Brian ‘Leo’ McCallum: How to create a wellbeing-first salon

As hairdressers, we play an important role for those who sit in our chairs; often, we become a confidant, providing emotional support and creating a safe space, which allows trust and connection to thrive.

However, it is also important for us, as professionals, to be kind to ourselves and to look after our own mental health, as well as that of our team. You cannot build a thriving business on empty, especially in such emotional spaces as the salon floor.

My salon group, ROAR Hair & Beauty, has been built with inclusivity at its core, which is fundamentally about kindness and creating a genuinely welcoming environment where everyone feels seen, valued and respected for their individuality. This also extends to the team, which means fostering a workplace environment where everyone feels valued, respected and empowered.  

This can be achieved through subtle, but powerful changes, for example, through shifts in our language and mindsets. Often, it isn't about adding more; it's about shifting what matters.  

Recently, I have implemented an inclusive language policy for how we refer to each other within the team, and we now use the term ‘Partners'. Referring to the team as partners rather than employees shifts the mindset from transactional to collaborative, with a focus on shared goals and vision. This partnership mindset means that everyone is deeply invested in shared success, with a focus on trust and looking after each other.  

Alongside this, we no longer have one-to-ones; instead, we have wellness meetings. At ROAR, since day one, we have never taken a rigid approach to KPIs, as I have always believed in a people-first approach in all aspects of running a salon. Our wellness meetings are proactive sessions designed to support the team's mental and emotional health. I firmly believe that these types of meetings should be the norm and not a last resort. It's a space to ask ‘How are you really doing' through kind, open and honest conversations and what support they might need. It's about creating a safe space for the team where they can express how they feel without any fear or judgment. I believe in purpose rather than pressure, and instead of pushing targets, we ask questions like ‘What would success look like for you' and then look at ways we can achieve this together. 

In my role as Creative Director, I genuinely could not run the salons without the team's incredible support; likewise, it is also my duty to provide them with opportunities for growth and development. This includes regular training in the salon and out, with helping on photoshoots and at events and providing the team with experience out of the salon floor. By providing the team with these opportunities, it provides the team with a further sense of fulfilment in their role, boosts their confidence and improves their mental wellbeing too. 

It's also incredibly important to me to reward my team and ensure they know how valued and appreciated they are. I do this by not only by providing them with gifts and bonuses throughout the year, but also rewarding them at our annual ROAR awards, celebrating every team member individually, and taking the full team away on holiday too; in recent years we have been to Tenerife and Gran Canaria.

The wellbeing of the team is non-negotiable and it costs nothing to be kind; it's about having a clear vision and letting everyone know they are valued and supported. By doing this, you will have an extremely happy, motivated team, that will be able to deliver the best customer service to your clients and keep your salon business thriving!

Brian ‘Leo' McCallum is Creative Director at ROAR Hair & Beauty, a multi-award-winning colour expert salon group based in Glasgow.