How To Cut It in the Hairdressing Industry

We are thrilled to welcome the award-winning colourist and educator Nancy Stripe back again, but this time as our guest host for the How To Cut It podcast! As the owner of Stripe Colour Studio, Nancy is taking the helm for an exciting September residency, where she will be sitting down with a stellar lineup of industry experts. She kicks off her series with an absolute legend: Jack Howard.

Jack is an internationally acclaimed colourist, educator, and global L’Oréal Professionnel Ambassador widely credited with bringing the balayage technique to the UK. With over 30 years of professional experience and as the founder of his namesake luxury salon in Georgetown, Jack offers a masterclass in how to stay relevant in a fast-changing market.

In this episode, Jack shares his transition from traditional techniques to the modern era of soft, luminous grey blending. He discusses how to adapt teaching styles for stages versus classrooms, and why he prioritises mentorship over industry gatekeeping. They also cover the evolution of social media as a professional storytelling tool and the challenges of leading a team while navigating personal grief and life. Tune in for this inspiring, candid conversation on innovation, resilience, and the future of hairdressing.

 



 
CHAPTERS

10:38 Career Turning Points
16:29 Collaboration Over Competition
21:49 Trends, Social Media, and Change
26:45 Grey Blending’s Future
34:21 Salon Owner vs Stylist
39:39 Early Influences and Mentors
44:55 Grief and Going Back to Work
54:38 Building a New Circle
59:23 Quickfire Favorites

 



 
RESOURCES

Connect with Jack Howard on Instagram @jackhowardcolor
Jack Howard The Salon click HERE
Book courses with Jack Howard HERE
Watch  Jacks interview on YouTube HERE
Connect with Nancy Stripe on Instagram @nancystripecolour
Sign up to the waitlist of Spotd getspotdapp.com
Connect with Spotd on Instagram @getspotdapp

Today I'm sitting down with a long‑overdue guest: Nancy Stripe. A proud Northerner who leads with warmth, Nancy shares how her roots shape the way she connects with clients and teaches colour—and why grey blending isn’t camouflage, it’s identity. We dive into the psychology of consultation, the emotionsshe listens for before choosing a shade, and the moment that flipped her mission toward helping clients embrace their natural canvas.

Nancy unpacks how to read the spectrum from lived‑in subtlety to bold statements, where technical precision ends and the real “colour therapy” begins, and why specialisation—done deeply and ethically—elevates results for both clients and pros. We explore the rule‑bending side of modern colour (yes, including peroxides), spotting true innovation versus trend noise, and how credible education can thrive in an AI‑saturated era.

Nancy Stripe is an award‑winning hair colourist, educator, and owner of Stripe Colour Studio in Handforth near Manchester, UK. She is widely recognised as a leading specialist in balayage, lived‑in colour, and natural greyblending/transitioning.

Plus, big news: Nancy is taking over the mic throughout September, hosting episodes with her invited guests. Don’t miss them—subscribe to How To Cut It wherever you get your podcasts.



 

CHAPTERS

9:06 Grey Blending Origins
16:44 Three Grey Blending Techniques
18:28 From Accident to Online Course
25:42 L'Oréal and Career Growth
28:28 Mastery, AI, and Authentic Voice
34:17 Psychology Behind Client Consultations
40:10 Grey Hair as Business
42:58 Drive, Team, and Social Fatigue
47:29 Upcoming Podcast Takeover

 


RESOURCES

For more on Stripe Colour Studio click HERE
Connect with Nancy on Instagram @nancystripecolour
Online courses with Nancy click HERE
Education with Nancy click HERE
Join the waitlist for Spotd by visiting getspotdapp.com
Watch the conversation with Nancy on our YouTube channel @howtocutit
Follow Spotd on Instagram @getspotdapp

Today I'm sitting down with a long‑overdue guest: Nancy Stripe. A proud Northerner who leads with warmth, Nancy shares how her roots shape the way she connects with clients and teaches colour—and why grey blending isn’t camouflage, it’s identity. We dive into the psychology of consultation, the emotions she listens for before choosing a shade, and the moment that flipped her mission toward helping clients embrace their natural canvas.

Nancy unpacks how to read the spectrum from lived‑in subtlety to bold statements, where technical precision ends and the real “colour therapy” begins, and why specialisation—done deeply and ethically—elevates results for both clients and pros. We explore the rule‑bending side of modern colour (yes, including peroxides), spotting true innovation versus trend noise, and how credible education can thrive in an AI‑saturated era.

Nancy Stripe is an award‑winning hair colourist, educator, and owner of Stripe Colour Studio in Handforth near Manchester, UK. She is widely recognised as a leading specialist in balayage, lived‑in colour, and natural greyblending/transitioning.

Plus, big news: Nancy is taking over the mic throughout September, hosting episodes with her invited guests. Don’t miss them—subscribe to How To Cut It wherever you get your podcasts.

