Karine Jackson
Why is it so important to you to offer organic services in your salon?
It all came about 15 years ago from listening to a client, albeit reluctantly at first! She was diagnosed with cancer and wanted to continue colouring her hair but with a more natural product. I set off to research what was out there with preconceptions that it would be dreadful, henna type colour, and for the most part it was. But then I found Organic Colour Systems, which was formulated by a hairdresser who had serious allergies and had created this range to be effective but gentle. Wherever the more traditional chemicals could be replaced by organic natural ingredients, they were. I was so impressed with it that I switched over and within a week, the nagging cough I put down to London living had disappeared!
As a result, I found a USP for my salon that helped me stand out in a crowded market and brought the clients flocking – the public want more natural products and services and they’re prepared to seek it out. We now offer vegan services and this has increased our colour revenue, plus making ethical changes to the way you use electric, water and towels, for example, is a financial no-brainer, less waste = more profit.
You were awarded the first Sustainable Salon Certificate in London, what does this entail?
Our stylists all took an online course which involves working through a virtual salon and being aware of where you can save energy and resources. As well as organic hair services we use eco towels which use far less energy than laundering, water limiting shower heads, we turn off lights, we have reusable glass water bottles instead of plastic ones, we only mix the colour we need to use.
We hear you’ve launched your own range in partnership with Beauty Kitchen at Holland & Barrett?
Yes, it’s beautiful! It’s 100% natural, vegan and organic and I’m delighted to be able to bring my professional know how to the consumer with these products which use ingredients such as apple cider vinegar. As someone who loves hair colour I know the importance of healthy hair, and good products that don’t leave a synthetic barrier on the hair are essential to this.
Would you recommend Curlformers® as part of a healthy hair routine?
Definitely! Although we know how to use heat stylers properly in the salon we often see hair that’s been damaged by clients between appointments because they set the temperature too high, or they don’t use a heat protector, or they use electricals every day. We recommend Curlformers to our clients to set their hair between appointments and we love the silk scarf to drape across a pillow at night or to wrap curls in for extra protection.
What's next?
My 2-year presidency of the Fellowship for British Hairdressing ends April 2019 so I’m going to be focusing on my salon which I want to eventually be plastic free. It’s a big aim but I think David Attenborough’s Blue Planet show has really brought the necessity of this to a wider consciousness now. I’m also on a mission to bring more young people into hairdressing – it’s a time-bomb at the moment, we can’t get apprentices and yet there are young people out of work. More needs to be done to shout about what a great career hairdressing is and the opportunities on offer, and there needs to be more of a connection between schools and colleges and the government to get this message across.
