“HE SAW SOMETHING IN ME AND I’LL ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT” – GIUSEPPE STELITANO AND NATHAN WALKER ON THE ART OF COLLABORATION

Apr 25, 2024 | CONVERSATIONS

CONVERSATIONS

"HE SAW SOMETHING IN ME AND I'LL ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT" – GIUSEPPE STELITANO AND NATHAN WALKER ON THE ART OF COLLABORATION

Nathan Walker and Giuseppe Stelitano of Trevor Sorbie discuss fusing creativity and commercialisation in The Collaborators video series.

What’s life really like on the daily, for two of Trevor Sorbie’s biggest hitters, and how do they vibe? Brand and education director, Nathan Walker, and creative director, Giuseppe Stelitano, continually inspire each other as well as the clients they serve and the teams they manage. Masters in colour and true creative pioneers, get unique insight into this dynamic partnership and find out how they work together to blend colour creativity with big business objectives.

A Creative HEAD video project in partnership with L’Oréal Professionnel Paris

CATEGORIES > INFORM

HOW TO BRING A LEVEL OF LUXURY TO BARBERING

Promotion – STMNT Grooming Goods

Salon owners Ryan Lewis and Charles Rose share the business benefits of introducing luxury STMNT Grooming Goods backwash services

To boost your business (and most importantly your bottom line!) it’s vital to explore exciting, fresh ways to elevate the client experience. Not only is the barber shop or salon a place to help clients look good, but it’s also a safe, welcoming space which gives clients that extra something to leave them feeling good, too. A great service goes beyond the haircut itself, but this doesn’t mean you need to implement huge changes or shifts in your service menu, it can be as simple as adding a level of luxury to their usual appointment.

A perfect way to enhance the experience is to maximise the current services, adding extra steps at the backwash with the products you use. STMNT Grooming Goods offers a full range of sophisticated, lifestyle-driven, genderless care products to support barbers in delivering more luxurious treatments.

Ryan Lewis, owner of Club13 in Hull, recognises having a backwash as an unequivocal feature of the space. Having recently been granted permission to add a backwash to his space, Ryan wholeheartedly believes this will improve the overall quality of the space and give his clients a moment of zen. As many of Ryan’s clients work in trade, it is not uncommon for them to visit straight from work, making a backwash even more beneficial in ensuring hair is a clean canvas for cutting techniques.

Ryan Lewis

Ryan and his team work with STMNT products to enable them to provide enhanced backwash services which are bespoke to each individual. “The thing that makes the STMNT Backwash Services so unique is simple – it’s the products themselves. The quality is second to none,” says Ryan. “Integrating STMNT Backwash Services into our existing services is seamless. We’ll highlight the benefits of the backwash experience during client consultations and offer it as an optional add-on to their haircut. Through promotions such as discounted package deals or loyalty rewards, we’ll encourage clients to try out this new service and experience the difference for themselves.”

If you’re considering adding a luxury backwash experience to your business, Ryan’s advice is to think of the long-term benefits! Not only does it enhance the overall client experience and set your business apart from competitors, but it also opens up opportunities for increased revenue through add-on services and retail sales.

Luxury backwash service

Having originally trained as a hairdresser, Charles Rose, owner of Crate Cheshire, wanted to bring that level of luxury typically seen in hair salons to a barbering space. He believes it is vital that all clients, no matter their hair length, are given a moment of luxury and relaxation when having their hair cut and styled.

“Collaborating with STMNT has been key to providing this elevated experience,” says Charles. “The luxury grooming products enhance the sensory experience and provide nourishment for the hair and scalp.”

Charles Rose

Clients can choose from the following services, where depending on the choice of service, this will include haircare from the STMNT Care line, a specialized scalp massage, steamed towel wrap and/or tailored beard care.

Soothe & balance: A nourishing care routine, focusing on the scalp and hair to gently cleanse and hydrate, leaving a moisturized feeling – particularly beneficial for drier hair and scalp types.
Deep clean & care: A powerful cleansing experience that removes product build-up to refresh hair and scalp – recommend as a regular purifying backwash service to provide an extra fresh feeling.
Groom & care: A bespoke regime that combines a caring hair, scalp and beard service with a moment of relaxation – perfect for those who have a little extra time to enjoy a more holistic approach to self-care.

Crate Cheshire has noticed a big business benefit since adding the STMNT luxury backwash service, setting the salon apart in a competitive market and improving client loyalty. It’s also a great way to attract new clients seeking premium services, inevitably boosting business growth.

To discover more about STMNT products, head to stmntgrooming.co.uk

CATEGORIES > EXPLORE > TECHNIQUES

TARIQ HOWES' MODERN MOHAWK CAUSED A SCENE

A twist on a styling staple, Tariq Howes combined early noughties nostalgia with ‘footballer craze’ energy to deliver an evolution of the classic mohawk at The Coterie: In Session, held in Manchester in October 2022. Presented first to a live audience, Tariq’s take on the iconic style is as fresh today as it was then.

A Creative HEAD event in partnership with BaByliss PRO, hosted by George Driver, formerly of Elle UK.

