HJ Guest Editor
CELEBRATING THE POWER OF motherhood
British Hairdresser of the Year Efi Davies talks to other mums about career, children and compromise
SACHA MASCOLO-TARBUCK
Sacha Mascolo-Tarbuck is the daughter of Toni Mascolo and is now the CEO of TONI&GUY and LABEL.M. She started hairdressing at 16 years old and went on to win Newcomer of the Year and London Hairdresser of the Year, as well as be at the forefront of one of the biggest and most successful hair groups in the world.
“I became a mother in my early thirties, once I was already established in my career. My children are now 22, 20, and 15. Motherhood didn’t disrupt my work, if anything, it enriched it. I had strong family support, and I genuinely loved every moment of being a mum. Giving love, nurturing, and supporting my children has been the most rewarding thing I’ve done.
Being a mother gave me perspective. It taught me how to support others, be less selfish, accept mistakes, and grow together, all qualities that have shaped how I lead in business. Time was the biggest challenge for me, but I’ve always believed you can have both. Family happiness pushes you forward at work, and work fulfilment feeds back into family life.
When my children were young, I stopped work-related travel and made sure trips abroad were only with family. That balance helped ease any sense of guilt. My advice to other mothers is simple: love what you do and love your family time. When you allow yourself to enjoy both, everything feels more aligned.”
“MOTHERHOOD AND AMBITION ARE OFTEN SPOKEN ABOUT AS IF THEY CAN’T COEXIST. THE HAIRDRESSING INDUSTRY IS FULL OF STRONG, PASSIONATE MOTHERS WHO DESERVE RECOGNITION. THIS FEATURE CELEBRATES EVERY SINGLE ONE. EVERY MOTHER WHO HAS QUESTIONED HERSELF, WORKED LATE AFTER BEDTIME, OR FELT GUILTY FOR WANTING MORE.
JORDANNA COBELLA
Jordanna Cobella is the owner of Cobella Salon in London and colour and trend ambassador for Wella. She is one of the most exciting hairdressers of her generation, winning a plethora of awards with multiple nominations for British Hairdresser of the Year.
“I became a mother in August 2024, which also happened to be the first year I was nominated for British Hairdresser of the Year. It was a moment I’ll never forget. I had planned to take a break from entering collections that year, but I’m so glad I didn’t. I created my favourite collection to date, and that belief and momentum did me the world of good.
Becoming a mum has completely changed how I manage my time. I’m clearer with my boundaries and much more selective about the projects I commit to. I have one daughter, Wallis, who’s now 18 months, and another baby girl on the way. I’ll be honest, I’m nervous about juggling it all, but I also know women do this every day and find their rhythm.
What I feel strongly about is not glorifying going back to work too quickly. I only took six weeks off the first time and I have real regrets. That time is something you never get back. I also struggled with breastfeeding once I returned; the breaks just didn’t happen, and my milk supply dropped. Going into my second maternity leave, I’ll be much stricter with my time. That space is a gift to your baby and your body.
I don’t think our industry supports working mothers well enough yet. Government maternity pay is outdated, and as an employer myself, I’ve created better maternity care and flexibility because I know how hard it is. I want to be part of the change, making it easier for women to have motherhood and a meaningful career.”
CHARLOTTE MENSAH
Award-winning hairdresser and business owner Charlotte Mensah champions diversity within hairdressing and opened one of the UK’s first Afro hair salons. She became a mother at the age of 22, just a few years into her working life.
“I became a mother at 22, very early in my career. With a newborn son and a move to a new area, I had a choice – compromise motherhood or compromise work. I chose neither. Hair was one of the few things that truly brought me joy, so I built something that allowed both to coexist. I started working from my flat, marketing myself locally, then gradually built a client base that allowed me to rent a chair close to home. Balance was always my goal. I didn’t want to miss out on being a mother, but I also didn’t want to miss building a life around something I loved. I have two children – a son of 33 and a daughter of 24 – and what I love most is the relationship we’ve grown into together. Parenthood teaches you that change is constant. You adapt, stay fluid, and remain true to yourself. I don’t believe in “mum guilt” – it’s just human guilt. We all need to give ourselves more grace. My advice is to work hard, bet on yourself, but remember that real wealth is your health and the health of the people you love. Boundaries matter, success isn’t about how much you give, it’s about knowing what to protect.”
LAN NGUYEN-GREALIS
Lan Nguyen-Grealis is an award-winning make-up artist who works on shoots, shows, events and has published her own book. Finding out she was pregnant while on a tour was a compete shock.
“I found out I was pregnant with my first child while on a hair tour in 2013 – it was a complete shock. I kept working right up until I gave birth, balancing international travel, a book deadline, and my career. Having my second child five years later was very different, the industry had changed and so had my responsibilities. What I love most about being a mother is the unconditional companionship, learning constantly, and growing alongside them. Mum guilt comes with long hours and missed moments, especially when I work away. Freelance offers flexibility, but there’s no paid leave, and childcare costs can make opportunities harder to accept. When I started, motherhood wasn’t talked about at all, women hid pregnancies out of fear of losing work.”
TO THE OTHER MOTHERS
Sacha: Love it all; love what you do at work and love your time with family. Separating and enjoying both makes all the difference.
Jordanna: Be strict, take the time off you need. Your clients will be okay for six months and then only gradually return one-two days per week. You won’t regret it!
Charlotte: Remember that real wealth is your health and the health of the people you love. Priorities are everything so don’t be passive, be proactive and be honest. Where appropriate, let your children know what’s going on.
Nicola: Don’t be afraid to ask for help from people around you. Childcare is often the biggest challenge, but with support around you, this industry can be incredibly rewarding.
Lan: Stop comparing yourself, listen to your gut, ask for help, and give yourself grace. There is no right way to be a mother. If you’re present, honest, and doing the best you can, that’s enough. Your skills don’t disappear when you become a parent, they evolve with you.
NICOLA CLARKE
Nicola Clarke has her eponymous salon in London, and is also the colourist on call for a whole host of celebrities. She is one of the most successful session stylists of her generation, regularly travelling the world for shows, awards and shoots.
“I became a mother once I was already established in my career, working across film, fashion, editorial, and the salon. I have two children, my son is now 22 and my daughter is 14. I’ve loved watching them grow, and the unconditional love you experience as a parent is unlike anything else.
I’ve been very fortunate to travel with my children on some jobs, thanks to incredible family support. That meant I never really experienced mum guilt in the traditional sense. I worked on films like Babel for four weeks with my son by my side, supported by my mother; those moments shaped how seamlessly motherhood and work blended for me. On the whole, I’ve always felt supported by the industry and by the people I worked with. When I was working at John Freida, he was a family man himself and really encouraged me in everything I wanted to achieve. I was lucky as I took maternity leave from the salon and so got maternity pay and I still had my editorial work where I could choose to take a job. I went back into the salon after six months but I worked and travelled with clients after three months. I was never discouraged or overlooked because I was a mum.”