After more than three decades of shaping the hair industry, Robert Cromeans, a legendary hairdresser, salon owner, and platform artist, has announced his retirement from John Paul Mitchell Systems (JPMS). Known for his extraordinary artistry, business acumen, and passion for education, Robert leaves behind an inspiring legacy that will continue to influence both established professionals and aspiring hairdressers alike.
Robert’s journey to becoming a global icon began when he joined JPMS as a young stylist, quickly catching the eye of industry giant Jeane Braa. Under her mentorship, Robert rose to prominence, eventually becoming the artistic director in 2000 and the global artistic & business director in 2016. During his time at JPMS, Robert played an instrumental role in the creation of iconic collections and the development of business systems that transformed the way salons operated.
Among his many achievements, Robert’s entrepreneurial success as a salon owner stands out. He founded several salons, with A Robert Cromeans Salon in San Diego, California, becoming a beacon of innovation. His salons weren’t just places to cut hair – they became centres for creativity, learning, and business growth. Robert was responsible for pioneering Take Home, The Wash House, and The Color Bar, business systems that empowered salon owners and stylists to streamline their operations and improve client experiences.
For many hair professionals, Robert’s influence extended far beyond the walls of his salons. He dedicated much of his career to education, traveling to over 40 countries to teach, mentor, and inspire others. His charisma, humour, and deep understanding of the industry made him a sought-after speaker on stages across the globe. He shared not only his innovative techniques but also his philosophy on how stylists could succeed in business while remaining passionate about their craft.
John Paul DeJoria, Co-Founder and Chairman of JPMS, spoke of Robert’s incredible impact: “We are immensely grateful for Robert’s service, dedication, and friendship. He has made a lasting impact on our company and our industry. His legacy will continue to inspire and influence generations to come.”
As Robert steps into retirement, his legacy offers powerful lessons for today’s stylists and salon owners. His career demonstrates the importance of combining creativity with a business savvy approach, of constantly seeking out new ways to innovate and grow, and of always investing in the education and success of others. Whether through his salons or his global educational tours, Robert has shown that the key to long-term success in the hair industry is more than just talent – it’s about vision, leadership, and a commitment to inspiring those around you.
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Vagaro
This September, Vagaro, a software for beauty, wellness, and fitness businesses, will host its 3rd annual industry-defining event, iconic.24, going fully virtual for the first time. With a mission to broaden access and make valuable insights available globally, the event will feature two 45-minute interactive, educational business sessions each Monday throughout the month (Sept. 9, 16, 23, and 30).
This year’s iconic.24 event will also mark the unveiling of Vagaro’s new Icon Coaching Program. This exclusive program features a handpicked group of accomplished professionals from various sectors, including hair and barbering. These industry powerhouses will offer one-on-one coaching to help business owners and service professionals elevate their growth strategies and maximize their success.
Charity Hudnall, chief marketing officer at Vagaro, expressed her excitement:
The event’s star-studded lineup of Icon coaches includes:
Throughout the four-week event, the Icon coaches will lead discussions on a wide range of business topics, from marketing and finances to customer service. The sessions are designed to be interactive and provide attendees with actionable strategies they can implement immediately.
The event will culminate with a keynote address by Vagaro founder & CEO Fred Helou, who will announce new and upcoming platform features, showcasing how they can help professionals future-proof their businesses. Helou emphasizes, “iconic.24 is more than just an annual event; it has become a pivotal experience for professionals to learn, innovate, and elevate. This year is even more exciting because attendees can sign up to be coached directly by the session leaders.”
Tickets for the virtual event are priced at $49.99 (£38), granting access to all eight sessions, plus the keynote address. For those eager to reserve their spot and learn more about the potential of their business, tickets are available now on Vagaro’s website.
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250 guests packed into the salon courtyard
Not everybody can call upon Dire Straits to play live at your semi-retirement party… but not everybody is the hairdressing legend Guy Kremer. And so a crowd of more than 250 celebrities, clients and friends – including author Kathy Lette, fashion designer Maria Grachvogel and British painter and curator David Remfry – packed his Parchment Street courtyard to listen to a touching and humorous speech from hotelier Robin Hutson before handing over to Dire Straits founder member and guitarist John Illsley, who played a fantastic set featuring all the band’s best-known songs.
