Sheila: Casey, congratulations on being crowned the Vivid Colour winner in our 2025 Freelance Awards! Tell me, what sparked your passion for vivid colour and how did your journey in hairdressing begin?
Casey: I first got into hairdressing in Swansea. I started out as an apprentice, but if I’m honest, it just didn’t work for me. So, I stepped away from hair altogether, had a bit of time out, then came back to it properly at 19 as a full-time mature student at college. That’s where I did my NVQ Level 2 and 3. It was after finishing Level 3 that I really got into photoshoots, and that opened the door to a job in Cardiff, where my love of colour really took off. The vivid stuff came a bit later. Right before Covid, I felt this growing need – not just from clients, but from myself – to do more creative work. I was craving placements, mixology and colours that felt a bit mad in the best way.
During lockdown, I went all in. I bought 20 doll’s heads, ordered a load of colour and just started creating vivid tutorials from home. That was a turning point. What started as creative play ended up becoming a core part of my professional work: shoots, wigs, shows, salon clients… everything!
Sheila: Yes, lockdown really did change a lot of people’s career directions. You’ve built a strong personal brand as a freelancer, when did you decide to go outon your own and what motivated that move?
Casey: Even though I was employed for much of my career, I’ve been freelance since the start of 2018. I closed my salon and made the jump because I wanted to focus on myself, to stop pouring money into overheads and wages, and start reaping the benefits of my own hard work.
That said, freelancing isn’t for everyone. I’ve just reopened Chair Salons as a co-working freelance space, and it’s taken all the pressure off managing a team. It’s a place where other freelancers can come in, feel supported and still run their own business with none of the loneliness I felt at the start of my freelance journey.
I’ll be honest, working alone hit me really hard at one point; my mental health really took a dip. That’s one of the reasons I created Chair Salons in the way I did – a shared space, built around community.
Everyone runs their own business, but no one has to feel alone.
Sheila: I think it’s wonderful to recognise that emotion, and then open a space to help combat it. What advice would you give to others looking to make the jump?
Casey: Don’t do it completely solo. We’re social creatures; look for a co-working salon or a shared space so you’re around like-minded people. Unless you’re really mentally strong, going at it alone can be incredibly isolating.
Sheila: That’s exactly why I created the FHA – in order for freelancers not to be alone and still have that community we all need. You’ve been refreshingly open about mental health – why do you think it’s important for people in our industry to talk about it more?
Casey: Mental health has been a taboo in this industry for too long. People shy away from it, but I’m open about my experiences because I know it helps others. Someone in the industry once accused me of talking about it for likes, which was hurtful, but also completely missed the point. It’s not about views; it’s about connection. A problem shared really is a problem halved.
Sheila: I totally agree. What are some of the ways you look after your own mental wellbeing, especially as a freelancer?
Casey: I go to therapy, I make time for friends and family, I use the sauna and cold plunge, I train and I lean on my creative work to keep me grounded. Even the salon environment itself – with its calming music, scent and light – is designed to help.
Sheila: You’ve certainly mastered the art of attention-grabbing content, but a lot of our members struggle with confidence on camera – how did you find your voice online and how can others do the same?
Casey: As for content creation, I think the secret to engaging people is simple: be yourself and have fun with it. Hairdressing doesn’t have to be so serious all the time; you can still be professional and have a laugh. That’s what I try to do – I have fun with my work, and I think people connect with that.
Sheila: Excellent! Lastly, if you could give one tip to every freelance colourist out there trying to get noticed, what would it be?
Casey: Inject a bit of fun into your work, man! Let that joy come through online, that’s what people respond to.
