HJ VOICENOTES

Lisa Jackson, Global CEO, shares why there’s no place like home (ie. the hair industry!) and how to thrive in 2025’s economic climate

LISA JACKSON

"EXTENSIONISTS HAVE ALWAYS WRONGLY BEEN SEEN AS SEPARATE TO THE HAIR INDUSTRY. BUT TO ME, IT’S ANO BRAINER ADD-ON SERVICE FOR EVERYONE, FROM INDEPENDENT STYLISTS TO SALONS.”

Even though I’ve been working for a beauty brand for the last four years, I’ve always felt a connection to the hair industry. When I left Revlon Professional in 2020, there was never a moment when I felt like I wouldn’t work in hair again. Seeing events happening on social media and people’s progression made it feel like I was still very much connected. I wanted to work at a global level and experience new things in the wider beauty sphere, but now I’m back in the hair world as Global CEO of Remi Cachet and I’m loving it.

Whether you’re a hairdresser or work for a brand, when you’re in the hair world everybody only sees the glamorous side of your life. But I’m a true nerd! The experience of launching a brand at a global level is amazing, but I love the geeky behind-the-scenes things like taxes, the affiliates, regulation and the legal obligations. It takes an army to make a company work. I’m into every Profit & Loss figure and I’m a marketer’s worst nightmare, as I want to read everything. I always get into the nitty gritty.

In order to thrive in this climate, it’s essential that everyone knows where their money goes and how to make their finances work harder. Whether you’re local or a global company, a small business, or a nationwide chain, you have to keep on top of every aspect of your profit. I know I'm biased but I’m amazed every day by what hair extensions can financially offer a hairdresser. For one thing, they bring loyal and regular clients, which we need now more than ever. Secondly, they are perfect for those clients that want colour, balayage or blonding services, but have hair that is too damaged. Believe me, if you don’t say yes, they will go somewhere else that will – at the cost of their hair. Extensions are a way you can keep their hair safe and drive loyalty.

Extensionists have always, wrongly in my eyes, been seen as different to hairdressers. But to me, it’s a no brainer add-on service for everyone from independent stylists to salons. It’s an additional revenue stream that’s needed right now. I’ve even seen how you could potentially make more revenue from extensions than colour!

There’s definitely more work to be done on changing the face of extensions. Yes, some Gen Z clients still want the long mermaid look but I think there’s a bigger untapped market for discreet, timeless styles too, clients who want to make their hair appear thicker and fuller, not longer. I like to think of hair extensions like aesthetic, non-invasive ‘tweakments’. The right type of hair can make someone look like the best version of themselves.

Coming back into the hair industry has made me feel like a student again. In a good way! Having been in the industry for as long as I have [working at Aveda, Schwarzkopf Professional and Revlon Professional], I thought I knew about hair, but extensions are a whole new world. I’m naturally curious so I’ve buried myself in research on social media, I’ve had training across all fourteen different extensions methods, I’ve studied the sourcing of the product and I’m always looking at other brands.

My advice right now? Never think you have the answer to everything. Self-discovery is key.