From leaving school at 16 and starting as a plasterer to finding hairdressing by chance, Mustafa Hassan maps a career built through apprenticeship, London training, and a Vidal Sassoon diploma. He talks about the people and moments that raised his standards, including mentors at John Frieda and a turning point in Kent that showed him he could build his own brand.

Plus: opening his first salon in Royal Tunbridge Wells, the challenge of staying true to his principles, and the discipline he says matters most—consistent practice, using time well, and developing physical skills over wasting time online. He also reflects on community, creative growth, and making career decisions that match your values.

Produced and published by How To Cut It Media

Spotd is the soon to launch professional opportunity platform built for the hair industry. Only. ✂️ Join the waitlist at getspotdapp.com

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Todays Guest

Mustafa Hassan is a renowned hairdresser and co-owner of The Studio Hair Salon in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent[. Established in 2010 with Natalie Hassan, The Studio celebrates creativity and is a cornerstone of the local community. Mustafa's journey into hair began unexpectedly, transitioning from an apprentice plasterer to a professional hairdresser. He has achieved recognition in the industry, including Wella Professionals Trend Vision, showcasing his commitment to excellence and continuous development in his craft. His career exemplifies passion, discipline, and a dedication to forging strong community connections.

The Studio @mustafa2184

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Cherise Davies—an award-winning salon owner in North Wales—shares her journey from YTS apprentice and cruise-liner stylist to educator, salon owner, and now tech founder.

After leaving education when her standards were challenged, she opened her salon as a single parent with very little money, and today that business supports her next venture: ZigStock, an AI-powered, voice-controlled inventory app for the hair and beauty industry. She also underscores the importance of strong systems, stock control, consistency, and hiring the right people.

Produced and published by How To Cut It Media

Spotd is the soon to launch professional opportunity platform built for the hair industry. Only. ✂️ Join the waitlist at getspotdapp.com

Connect with Spotd on Instagram @getspotdapp

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Todays Guest

Cherise Davies is an award-winning North Wales salon owner and founder of ZigStock—the simple, AI-powered, voice-controlled stock app built for hair and beauty pros who need every penny to count. Not a techie, just practical, she launched her salon as a single mum of two boys with 69 pence in the bank. After losing her dad young and watching her mum raise three kids alone, Cherise brings grit, grace, and a no-nonsense, people-first approach to building tools—and businesses—that work.

Zigstock.com

@zigstock_

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Carla Kirkpatrick—founder of Hello You Studio and known as Carla the Curl Coach—shares how discovering a gap in her training pushed her to specialise in curls. After investing in curl education, her confidence (and business) took off: more ideal clients, stronger rebooking, and eventually her own studio.

In this episode, Carla breaks down her curl-first approach—next-level consultations, client education, and simple routines that help people finally understand and love their natural texture. She also dives into how she’s training other stylists through Hello Curls sessions and building community with Curls Club, so curls get the care (and respect) they deserve.

Produced and published by How To Cut It Media

Spotd is the soon to launch professional opportunity platform built for the hair industry. Only. ✂️ Join the waitlist at getspotdapp.com

Connect with Spotd on Instagram @getspotdapp

Follow Spotd on TikTok @getspotdapp

Todays Guest

Carla Kirkpatrick is the owner of Hello You Studio, a Nottingham-based hairdresser known for creating beautiful, personalised hair in a calm, friendly, inclusive space. With over 15 years’ experience, she combines creativity with a people-first approach that keeps clients feeling understood and looked after. Carla is committed to continual training, including specialist education in curly hair cutting and advanced cutting at the Sassoon Academy. Always curious about what’s next in hair, she brings fresh skills and excitement to every appointment.

@carlathecurlcoach

helloyouhairstyling.co.uk

@helloyoustudionottingham

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In this episode, Maria Evangelou shares her journey through the hair industry—from high-end salons to opening and running her own salon and going on to create a holistic business that helps other salon owners. She explains how a recession, combined with health challenges, left her overwhelmed and led to burnout—prompting her to rethink what “success” looks like behind the chair.

Maria unpacks the holistic approach she’s built to help hairdressers sustain long careers, bringing emotional wellbeing, financial reality, and day-to-day operations together rather than treating them as separate problems. She also talks about how writing for trade journals strengthened her confidence and helped validate her message, and how that work has grown into workshops, retreats, and collaborations with salons and brands.

She closes by reflecting on how the pandemic proved the importance of wellbeing-led business, and why nutrition and self-care matter even more for hairdressers working long, irregular hours.

Produced and published by How To Cut It Media

Spotd is the soon to launch professional opportunity platform built for the hair industry. Only. ✂️ Join the waitlist at getspotdapp.com

Connect with Spotd on Instagram @getspotdapp

Follow Spotd on TikTok @getspotdapp

Todays Guest

Maria Evangelou is a holistic business and wellbeing coach supporting salon owners, small businesses, and creatives. After running a busy Birmingham high-street salon, she faced illness, grief, debt, and burnout behind the scenes. That turning point led her to rebuild with balance, transform her business, and ultimately sell the salon. Today, Maria brings real industry experience and practical, soulful tools through one-to-one coaching, workshops, and retreats—helping professionals lead with clarity and confidence, without sacrificing their health or happiness.

