EP404: Catherine Handcock OBE — Shaping The 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

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

Get ready to meet K18 FutureIQ™! This special episode in partnership with K18, recorded in front of a live audience at SALT Salon London, isn't just a conversation – it's a genuine line-in-the-sand moment, truly redefining hairdressing's future! I'm incredibly excited to be joined by co-founder and CEO of K18, Suveen Sahib and global brand ambassador Tom Smith. We're diving deep into the revolutionary K18 FUTUREIQ™ launch to uncover why hair longevity is not just a buzzword, but the undeniable future of proactive hair care – a future K18 FutureIQ™ is instrumental in shaping. Discover Suveen's incredible journey from high-stakes technology to bioscience, as he details the pivotal 'aha!' moments that led to profound insights into hair biology and ultimately, K18's creation through vital stylist collaboration. Tom will then equip you with salon-ready practical insights, revealing the key emerging trends and client demands poised to define the future of proactive hair care. This is profoundly game-changing: we delve into K18's revolutionary focus on premature hair aging, meticulously connecting shedding, scalp health, and even early greys directly to oxidative load within the hair follicle. Beyond the vital science, we provide your essential toolkit: how to confidently discuss this shift in the chair, who FutureIQ™ is for, its incredibly simple nightly application, and the transformative, realistic results to expect over just 30-90 days. This episode is packed with monumental lessons designed to ignite your passion, elevate your expertise, and powerfully transform your approach – from mastering hair biology to seeing hair health as smart, scalable business for your salon.    CHAPTERS 3:55 K18’s Origin Story 8:54 From Tech to Hair 12:50 Why Premature Aging Matters 20:08 Spotting Early Hair Aging 21:37 Defining Hair Longevity 27:58 Future IQ Science 33:13 Reading Hair Stress 34:36 Hair Aging vs Loss 35:56 Simple Daily Application 41:38 What to Expect 46:09 The Scalp Frontier 47:41 Salon Wellness Shift 52:10 Future Trends Ahead 54:27 Biohacking the Hair 58:47 Bridging Clients and Experts 1:01:44 Who Future IQ Suits 1:03:06 Why a Serum 1:04:11 Hairline Performance     RESOURCES CONNECT WITH K18 ON INSTAGRAM @K18hair_uk and @K18hair FIND OUT MORE ON K18 AND FUTUREIQ™ ONLINE HERE CONNECT WITH SUVEEN SAHIB ON INSTAGRAM @suveensahib CONNECT WITH TOM SMITH ON INSTAGRAM @tomsmithhd

Where can a career in hair really take you? That’s the question at the heart of this episode—and why I’m sharing a special Whair To (W-H-A-I-R To) sampler with you. Whair To is the new short, punchy, question-led podcast from the soon to launch hair industry opportunity platform Spotd, built around real stories from people working across our industry. No heavy studio chat. No host. Just straight-to-the-point answers that show the many different routes a hairdressing or barbering career can open up. In this best-of selection, you’ll hear: Paul Corbett (Director of Advanced Education at Francesco Hair Salons) on going from apprentice to creative director, salon owner and international educator—and why simply showing up to events, learning from others, and committing to mentorship can change everything. Lawson Bliss on entering the industry almost by accident, finding his feet in Birmingham, and discovering that understanding the business side of hair can be the difference between a job and a long-term career—plus what it meant to open a salon with his mum. Jax Hirst (founder of the Never Just Hair Facebook group) on freelancing, running a home studio, building education and mentoring projects, and the realities of boundaries, energy, communication—and knowing when to ask for help. Rob Howes (Wella Professionals) on a journey that’s taken him from college to cruise ships, salon life and education, into digital and data—alongside a setback that taught him resilience and proved just how many directions this industry can take you. If you’ve ever wondered what’s possible in hair beyond the chair—or you’re looking for that spark of motivation—this one’s for you. And if you want the full stories, you can find the complete episodes by subscribing to Whair To? wherever you get your podcasts. Hit play, and see WHAIR hair can take you!   CHAPTERS 0:10 Podcast Intro 0:57 Introducing WHAIR To? 2:34 Spotd Launch 5:00 Paul’s Career Journey 8:56 Lawson’s Salon Story 11:14 Jax Builds Community 15:04 Rob’s Education Path 18:23 Wrap-Up   RESOURCES Learn more on Spotd by going to getspotdapp.com Connect with Spotd on Instagram @getspotdapp Listen and subscribe to WHAIR To? podcast on Apple Podcasts HERE Listen and subscribe to WHAIR To? podcast on Spotify HERE Connect with Rob Howes on Instagram @thewellahairguy Connect with Jax Hirst on Instagram @jaxrhair Connect with Lawson Bliss Instagram @lawsonbliss  Connect with Paul Corbett Instagram @paulcorbett.hairdresser

