to help decipher any issues that may contribute to hair loss or affect hair health.
Fiona's favourite trichological treatment is a Scalp Facial, which is very popular at the moment!
More hair naturally ~ rebalancing the microbiome of the scalp
Mahryah Shain from More Hair Naturally has the philosophy that nature provides everything we need for a healthy body.
We discuss the use of ingredients such as probiotics, which help rebalance the scalp's microbiome, amino acids, peptide complexes and anti-oxidants such as giner & copper to help fight against free radicals. We also look at the role of hyaluronic acid and stem cells in hair growth.
Mahryah shares his knowledge on genetic hair loss and the effects of DHT on the hair follicles.
Chelcey Salinger is a third- generation Trichologist!
After studying general medicine and applied science, she then studied with the International Association of Trichologists to follow in the footsteps of her Dad and Grandad. She had the pleasure of working alongside her Father before he retired.
Chelcey shares her knowledge on a Cicatricial (scarring) alopecia called Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia. This condition is common in Caucasian women, often after menopause. We look at the signs, causes and possible methods of treatment for this condition, which seems to be becoming more and more prevalent.
Chelcey discusses if the use of sunscreen is a contributing factor, what perifollicular inflammation and scaling are, and what they look like, how to tell if the condition is active or in remission, and how to formulate and effective treatment plan.
Chelcey is also a guest speaker at the World Trichology Congress, and has created her own scale of measurement to determine the amount of perifollicular inflammation.
Kępińska K, Jałowska M, Bowszyc-Dmochowska M. Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia - a review and a practical guide for clinicians. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2022 Jun 24;29(2):169-184. doi: 10.26444/aaem/141324. Epub 2021 Aug 31. PMID: 35767748.
Sunscreen metanalysis:
Kam O, Na S, Guo W, Tejeda CI, Kaufmann T. Frontal fibrosing alopecia and personal care product use: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Dermatol Res. 2023 Apr 4. doi: 10.1007/s00403-023-02604-7. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37014396.
Why I had to choose my hair over my acting career W/ Shalita Grant
An actress since High School, Tony- nominated Shalita grant publicly quit a popular long standing Television show after suffering from traction alopecia, thinning hair and breakage in front of an audience of millions. Holywood's tendency to ignore the needs of actors with textured hair meant that Shalita faced daily hair practices and techniques that caused severe long term damage to her own hair. The producers did not understand or provide for the complex needs of her hair and this put limitations on her career.
She also faced backlash and trolling online when she tried to wear a wig to minimise further damage to her own hair. At the time, she could see no other option than to quit the show.
After overcoming her own obstacles, she created the Four Naturals treatment to renew, restore and rebuild her hair, which is now in the best condition and more manageable than its ever been. This meant that her public and traumatic hair experience has not had to lead to her abandoning acting or hiding her hair forever. She chose to heal, both inside and out, and is now finding ways to be able to be on set with her own natural hair.
Tamim Hamid comes from a long line of medicine, but chose to enter the engineering world. However, he still had the instinct to want to help people.
Tamim was a NASA engineer, who invented a laser to measure thermoprotection of the shuttles outer shell upon re-entry to the Earth.
Lasers were invented in the 60's, and he learned about them in school in the 80's.
He then invented a new laser in silicon valley. He found a study on lasers & hair growth, which was recorded in 1965 and tested on mice, which showed that a certain frequency could stimulate hair to grow.
Lasers work differently depending on the setting and the frequency. Laser light can stimulate human tissue, specifically hair follicles, and it triggers the mitochondria in the bulge of the hair root. This can extend the anagen phase and stimulate growth in the papilla, along with strengthening the arrector pili muscle.
Tamim has now invented the Theradome helmet, which is FDA cleared.
How your business can build connections within the community and make a difference.
Craig Henderson owns a barbershop in Bolton, where he aims to serve everyone in the community. He provides a service which is inclusive to those who are neurodiverse, have additional needs, are trans, queer, all genders and sexualities.
