> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # INTERVIEW: Hove based salon owner Oliver Blackaby opens up about creating a safe space, hair trends and the client story that made him cry - URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/interview-hove-based-salon-owner-oliver-blackaby-opens-up-about-creating-a-safe-space-hair-trends-and-the-client-story-that-made-him-cry/ - Published: 2026-10-09T08:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-09T09:57:21.000Z - Description: “Hair is a statement, a protest and a way to show unity.” The queer owner of award-winning The Hair Salon, on Pride, how quickly trends move and creating a space where everyone can be themselves. - Author: Dale Melita - Tags: Community Corner, Centrestage, Q&As, Pride, UK Ladies, gentleman, theys and thems, welcome to the **Brighton & Hove** residents' community corner series celebrating our city’s bold drag artists, boundary breaking performers and Brighton & Hove based queer-owned/LGBTQ+ businesses. When I launced this series in 2025, my goal was to go beyond the glam with our legendary, local queer performers so we can all get to know the people behind them. And now that mission has expanded to include the incredible LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs helping shape our city too. After all, like **Lady Gaga** once asked on *ARTPOP*, "Do you wanna see the girl who lives behind the aura?" Well, of course we do. This week we're joined by [**OLIVER BLACKABY**](https://www.instagram.com/oliverblackabyhair?ref=scenemag.co.uk), the friendly face behind award-winning [**The Hair Salon**](https://thehair-salon.co.uk/?ref=scenemag.co.uk)on **Blatchington Road** in **Hove** (actually). As well as running a thriving salon, the queer owned business owner is a hair educator, podcast host and passionate advocate for creating spaces where people feel genuinely welcomed, respected and able to be themselves. If this is your first time stumbling across my centrestage series and you want to catch up on previous interviews, don't panic hun-catch up [**HERE**](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/tag/centrestage/). If you're looking to put your money where your queer mouth is, supporting LGBTQ+ owned businesses is one of the most powerful ways to do it. These businesses sit at the intersection of creativity, resilience and community, strengthening our local economy while helping create opportunities for future generations of queer entrepreneurs. Long after **Pride Month** ends and **LGBTQ+ History Month** comes to a close, these businesses deserve our support year-round, right?! Let's dive in head first with Ollie where we yap about confidence, creativity, hair trends and the power of helping people feel like themselves! > [ View this post on Instagram ](https://www.instagram.com/p/DZNajyhskeX/?utm%5Fsource=ig%5Fembed&utm%5Fcampaign=loading) > > [A post shared by Salon owner (@oliverblackabyhair)](https://www.instagram.com/p/DZNajyhskeX/?utm%5Fsource=ig%5Fembed&utm%5Fcampaign=loading) DALEYPOP: Ollie! Hello! For our readers who aren't familiar with you or your stunning hair salon (yet), can you introduce yourself and what do you do? OLIVER BLACKABY: Hi Dale, hi readers! My name is Oliver, or Ollie. I've been in the hair industry for over 25 years. I've mainly been Brighton based but I've also worked in **London** including for **Trevor Sorbie** and **Headmasters**. I went freelance about 10 years ago and started my own studio not long after. During lockdown I had the chance to step back and really think about the future and that's when I decided to open a salon. Coming out of the last lockdown, I opened The Hair Salon and it was a big leap because I never planned to have a salon. I wanted to create a freelance space but also a safe space for us to work. I also educate with my colleague and friend **Vanessa** **Koeb** and I have a podcast called **The So Lovely Talk Show** with my friend **Siobhán Jones** where we discuss what it's like being a creative and tackle topics such as imposter syndrome and sexism. > I have a lot of plates spinning! DALEYPOP: You really do! Did you grow up in Brighton/Hove and were you always the creative type growing up? OLIVER BLACKABY: I was born in **Shoreham**, went to school in **Steyning** and lived in **Poynings**. I was a country boy and loved running around the fields. I was always creative. Art was my passion and I loved sewing. I remember making replicas of **Sarah Ferguson**'s wedding dress for my **Barbie**! As soon as I could drive I was in Brighton working in clubs in the early '90s. I went to art school in **Horsham** and originally wanted to be a fashion designer. > [ View this post on Instagram ](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVVgW4DAkcP/?utm%5Fsource=ig%5Fembed&utm%5Fcampaign=loading) > > [A post shared by Salon owner (@oliverblackabyhair)](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVVgW4DAkcP/?utm%5Fsource=ig%5Fembed&utm%5Fcampaign=loading) DALEYPOP: I can definitely picture you as a fashion designer. You absolutely give off fashion designer energy. As well as being an award-winning salon owner and **Davroe** brand ambassador, you run **The Hair Salon Academy** too, right? What do you enjoy most about helping the next generation of hair professionals develop their skills? OLIVER