HJ BUSINESS
Are You Curious or Cautious About AI?
Three hairdressers share their thoughts on AI in the salon
EMMA MARCEY, ODD CO-WORKING SPACE
1 “I love and use AI all the time in my business. It’s been amazing for assisting with miscellaneous tasks such as creating SOPS for my co-working space, building out Excel spreadsheets and other tedious tasks. ChatGPT has even been recommending our independent pros to potential new clients! It’s an exciting (and cost-free) new realm of marketing which I’ve been experimenting with lately. However, I do draw the line at the creative process. As a human-centric industry, I like to use AI to free up my time to create authentic, soul-filled, human work. Our industry is all about human connection after all, and to remove ‘the human’ from our creative processes, whether that’s colour formulation, Instagram captions or for me, publishing my thoughts and experiences in my substack: The Process, we risk losing the very thing that makes our industry so beautiful, the human connection. It’s so easy to forget that what we offer as human beings exceeds the salon chair, it’s in everything we do. I have mindfully decided to write with my own words, thoughts and experiences, to express rather than produce. It feels like a small act of rebellion in a world that pushes us to produce perfectly polished content and a return to human expression and connection. Creativity isn’t perfect, neither are humans, but isn’t that the beauty of it all? So, in short, yes, I am curious about AI, but just like scissors, it’s a great tool if used correctly. I just remind myself connection isn’t established through the tools. It’s established through the humans who hold them.”
FERGAL DOYLE, FERGAL DOYLE HAIR
2 “I’ve tried to integrate AI into every part of my business from consultation forms and staff management to admin, utilities and contracts. Technology has been the fuel behind the success of my career. I first became aware of AI in 2022 and started using it for award entries and blogs. It quickly became my new Google but better because I could have conversations with it. The moment I realised how powerful it was, came during an HR issue late one night. Instead of waiting until office hours, I uploaded emails and messages and got instant clarity on the law, what to do and what not to do. It saved me time, stress and money. Since then, it’s helped me challenge incorrect utility charges, review leases, manage staff targets and bookings, and streamline consultations. Clients can upload hair history, photos and inspiration, and AI helps map out formulation steps, retail recommendations and realistic outcomes. It’s not replacing creativity, it’s reducing mistakes. AI has replaced roles in my business. I no longer need reception or operations management, which, in the current climate, matters. Rising costs mean efficiency is survival. Clients are now using it too, sometimes to fire off solicitor-style complaints. But AI has also helped me rewrite terms and conditions and stay ahead of those situations. My advice? Embrace it. Salon owners who ignored social media years ago are still playing catch-up. Yes, there are risks, but if it helps you earn more, manage better, sleep better and think smarter, it’s worth it. Just don’t give it your bank details.”
GABY KENNEDY, CHARLOTTE PAINTS HAIR
3 “When it comes to using AI in salons, I’m firmly team cautious. AI creates the perfect image, the image we want to see, rather than what’s realistically possible. In doing so, it normalises the sometimes impossible. While AI can absolutely be used for inspiration, it doesn’t take into account a client’s starting point, hair history, or limitations on what’s physically possible. That means we can unintentionally set ourselves up for failure by creating unrealistic expectations and presenting the impossible as achievable. Sometimes the end result may be attainable but only as part of a considered hair journey. Clients don’t always realise that. It’s our responsibility to educate them on what can and can’t be done safely and realistically. As a colourist, protecting the integrity of the hair is always a priority and that’s something AI doesn’t consider. AI is built on visual perfection. It doesn’t consider how far hair can be pushed, whether the condition will allow it, or if a product even exists that can deliver the result it’s presenting. As professionals, we need to open up honest conversations about why an image may be unrealistic and what is achievable instead. Managing expectations isn’t negative, it’s protective. For me, protecting my reputation means protecting my clients’ hair. Honesty and transparency build trust, loyalty and long-term relationships and that will always matter more than perfection generated by a robot.”
