How To Cut It in the Hairdressing Industry

We are thrilled to bring you part three of our Residency Takeover with our guest host, the award-winning colourist and educator, Nancy Stripe. In this episode, Nancy sits down with Nardia Young, a prominent British hair colour specialist and global educator based in Birmingham with over 28 years of experience. As a world-renowned Grey Blending Expert, Nardia has spent her career transforming high-maintenance tint cycles into seamless, natural silver hair.

Nardia has taken the industry by storm, but her success is built on years of hands-on experience and a deep understanding of hair health. In this conversation today, she demystifies the technical challenges of working with dark-haired canvases and the importance of precise execution. Beyond the chemistry and the colour, Nardia and Nancy explore the emotional journey of grey blending—why it is about more than just technique; it is about helping clients embrace their natural identity.

If you want to move beyond the traditional tint cycle and master the art of seamless silver transformation, this episode is a must-listen. Tune in as Nardia shares her journey, professional lessons from the salon floor, and the secrets to helping your clients fall in love with their hair all over again.

 


CHAPTERS

4:50 Nadia’s Origin Story
6:18 Brave Lift Techniques
7:59 Grey Blending Takes Shape
11:39 Preventing Hair Breakage
16:10 Consultation and Commitment
21:22 Toughest Hair Cases
25:34 Product Must-Haves
28:56 Braver Grey Blends
30:31 Pricing the Process
34:10 Community and Controversy
35:19 The Rami Incident
41:40 Future of Grey Blending
44:25 Quickfire Favourite's

 


RESOURCES

Connect with Nardia on Instagram @hairbynardia
Nardia's The Global Grey Blending Handbook click HERE
1-1 Grey Blending Call click HERE
Connect with Nancy Stripe on Instagram @nancystripecolour
Sign up to the waitlist of Spotd getspotdapp.com
Connect with Spotd on Instagram @getspotdapp

For today’s takeover episode, our month-long residency guest host Nancy Stripe sits down with the visionary Catherine Handcock OBE, a pioneering British publisher and leading advocate for the UK hair and beauty sector. As the founder of Creative HEAD and a director of the British Beauty Council, Catherine has spent decades championing professional excellence, building prestigious awards platforms, and lobbying for vital industry recognition.

Nancy and Catherine discuss the evolution of hairdressing as a vibrant, interconnected community and the power of storytelling through media. Catherine pulls back the curtain on how she successfully bridged the gap between salon life and the wider professional world, helping to set new standards for the entire industry.

They also explore the importance of recognising emerging talent and the necessity of giving a voice to those challenging the status quo. Discover why Catherine believes in innovation over tradition and why a commitment to unique vision is the ultimate tool for long-term success.

Tune in for an insightful conversation on entrepreneurship, the impact of professional advocacy, and how to build a legacy that changes an industry for the better. Whether you are seeking professional inspiration or strategic guidance, this episode offers a roadmap for leading with both passion and true purpose.

 



 
CHAPTERS

4:28 The OBE Story
8:29 Creative Head’s Legacy
24:11 New Focus Ahead
27:43 Reaching Future Hairdressers
33:39 Neurodiversity in Salons
42:07 Industry Icons and Inspiration
50:27 The Future of Hairdressing
56:28 Quickfire Questions

 


RESOURCES

Learn more on The Industry  HERE
Connect with The Industry on Instagram @theindustrysquad
Sign up for Destination Hair HERE
For more on Creative Head Magazine Click HERE
Watch a Life In Hairdressing
Connect with Creative Head on Instagram @creativeheadmag
Connect with Catherine Handcock OBE on LinkedIn HERE
Find out more on the British Beauty Council HERE
Connect with Nancy Stripe on Instagram @nancystripecolour
Sign up to the waitlist of Spotd getspotdapp.com
Connect with Spotd on Instagram @getspotdapp

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