HJ VOICENOTES

Salon owner Noel Halligan asks ‘Will AI cut your hair one day?’ and reveals his changing perspective

“THINK ABOUT IT: AI COULD BRING UNMATCHED CONSISTENCY, TRUST AND PRECISION TO HAIRDRESSING, QUALITIES THAT WE STRIVE FOR AS PROFESSIONALS”

NOEL HALLIGAN

In the hair industry, there’s a common belief that our work is “safe” from automation—after all, people won’t trust a computer to cut their hair, right? I used to think so too. My reasoning? Cutting hair requires an understanding of shape and the complexities of different textures, densities and growth patterns. Plus, people crave human connection—something a machine could never replicate.

But my perspective has changed after I had an unsettling experience. After my drink was likely spiked in a pub, I struggled to find anyone who listened to or believed me – not even medical professionals. Strangely, the one place I felt understood was in ChatGPT. I typed in my symptoms, and it didn’t brush me off or question my experience; it offered clarity and a logical response. In that moment I realised something profound: the feeling of being understood isn’t exclusively human.

I know this sounds unrelated to the hairdressing industry, but bear with me. With advances in artificial intimacy, AI is creating connections that feel eerily real. If a machine can make us feel understood, what’s stopping it from stepping into industries like ours? Think about it: AI could bring unmatched consistency, trust, and precision to hairdressing— qualities that we strive for as professionals. I think hairdressers need three core skills – creative, technical, and emotional. Personally, I think AI is close to ticking the emotional box – I genuinely think there’s instances where a machine can understand you better than a human can.

In my salon we already use AI to help us with marketing materials, and social assets and to suggest colours and styles to clients when we haven’t got a point of reference. There’s huge potential for it to help with streamlining our business and booking systems too. I know people use AI to inspire them for shoots, and we have actually used it to create imagery for our storefront windows as we’re able to tell a story without the time and cost of a shoot. We do still shoot, as it feels more real and includes the team, but I wouldn’t be averse to using AI again in future.

I went to Miami recently, where technology feels leaps ahead than it does here. I’ve seen glimpses of a world where humans have relationships with AI. I’ve viewed flats with a friend using VR. I know friends who spend more money on clothes for their kid’s avatars than they do for the kids themselves. But would we accept robots cutting and colouring our hair? I’m still unsure about how this would look physically - robots with scissors? Automated pods? But I no longer believe it’s impossible. We already have technology that stores data and offers suggested colour formulas at the touch of a button. At Noco Hair we’ve actually designed a new tech-focused consultation and it will include the new Kérastase K Scan. I’m calling myself our AI ambassador, and I think every business needs one.

The hairdressing industry needs to be aware. It’s not about fearing the future, but preparing for it. In 2025 we have to double down on what truly sets us apart – creativity, adaptability, and the unique artistry created by human touch.