Hair: Tariq Howes
Make-up: Lou Pye
Fashion: Sonia Genders assisted by Gee Stanley
Model: Andre Hassan
Videography: Black Rock Creative
Photography: Ema Crompton
Production: The Creative Partnerships division at Creative HEAD
Venue: fivefourstudios

Tariq Howes The Coterie: In Session Manchester

The Coterie: In Session Manchester Tariq Howes

CATEGORIES > INFORM

THIS IS THE NEW STANDARD FOR SUSTAINABLE HAIR EXTENSIONS

Promotion – Great Lengths

As an industry it’s paramount that we work towards more sustainable practices. Bringing a new approach to hair extensions, Great Lengths has achieved B-Corp certification.

When it comes to sustainability, it goes beyond Earth Month. As an industry, it’s vital we all do our bit, all year round, to work towards a more sustainable future for everyone. Very few brands and businesses are awarded B Corp certification, and Great Lengths is the first of its kind in the hair extensions market.

Following years of consistent, sustainable practices across the brand, Great Lengths has become the first extensions brand to have been awarded B Corp certification across the globe. This Earth Month, the Italian brand is shining light on its continued consideration for environmental and social responsibilities that have been part of its agenda for some time, with measures put in place more than 10 years ago which focus on care for both people and the planet by working towards a circular economy.

The B Corp certification recognises the efforts Great Lengths has made to be more inclusive at all levels, from the welfare of its employees and the trust of its consumers to working towards reducing the beauty footprint of the entire production chain. As one of the world’s leading names in human hair extensions, Great Lengths strives to use its influence for good and encourage others to consider the differences they can make.

“Working with B Corp brands such as Great Lengths is incredibly important to us,” says Susan Collins, owner of, B Corp certified salon Home of Hair, in County Wicklow in Ireland. “We actively seek out suppliers that are committed to the wellbeing of people and the planet, as we know those that have achieved B Corp status have exceptionally high standards of practise.”

‘Perception’ by Great Lengths

She adds: “Being a certified B Corp is confirmation that a company is fully transparent and has made ethical choices. This is a very easy sell to a client – if they’re sitting in your chair, they have already decided to spend that little bit extra, but they also know that there are no shady or grey areas in the product they’re investing in. Working with B Corp certified suppliers means that you don’t have to deep dive into everything to make sure they align with your company ethos and practices.”

Great Lengths offers a circular, transparent chain with its hair. Ethical sourcing of hair is fundamental to the brand philosophy, and it prides itself on the strict processes and measures that ensure both the quality and ethicality of the hair. All hair is sourced from Indian temples, where it is voluntarily donated during a ritual known as ‘tonsuring’. Each strand is given willingly and with full consent, and revenue generated is fed back into the local community.

In its continued effort to strive for sustainable practices, Great Lengths also has a global partnership with The Little Princess Trust and offers a donation scheme in more than 1,500 salons in the UK and Ireland and more than 60 countries worldwide. The scheme gives clients who use extensions the opportunity to change lives. When their extensions are removed, clients can choose to donate them to the charity to make into real hair wigs, which are provided free to children and young people who have lost their own hair through cancer treatment or other conditions. It costs nothing to be involved and is an impactful way for a salon to give back and reduce waste. Shorter hair extensions which are unsuitable for donation to the Little Princess Trust partnership are recycled in the same way as natural hair clippings.

To find out more about Great Lengths and its efforts towards sustainability, head to greatlengths.com.

CATEGORIES > CONNECT

FIVE TIPS FOR MASTERING YOUR MOST WANTED AND IT LIST ENTRIES

Some handy hints to support your bid for success in this year’s Most Wanted and It List Awards.

Tommy Cunliffe, 2023 judge

We know you’ve got this, but we also know it takes a lot of time, energy and focus to compile an awards entry, so a bit of guidance to keep you on track can only help, right? The following five tips have been gathered from years of experience running the competitions, together with feedback from our judges, so we reckon they’re worth a look. Now, go forth – and go get those Most Wanted and It List trophies!

1. Get to grips with what’s needed first

Once you’ve chosen the category or categories you’re entering, really take time to understand what the criteria is asking for. Not only is it vital to hit all the asks to be eligible for the next phase, but our judges refer to the criteria while they’re evaluating each submission, deciding who has met the brief brilliantly. They can be a great guiding tool in setting out a clear framework for your submission.

2. Pack in personality

Think about what sets you apart from your peers. How can you give the judges a sense of who you really are? What is the unique story you want to tell? Inject tonnes of personality into your entry – including within the language you use, the imagery you include, and the stories you’re sharing. This will all help to ensure what you put forward is as authentic to you as possible.

3. Share learnings as well as successes

The Most Wanted and It List awards are about your journey, not just a small snapshot in time. It’s as important to include how you got to where you are now, as it is to talk about your present situation and future focuses. Don’t be afraid to include learnings alongside successes, judges love to hear how you overcame obstacles and used the experience to fuel your fire!

4. Show variety
Demonstrate the breadth of your brilliance! If you’re entering a creative category, have you shown a wealth of different work and skills at play, for example a variety of styles/techniques on a diverse range of people. If it’s a business category, have you shared a good balance of what you offer and achieve? Absolutely shout about your key strengths but consider the full scope of what you offer within your craft too.

5. Leave time for reflection

You may feel time is on your side right now, but don’t be fooled! You’ve got a lot of awesomeness to sift through and assemble, so make sure you build in enough time to review your entry, make any revisions, and get it uploaded in time for the deadline.

That’s it! Five handy hints to help you on your way, may it be fun and fruitful, good luck!

It’s free to enter the Most Wanted and the It List 2024. Entries must be submitted no later than 9pm on Monday 20 May. For category lists and entry instructions, click here for Most Wanted and here for the It List.