BLACKABY: I've always loved teaching and what's amazing about our industry is that there are so many avenues you can go down. But there is something really special about teaching. There is an exchange that happens. It doesn't matter how many years of experience you have; it's a space where you can be vulnerable and expose yourself to learning. Hair is a language. It's about identity, and sharing my experience and knowledge with the younger generation is so important. Seeing that light bulb moment is priceless. It's also important to share art, culture and history too. I could go on and on... > [ View this post on Instagram ](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWTWyo1IQMF/?utm%5Fsource=ig%5Fembed&utm%5Fcampaign=loading) > > [A post shared by The Hair Salon Academy (@thehairsalonacademy)](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWTWyo1IQMF/?utm%5Fsource=ig%5Fembed&utm%5Fcampaign=loading) DALEYPOP: Hair trends come and go but your courses also explore the history and inspiration behind them. Why do you think understanding fashion, culture and history just as important as learning the technical skills? OLIVER BLACKABY: Hair is about identity and whether you're a fashion lover or not, your hair is a statement about you. Understanding people's references, what era a cut was born in, what clothes were being worn and the politics of that time all shape who we are. > Take the mod, for example. It's very Brighton. You have to understand the history and it's relatable from the '60s, through the '90s and into the present day. The bob, for example, was a rebellion. It represented a time when women wanted to gain control. **Vidal Sassoon** released women from rollers and embraced their natural hair. DALEYPOP: You mentioned it earlier and I promise was going to ask you, but I can't get over that alongside running your own salon, being a Davroe ambassador and educating stylists, you've somehow found time to launch a podcast too! What inspired you to launch The So Lovely Talk Show and do you love it? I love the staff room chit chat concept. OLIVER BLACKABY: Well, the podcast came from lockdown with my friend Siobhán. We went from 100 to zero and we didn't know what to do with ourselves. Siobhán and I had always wanted to do something that was about our industry, so lockdown was the perfect time to start. It was very basic and all done over **Zoom** but everyone was sitting at home so we got some great guests straight away. I loved the editing and creating the artwork. Our first season was 10 episodes. But as soon as we came out of lockdown we had to go back to work and earn money, so it was a couple of years later that we brought it back. We love doing it. It's a real passion project and we get to meet and speak to so many inspiring people. It's also not just for hairdressers, as we cover all sorts of topics that relate to being a creative. DALEYPOP: How did becoming an ambassador for Davroe come about and what is it about the brand that resonated with you? OLIVER BLACKABY: Davroe is the OG Australian brand. The reason it resonates with me is because it's cruelty-free, vegan and has strong ethical foundations. > The Hair Salon is all about the environment. We recycle and work hard to do what we can to protect the planet. Our industry has a huge carbon footprint so I'm passionate about the environmental impact we have. Working with Davroe is important to me because those values align with my own. DALEYPOP: Are Gen Z, Millennials and Gen X asking for completely different looks at the moment or are the generations becoming more alike when it comes to hair trends? OLIVER BLACKABY: That's a multi-layered question! It's not necessarily the generations; it's modern culture and how quickly trends move in the world of social media and the internet. Before **Instagram** and **Pinterest** trends came from the catwalk, through hair magazines and then to us. We gave our clients the trends. Now, trends are so different. They move faster but they also come more from the client finding their own identity. It's very much informed by how the client wants to look. > This is why I love Brighton and *Hove. Our community is a melting pot of culture, queerness and creativity.* I know when I teach in more rural areas, this can be different. So as a hairdresser, it's more about collaborating with clients to identify the ultimate look rather than simply following a "trend". DALEYPOP: From mullets and moustaches to perms and longer styles, men's hair feels more adventurous than ever, right? Are men becoming more confident experimenting with their look? OLIVER BLACKABY: Without a doubt! And I'm here for it! We actually deep dive into men's image and how it has evolved on one of our masterclasses ([HERE](https://thehair-salon.co.uk/academy-hair-education-courses/?ref=scenemag.co.uk)) through The Hair Salon Academy. This also ties in with the rise of the barbershop. I guess with social media and the selfie culture, everyone wants to look the best version of themselves. > It's no longer taboo for a man, gay, straight or however we identify, to have the ability to explore what that looks like. DALEYPOP: If you could ban one hair trend forever and bring back another, what would they be? OLIVER BLACKABY: I wouldn't ban anything. My aesthetic isn't the same as someone else's but I can appreciate things