After four decades behind the chair, in session studios, on global stages and now as Managing Director of Phenix Salon Suites in the UK, there’s one thing John Gillespie knows for certain: a successful personal brand isn’t something you manufacture, it’s something you grow. And like any craft worth mastering, it takes patience, curiosity, consistency, and more than a little soul-searching.
Think Long-Term, Not Fast Buck
The best advice I can give any stylist who’s serious about longevity is simple: slow down. “The core principles I’ve stuck by when it comes to having a long-lasting career is not chasing the fast buck and assessing opportunities by questioning ‘am I in this for the long term?’”
It sounds basic, but asking yourself that one question has saved me from countless shiny distractions and short-lived opportunities.
If you can honestly say yes, I’m in this for the long term, you’ll naturally avoid the temptation to grab the easy payday. “It’s so tempting to just make money today, rather than planning and having foresight regarding how your career is going to last.” Long-term thinkers build legacies. Short-term thinkers burn out.
Educate Relentlessly
In an industry that reinvents itself every three to five years, stagnation is the real danger. “Another key element is education; you have to keep learning and growing. An openness to learning new things comes hand in hand with continuing to develop your career over a long period of time.”
If you stay invested in your own growth, your eye, your technique, your creativity, your personal brand naturally evolves with you. Education isn’t a phase, it’s fuel.
Nurture the Clients You Already Have
We’re conditioned to chase new clients, new followers, new partnerships, but your strongest brand advocates are usually already sitting in your chair, following you on socials or inviting you on stage.
“Look after your clients. Sometimes it’s not all about chasing new ones, it’s about nurturing and pouring into the ones you have.”
Clients, brands, bookers, they’re the ones who spread the word that you’re exceptional. Word of mouth is still the most powerful marketing tool any stylist has. You don’t buy it, you earn it.
Your Brand Starts With Your Identity
One of the biggest misconceptions about personal branding is that it’s about strategy. Yes, strategy helps, but it starts with something far more personal: knowing who you are and what you’re great at.
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