Heads Together with Michael Van Clarke

In this episode of Heads Together, Michael Van Clarke sits down with salon entrepreneur and industry leader Sean Hanna to explore 50 years of change in the hairdressing industry. From starting out during the aftermath of the Sassoon revolution to building a successful multi salon business, Sean shares the lessons, mistakes and turning points that shaped his career. Together, they discuss salon gro...

In this episode of Heads Together, Michael Van Clarke sits down with veteran hairdresser Simon Bryer to explore a career that has spanned nearly five decades in the hair industry. Simon shares how he rebelled against expectations to become a hairdresser in the late 1970s, the reality behind the industry's glamorous reputation, and his journey from apprentice in the North of England to interna...

In this episode of Heads Together, host Michael Van Clarke welcomes back Toby Dicker, co founder of Chapel Salons and founder of the Save Our Salons campaign. Toby returns for a candid conversation about leadership, salon growth, industry advocacy and the realities of running a modern salon business. From developing future leaders and building strong teams to challenging government policy and figh...

In this episode of Heads Together, hosted by Michael Van Clarke, we welcome back Jayne Lewis Orr for a fascinating conversation about her extraordinary career in hairdressing. From her early days in beauty publishing to becoming the driving force behind the British Hairdressing Awards for nearly three decades, Jayne shares the stories, challenges and unforgettable moments that helped shape one of...

In this episode of Heads Together, host Michael Van Clarke sits down with Toby Dicker, co founder of Chapel Salons and one of the hair industry's most outspoken advocates. From building a five salon business over nearly three decades to leading national conversations around taxation, apprenticeships and the future of the high street, Toby shares his candid views on the challenges facing salon...

Welcome to Season Two of Heads Together. Hosted by renowned hairdresser, entrepreneur and industry pioneer Michael Van Clarke. In episode one, Jane Lewis Orr shares her journey through the hairdressing industry, the excitement and challenges of organising the British Hairdressing Awards, and her personal life balancing family, passion, and new beginnings. Jane Lewis Orr shares her journey from edi...

In this episode, Nicky Clarke and Michael Van Clarke swap stories of leather trousers, Harleys, Savile Row suits, and why Nicky once introduced Dress Up Friday in his salon. From Penélope Cruz answering the door in a towel to a mistaken invitation for Michael to dance at Sadler’s Wells, the brothers trace how style, image, and identity shaped their careers both inside and outside the salon. They a...

In this episode, Nicky Clarke and Michael Van Clarke take a trip back to the salon floor of the 70s and 80s, when hairdressing was brimming with glamour, creativity, and spontaneity. From John Frieda’s Mayfair townhouse buzzing with celebrities to test shoots that ended up as front covers, they recall a time when saying yes opened doors to extraordinary opportunities. The pair also explore how the...

In this episode, Michael Van Clarke welcomes back Mitchell Scott to explore the unique LLP partnership model that underpins the salon’s success. They discuss why hairdressing should be treated like other professions — law, medicine, architecture, and how the LLP structure gives stylists a genuine sense of ownership without the risks of traditional business models. From sharing profits and responsi...

In this episode, Michael Van Clarke and Nicky Clarke sit down to explore the myths, tensions, and truths behind their parallel journeys through British hairdressing. They revisit moments of supposed rivalry, from Nicky’s dramatic leap into salon ownership in the depths of recession, to Michael’s reflections on what it meant to build his own business against the backdrop of John Frieda. The pair de...

In this episode, Michael Van Clarke sits down with principal stylist Mitchell Scott to reflect on what it really takes to open and run a salon. Michael looks back at being 27 and leaving behind a successful career at John Frieda’s flagship salon to start up his own salon, without quite realising the stress and sacrifice that would shape his first decade in business. From clashing over cancellation...

In this episode, Michael Van Clarke and Nicky Clarke revisit the highs, controversies, and changing culture of the British Hairdressing Awards. They explore the rise of digital retouching, the spiralling costs of competition (tens of thousands for just four pictures), and why at times, simply being nominated felt like enough. From behind-the-scenes stories of shoots, to debates about what judges r...

In this episode, Michael Van Clarke and Nicky Clarke revisit the turbulent mid-1980s. A time of creative breakthroughs, tense negotiations, and bold decisions. They discuss the rise of salon product innovation, from the accidental birth of “green lotion” to reworking American waxes for European hair, and the beginnings of the silicon revolution in haircare. Alongside stories of contracts and turni...

In this episode, Michael Van Clarke is joined once again by principal stylist Mitchell Scott for a frank conversation about generational attitudes in hairdressing. From the stereotype of Gen Z being “too flaky” or “too entitled” to the realities of training, recruitment, and running a salon, they explore what it really takes to find, and keep, great people. They discuss the role of upbringing, the...

In this episode, Nicky Clarke and Michael Van Clarke sit down to trade stories from decades of styling some of the world’s most recognisable heads of hair. They recall the first time they worked at the royal residences, tiara fittings before state banquets, and memorable moments with Princess Diana and the Queen herself. From Pavarotti in the Park to preventing tiaras from toppling into soup, they...

In this episode, Michael Van Clarke and Nicky Clarke discuss Michael’s signature diamond dry cut technique and share their thoughts on why the industry has increasingly shifted towards faster and faster haircuts. Together, they question where hairdressing is headed and whether it can revive the artistry that makes a haircut truly exceptional. They also reflect on iconic celebrity hairstyles that d...

In this candid episode of Heads Together, brothers Nicky Clarke and Michael Van Clarke dive into their real-life sibling rivalry and how it shaped their careers in British hairdressing. They discuss creative differences, missed business opportunities, including a dream Grosvenor Square salon, and how loyalty, ambition, and family dynamics influenced their journeys. From navigating salon life to ha...

In this episode, Michael Van Clarke is joined by principal stylist and long-time collaborator Mitchell Scott for a frank and fascinating conversation. Together, they unpack the philosophy behind truly mastering hairdressing — and discuss the viral TikTok videos that sparked criticism and trolling online. From the value of great assistants and the art of the Diamond Dry Cut, to why so many don’t un...

In this very first episode, Michael Van Clarke and Nicky Clarke look back on the early years that led them into entrepreneurship, business and hairdressing.  From strict school uniforms and family expectations to the allure of Bowie, 70s fashion, and chance opportunities, they explore the moments that sparked their creativity and set the foundation for their 50+ year long careers. A nostalgic, hon...