that aren't my aesthetic when they work for that person. That's my role as a stylist. What is my bad taste is someone else's identity! DALEYPOP: I can only imagine that running a business must be incredibly rewarding but also knackering at times. How do you look after your own wellbeing while juggling so many different projects? OLIVER BLACKABY: I have the best support system around me. I have a life coach, **Jo Irving**, who helps me see my vision but also grounds me. She's amazing. > As a neurodivergent business owner, I have to have lots of plates spinning. It's how I function. So, without her, it would be much harder. I also have business coaching with **Kin Connect** which really supports me in the tougher areas, like numbers. They help me understand cash flow, where my business is performing well and where it may be lacking. Plus, I have a great team within the salon that allows all these things to flow well. It's about creating a community that lifts you up and supports you when you're feeling vulnerable. I also do a lot of mindfulness. I love a sauna; it really helps me get my nervous system back on track. I also have regular massage, acupuncture and visits to my osteopath. I also have lots of therapy! Not to mention my amazing husband, who is also called Ollie! > [ View this post on Instagram ](https://www.instagram.com/p/DYTyGu4DLrb/?utm%5Fsource=ig%5Fembed&utm%5Fcampaign=loading) > > [A post shared by Ollie (@olllieblackaby)](https://www.instagram.com/p/DYTyGu4DLrb/?utm%5Fsource=ig%5Fembed&utm%5Fcampaign=loading) We have a camper van and being in nature and getting away from it all is the best therapy. Being grounded is THE most important thing! DALEYPOP: Pride is often associated with visibility and being your authentic self. Do you think hair plays a role in helping people express who they are and what does Pride personally mean to you? OLIVER BLACKABY: Hair says everything about who you are. Hair is a statement, a protest and a way to show unity. I know for a fact that I can sometimes tell if someone is an ally simply by their hair. As queer people, we've had to send messages through dress codes and appearance, particularly when it was illegal to be gay. Even from my early 20s, I could tell if someone was queer because of their hair. > Pride has meant many different things to me over the past three decades. It was a place that made me feel okay when I first came out. Watching the parade made me feel safe and it was also the first time I experienced a sexual awakening. Living by **Preston Park** for the best part of 20 years, I've watched Pride grow from a free event into a paid festival. We used to have massive Pride parties at ours and it was also right between my husband's birthday and mine, so it was HUGE! We would PARTY. But now I really am back to watching the parade and seeing it more as a protest than a party. In fact, I had to leave Brighton this year as the noise and volume of people overwhelmed me last year. It has grown into something that's more of a festival and I'm not sure how I feel about that...The Hair Salon really wants to be involved in the parade though and if that happens, then I will be happy! DALEYPOP: Many people, including LGBTQIA+ people, trans and non-binary people, people of colour, those from different cultural or religious backgrounds and even neurodivergent people, can feel anxious walking into a salon....why do you think that is and what practical changes can salons make to help everyone feel truly welcome? OLIVER BLACKABY: This is so loaded.... A salon is full of mirrors and lights that put the focus directly on you. It can be very exposing and harsh. Regardless of your gender, religion or culture, you're facing yourself and exposing who you are to another person. I've worked in places where you have to wear a black uniform and the salon was white, with huge windows that made it feel like a goldfish bowl. Even as a stylist, this can feel exposing and conforming. Ultimately, we need mirrors and light to be able to do a great job. It's about the atmosphere you create, the team you work with, the spaces you create, the language you speak and the visuals you use. Ask your clients what they want to make it a safe space. And that's what we do. I've learnt so much since becoming a salon owner, and as a queer business owner, I wanted to make a space that worked for me and the team. I want to feel safe, so the people who come through that door, no matter their culture, how they are wired or how they identify, are seen and respected. > [ View this post on Instagram ](https://www.instagram.com/p/DZX2vgcjp0U/?utm%5Fsource=ig%5Fembed&utm%5Fcampaign=loading) > > [A post shared by Inclusive & Sustainable Hair Salon 🌱 (@the.hairsalon)](https://www.instagram.com/p/DZX2vgcjp0U/?utm%5Fsource=ig%5Fembed&utm%5Fcampaign=loading) DALEYPOP: You must have seen first hand how transformative it can be when someone finds a space where they feel comfortable being themselves. Are there any moments from your career that really highlight the importance of that and what does a genuinely safe and welcoming salon environment look like to you? OLIVER BLACKABY: Yes, all the time. There are too many examples to go through but one really sticks out. I had a young guy come in, beautiful, with long hair, who wanted to have a fringe. They were very introverted and