Based in Northampton, Daniel Granger heads up a salon with an award-winning team. Having been featured on E4’s Body Fixers as a resident hair guru, he has proudly devoted his life to making his clients look and feel great. We spoke to him about how he built up his career and what went into opening his top-rated salon…
How did the business begin?
I started hairdressing as a child with the intention of only styling my own hair, suddenly I was hairdressing for friends and family and that was when I really found my passion. I opened my first salon aged 20 and I have been obsessed with the craft ever since. I’ve done a lot of varied work over the years but my first love and focus has been building a brilliant salon with an exceptional team where clients can be themselves, relax and get exactly what they want – and more.
How did you decide upon the aesthetic of the salon?
I had a very clear vision of what I wanted it to look like. I didn’t want it to feel cosmetic or clinical, but warm and textured. Filip (Visual Director and Salon Partner) and I built the salon together and we wanted it to look industrial, modern and classy. Lighting was one of the key factors we focussed on to create the right mood. We also love our penny bar; it’s made out of 15,000 individual pennies stuck down on a reclaimed brick desk. Each one is signed by a client and sealed with resin. It’s really important to us that our clients feel relaxed, so we have a coffee bar where they can have a chat with their stylist, too. It’s a wonderful open plan space which we think of more as a community.
Creating our salon was a real labour of love. We built it with our bare hands and we were able to turn our dreams into a reality. It is a salon we are very proud of with real personality and style.
How do you stand out from your competitors?
We are a salon with a heart, all of us talented hair stylists with our own super powers. Together, as a team and individually, we have won many awards. As soon as our clients enter the salon they can feel the real love and passion we all have for hair, our team and our clients. We are real people that treat our clients like friends and family and, most importantly, we genuinely care about hair. We care about the condition of your hair and we strive to give every customer a 5 star service, leaving with gorgeous hair that they love. The team and I offer personalised, professional advice to our clients that can really help change the appearance and condition of their hair, even at home.
How do you think social media has influenced our industry?
In my career social media has become a big part of my day to day work life. After working on E4’s Body Fixers, I gained a lot of social media attention and followers from all over the world. I have had clients come from far and wide to have their hair styled by me and that wouldn’t have been possible had it not been for the likes of Facebook and Instagram. Social media has given stylists a platform to showcase their work to a wider audience, giving stylists more opportunities to gain clients from further afield. Social media also helps clients and stylists alike to keep up with the trends, share knowledge and find inspiration.
How do you keep up to date with the latest industry trends?
I am very passionate about education, whether I’m educating people or being educated by another industry master. We are constantly learning and evolving with all the latest trends. We’re a real creative bunch and always experimenting and trying out new hair colours, methods and creating trends of our own. We also browse social media, look up new techniques on Youtube and Pinterest. We live and breathe hairdressing so if there’s a new style on the horizon, we’re ready for it before clients start to ask for it.
What do you think makes a successful salon?
Passion, drive and hard work. Having a dedicated and very talented team that support each other. Every member of my team and I are constantly working hard to impress our clients and improve as stylists. We are genuine people that care about our clients and their hair and that really shows in our work. Every client leaves as a friend.
What advice can you give to others wanting to open a salon?
You have to be a really strong and passionate person. You’ve got to really want it and be prepared to put all of your time and effort in. Owning a salon is a real labour of love and I’m obsessed with it.
What are some of your favourite products and tools to use in the salon?
I swear by Akito Scissors and Schwarzkopf Professional products. We have a huge range of products in the salon all tailor made for different hair types and problems; from hair loss to colour and heat protection. I love Osis Session Label Miracle 15 for shine and heat protection – it does everything! A pea sized amount of product through your hair can work wonders.
What can we expect from you in 2019 and beyond?
I want to bring hairdressing and education into the digital age. I have a couple of massive projects I’ve been working on to announce later on this year. I always work 2 years ahead so 2019 is the build up to all of the projects I plan to launch in 2020. Expect big things and watch this space!
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