“What an amazing party it was,” said Guy. “It was the best way to start the new act of my life and I am so grateful to my wonderful team, friends and business associates from across Winchester for helping to make this such a memorable event.”
Dire Straits’ John Illsley onstage
Hotelier Robin Hutson led the speeches
Hampshire’s most famous hairdresser opened his modest French Connection salon in Winchester 50 years ago. Over the decades, the flamboyant Frenchman has grown it into the international Guy Kremer business, opening new salons, launching hair products and growing a clientele that includes pop stars, princesses and A-Listers.
As well as giving his time to a generation of young apprentices, Guy is a member of the L’Oréal Professionnel Portfolio, an exclusive group of top British hairdressers recognised for their creativity and expertise in professional hairdressing, and nine years ago was awarded The Fellowship for British Hairdressing’s UK Hairdresser of the Year for the second time.
Guy (right) with John Illsley and Kathy Lette
As Guy bows out to spend more time at his home in France, the Guy Kremer name will now be handed over to the salon’s senior team of Jonny Engstrom, Emily Huggett and Martin Roskilly. However, even at the age of 71 and nearing the end of his stellar career, Guy is adamant there is still more to do. As well as returning to his Winchester salon for a month every six weeks to do clients, he is also working on the relaunch of his own line of Guy Kremer hair products next year.
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Maddi Cook
Hair & beauty professionals need to double their monthly income to cover their cost of living and overhead expenses. That’s the major takeaway of a new pricing research survey by Boss Your Salon.
The research, which used Boss Your Salon’s pricing calculators, revealed professionals earn an average of £13.25 per hour when factoring in client income. After accounting for non-client-facing work, the actual hourly income falls to £10.19. The results showed an average monthly income (pre-tax and National Insurance) of £1,533.42. Yet to cover the cost of living and overhead expenses, professionals need to earn £3,042 per month, according to Boss Your Salon’s calculations.
Maddi Cook, Boss Your Salon’s founder, was keen to “get some numbers”, knowing anecdotally from her work with clients that price is a major challenge. The findings highlight that many are not earning enough to meet their basic needs.
One of the biggest issues in Maddi’s eyes? People thinking in “bums on seat hours” when it comes to their pricing. “So they’d go, ‘Well, I work with clients 30 hours a week’. But I think we’re in this employee mindset of ‘I get paid for the hours that I’m working with clients’. They forget about all the hours that go into running a business,” she said.
“An employee can down tools at the end of the day. They can finish it Saturday afternoon, and not have to worry about their job until Tuesday. Whereas business owners spend a lot of hours outside of work doing the marketing, booking and rearranging appointments, stock take and ordering. We need to get paid for all that time, because that’s work required to actually get those done.”
But once you take all the extra work into account, that’s when it drops down below Minimum Wage, or National Living Wage. If someone was on minimum wage in a job in Aldi or an office in the UK, you’d get 5.6 weeks paid holiday. You’d get six months full sick pay. You’d get maternity pay. You get a lunch break where you don’t have to worry about customer acquisition or accounts. So, you would be paid better in a minimum wage job, and you’d also get better conditions and job security.
With about 44 per cent of respondents from hairdressing, Maddi is keen for hairdressers to realise and value their skills beyond hair. “So many hairdressers say, ‘I’m not good at maths’, and so they avoid it. That infuriates me because you are, you’re a hairdresser! You work in ratios and timings and weights,” she said.
“If your income does not reflect the hard work that you put in, there is something wrong. Pricing is fundamental; just knowing your numbers is fundamental. It’s getting people to see this as the first and most crucial step before doing any of the other things, like marketing and social media.”
Unsplash
New data released by beauty and wellness marketplace, Fresha, reveals Blackpool as the beauty and self-care captal of the UK, due to a record number of beauty salons compared to the population. Bournemouth and Glasgow follow closely behind – while Gateshead is last. The study also highlights surprising beauty hotspots beyond major cities, such as Chelmsford, Worthing, and Preston.
