Hob: Award Winning Style

How did you meet Paul Simbler and Clive Collins, your partners at hob salons?
Paul and Clive found me through a stylist that worked for them and chased me up in a period when I was quite disheartened and possibly thinking about giving hairdressing up. Teaming up with the guys, I then became the third company director of hob salons in 1985.

Since opening your first hob salon (in 1983) what has been the highlight on your hairdressing journey?
The biggest highlight has got to be winning the 2008 British Hairdresser of the Year award but opening the academy was also a major milestone for me.

Which other country/ies would you like to open hob salons in?
I would be interested in exploring the whole of the UK, opening up in Scotland, Ireland and Wales. I think that would be a great move for us.

What would you say the biggest difference to opening a salon today compared to 1983?
The difference is that now you have to invest a lot more money into making sure the amenities are more comfortable and the décor and the quality is higher, whereas in the past, you could open up on a far smaller budget.

Since 1983 what one innovation has aided hairdressers the most in helping you create your best haircut time and again?
For me, after many years of deliberation, I finally decided to bring back the clicking in scissors which I always believed was a very instrumental element in cutting hair. Since doing this, I have found that both our own stylists, in addition to students from around the globe, have benefited greatly by the fact that they can work on their rhythm and the use of their scissors.

You have won so many awards both as an individual and collectively, but which collective award means the most to you?
All of the awards I have won mean a lot to me. Winning London Hairdresser of the Year in 2005 blew me away, then securing the 2006 Fellowship Hairdresser of the Year accolade was amazing. Now winning the British Hairdressing Awards 2008 Artistic Team of the Year title after so many years' aiming for it was a dream come true and then being announced as the 2008 British Hairdresser of the Year, after being nominated for the last two consecutive years, is without a doubt the climax of my career and something I will always always treasure.

Is there such a thing as an ordinary day? If so, what does it consist of?
There is no such thing as an ordinary day for me. My days are usually a combination of teaching in the academy, model casting for shoots and shows I have coming up, meetings with my partners, PR girls and PA and finding time for everything else that is pending too.

Now can you describe your perfect day and night?
I love teaching so it would have to be teaching all day and then going for a drink in the evening.

Describe yourself in 5 words?
Driven, kind, creative, motivated and sometimes a little crazy!

What are your passions outside the industry?
My interests are firstly my children. My two boys are my true passions but I also love keeping fit, doing martial arts, and I'm interested in anything to do with fashion.

In your position you do a lot of overseas travelling. Of all the cities you have visited which is your favorite, and why?
Paris has to be my favorite. I once did a wonderful show with Wella at the Louvre. This was really spiritual and you can't beat Paris in springtime.

If you were stranded on a desert island and allowed to take one of each of the following what would they be?
CD – Corinne Bailey Rae
Book – Conversations with God
Film – What Dreams May Come
Person – My wife Lisa
One little luxury – A bottle of wine

You inspire many hairdressers. Which hairdressers have inspired you?
Vidal Sassoon and his vision is a massive inspiration for me, the great hairdresser Stacey Broughton, Anthony Mascolo and my art team regularly inspire me as we spur off each other and come up with new ideas.

What music are you listening to on your iPod at the moment?
I'm into 1950's music and am always listening to the Rat Pack - Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and Sami Davis Junior.

Is there one person whose hair you would love to style?
I would love to style Victoria Beckham. She is a massive fashion icon of our time and I think she is very in tune with what's current.

What are your and hob's future plans?
My project for this year as British Hairdresser is to continue to represent British hairdressing globally. I hope to build hob education internationally, grow and develop the franchise side of the company, and continue to be a great ambassador for British hairdressing.