Hairdressing is my soulmate. It’s strange but true! And while blonde built my business, it is the people I have supported along the way who have given this journey its real purpose. Blonde opened the doors, but mentoring others… that is where I have genuinely felt I have made a difference. I have built my entire career around sharing what I know. Whether I am teaching a colour course, presenting on stage or delivering a blonding session to a room full of stylists, influencers and press, it all comes from one place. I want others to grow, and blonde has given me the perfect platform to do that.
I recognised very early on that blonde was my thing; it was the one area where I could combine creativity with commercial sense. So, it made perfect sense to build education around it too.
My blonde course with Schwarzkopf Professional was born from that idea. It blends natural, low-maintenance colour with precise, profitable technique. It is now a go-to course for so many hairdressers who want to understand not just how to create seamless blondes, but how to do it in a way that strengthens their business. That balance between creativity and commerciality is something I am extremely proud to share. Inside the salon, education is constant. Weekly colour training, technique refreshers, best practice sessions, all of it ensures that every blonde client walking through our door gets the very best of us. Education is not separate from the business; it is part of who we are.
In 11 years, I have only said goodbye to three team members – Katie Mulcahy, Brooke Evans and James Nicklin. All of them have gone on to build successful futures, which I encouraged and supported wholeheartedly. I mentored them all on the things people do not always talk about openly – finance, forecasting, creating collections and confidence. And honestly, I could not feel prouder. Helping others rise is not a threat to your own success; it is part of your legacy. That is the thing with building a blonde-focused business: When you are known for a specialism, people want to learn from you. That creates a natural culture of mentorship. I make sure I am present in my salon – I am there to answer questions, offer guidance, challenge ideas and celebrate growth. I count my success in how I have helped others reach their potential. That has always been the real goal.
My work with Schwarzkopf Professional as a BLONDME Ambassador for 11 years has been one of the most rewarding parts of my career.
Supporting its education programmes, mentoring the Young Artistic Team, travelling for research and development sessions – all of it ties back to my belief that blonde business is not just about lightener and toners; it is about education, innovation and pushing things forward.
The same goes for my stage work and the press interviews and opinion pieces I am regularly invited to contribute to. Blonde put me in those rooms, but staying engaged, curious and hands on is what keeps me relevant. This industry evolves fast, and I stay sharp by surrounding myself with emerging talent, new ideas and future-focused conversations. Working with the next generation keeps me inspired. They challenge me as much as I guide them, and that mutual learning is what keeps the fire burning.
If you truly own your niche, it becomes more than a service; it becomes a platform to educate, to mentor and to grow people’s careers. Your niche can be the thing that sets your salon apart creatively, but it can also be the thing that sets you apart as a leader. At The Hair Surgery, blonde did that for me. Blonde built the business, but education and mentorship shaped the legacy.