He encourages other business owners to look at how they can build their business to be inclusive to everyone in their local community, and offers help and advice to make this experience as easy to implement as possible.
Craig shares his knowledge on tips to make each haircut as easy as possible for barber and client, and how learning these skills will improve your work as a stylist and your business.
Craig is an ambassador within the local area, visiting special needs schools and nurseries and working to desensitise them to the process of getting a haircut.
UPDATE: During recording, Craig tells us that he is nominated for an NHS award for all the work he does within the community, and HE WON!
What is it like to have Chronic Telogen Effluvium?
Tom Holmes describes his hair loss journey as a rollercoaster.
After having cervical fusion surgery, he was left unable to eat or drink whilst in recovery and quickly lost 30lbs. He then began to lose his hair rapidly.
He shares his story with us, his recovery and then further bouts of extreme shedding. He has correlated these episodes to periods of sudden weight loss. Every time he loses hair he finds it just as painful as the first.
He was so self conscious that he wore hats everywhere, even to dinner out and to a wedding! Because he didn't want to answer questions around his hair loss and found it upsetting when people assumed he had cancer.
Karen Agnes created K2A skincare in 2016, with the aim to produce a range that contained bespoke ingredients that resonated with the brand, her values, and a holistic approach to beauty treatments.
She looked at the whole holistic approach when it comes to using and buying products, and this range was made with selected ingredients, how they all work together and how they can enhance the whole customer experience.
We discuss how to set up your own range of products, how easy it is to do, the pitfalls and legal considerations, along with all the steps involved.
What are the advantages of having your own products?
Karen also speaks about the importance of choosing to work with people who are in alignment with your brand values and vision. Along with the products, Karen has built some personalised rituals and application techniques to make sure that the salons who use them stand apart from others in their area, giving them a point of difference, and how this can build loyalty for you and the brand.
Are you able to cater to the needs of your community?
Stephanie La Flora shares her story of how she felt alienated by being turned away by every salon in her area, and how humiliating it felt. She decided there needed to be a change in the industry, and despite being pregnant, having just quit her job, and being in the middle of a lockdown due to a global pandemic, she decided to create the change she wanted to see and founded CrownHunt.
Stephanie wishes to help salons be more inclusive to everyone in their community, and to provide representation for everyone, including in the product ranges salons offer.
She wants to help entrepreneurs build successful businesses that honour diversity and culture.
Starr Mason is the Field Education Leader for the Hair Cuttery family of brands and is a hair stylist with over 30 years in the industry.
She began her career in school, after being inspired by Vidal Sassoon, and didn't realise at the time all the different avenues that would become available to her throughout her career.
Starr believes that education is a never-ending journey and loves to re-ignite stylists' passion for hair.
She has learned to love her textured hair and getting to know what it needs and likes, and encourages others to do the same with their own hair, and for their clients!
She urges people to jump in when it comes to working with textured hair and not to be scared to work with curls.
We discuss how to work with textured hair, much product to apply, the difference between cocktailing and layering products and maintenance.
Kassi McFarlane is Hairstylist who specialises in styling hair for weddings & special occasions.
She first heard about the Look good feel better charity 20 years ago, when she worked on cosmetic counters recommending products.
The Charity is now approaching its 30th anniversary!
Look good feel better supports those receiving cancer treatment to be able to be given advice and help on how to adapt to changes treatment may make to your hair, skin, body shape, (including eyebrows, nails, face shape). Their volunteers include make-up artists, Hairstylists and stylists to help you learn methods & techniques for changes in make-up, how to deal with new hair growth, different lengths, texture & colour, skin texture and what to wear for different body sizes or shape.
Kassi describes how 'superficial' treatments such as hair and make-up can have a deeper significance for cancer patients who just want to get back to feeling like themselves.
The benefits of an apprenticeship in the Hair Industry
Sarah Abel from TNB skills training joins me to talk about the importance of apprenticeships within the Hairdressing industry and the benefits of the programmes.