The full data from Fresha can be seen here.
For hair salon owners and stylists, choosing the right location to open or expand a business is a critical decision. The UK’s hair industry presents a range of opportunities—from bustling markets, where demand for hair services is high but competition is intense, to quieter areas, where the potential for growth lies in less saturated environments. Success hinges on selecting a location that aligns with your business goals, services, and target clientele.
Fresha summarises this balance: “Those in areas with a high concentration of salons, like Blackpool or Glasgow, face stiff competition but can be reassured by the high demand for beauty services in these hotspots. These may prove profitable areas for budding make–up artists and hairstylists to practice their trade.”
Unsplash
Understanding High-Demand Markets
High-demand markets such as Blackpool, with 403 hair salons per 100,000 residents, and Glasgow, which boasts 360 salons per 100,000 residents, offer both significant competition and substantial opportunities. The dense concentration of hair salons indicates a strong consumer demand for hair services—a critical factor for those looking to tap into an established and hair-conscious customer base.
Success in these saturated markets often hinges on differentiation. Offering specialized hair services, building a distinct brand, or delivering an exceptional customer experience can set your salon apart. The competition may be fierce, but the rewards are considerable for those who can carve out a unique niche or deliver superior quality. High visibility, word-of-mouth marketing, and a loyal customer base can be achieved more quickly in these areas.
The Potential in Underserved Markets
Conversely, areas with fewer hair salons per capita, like Gateshead (40 salons per 100,000 residents) or Swansea (77 salons per 100,000 residents), present a different kind of opportunity. These markets may not have the immediate demand seen in larger cities, but they also offer less direct competition and the chance to establish your hair salon as a local leader.
In underserved markets, the key to success lies in addressing unmet needs. Whether it’s introducing a wider variety of hair services, offering luxury treatments where they are scarce, or simply providing top-notch customer service, you can position your salon as the go-to destination in these communities. With less competition, there is more room to grow and potentially dominate the local market.
Unsplash
Balancing Risk and Reward: Thriving in Any Market
The decision of where to open or expand your hair salon should reflect your specific business goals. If you are prepared to differentiate yourself in a crowded market, hair hotspots like Blackpool offer a ready and eager clientele. However, if you prefer to build your brand with less pressure from competitors, exploring less saturated markets might be a better fit.
Whether you choose a competitive market or an underserved one, both paths offer potential for success. The key is aligning your business strategy with the characteristics of the market. By understanding local demand, differentiating your hair services, and building strong client relationships, your salon can not only survive but thrive in any market.
The UK’s diverse hair industry offers numerous opportunities for savvy salon owners. Whether you are drawn to the thrill of a competitive hotspot or the untapped potential of a quieter market, with the right approach, your hair salon can achieve lasting success.
Not Another Salon has been a driving force of inclusivity and innovation in the last decade. Since becoming the world’s first gender-neutral salon in 2017, then continuing to pioneer unique offerings such as silent haircuts and mirror-free experiences that went viral globally, Sophia Hilton, founder of Not Another Salon is taking a bold new step.
“Inclusivity these days seems to focus so strongly on sexuality, gender, and race,” says Sophia. “While that is hugely important, in order to be truly inclusive we have to consider all aspects of inclusivity, and that includes economic access.”
Not Another Salon are proud to launch this new pioneering initiative, Price Inclusivity, becoming the first salon in the UK to offer a specific number of appointments each month at a reduced cost for individuals on low incomes. All clients have to do is provide an income statement or bank statement and make less than £25,000 a year.
How It Works
Each month Not Another Salon will allocate a set number of selected appointments and services to be offered at a reduced price. These appointments are designed to accommodate individuals who would like premium salon services but may find them financially challenging. Availability will be on a first-come, first-served basis, to ensure fairness and equity.
Sustainable Quality and Commitment
“It was tough to create these appointments because after all, we have premium prices for a reason,” Sophia adds. “Our team is among the most highly trained in the country, our rent is high as we’re in a premium location, and the products we use are the best money can buy. We’ve created a menu of appointments and services that we were able to reduce, while still making it viable to our business.”
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