barely said a word, but we worked together. Very soon after, they started their transition. She has since modelled for our collections and become much more open. When she told me that The Hair Salon had been a huge part of her transition and making her feel like she belonged, it really affected me. The first time I met her was the first day she had started taking hormones. It made me cry and gave me goosebumps. > I think it's just instinctive for me to create a safe space. When you hear all the trans hate out there and really understand how terrifying the current politics and hate can be, and the effect that has on 1% of the population simply trying to step out of the front door, it shows how important it is to create a space that allows people to feel like they can be themselves. To be seen by people who truly see them. DALEYPOP: The conversation around gender neutral pricing has definitely grown in recent years. What's your view on pricing services based on the work involved rather than a client's gender? OLIVER BLACKABY: Well, this is about more than just gender identity. Yes, there needs to be equality when it comes to services, but it's also about hairdressers knowing their own worth. As an industry, we've undersold our services for decades and we work bloody hard. But since COVID we've all had a life check, purely due to burnout and realising that we don't want to work that way anymore. As creatives, we're always wanting to please people and give them good hair. So, as a salon owner and someone who coaches freelance team members, it's more about making sure people are charging correctly for the time and tools they use while also making enough money to be able to afford to live. Then you have to think about pricing and being gender fluid. That's the final part of it. It's about pricing for the service, which then flows into your sex or identity. DALEYPOP: If somebody reading this has never felt fully comfortable in a salon before, what would you want them to know? OLIVER BLACKABY: It's okay to ask questions and do your research. There are safe spaces out there. We have an online questionnaire that allows someone to get in touch so we can communicate with them before they've even stepped over the threshold. We can then navigate them towards the perfect fit within the salon and if they want a private room, that's available too. Speak to your community and see if anyone has had a good experience that has made them feel safe. That's the best recommendation anyone can have. DALEYPOP: So true! I've got some quick fire questions for you now, just say the first thing that pops in your head! So....blondes or brunettes? OLIVER BLACKABY: All of them! DALEYPOP: Curtain bangs or a fringe? OLIVER BLACKABY: All of them! DALEYPOP: The slick back bun: chic or boring?! OLIVER BLACKABY: Chic when it's done right. Terrible when it's done with a doughnut. DALEYPOP: Early appointment or late appointment? OLIVER BLACKABY: The earlier, the better. DALEYPOP: Bold transformation or subtle refresh? OLIVER BLACKABY: Depends on the individual! But I love a change...every time. DALEYPOP: Favourite hair product of all time? OLIVER BLACKABY: Too hard to answer! DALEYPOP: Most underrated hair product? OLIVER BLACKABY: Heat protector. DALEYPOP: Hair trend you'd happily ban forever? OLIVER BLACKABY: None! They're all relevant in their time and place. DALEYPOP: One hair trend you're predicting for next year? OLIVER BLACKABY: All of them! There's a new trend for every style and colour these days. DALEYPOP: Celebrity with the best hair right now? ![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/2026/10/1000073946-1.jpg) 📸 [Lexie Moreland](https://www.instagram.com/lexieblacklock?ref=scenemag.co.uk) OLIVER BLACKABY: AAAHHHH, SO HARD...I adore **Pamela Anderson** and she's also doing so much for visibility and breaking the norms of society's view of women. DALEYPOP: Celebrity whose hair you'd love to get your hands on? OLIVER BLACKABY: I LOVE **Jake Shears**. I'd be so happy to do his hair! DALEYPOP: OMG wait has anyone ever told you that you look a bit like Jake Shears?!...big hair transformation or colour refresh? OLIVER BLACKABY: Both. ![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/2026/10/1000073944.png) 📸 Getty Images DALEYPOP: Most iconic hairstyle of all time? OLIVER BLACKABY: All of **Linda Evangelista**'s in the '90s. Bleach blonde, red and brunette. DALEYPOP: Crush of the day? ![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/2026/10/1000073947.gif) OLIVER BLACKABY: **Jonathan Bailey**...make my husband jealous! > [ View this post on Instagram ](https://www.instagram.com/p/DVIk98djJMN/?utm%5Fsource=ig%5Fembed&utm%5Fcampaign=loading) > > [A post shared by Salon owner (@oliverblackabyhair)](https://www.instagram.com/p/DVIk98djJMN/?utm%5Fsource=ig%5Fembed&utm%5Fcampaign=loading) To find out more about The Hair Salon, to book an appointment or explore The Hair Salon Academy, visit the website [****HERE**](https://thehair-salon.co.uk/?ref=scenemag.co.uk) or call the salon on 01273 202073. If you’re a local queer performer or a Brighton & Hove based queer/LGBTQ+ business owner and would love to be featured in this community corner series, follow and DM me on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/itsdalemelitabitch?ref=scenemag.co.uk) or email ****dale@scenemag.co.uk**