Sarah has been in the industry since she was 13! She returned to hair & beauty at 38, learned nails, and took over a business. She realised that there was a gap in the market for nail training apprenticeships.
She has had to often defend the industry against the common misconception that hairdressing or any vocational courses are not a pathway to a lucrative career, and the negative connotations that these are only for students who are not suitable for A-level courses or University. Sarah has the stats to prove that actually these jobs can be just as high earning if not more!
We discuss the benefits of an apprenticeship programme, and what the future may hold for the industry.
Her academy has grown since 2008, and she has worked hard to find ways to work with employers to make sure both them and their trainees are well supported.
Jessica Young has been in the Hair industry for 16 years, and thought that she knew enough about the hair & scalp to advise and help her clients; That is, until she began to experience extreme hair shedding herself! She then realised that there was a lot more that she could learn, and tells how her own journey has made her be able to support her clients so much better too.
As a busy mum, when she first noticed her hair loss, she didn't really take any action, and now realises that she was on the verge of burnout, with low iron, migraines, body shakes and brittle, poor quality hair.
We discuss how hair loss can be a sign of other issues such as deficiencies in the bodies that should not be ignored, and where to go to get effective help.
Jess says that her experience has changed her approach to client consultations, and has made her a better hairdresser as a result.
See the Human first ~ Could your salon be more inclusive?
Keri Blue is a barber & short hair specialist, who was inspired to learn to cut hair after being refused service at a barber shop in Brighton. She found the whole experience so shocking and embarrassing, that this led her to join learn to cut hair, to ensure that other people could have a more positive experience.
She now works hard to educate others within the industry to help them and their businesses be more inclusive to all LGBTQIA+ people.
Keri is all about challenging stereotypes, and unpicking social constructs, gently suggesting how we can make small changes to be more inclusive,
We discuss how the journey to your salon begins far before a client sits in your chair, and what you can do to show that you are Trans and non- binary friendly.
We also look at the benefits of hourly pricing and gender neutral pricing.
Improving hair quality ~ How can we get the most out of supplements?
Dr Rajesh (Rajendrasingh) Rajput is an international speaker, & IAT faculty member.
He often completes surgery pro bono for those who have suffered burns, cleft palate, leprosy and skin traumas.
He has researched metabolism in the hair follicle, and monitored changes in hair growth, DHT levels and sensitivity.
Dr Rajesh has a patented cyclical supplementation routine, which has shown an improvement in hair growth of 30-40% +, along with an improvement in scalp and follicle health.
He shares his research on which vitamins can counteract each other, which are synergistic and which are antagonistic, and how intermittent nutrition can give the body time to absorb & process each nutrient.
Dr Rajesh believes that no nutrient can work alone, and that deficiencies are an indication of a problem within the whole system. We look at how smaller, preventative doses can work differently to larger doses used to treat deficiencies. We explore the concept of 'hidden hunger' due to the fact that there is a depleted level of nutrition in our current foods compared to years ago.
The factors that have the greatest impact on your hair
Dr Gaby Longsworth joins me again this week to share her wealth of knowledge about factors that have an impact on hair loss and the quality of the hair you grow.
Dr Gaby Longsworth is a mum, wife, Ph.D. Scientist, Certified Hair Practitioner, Trichologist, a biotech/pharmaceutical patent attorney, and owner of Absolutely Everything Curly. She has a Ph.D. in human genetics and molecular biology at The Johns Hopkins University and a B.S. in molecular biology from the Florida Institute of Technology.
Gaby is deeply passionate about sharing her knowledge and research while continuing the movement of cherishing, embracing, and discovering your natural beauty.
We look at contributing factors such as scalp health and the microbiome of your scalp, along with your diet and the microbiome of your gut! She also explains how stress can have an impact on your hair and scalp health.
You are your brand ~ How to market yourself W/ The Profile Guy
Chris Foster began his career as a barber in North London. He trained at Enfield College but had big dreams!
He worked hard to raise his profile and skills, and has had an exciting career including being Creative Director in both Harrods and Selfridges.
