How did your journey into hairdressing begin?
Sheree: Our journeys actually began on very different paths. One of us went straight into hairdressing from school, while the other trained as an accountant before realising her heart had always been in hair. What started as two separate careers slowly began to intertwine. The moment we realised we wanted to work together wasn’t a big, dramatic decision; it happened naturally. We found ourselves collaborating on weddings, and we noticed that something really special happened when we combined our strengths. That’s when it clicked: together, we are better.
What’s it like mixing family and business?
Zoë: Being sisters brings a deep level of trust, honesty and understanding that you simply can’t manufacture in business. As twins, our bond is built on respect; we can look at each other and know we’ve always got each other’s backs. The positives far outweigh the challenges.
How would you describe each other’s hairdressing styles, and how do they complement one another?
Zoë: Sheree’s style is rooted in creativity – polished, modern and empowering – with a strong focus on bridal and editorial hair. I bring a more holistic and thoughtful approach, with styles that feel natural, conscious and deeply client focused.
Is it all teamwork in the salon?
Sheree: Yes, there’s no ego between us. If one shines, we both shine. We genuinely want the best for each other, and that energy flows through the salon, onto wedding mornings and into every space we work in.
How do you switch off from work when you’re also sisters outside the salon?
Zoë: We’re big fans of girly holidays, and this year we’re heading to Reims in France to indulge in our shared love of champagne! Making time for fun keeps our relationship healthy and grounded.
How did your journey into hairdressing begin?
Kelly: We come from a long line of hairdressers – our grandmother owned three salons and our mum worked for her. I only got into hairdressing because mum wanted me to get a job and our nan convinced me to try an apprenticeship. At first, I took it just to keep them happy, but when I was offered a job in a bank a couple of months later, I realised I was enjoying hairdressing so much that I stayed.
Sally: I took a different route, starting out in catering and completing a specialist chef course. After four years of long hours and missing home life, I decided to change careers. I thought, ‘If Kelly can do it, so can I,’ so I applied for an apprenticeship at the salon where she worked.
Kelly: When our grandmother passed away, our parents used her inheritance to help us open our own salon, and that’s how Inspire was born.
Do you have clearly defined roles in the salon?
Kelly: Yes, very clear! Sally handles admin and technology and I manage the staff and wages. The big decisions are made together, and if we can’t agree, Mum gets the final say.
Is there ever any sisterly competition?
Sally: Of course – otherwise it wouldn’t be as fun!
How do you switch off from work when you’re also sisters outside the salon?
Sally: That’s a hard one! I don’t think you ever really switch off. We come from a family where everyone runs businesses in different professions, and when we get together, we tend to talk about work – whether it’s struggles or successes. It’s how we support each other and share ideas to help improve things.
Kelly: Sally and I once went on a family holiday for our brother’s wedding, during which we weren’t allowed to talk about work. We lasted five days out of the two weeks!
What advice would you give to other siblings thinking about going into business together?
Sally: Your sibling should be your biggest asset; blood really is thicker than water. Your sibling should support you, look out for you and let you be yourself without judgment.
How did your journey into hairdressing begin?
Jo: There are two and a half years between us, so when Sam started her hairdressing apprenticeship, I followed her in as the Saturday girl. I loved it immediately and spent as much time as possible practising and learning. We both left school with strong skills, and were soon running our own columns.
We never sat down and decided we had to work together! I’m sure Sam wasn’t thrilled about her little sister muscling in on her territory, but we were both ambitious. Before long, Sam was the manager, and I was her assistant.
Has being sisters made it easier, harder or both?
Sam: Honestly, it’s both. It can be hard, but we learnt to be professional and leave sisterly squabbles at the door. In many ways, it’s actually made us respect each other more.
Jo: It’s made us incredibly open and honest with each other too. Neither of us is afraid to call each other out… which is probably both a blessing and a curse!
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt from working together?
Jo: Not to take each other for granted and to always communicate. We’ve also learnt just how deeply personal hair really is. Sam experienced extreme hair loss following weight loss surgery, and I’ve dealt with ongoing thinning due to PCOS. Going through that ourselves aligned our goals as a business in a very real way.
Have there been any sister disagreements, and how do you resolve them?
Jo: We’ve never had a full-blown argument, but we definitely have different tastes. When we rebranded and moved into our new salon, we disagreed on certain colours and design choices, but compromised. The end result is something we are both incredibly proud of. Sometimes I need reigning in – and Sam is very good at that!
What advice would you give to other siblings thinking about going into business together?
Sam: It’s bloody hard work and takes real ambition. You have to be prepared to prop each other up when things are tough. There will be moments when you question everything, but if you’re willing to play the long game, communicate honestly and grow together, it can be incredibly powerful.
