Paul Watts Hairdressing, Kettering

This month, Paul Watts Hairdressing opens its doors and stars as our Simply Salon.

In the bustling town of Kettering, nestled among its vibrant streets, lies a salon that has not only mastered the art of hairstyling but has also emerged as a trendsetter in the industry. Paul Watts Hairdressing, recipient of the “Simply Salon” award, is a haven for those seeking not just a haircut but an experience.

Paul Watts, the visionary behind the salon, shares his unconventional journey: “My journey has been a crazy one, from playing football for Aston Villa to university to network engineer to finally finding my feet in hairdressing.” His unique path to the world of hairdressing brings an unparalleled perspective to the salon, one that values instant results and creative expression.

“What inspired me was that I love instant or near-instant results. My university would give me deadlines of 3-6 months for projects, and I’d get them done in a day, so looking into what creative outlet would allow me to have a brief, design it, and create in a matter of hours was hairdressing. A rare thing I was told from tutors is: “I can envisage the result before I do it.”

Running a salon was not initially on Paul’s radar, but fate had other plans. “Running a salon is definitely something I never thought I would do, but it was thrown upon me when the salon I managed suddenly had to close, so I bought it.” Despite the challenges, Paul highlights the highs of the journey: “The highs are having a team of creative, passionate people to share the journey with; having clients choose you to sit in your chair is such an amazing thing; then you have the awards, shows, etc., which are awesome.”

Paul’s dedication to his craft is palpable as he reflects on his work ethic: “You’re asking the wrong person to talk to about balance, and that’s fine. One frustration right now is that so many hairdressers are saying, slow down, take a minute, don’t burn yourself out. I live for it; I’ve never burned out, and I’m in my 16th year of working 7 days a week, every hour possible. If you want it, you have to work for it. A saying I love is: ‘If you want to buy things without looking at the price, you gotta work without looking at the clock.’”

As the interview delves into the salon’s success, Paul credits not just his team’s skills but also the tools they use. “SimplyHair have the best foil, clips, combs, and customer service, so for me, all the tools, but what I can’t live without is great customer service, and you guys kill that.”

Paul Watts Hairdressing has become synonymous with excellence, and their choice of tools plays a pivotal role. Paul expresses his daily reliance on certain products: “Daily is the SimplyHair foil, the gold flamingo being a favourite of mine, the rubber creaseless clips in black are the actual bomb, and the bowl with the sucker is genius. So you guys at SimplyHair basically make my life easier.”

Client satisfaction is paramount for Paul, and he enthusiastically shares: “The foil, clients love it! The creaseless clips are incredible. Like I said, I give them out to clients if I’ve used them for growing out fringes or changing partings; they love them. Especially the pearl ones.”

Paul emphasises the importance of training in the industry: “I think training, in general; if you’re not training your team, you’re failing them. The top tip is foil placement rather than quantity. Less is more.” He stays ahead of the curve by using his YouTube channel to create trend reports, keeping both his team and audience fresh and bang on trend.

Paul recognises the impact of quality tools on his salon’s growth, stating, “SimplyHair’s tools have helped us grow by giving us a point of difference, but also my YouTube channel; it’s given my videos a new look, which I love.”

Paul Watts Hairdressing stands as a testament to passion, creativity, and unwavering dedication. The salon’s commitment to excellence, coupled with Paul’s unique journey, has elevated it to the pinnacle of the industry. As clients continue to flock to experience the magic within those walls, Paul Watts Hairdressing remains a beacon of inspiration for aspiring hairstylists and a shining star in the world of salon excellence.