Chris quickly recognised that in order to achieve his goals he had to market himself and his brand. He became the director for the British Barbers Association, has written countless articles for magazines, and went on to work for big fashion houses, even getting paid over £4,000 for just one haircut!
Chris shares his knowledge and expertise on how to build a strategy and market your brand, along with how you may have to work through your limiting beliefs and get comfortable with being uncomfortable.
Trichotillomania ~ Getting to the 'root' of the problem
Ruth Parchment is a therapist who works with anxiety based issues. She has always had a curiosity for people and why they do what they do, and the history leading up to that point.
She treats lots of people with trichotillomania, which falls under the OCD umbrella. This can present in many different ways, and be sporadic or habitual, even happening multiple times per day. Trichotillomania can also be conscious or unconscious, and many people experience guilt or shame around the condition.
Ruth delves into what Trich is all about, how and why it happens, and how it can even cause changes in the brain!
She shares how to help someone going through it and talks about how compassion is important.
When Trichology and cosmetics combine ~ How to get expert help when choosing hair products Samantha Stewart MIT & Rachel Marcelin join me today, two of the founders of Curl ID, the online science- based hair analysis platform.
Are you fed up of buying products you think will work for your hair and they don't? Managing curls can be a mystery, whilst many products promise amazing results and don't deliver.
Curl ID was founded to help people understand & manage their textured hair better, taking a scientific approach rather than a cosmetic one. Their aim is to build a supportive community offering a carefully curated selection of recommended products.
Curl ID have also developed hair analysis kits, so that you can get a personalised report on the best products for you.
How your relationship with your hair affects your relationship with yourself
Hannah Bradley, the Curly Confidante, is a hair coach who helps people not only manage their hair, but to explore their relationship with their hair, and describes how this can have an impact on your whole relationship with yourself.
Having been bullied in primary school, Hannah has experienced having low self- esteem, sharing that it knocked her confidence and made her not like her hair. She began to straighten her hair or tie it back so as to try to 'fit in' and not draw attention to herself.
She fully understands the impact of a bad hair day, and we discuss how the way we feel about our hair can be just as damaging as picking at any aspect of our body in the mirror every day. We have so many beauty standards that we are expected to conform to, and Hannah advocates for us to listen to our inner voice, doing things because they feel good, and not because you feel you 'should'.
We look at how your relationship with yourself can affect your relationship with your hair, and how you need to be kind to yourself and put yourself first.
Hannah says: Be your own best friend & advocate, don't let the harshest criticism come from within!
How to take a more creative path in your hairdressing career
Ashleigh Hodges is the Vice President for the Fellowship of British Hairdressing. Coming from multiple generations of hairdressers, she began with the Fellowship as a clubstar member, then a member of the FAME team, and began to work with Errol Douglas a lot.
She has experienced many different aspects of the industry throughout her career and describes herself as having a very driven mindset.
Ashleigh shares her insights into how you can progress in your work and how she got into more creative areas of the industry.
We discuss the benefits of the Fellowship, and how it aims to create opportunities for creativity and expansion at all levels in many different areas and how much the platform offers to help you learn and grow. It's all about a collaborative environment where every member of the team's input is valid and welcome.
Ashleigh offers her tips on how her mindset and attitude have set her apart, and why having clear boundaries is important.
Understanding ingredients in Hair products ~ What should you look for?
Dr Gaby Longsworth is a mum, wife, Ph.D. Scientist, Certified Hair Practitioner, Trichologist, a biotech/pharmaceutical patent attorney, and owner of Absolutely Everything Curly. She has a Ph.D. in human genetics and molecular biology at The Johns Hopkins University and a B.S. in molecular biology from the Florida Institute of Technology.
As a scientist, she was curious to learn why certain hair products worked well for her hair but others did not, so she started learning to understand the different ingredients. She was shocked at the amount of misinformation and the misleading marketing tricks companies used.
Gaby is deeply passionate about sharing her knowledge and research while continuing the movement of cherishing, embracing, and discovering your natural beauty.
