Welcome to Part 1 where I’m joined by Alex Walker—a Torquay-based haircutting specialist, educator, and the founder of AW Hair and Alex Walker Education. We recorded this inside Alex’s own education studio in Torquay, Devon UK , built as a separate space from the salon so hairdressers can learn properly—through in-person sessions, small groups, and online education—while still staying connected to real salon work.
From “Fell Into It” to Fully All-In
Alex’s story starts at 17, when he got into hairdressing almost by accident. But what kept him in was the buzz of the salon, the creativity, and the fact it could become a real career. Over time, he leaned hard into haircutting—especially short hair—and set himself a mission: raise standards and help hairdressers understand the “why” behind what they do.
Ownership, Pressure, and the Reality Check
We get into the turning points—early knock-backs, big ambition, and the push into salon ownership. Alex shares what it really looks like when growth happens fast, pressure builds, and the business model gets tested.
“What Am I Gonna Do Now?”
Then comes the moment the title’s built around. After the businesses went into liquidation, Alex was left thinking, “I haven’t got five days’ worth of clients… what am I gonna do now?” It’s honest, raw, and I know a lot of us hairdressers will relate to that feeling of suddenly needing to rebuild from scratch.
Rebuild Mode: Education That Stays Commercial
On the other side of it all, Alex rebuilt through education, content, and still cutting weekly to keep his teaching grounded in real, busy salon life—so what he shares actually works on the salon floor.
This episode is a real lesson in resilience and staying consistent when everything changes. Hit play—and leave feeling fired up for what’s next.
