EP372: Danielle Garner – Women In Business (Takeover Series #3)
In the third episode of the Women in Business Takeover, hosted by Samantha Cusick, we meet the brilliant Danielle Garner. Danielle shares her journey of building Wildflower and Wholehearted Dublin, each founded on principles of wellness, creativity, and work-life balance. She reveals how intuition and thoughtful innovation have shaped her success in the industry, as well as the challenges she’s overcome along the way.
Samantha and Danielle discuss managing business growth, learning from mistakes, and creating spaces that feel good for both clients and staff. Whether you’re an aspiring salon entrepreneur or interested in hearing about the visionary approach for a better working-life for all in the hairdressing industry, this episode is packed with insight and inspiration.
Chapter Timestamps:
6:53 Danielle's Journey to Wildflower Studio
11:58 Creating a Nurturing Work Environment
16:56 The Importance of Core Values
22:39 Navigating Burnout and Self-Care
32:47 Exploring Toxicity in Hair Products
41:41 Introducing Wholehearted Concepts
48:08 Rapid-Fire Questions with Danielle
Resources:
Samantha Cusick Salon Website (Click Here)
Sta Studios
Silly Little Girls Club Podcast on Spotify (Click Here)
Instagram: @smantha.cusick | @sta__studios
Danielle Garner: Website | Instagram: @daniellegarner
Wildflower: Website | Instagram: @wildflower.dublin
Wholehearted: Website | Instagram: @wholehearted.dublin
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EP371: Jordanna Cobella – Women In Business (Takeover Series #2)
In Episode 2 of the *How To Cut It* Women in Business Takeover, Samantha Cusick, owner of Samantha Cusick London, founder of Sta Studios, hosts an inspiring conversation with twice-nominated British Hairdresser of the Year (2024 & 2025) and former London Hairdresser of the Year, Jordanna Cobella.
Jordanna is a popular and much loved guest on the How To Cut It podcast and an ambassador for Wella. She also owns Cobella London, one of London's leading salons. In this conversation, Samantha explores Jordanna's journey that has seen her become one of the leading names in hairdressing, alongside sharing her insights on salon ownership, leadership, managing multiple roles including motherhood.
This uplifting episode is a must-listen for hairdressers and salon owners looking to grow their businesses and fuel their passion for the industry.
Chapter Timestamps
3:10: Meet Jordana Cobella
7:11: Navigating Hairdressing and Law
9:42: The Journey to Creative Director
14:29: Balancing Business and Motherhood
26:28: Embracing Life's Changes
30:17: The Salon Fire Incident
33:38: Managing with Emotional Intelligence
37:24: Building Business Culture
38:47: Plot Twists and Lessons Learned
42:04: Surrendering to Control
To find out more on Jordanna Cobella and Samantha Cusick see the links below
Jordanna Cobella on Instagram @jordannacobella
Cobella visit cobella.co.uk
Samantha Cusick salon website click HERE
Sta Studios visit sta-studios.com
Silly Little Girls Club podcast on Spotify click HERE
Samantha Cusick on Instagram @smantha.cusick
Sta Studios on Instagram @sta__studios
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EP370: Ashleigh Hodges – Women In Business (Takeover #1)
Welcome to the first special episode of our August Takeover, "Women in Business." Hosted by Samantha Cusick, owner of both Samantha Cusick salon in Notting Hill and Sta Studios.
This series shines a spotlight on the trailblazing women redefining what it means to lead in our hair industry. Kicking things off features a compelling conversation between Samantha and her special guest Ashleigh Hodges, the youngest female president of the Fellowship for British Hairdressing and founder of MASH Studios London, a creative space for freelancers.
In this insightful episode, Ashleigh shares her journey from working in her mother's salon to becoming a leader in a male-dominated industry. Explore the challenges women face, including self-doubt and microaggressions, and discover how mentorship and community support can make a difference.
Gain valuable leadership insights as Ashleigh emphasises the importance of authenticity, creativity, and passion. This episode is a must-listen for aspiring female leaders and hairdressers!
Join Samantha again next week for more inspiring conversations celebrating women in business, with Jordanna Cobella.
Chapters
3:15: Spotlight on Ashleigh Hodges
7:19: Journey to Leadership
10:06: Creating Safe Spaces
14:00: Building a Community
16:25: Embracing Change
21:43: The Role of Women
25:38: Micro-aggressions in Business
27:37: Channeling Experiences
28:28: The Importance of Collaboration
33:56: Celebrating Women in Business
37:09: Navigating Awards and Recognition
Links to todays episode
Samantha Cusick salon website click HERE
Sta Studios visit sta-studios.com
Silly Little Girls Club podcast on Spotify click HERE
Samantha Cusick on Instagram @smantha.cusick
Sta Studios on Instagram @sta__studios
Fellowship for British Hairdressing visit HERE
Ashleigh Hodges on Instagram @ashleigh_hodges_hair
Ashleigh Hodges website visit HERE
Mash Creative visit mash-creative.co.uk
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EP369: Michael Douglas – Finding My True Self!
Celebrity hairdresser Michael Douglas joins the How To Cut It podcast in this blockbuster episode! From his early days in hairdressing to becoming a well-known TV personality (BBC1’s One Show), Instagram influencer (@mdlondon), and the partner of Davina McCall (co-host of the Making The Cut podcast), Michael’s journey has been anything but ordinary.
We explore his career-defining moments, including the controversial advice he gave on The One Show during lockdown that led to industry backlash, lost brand contracts, death threats, and an Ofcom investigation. Despite this, Michael continued to build on his true passion of helping people feel their best by becoming the leading hair care consumer-focused hairdresser, building his award-winning mdlonondon styling tools brand, sharing expert insights on his Instagram lives with his 236K Instagram loyal legion of followers, and inspiring consumers to look and feel their very best with their hair.
This raw, candid conversation highlights resilience, risk-taking, hard work, and why Michael believes bridging the gap between hairdressers and consumers is vital for the industry. Whether you're a hairdresser seeking inspiration or just curious about his story, this episode is packed with lessons and powerful takeaways.
Don’t miss it!
Resources to todays episode
MD London Website: mdlondon.com
MD London on Instagram: @mdlondon
How To Cut It on Instagram @howtocutit
Watch Interview on YouTube @howtocutit
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EP368: The Comeback Curl with Wella Professionals
In this episode brought to you by Wella Professionals UK & Ireland, we explore the resurgence of perming and texture services within the hairdressing industry, joined by experts Charlie Taylor, Sarah Mason, and Suki Supermama.
We discuss the evolution of modern perms using the relaunched Wella Perm, moving beyond their outdated 80s reputation to become a versatile, fashion-forward option that highlights personalisation and diversity in hair types. The conversation highlights the cultural influences driving younger generations towards curls and waves, the improvements in perming techniques and products, and the importance of education for stylists.
We delve into the potential for increased salon revenue through perm services and the necessity for professionals to adapt to changing client desires. Concluding on an empowering note, we emphasise that the resurgence of perms signifies a cultural shift, inviting hairdressers to embrace curls for their clients as a form of dynamic self-expression and style.
Links & Resources
Education: Contact your local Wella Studio for information on perming education.
Product information CLICK HERE
To discover the world of texture on Wella.com
Purchase full range of perming products from Wellastore
Connect with Wella Professionals UKI on Instagram @wellaprofessionlasuki
Find Wella Professionals on TikTok @wellauki
Voted Hairbrained’s ‘Global Industry Podcast of the Year’, this is the show that gives the insights, inspirations and information to take your hairdressing and barbering careers to the next level.
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