Poppy was always a creative child – huge personality, very quick to talk and dancing all the time! She was confident and outgoing, and even back then, I had this feeling she’d make an amazing hairdresser.
But she had other ideas! She was determined to do something so far away from what I did; she wanted to be her own person.
When she rang me after finishing her law degree and said, “Mum, I really hate this,” I wasn’t surprised. We were living in Madrid at the time, and I told her to come out for six months, to do something different and find herself. The rest is history! I felt really happy when she decided to go into hairdressing because I knew that I’d had an amazing life from it, and I always believe that you’ve got to do what your heart tells you.
To be honest, when I sold Angels (my first business) and we moved abroad, I thought I was never having another salon. I absolutely adored it, but I’d fallen out of love with salon life. I was still enjoying working behind the chair a little, but the whole HR and politics had drained me.
I said, “I really don’t want to do this again, Poppy”. And she said, “But Mum, we could do it together. It’ll be different!” When we first opened French & Ivi, the idea was always that I would help Poppy build the salon up, and then she would take over – and that’s exactly what’s happened. She has taken it and made it her own.
Creatively, Poppy’s young and funky, and she’s got her own little trendy ways. And I’m quite classic, but I’m very artistic – so I’d say we’re different, but we come together really well. When we do shows or shoots now, I don’t even have to say anything – one look or a side-eye and we just get it. I honestly don’t think there’s a downside to working together. Yes, we are a mum and daughter, but we’re actually just friends as well.
As a child, I remember the salon was always hustle and bustle. I basically lived there! I loved to go in and steal the cookies, and I remember being dragged along to photoshoots, which was always fun. From an early age, I probably soaked up a lot without even realising it. I always knew Mum was incredibly successful, but I didn’t really understand it until I messed up my own hair when I was about 15. I begged her to fix it, and she said, “You’ll have to wait two weeks, I’m fully booked!”
Growing up, there was this huge misconception for me that you have to be a doctor, a lawyer or an accountant. I thought, ‘Well, I’ll be a lawyer because I want to make money and have a good life.’
I’m not really the kind of person who wants things handed to me on a plate; I like to do it my own way. There was a bit of defiance too, but I did the law degree and thought, ‘Oh my goodness, this is not for me.’ It was so boring! I got a job in a salon in London as a receptionist, and after about two days I was like, ‘Why am I watching people do this? I don’t want to be answering the phones, I want to DO the hair!’
Mum is amazing. I’m confident in saying that she’s genuinely one of the best hairdressers I’ve ever seen in my life. There’s a mutual respect, and I think that’s why it works. Taking over the salon has been a natural process. Mum’s stepped back a little bit more, and I’ve taken on more decisions. The next step is just for me to fully take over.
We are really similar in most ways, but I would say I am more black and white, and I’m a bit more brutal and honest. She’s like, really nicey-nicey, and I’m like, “Get your stuff out of the way!”. Outside of work, we still always chat about hair. We both love fashion, make-up, going to the gym, shopping and food – like we literally are the same person! I feel positive about the future for French & Ivi. As long as I can keep people happy like my mum has always done, then I think it will be okay.
Who’s the bigger perfectionist?
Poppy: Mum, 100%.
Who’s the chattiest?
Poppy.
Who takes longer to get ready for a night out?
Poppy, although we’re both pretty quick.
If you had to describe your partnership in three words, what would they be?
Poppy: Open, close, fun.
Tracey: It’s just wonderful.
Are there any other mother/daughter partnerships you admire?
Tracey: Beverly C and Jordanna Cobella. Beverly was one of my hair heroes in the 90s, and seeing Jordanna come through reminds me so much of me and Poppy. If you two weren’t in the hair industry,
What’s another job you could imagine doing together?
Poppy: Interior design.
Tracey: She literally read my mind!