We look at the different ingredients, what they do and how to read and understand the labels on your hair products.
Gaby also describes the challenges of being mixed race and having curly hair in a professional Law environment, and how embracing her natural texture and also grey hair challenged the expected 'standards' of some institutions. She shares her knowledge on how to care for grey hair.
The importance of eyebrows ~ when alopecia affects your facial hair
Jason Berndt was a fighter pilot in the military until recently, when he sete up 'My Two Brows'.
He believes that the stress of the military training and studying an engineering degree have contributed to his alopecia.
His first experience of hair loss was alopecia areata patches at around 8 years old. Then at 19, at military college, he noticed it again, and the hair on his right eyebrow began to disappear, along with his eyelashes. Eventually, he had lost so much hair he had to shave it off, which he describes as a traumatic experience.
He has looked into various treatments, but really found options for men to disguise what is happening pretty limited. It was difficult to find a solution that didn't draw attention to himself or look unnatural.
In the end, he came across temporary eyebrow tattoos, but there were not a lot of options or choice, so Jason began to make his own! He now produces many different colours, styles and sizes. These help not only those with hair loss but also conditions such as trichotillomania too.
Curl Daddy ~ Helping men embrace their natural hair texture
Edwin Borquez is the founder of Curl Daddy products.
His Caribbean heritage has given him very curly hair and a great look which led to a career in modelling. This was a confusing time, as some people would tell him to tame his curls to help blend in to get more work, and some would advise him to embrace his textured hair for a more different look.
He has had to learn to style and handle his hair after chemically straightening it and damaging it to 'fit in'.
When looking for products for his hair, he struggled to find any that he could identify with. He also wanted something with more natural ingredients, as he didn't want to use products every day containing chemicals that would be absorbed through his skin. This led him to create a range of products with a natural formulation that were easy to use and apply, with hair & scalp health as the focus.
Mac McGregor is 57, and is a trans activist and educator
Growing up, he had zero exposure to the LGBTQ+ community, but from a very early age found that he didn't identify as a girl.
They got into martial arts, which allowed him to have an outlet to be more masculine and also to see more of the world. Due to the regulations of the sport, Mac waited until his martial arts career ended before medically transitioning at the age of 42.
Once he began this journey, he started to look for queer- friendly salons that would welcome him and understand his needs.
Mac shares how there is a high rate of suicide in young LGBTQ people due to isolation, and there is a need for more mentors in the trans community. He invites people to look at social conditioning and question what serves you and what doesn't.
How to market sensitive services such as hair loss treatments
Michael Reynolds became a business consultant after years in the hairdressing industry. He has experience being self- employed, running his own business and dealing with clients going through cancer treatment.
He likes to promote marketing and branding in a personal, friendly way, avoiding hard sales tactics. Michael describes what modern-day branding is, and how you can use it to show what you are all about. He says when marketing your services, be as organic and authentic as you can; it's not all about followers and filters, it should be about how you make people feel and the outcome of their service.
We look at how you can measure your time to make sure you get the important things done. Michael shares his knowledge on how to best market sensitive services and difficult subjects to those who might need it, avoiding the blurred out images!
Tommy Hall began experiencing hair loss in November 2021, and within four weeks, he has lost around 70% of hair over his entire body.
He has no idea what had caused his hair loss, and found that there was no cover from the NHS to help him with treatment.
He went to the dermatologist and was given a diagnosis of alopecia areata, which was a relief and a shock.
Tommy began researching treatment options, and happened upon a Facebook group where some members had been using JAK inhibitors to treat their hairloss, a relatively new treatment using drugs that were originally designed to treat rheumatoid arthritis.
He is now coming to terms with this new treatment regime, and that he may be living with alopecia his whole life. We look at how to find affordable treatment, the side effects and dealing with the unknown.
Tommy describes how he feels empowered by his ambition and strength to find a solution to his condition, and he is happy to be able to help others on their journey and share his progress.