@mariaevangelou

mariaevangelou.co.uk

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In this episode, Rob Howse introduces his path through the hair industry, from college and cruise ship work to salon chains in the UK, and his current role as Digital Platforms and Data Manager at Wella Professionals UKI. He explains how the Wella Color Expert course shifted his view of education and led him into teaching, while international Wella TrendVision work widened his network and influenced how he plans and delivers learning.

Rob also discusses how lockdown pushed him to build his digital and social media skills, including educating on camera and creating content without immediate audience feedback. Rob reflects on the challenges and rewards of building digital education resources, the resilience he learned from losing a rented salon space, and the mindset principle he calls “pep in my step,” which stands for purpose, energy, and progression.

Rob closes by talking about being named Wella Educator of the Year three times, developing a freelance education hub, and exploring AI tools to respond more quickly to trends.

Produced and published by How To Cut It Media

Spotd is the soon to launch professional opportunity platform built for the hair industry. Only. ✂️ Join the waitlist at getspotdapp.com

Connect with Spotd on Instagram @getspotdapp

Follow Spotd on TikTok @getspotdapp

Todays Guest

Rob Howse (often searched as Rob Howes) is Digital Platforms & Data Manager for Wella Professionals UK & Ireland. With 27+ years in hairdressing, including 16 years with Wella and 14 as an educator, he leads digital education platforms, manages pro industry data, and builds training resources that help stylists and colorists develop skills and stay trend-ready.

Wella Education

@thewellahairguy

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In this episode, we welcome Samantha Blues—a Scotland-based hairdresser, colour specialist, and educator—whose work now centres on colour science, cosmetic chemistry, and tackling misinformation in the industry.

She shares why she created Colour Science & Investigation (CSI), a membership platform that breaks down the “why” behind formulas, how toners behave, and how to explain outcomes clearly to clients and teams. Samantha reflects on her early years as an all-rounder, the leap into salon ownership, and the overseas mentors who helped sharpen and share her knowledge.

She also talks about becoming a member of ID Artist after a determined audition, the confidence that education can unlock, and the day-to-day juggle of salon work, teaching, writing, and family life.

Produced and published by How To Cut It Media

Spotd is the soon to launch professional opportunity platform built for the hair industry. Only. ✂️ Join the waitlist at getspotdapp.com

Connect with Spotd on Instagram @getspotdapp

Follow Spotd on TikTok @getspotdapp

Todays Guest

Samantha Blues is a hair colour educator and the founder of Colour Science Investigation (CSI). Known for her clear, science-led approach, she helps stylists strengthen their “hair reading” skills and move from guessing to predicting in colour work. Through her brand-neutral education and signature CSI framework—Canvas, Residue, Investigation, Method, and Execution—Samantha supports professionals in improving consultations, solving colour problems with confidence, and delivering more consistent results.

Education with Samantha

@samanthabluescolourcoach

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This week on Whair to? Podcast, Midlands stylist and Never Just Hair founder Jax Hirst shares the real story behind her career journey—from the UK to Canada and back again—and what it took to rebuild her business once she returned home. She talks about how posting dolly heads on Instagram helped her become known for short hair and smart colour placement, opening doors into education, stage work, and live demos. Jax also dives into early competition wins, learning to set clear client boundaries, why pricing properly matters, and how ongoing training helps you push through the tougher seasons in salon life.

Produced and published by How To Cut It Media

Spotd is the soon to launch professional opportunity platform built for the hair industry. Only. ✂️ Join the waitlist at getspotdapp.com

Connect with Spotd on Instagram @getspotdapp

Follow Spotd on TikTok @getspotdapp

Todays Guest

Jax Hirst is an experienced hairdresser, educator, and the founder of Never Just Hair, an independent education and community platform for hair professionals. Passionate about elevating consultations, client care, and confidence behind the chair, Jax focuses on practical, non‑branded learning that works in real salons. Through workshops, coaching, and an inclusive community, she helps stylists strengthen technique, communication, and business mindset. Her mission is simple: give power back to hair pros and turn everyday salon work into consistently exceptional results.

@jaxrhair

Never Just Hair Facebook Group

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From cutting specialist to salon owner and team leader—what changed the path? Hit play.

Lawson Bliss, director of Bliss and Bliss Hair in Stourbridge, West Midlands talks through starting in hair at 19, opening a salon with his mother, and building a business with a stronger focus on cutting, team leadership, and the business side of the industry. He also explains how becoming a parent changed how he thinks about ownership, ethics, and creating opportunities for younger people, and how moving into a shop front in 2019 helped grow the salon as a community business.

He shares the principles he follows: stay driven, treat people well, and remember the privilege of salon ownership. Success, he says, comes through clients rebooking and staff recommending others to join, with a focus on listening, giving value, and managing people as carefully as hair. Looking ahead, he wants more regional and national recognition, more competition entries, and eventual coaching work with employed salon teams.

Produced and published by How To Cut It Media

Spotd is the soon to launch professional opportunity platform built for the hair industry. Only. ✂️ Join the waitlist at getspotdapp.com

Connect with Spotd on Instagram @getspotdapp

Follow Spotd on TikTok @getspotdapp

Todays Guest

Lawson Bliss is the Co‑Owner and Director of Bliss & Bliss Hair, a high-end salon in Stourbridge, West Midlands that he co-founded with his mum Jill Bliss in 2016.

Beyond the salon floor, Lawson hosts the Bliss on Business podcast, shining a light on local entrepreneurs and creative leaders, and uses his decade of industry experience to coach and mentor fellow business owners.

@lawsonbliss

@blissandblisshair

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