 



 

CHAPTERS

9:06 Grey Blending Origins
16:44 Three Grey Blending Techniques
18:28 From Accident to Online Course
25:42 L'Oréal and Career Growth
28:28 Mastery, AI, and Authentic Voice
34:17 Psychology Behind Client Consultations
40:10 Grey Hair as Business
42:58 Drive, Team, and Social Fatigue
47:29 Upcoming Podcast Takeover

 


RESOURCES

For more on Stripe Colour Studio click HERE
Connect with Nancy on Instagram @nancystripecolour
Online courses with Nancy click HERE
Education with Nancy click HERE
Join the waitlist for Spotd by visiting getspotdapp.com
Watch the conversation with Nancy on our YouTube channel @howtocutit
Follow Spotd on Instagram @getspotdapp

In this episode of How To Cut It, I’m joined by Rio Agor Watts at Revlon Professional’s head office in London. Rio is Revlon's Group Education Manager for the UK and Ireland, and her job is to make sure education isn’t just “product info” — it’s practical, relevant, and actually works on the salon floor. We unpack what her role really involves, from shaping the learning experience hairdressers receive to the behind-the-scenes work that most people never see.

Rio takes us through her own journey too — getting into hairdressing young, finding confidence and purpose in the salon, then moving from a large salon group into an independent and eventually into corporate education. She shares what she had to learn the hard way, and the moments that made her realise she wasn’t just a stylist, she was someone who wanted to develop others.

We also get into what Rio believes the industry needs right now, especially around texture inclusivity and education that’s done with respect and integrity. She talks openly about her mixed Nigerian, white and Spanish background, how that shaped her identity and hair journey, and why asking better questions in the salon matters. Expect honest insight on confidence, communication, boundaries, and knowing your worth — from someone whose entire job is helping hairdressers grow.

 

 


RESOURCES

Revlon Professional Education click HERE
Connect with Revlon Professional UK on Instagram @revlonpro_education_uki
Revlon Official Learning Hub click HERE
Connect with Rio on Instagram @riorevlonprofessional
Watch the conversation on YouTube @howtocutit

 


CHAPTERS

5:11 Weight Loss and Confidence
7:48 Roots and Identity
10:17 Texture Education Matters
12:05 From Money to Passion
14:08 Finding Growth at Headmasters
15:40 Leaving the Salon Machine
16:53 Why Education Wins
22:21 Joining Revlon Professional
23:57 Escaping the Doom Loop
25:52 Social Media and Booking
26:28 Educators and New Courses
28:53 Look and Learn Model
29:43 Visionaries Mentorship Programme
30:38 Championing Texture Inclusion
33:26 Neurodiversity in Education
36:20 Industry-Ready Training
37:35 Modern Work Boundaries
39:35 Ambition and Burnout
41:43 Social Battery Strain
43:22 Selling Yourself Well
44:34 The Power of Stage
46:06 What Makes Presenters Shine
48:15 Real Communication Matters
49:50 Retaining Talent Together
51:56 Charging Your Worth
54:39 Color, Care, and Scalp
56:39 Hair Loss and Growth

I can’t believe we’ve reached our 400th episode of How To Cut It! I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate than by tackling the power of career pathways in hairdressing through apprenticeships—something I personally owe my 40-year career to. And to top it off, having a rising star in the industry who came through the KH Group apprenticeship program join us is the absolute perfect way to mark this milestone.

In this episode of How To Cut It, supported by Wella Professionals, I’m joined by KH Hair Managing Director Darren Messias, franchisee Dawn Bramhall, and award-winning stylist Amelia Krasinski to break down what makes a modern apprenticeship truly successful.

With over 100 years of heritage and 19 salons, KH Hair proves that growing homegrown talent is the ultimate engine for salon longevity. Both Darren and Dawn started as apprentices and built decades-long careers—proving that when you offer clear career pathing across creative, business, and educational routes, retention looks after itself.

We dive into the real talk around apprenticeship recruitment: tackling financial pressures, engaging secondary schools, and why KH Hair invests in a dedicated third "finishing year" at their academy to get young team members truly salon-ready.

Plus, Amelia shares her journey from a school careers fair to winning Wella TrendVision Gold, demonstrating how strong mentorship turns ambitious apprentices into the future stars of our industry.

Whether you’re a salon owner looking to strengthen your team or an educator passionate about raising industry standards, this episode is packed with practical strategies to future-proof your business.

 



 

CHAPTERS

3:53 KH Hair’s Career Journey
7:19 Finding Hairdressing Early
8:37 Why Apprenticeships Matter
10:43 Recruiting Amid Rising Costs
13:38 Spotting Passion In Interviews
16:22 Attracting Local Talent
19:27 Settling Apprentices In
20:54 Leading With Support
22:44 A Longer Training Path
25:03 Learning Through Mistakes
28:02 Handling Apprentice Doubt
31:58 Money, Motivation, And Growth
35:30 Mentorship Builds Confidence
38:26 Retention Through Opportunity
41:54 TrendVision Gold Journey
48:44 The Future Of Apprenticeships

 



 

RESOURCES

Follow the KH Hair: @khhairgroup

Explore the brand:khhairgroup.co.uk

Upskill your talent: Wella Professionals Education Portal

Connect with Wella Professionals UKI: @wellaprofessionalsuki

Enter Wella Trendvison:Wella TrendVision