The Story of Sue Davis

The Full Story Of Sue Davis

I’ve been in business for 36 years. I’ve trained hundreds of hairdressers, worked as a Brand Ambassador, Speaker, and Educator for some of the world’s biggest haircare brands, and owned three salons along the way. But the funny thing is—I never actually set out to be a hairdresser. If anything, hairdressing found me. Like a lot of the best things in life, it started small—just a job aged 14 to earn some money. But that job turned out to be the beginning of a career that would shape every part of my life...

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At just 19 years old I was promoted to salon manager and spent 4 years leading the team. Although I loved it, I took a leap into the corporate world of haircare, not really knowing what I was walking into—but driven by a hunger to learn, grow, and see what else was out there. That leap took me across the UK, Norway and Germany, into boardrooms and salons where I trained, educated, and eventually led a national team. I worked hard, climbed high, and loved the thrill of it all.

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But that kind of lifestyle takes a toll. I was constantly on the road, constantly “on,” and my health began to suffer. Eventually, after some worrying hospital visits, I was told in no uncertain terms: something had to change. I had a choice—keep going and risk everything or stop and rebuild.

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That’s when another unexpected door opened: the chance to buy a salon. So, I stepped through it.

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Suddenly, I wasn’t part of a team anymore. I was the team. I was the boss, the taxman, the payroll department, the stock manager, the motivator, the decision-maker. It was exciting—but it was also deeply lonely. I missed the energy of corporate life, the collaboration, the buzz. I even applied to go back—this time to Redken, a brand I admired. The interview went brilliantly… I was told I had “more front than Blackpool and more balls than a toy shop.”

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I didn’t get the job. But it turned out that wasn’t the end of the road—it was just a redirection. Redken came back to me with a freelance opportunity. That was the game-changer. I got the best of both worlds: I was back in the field, connecting with other salon owners, training, educating, speaking—and I brought that energy back into my own salon and team.

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Over the years, we grew from one salon to three. I became a brand ambassador for L’Oréal’s Pureology line, representing them across the UK and the US—Las Vegas, LA, Miami, Austin. I presented on big stages. I even landed a role in the film Blow Dry alongside Natasha Richardson, Bill Nighy, Heidi Klum, and Josh Hartnett. I auditioned for QVC as a presenter (and got the job—even if the product never launched). It’s been a wild ride.

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But the heart of it all—the why behind everything—has always been people. I’ve trained countless hairdressers who’ve gone on to build brilliant careers of their own. I’ve led a loyal, dedicated team—some of whom have been with me for over 20 years. And I’ve always believed in creating opportunities for others to learn more, earn more, and live better. Because that’s exactly what this industry gave to me.

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One of the proudest moments of my career happened just this year:  my graduates have been mentioned in Parliament since I’ve been supporting the “Save our salons” campaign for tax reform and to keep apprenticeships in the industry. I did this because it’s vital to support up-and-coming talent in our industry.

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I’ve always believed that hairdressing is a powerful, professional career — and I’m determined to show the next generation that they can build something incredible with it.

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These days, my salon is known for two things I care deeply about: skin & body treatments and hair loss solutions. We help people feel like themselves again—sometimes during their most vulnerable moments, like when they’re going through cancer treatment and facing the trauma of losing their hair, or when menopause starts to affect their confidence and identity. We see women who’ve lost themselves through grief, stress, illness, or simply the pressures of everyday life. And being able to help them rediscover a sense of “them” again—that’s the kind of work that truly matters.

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I’m proud of the business I’ve built — but I’m even prouder of the resilience, resourcefulness, and heart it took to build it. This wasn’t a path I planned, but it’s been mine every step of the way. And every time I’ve faced a challenge, I’ve found a way to turn it into an opportunity — not just for me, but for the people around me.

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If I could go back and talk to that girl who just wanted to earn a bit of money, I’d tell her: keep walking through those open doors—you never know where they’ll take you.

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Oh, and the guy that told me I had “more front than Blackpool and more balls than a toy shop”? Well, I didn’t get the job… but we’ve been happily married for over 30 years, have a wonderful daughter, and although business can be hard and time consuming, we try to spend as much of our free time laughing, holidaying, and not taking life too seriously — because let’s face it, if you’re not having fun, you’re doing it wrong.

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