In this episode of CABELO – The Root of It All, I sit down with barber, hair replacement specialist and business owner Lesley Reay for an honest conversation about changing careers, taking risks and finding the courage to go all in.

Lesley takes me back to a moment that completely changed the direction of her life. After being sacked from her job in retail and then finding out she was pregnant just two weeks later, a series of unexpected events eventually led her to retrain as a barber at the age of 29.

We talk about starting again, becoming a single parent, being told she was too old for an apprenticeship and entering a traditionally male-dominated industry where not everyone believed she would succeed. Rather than letting those experiences stop her, Lesley used them as motivation to prove what she was capable of.

After building a successful career and becoming fully booked as a barber, Lesley found herself looking for her next challenge. That's when she discovered hair systems.

What initially began as something she planned to offer alongside barbering quickly grew into a completely new direction for her career. Eventually, Lesley reached a point where she knew she had to take the leap, leave traditional barbering behind and build something of her own.

We talk about creating a private space where clients experiencing hair loss feel comfortable, the deeper relationships that come with working in hair replacement and how the move has changed Lesley's life both professionally and personally.

Lesley also opens up about the financial impact of moving into hair systems, working smarter rather than simply working more, overcoming burnout and gaining something incredibly important to her — more freedom and more time with her son.

In this episode:

• Getting sacked and unexpectedly starting again

• Becoming a mum and retraining at 29

• Breaking into the barbering industry

• Proving people wrong in a male-dominated profession

• Going from fully booked barber to hair replacement specialist

• Discovering the opportunity in hair systems

• Finding the courage to go all in

• Starting her own business

• Building deeper relationships with hair loss clients

• Working smarter and overcoming burnout

• Creating more freedom and time with family

• Saying yes to new opportunities and what's next

This is a conversation about starting again, backing yourself and having the courage to take an opportunity when you know it's time for something more.

Welcome to The Root of It

In Episode 3 of CABELO – The Root of It All, I sit down with hairdresser and entrepreneur Kirsty Woolnough for an incredibly open and honest conversation about hair, business, mental health and finding purpose through some of life's most difficult moments.

Kirsty takes me back to where her career began and how her passion for creativity eventually led her into hairdressing. We talk about building a loyal client base, taking risks in business and the rather unconventional decision to convert a bus into a mobile salon during lockdown.

But behind the success, Kirsty was facing a much more personal battle.

She opens up about being diagnosed with bipolar II, experiencing some of the darkest periods of her life and the impact it had on her relationships, family and career. We also talk about the misconceptions surrounding bipolar, learning to manage the condition and why Kirsty now believes it can sometimes be her superpower.

We also explore how a client's experience with cancer changed the direction of Kirsty's career and sparked her passion for hair loss, hair enhancements and hair replacement. Today, she's using everything she's learned to help people feel more confident in themselves and has exciting plans to educate other professionals and make these services more accessible.

In this episode:

• Kirsty's journey into hairdressing

• Building a business and taking risks

• Her bipolar II diagnosis and mental health journey

• The reality of working while struggling behind the scenes

• Why hair can mean so much more than appearance

• Moving into hair loss and hair replacement

• Turning difficult experiences into purpose

• Kirsty's plans for the future

This is a powerful conversation about resilience, ambition, mental health and the importance of doing something that gives you purpose.

Welcome to The Root of It All.

Welcome to CABELO – The Root of It All.

I'm Rob Wood, founder of Novo Cabelo, and through this podcast I sit down with industry professionals, business owners and inspiring people to uncover the stories, experiences and lessons that have shaped their careers.

In this episode, I'm joined by Vikki Harrison-Smith, founder of SB Barbering Academy. With more than 30 years in the barbering industry, Vikki shares her journey from apprentice to academy owner, why education and confidence go hand in hand, and how barbering has evolved over the years.

We also discuss entrepreneurship, mentoring the next generation, and why more people are choosing creative careers over traditional corporate paths.

Whether you're a barber, hair professional, business owner, or simply enjoy honest conversations with passionate people, there's plenty to take away from this episode.

Subscribe to CABELO – The Root of It All for more conversations with inspiring guests from the worlds of hair, business and beyond.