The Fantastic Hairdresser

13/09/2026

01/09/2026

You just need to keep learning.💛

The people who grow the most aren't necessarily the people with the most experience, the most time or the most answers.

They're the people who keep looking for them.

15/20 minutes a day listening to someone who's already done it.

Reading a few pages.

Listening to a podcast.

Learning from someone else's mistakes instead of making all of them yourself.

There is an incredible amount of knowledge available to us now.

Use it.

Because the more you learn, the more confident you become.

And the more confident you become, the more capable you are of moving your business - and yourself - forward.

What are you learning at the moment? 👇

Sign up for Alan's Free Webinar: 'Two changes every salon owner must make to build a stronger, more profitable business' → Sign-up Link in our Bio 👀🏃‍♀️‍➡️

24/08/2026

"I want to go to Manchester."

Great.

But... where in Manchester?
When are you going?
How are you getting there?
What's it going to cost?
And how will you know when you've arrived?

It sounds obvious when we're talking about a journey.

But it's surprisingly easy to run a business in exactly the same way.

You might know you want:

👉 More money
👉 More freedom
👉 More time off
👉 A bigger team
👉 Another salon
👉 A business that doesn't rely entirely on you

But how much more money?
How much time off?
By when?
What does the business need to look like to make that possible?

And perhaps most importantly...

Do you know where you are starting from?

Because you can't plan the right route if you don't know your destination or your starting point.

Your software can tell you what happened last week.

Your numbers can tell you where you are today.

But you have to decide where you're going.

That's where real business strategy starts.

And once you have clarity on where you're going, you can start working out how you're going to get there. 💛

If you want some help getting clearer about your business, Alan's free webinar "Two Changes Every Salon Owner Must Make Right Now" is a great place to start.

Link in bio 😍

23/08/2026

Amazing day teaching at Bumble and bumble 🥰

Throwback to our keynote talk at a Bumble and bumble business event last year. Alan Austin-Smith headlined a brilliant afternoon for Bb's wonderful customers.

Thank you, guys for having us - we LOVED it!

Sign up for Alan's Free Webinar: 'Two changes every salon owner must make to build a stronger, more profitable business' → Sign-up Link in our Bio 👀🏃‍♀️‍➡️

21/08/2026

Your salon can be busy but still keeping you poor!

More sales don’t always mean more money.

This is a pattern we've seen in salons for years.

You work out your numbers, and you know what you need to do to cover your bills, salaries, etc.

Now you have a target - you get the team onboard - you're all focused.

The numbers start to grow.
The team are busier.

But you're still not taking home what you deserve.

Because you missed out one key part...

Profit

So instead of asking:

“What do I need to cover?”

Ask yourself:

“How much do I actually want to take home for me and also to re-invest in the business?”

Then work backwards.

Set your profit target first - and build your business around it.

Because you didn’t build a salon just to cover its costs.

You built it to create a business that works for you 💛

Sign up for Alan's Free Webinar: 'Two changes every salon owner must make to build a stronger, more profitable business' → Sign-up Link in our Bio 👀🏃‍♀️‍➡️

18/08/2026

The best business advice isn't always the most complicated. 💛

Years ago, someone said something to Alan that he thought was far too simple...

"Business is easy. Make sure more comes in than goes out."

At the time, it felt almost too obvious.

Now, after decades of helping salon owners build stronger businesses, it might just be one of the most important lessons of all.

It's easy to get caught up in being busy.

More clients.
More marketing.
More staff.
More appointments.

But if your business isn't creating the profit you need to build the life you want, it's worth taking a step back and asking yourself one question...

Do I really understand my numbers?

Sometimes the biggest breakthroughs come from mastering the basics.

👇 What's the best business advice you've ever received?

The best salon businesses aren't built by chance.

Sign up for Alan's free webinar: "Two Changes Every Salon Owner Must Make to Build a Stronger, More Profitable Business." Link in bio 👀🏃‍♀️‍➡️

17/08/2026

High sales can look impressive.

But here’s the question that really matters…

How much of it is actually left at the end?

Because turnover on its own doesn’t tell you whether your salon is making money.

Most salon owners know what they took last week.

But do you know what you actually made?

Profit comes from understanding what’s coming in AND what’s going out.

That’s where the focus needs to be.

Because where you put your focus is where you get your results.

So, are you watching your costs as closely as your sales?

Don’t just chase bigger numbers. Build a business that pays you what you deserve. 💛Sign up for Alan's Free Webinar: 'Two changes every salon owner must make to build a stronger, more profitable business' → Sign-up Link in our Bio 👀🏃‍♀️‍➡️

16/08/2026

If you feel like you're climbing a mountain right now… keep going!

I know it's hard. I know you're in it. But don't stop.

I read a quote the other day: "The hard work is gonna be hard work."

Obvious? Yes. True? Also yes.

So many of us are wondering, "When do I reach the top?" 🤷‍♀️

I don't know when that is for you - but don't forget to enjoy the viewpoints along the way. Stop. Breathe. Look at what you've already achieved. Then keep going.

Try this: write a list of 10 things going well right now - personal life, business, whatever you're working on. All of it counts. ✨

Look at the positives. Look at what you're achieving. Let that give you the energy to keep climbing. 💪

The best salon businesses aren't built by chance.

Discover the two changes every salon owner must make to build a stronger, more profitable business.
Watch the free webinar → Link in Bio 💛

14/08/2026

What if you don't need to do MORE...

You just need to change TWO things?

Most salon owners are already working incredibly hard.

The problem isn't always effort.

Sometimes it's knowing where that effort should go.

That's exactly why Alan Austin-Smith has created this free webinar:

Two changes every salon owner must make right now.

It's practical, it's designed specifically for salon owners, and most importantly...

it's completely free. 💛

If you're ready to stop simply working harder and start making better decisions about your business, this one's for you.

The best salon businesses aren't built by chance.
Discover the two changes every salon owner must make to build a stronger, more profitable business.
Watch the free webinar → Link in Bio 😍

11/08/2026

There's something rather special about seeing a well-loved copy of The Fantastic Hairdresser on a salon shelf 💛

Corners turned down.
Notes on the pages.
Tea and coffee stains.

That's when you know it's been read properly.

With over 100,000 copies sold, this little gem has found its way into salons all over the world, encouraging hairdressers to think beyond technical skills and focus on the 7 Characteristics of a Fantastic Hairdresser.

As the wonderful Trevor Sorbie once said...

"It's the modern-day bible for any forward-thinking hairdresser."

Have you read it? We'd love to know what has stuck with you the most during your career - drop us a little comment below 👇



P.S. New Edition Available in the link in our Bio 😍