KERRY MADE

What’s your earliest memory?
I remember going into a salon in the UK with my mother when I was young, and being in awe of the lovely surroundings. There was even a row of hood dryers.

Who or what is your biggest inspiration?
I’m a big believer in daily inspiration, whether it’s Ted Talks, podcasts or audio books. Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink is a book that had a big effect on me. It explains that you are where you are because of your actions, good or bad, and that pretty much everything in your life is either within your control or your fault.

What was your first job?
It was in a supermarket when I was 12.

Ideal holiday destination?
Somewhere new each time! My most recent trip was three weeks doing Route 66 in the US on a Harley. I loved it. I was in India two years ago doing a work tour, and I would love to go back.

Favourite food?
I’m a pig, so I love pizza, chocolate, a good steak and a Sunday morning fry-up.

Favourite drink?
I don’t drink alcohol. I love an ice-cold can of Coca-Cola. It hits the spot every time.

How do you relax?
I walk my dog Ruby every morning at 6.30am in Killarney National Park. When I really want to escape, I throw the helmet on and head out on the motorbike.

What was the last great film or series you watched?
I watch very little TV, but I’m currently enjoying Yellowstone.

Dream dinner party guest/guests (alive or dead)?
Vidal Sassoon. Aside from the obvious hair talent, I think his story is fascinating. He had to take elocution lessons to get rid of his Cockney accent so he could work in West End salons.

Do you cook and, if so, do you have a signature recipe?
I’m a functional cook only – I don’t enjoy prepping, only eating!

‘There’s no substitute for the grind, so stop looking for the easy or lazy solution’

Best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Win the morning, win the day. I’m not sure if that is the best advice I’ve ever received, but it’s the most recent, and it was from my friend and hair god Andrew Dunne. He and I are both morning people.

Best piece of advice you’ve ever given?
A shortcut is generally the longest distance between two places. So, if you look for the easy way, it will usually take twice as long.

There’s no substitute for the grind, so stop looking for the easy or lazy solution.

Have you changed the way you work or run your business since the pandemic?
We created our online learning platform during Covid, and have continued to develop that. We now integrate it into our academy courses so students can follow up what they learn on-site at home. It’s a great way to really enhance student learning, and that’s certainly something we didn’t do prior to Covid, and probably wouldn’t have done had it not happened .

Favourite thing about yourself?
I’m an eternal optimist and naturally gravitate towards believing all will be OK eventually. That is definitely a good attitude to have with all that’s going on in the world at the moment.

What’s the one hair product you can’t live without?
Our own Sean Taaffe Professional Moisture Spray Leave In Conditioner. I use it as a cutting lotion for nearly all my clients, and also pre-colour to help balance the pH.

What, if anything, would you now tell your 16-year-old self?
Stop the all-nighters, chocolate really does make you fat and 50 isn’t old!

How would you like to be remembered?
I’d love it if our education and ethos managed to inspire someone on their hairdressing journey, and helped them to improve and succeed.