Building resilience ~ Why professional development should be more than just physical skill building
Hayley Jepson has a hairdressing background of over 30 years. She was a very busy colourist, often triple booked with clients!
She then studied counselling, and now focuses on supporting hairdressers with their mental heath & wellbeing.
'The Resilient Hairdresser' was borne out of wanting to help people avoid burnout and have a long, happy career.
Hayley describes how you can work to set boundaries, grow in confidence and recognise where the biggest energy drains are, developing strategies to grow your resilience.
She loves supporting people and has found that this career shift has been a natural progression that allows her to use all the skills and experience she has accumulated.
Does alopecia affect beard growth? ~ How to promote a healthy beard
Tudor Tanase, known as The Hairloss Dude, began to take an interest in hair loss when he wanted to improve his beard growth at 18.
He started to use minoxidil, but found that he experienced negative side effects. As he began to develop the signs of male pattern hair loss, he began to apply the solution to his scalp and the same issues arose, causing dandruff, dry skin and irritation.
He then began to look into the formulation of the different products and the ingredients these products contained.
We discuss how genetic hair loss happens, what is the cause, and how can you access accurate information on effective treatments to prevent unnecessary spending on products and treatments that don't work. Tudor shares tips on how to promote healthy beard growth, and we explore how Dihydrotestosterone affects hair growth and beard growth in different ways.
He shares his knowledge on product formulations and ingredients to aid the metabolism and absorption of products, and describes how there is a huge difference in the quality and performance of a product depending on the amount and quality of the ingredients and the manufacturing processes.
Tudor notes the lack of innovation in the field by the major brands and how using experienced factories for production is important especially for higher strength formulas.
Your vibe attracts your tribe ~ How to create the best outcome for 2023
Jennifer Louise is the Salon Marketing coach.
She believes that the way you start your day is up to you- how do you talk to yourself? Are you grateful for what you have?
We discuss how attitude affects your progress, and how we can get the best from our clients and business in 2023.
Jennifer left school at 14, recognising that the education system didn't work for her. She began working in a salon and ended up negotiating with her head teacher a way to work towards her NVQ in hairdressing alongside her GCSEs!
By 24 she owned her own salon, but spent ten years learning important lessons in business along the way.
She believes it is important to get clear on who you serve and base your business and culture around your ideal client.
We explore the impact that behaviours, thoughts and actions can have on your success.
What makes hair curly? How to effectively manage it.
Caroline Yates is a clinical Trichologist.
Having curly hair herself, we delve into the origins of this hair type, what makes hair curly and how best to manage it. Have you shied away from dealing with curly hair? Or are you a parent with no idea how to deal with your child's curls? We talk about her experiences with hairdressers, how to best cut & dry curls and the best products to choose and how to apply them. Caroline offers her best tips for textured hair.
Should all hair salons cater for Afro Textured hair?
Karen Roberts lives in Bromley, UK. She is the owner of Mintwave Radio and the host of 'A coffee with Karen' podcast.
She is mixed race, with Afro Textured hair. She was adopted by two white parents, and lived in Tunbridge Wells in Kent, where there was very little diversity, and they didn't really know how to handle her hair type. Support for adoptive families at that time was minimal, and none of the local salons were capable of working with Afro Textured hair.
She found herself as a teenager learning how to braid her hair herself, and getting a train into London to visit a specialist salon.
We discuss whether salons should endeavour to offer services for Afro Textured hair, or whether it is better for some salons to specialise.
Karen talks about how unsolicited comments on her hair affected her self esteem and the damage this can do.
Alopecia Universalis at 17 ~ Why it's important to find connections
Frank Cornine, 38, has been living with alopecia since he was 17 and in High School, when within 6 months he experienced a total loss of hair from his whole body!
He describes his visit to the dermatologist to get help as quite cold and not very compassionate, saying his initial patches of hair loss may get better, or they may get worse. The uncertainty of whether his hair would all fall out or return was difficult to deal with.