Can a hairdresser and brand truly serve both consumers and the industry? That’s the hook of this episode—and the focus of our follow-up to our most-downloaded podcast of 2025. Recorded live at HairCon, with renowned celebrity hairstylist and founder of mdlondon, Michael Douglas. Friend of the How To Cut It podcast, Michael Douglas is back to share why he’s returned to an industry event after building a consumer-led platform and launching mdlondon tools and styling products. He argues there’s no real divide between “professional” and “consumer” because it’s the same client, and says his lockdown Instagram Lives proved that sharing expertise fuels salon bookings rather than replacing them. Michael addresses the industry backlash he faced, charts mdlondon’s evolution—from a shelved cordless concept during lockdown supply issues to early sales struggles and a Black Friday turnaround—and urges hairdressers to share knowledge, go live to attract clients, and help bring new talent into the industry. This is a conversation you’ll have an opinion on, either way!   Chapters   4:19 Lockdown Consumer Pivot 11:12 Lives Build Demand 15:58 MD London Origin 18:47 Shampoo Myths 20:05 Retailing in Salons 25:22 Building the Next Generation 27:17 Breaking Into Celebrity 29:14 Education and Opportunity 31:04 Salon Partnership Deal     Resources MD London Website: mdlondon.com  MD London on Instagram: @mdlondon HairCon on Instagram @hairconshow Spotd App find out more getspotdapp.com Connect with Spotd on Instagram @getspotdapp How To Cut It on Instagram @howtocutit

Still guessing your prices? If you’re a freelance hairdresser or salon owner who feels guilty raising rates, this episode is your permission slip—and your plan. In this How To Cut It panel, Georgia Bell, Ruth Lundstrum (Freelance Suite), Samantha Toogood, and Samantha Blues reveal why hair pros undercharge and how to price with confidence. We strip emotion from money, swap rigid menus for bespoke, hair-type packages, and build pricing that covers wages, tax/VAT, profit, pensions, sick pay, education, and cancellations. Ruth busts the “clients can’t afford it” myth—spending is a choice—and shares real numbers, including intentionally outpriced services that prove value sells. Learn when to raise prices, how to stay booked, and the differences between salon and solo realities, plus the financial gaps NVQs leave behind. CHAPTERS 0:05: Pricing Playbook Kickoff 7:47: VAT, Value, and Priorities 11:19: Real Rates, Real Services 18:10: Fear, Packages, and Price Hikes 20:31: Money, Greed, and Freedom 24:40: Educate, Earn, and Level Up 25:54: Business Basics and Profit 27:34: Comfortable Living Defined 28:36: Property, Branding, and Pensions 31:16: Financial Education for All RESOURCES REGISTER TO JOIN SPOTD HERE FREELANCER SUITE CLICK HERE SAMANTHA BLUES CSI CLICK HERE GEORGIA BELL EDUCATION CLICK HERE @georgiagracebell/ @ruth__lund @samanthabluescolourcoach @toogood_hair_well_being_