How To Cut It in the Hairdressing Industry

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

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