The Last Word on… Launching Your Own Hair Brand

What does it take to build a haircare brand? Salon owners and stylists share how they transformed their passion into products...

by CAITLYN | EXPLORE

Image credit: Ian Schneider from Unsplash

It may sound like total vanity – to launch your own hair brand and see your name on a bottle! – but for many salon owners, the idea comes from a desire to offer something they couldn’t find in the existing market. Katy Grimshaw, founder of Spectrum One salon and its namesake hair extensions, recalls how her frustrations as a freelancer led her to take the plunge. “The quality of other brands wasn’t great, and I wanted to build something reliable that other hairdressers could trust,” she says.

Similarly, Deborah Maguire and Katie Hemming, co-founders of hair supplement brand Seed & Soul and LoveHair Salon, were driven by their expertise in hair health and their understanding of clients’ needs. “We knew that we could offer something truly beneficial, especially for women dealing with hair loss, and that pushed us to create something with real value,” shares Deborah.

Stylist Kieran Tudor, co-founder of CENTRED, was inspired to create his brand after helping his wife and co-founder, Laura, recover from hair loss. “There wasn’t a natural solution that encapsulated both internal wellbeing and hair care, so we created the products we wished existed.”

Phil Smith, founder of Phil Smith Hair and Smith England salon, found his inspiration to create a brand from seeing others succeed in the industry. “I met Umberto Giannini on holiday in 1997, and when I saw his success, I thought ‘Why not me?’. That started the journey of creating my own range.”

Transitioning from an idea to a full-fledged brand needs more than just passion – it requires a deep understanding of your craft, something all these founders gained through their work behind the chair. Salon owner Paul Bryan, founder of haircare line StaticJam, emphasises how years of salon experience informed his product development. “Every day in the salon gave me new insights into what clients really need,” he argues, citing clients coming in with hair that lacked strength, moisture, or both. For Katy Grimshaw, being a stylist helped her refine her hair extensions. “My time in the salon taught me exactly what hairstylists like me wanted from a product. It made all the difference in shaping Spectrum One extensions.”

But expertise alone doesn’t make the process easy. Once a brand is launched, the real work begins – managing the daily operations of both a salon and a product line. Phil Smith knows this challenge well. “Running two businesses at once is hard, there’s no way around it. You have to constantly juggle responsibilities.”

“I couldn’t balance it all without the help of my team,” agrees Katy. “Running the salon and the brand simultaneously requires a lot of support.”

For any stylist or salon owner considering their own product line, the advice from these founders is clear: start with a solid foundation and stay true to your vision. “It’s all about finding your niche and sticking with it,” Kieran Tudor advises. “Focusing on what you do best is crucial for success.”

Paul Bryan emphasises the importance of a strong unique selling point. “If you want to stand out, you need to solve a problem and build your brand around that solution.”

Authenticity is key, adds Deborah and Katie. “Be genuine and believe in what you’re creating. That’s how you build something that resonates with both clients and stylists.”

Finally, it can be a risk – it’s an expensive undertaking – so consider help. “You need to have financial backing. Find an investor early on so you can focus on building the brand without worrying about cash flow,” adds Phil.