He describes losing a part of his identity, how he no longer looked like his family members and actually admits he had an Identity Crisis because of not looking like himself.
High School and College were difficult; he didn't know anyone with alopecia and didn't have anyone he could talk to who understood what he was going through.
He has now set up his own podcast, Alopecia Connection to help people going through hair loss realise they are not alone.
What is the cold cap and how is it used during Chemotherapy?
Julia Smith was shocked when she was diagnosed with Paget's disease, a form of breast cancer, despite her having no lumps on her breasts.
She had surgery to remove one of her nipples, which she thought would be the end of her treatment, but then found she had to have chemotherapy as her cancer was hormone receptive.
After much deliberation, she decided to try the cold cap during chemotherapy to try to minimise her hair loss from the treatment.
She describes her experience, what she has learned and how it works.
Julia's uplifting philosophy is 'Be bitter or be better'
Enhancing hair ~ How to avoid damage with hair extensions
Katy Grimshaw from Spectrum One began working in a salon at just 12 years old.
She now has her own salon with 16 stylists, and has set up her own brand of hair extensions, available to those in the industry, along with her own education.
Katy shares that around 70% of her salon's business is hair extensions, and she set up her own hair extensions business after being frustrated with the inconsistency of the quality of the hair from other brands. She wanted to make sure the quality of the hair was reliable.
She constantly works with her client base to support & evolve what they offer, along with their education, which is HABIA accredited.
We talk about how to make sure you choose the right method for you, and prevent damage to your own hair.
We also discuss hair loss solutions, and the affect of weight loss jabs on client's hair and what we are able to offer them.
Is your business sustainable? How you can recycle 95% of your salon waste!
JC Aucamp has spent 25 years in the hairdressing industry. He was shocked to realise that the local council made no provisions to recycle any of the Salon's hairdressing waste. He began to measure how much waste the business was producing and decided to develop his own solution.
JC is now the founder of the Salon Sustainability Club, enabling salons to recycle 95% of all the waste they create. They work to support everyone in the industry from freelancers to large salons. We discuss some simple ideas to help begin your recycling journey, and how to get the clients involved too.
Almost all waste products can be recycled, including hair, which is compostable, but can emit greenhouse gasses when sent to landfill. They recycle 2 1/2 to 3 tonnes of foil every two months!
Salon Sustainability works to support the HABB & Enham Trust Charities.
How to handle those difficult conversations around wigs and hair loss.
Ann Fox and Joanne Atkinson both join me for this touching discussion around their incredible work with the My New Hair charity.
Ann's Mum died of lung cancer when she was 18, and this spurred her on to work in nursing. Similarly Joanne has spent 35 years in cancer care and has a PHD in end of life care after a friend died of leukaemia.
They were shocked to find that although they strive to give their patients the best possible care, the aftercare they received when it came to procuring a wig was severely lacking.
The ladies decided to get involved in the L'Oreal My New Hair programme, along with Trevor Sorbie, to help educate hairdressers in how best to help cancer patients get a better standard of care and service. They have produced a toolkit to help patients to get a suitable wig and be able to have it fitted and customised.
You can contact the charity for leaflets, resources, templates and information for fundraising and support.
Medically induced hair loss ~ How some small, achievable steps can make a big impact.
Lesley Hoad shares her real-life story on her hair loss following her cancer diagnosis and treatment.
As a hairdresser and an educator, she felt more pressure when her hair began to fall out, as if she 'should' have all the answers. She describes not feeling like herself as she began to lose not only her hair but her teeth aswell.
She describes the small, realistic changes that she has been able to implement to lessen the impact of cancer on her life and her body, helping her to regain her sense of self.
As a self-confessed workaholic, she shares how she would have chemotherapy on her lunch break and then return to work! And how the experience has actually helped her to learn to slow down, listen to her body and make the necessary adjustments to improve her health and recovery.
Lesley is an inspiration with her positivity and selfless approach to life. She feels that by not letting it get the better of her, and keeping up with normal life as much as possible, it has helped her work through her depression and fight for her recovery.