This week, Tessa is joined by Jason Hall, award-winning hair stylist and Edinburgh salon owner, for a conversation about building a career that spans across salon, session and international fashion work. Beginning his training in Edinburgh as a teenager, Jason went on to open and grow multiple salons while also stepping into London Fashion Week and working across Milan, Paris, New York and beyond.
This episode explores what the hair industry looked like when he began, at a time when standards varied widely and access to education was limited. Jason reflects on how social media, education and shifting client expectations have raised the baseline across the profession. He speaks openly about early setbacks backstage, scaling a business to 70 staff and realising growth alone was not the goal. The conversation centres on loyalty, mentorship, consistency and how his definition of success has shifted from ambition and expansion to focus, relationships and happiness.
Jason Hall on Longevity, Standards and Staying Relevant in Hair
Interview by Tessa Dewing for The Business of Modelling Podcast
Jason Hall has built a career in hairdressing that spans more than four decades. Based in Edinburgh, he opened his first salon in the mid-1990s before expanding to multiple locations across Scotland. Alongside his salon work, he developed a strong reputation in session styling, working on international fashion weeks and editorial shoots across London, Milan, Paris and New York.
In this episode, Jason reflects on starting out as a teenager, building a business and how dramatically standards in the hair industry have changed over time.
Starting Young
Jason grew up on a council estate in Edinburgh and entered hairdressing at a young age. He remembers being drawn initially to the atmosphere of the salon rather than fully understanding the craft itself. The reality of the job quickly became clear once he started training.
“It’s repetition,” he explains. “You have to do the same thing again and again until you really understand it.”
Like many young stylists, he pushed himself early, sometimes before he was fully ready. Entering competitions and producing photographic work taught him valuable lessons about lighting, presentation and creative direction. “Looking back now, some of the work I entered into competitions was terrible,” he says with a laugh. “But you learn from it.”
Those early experiences helped build resilience and a deeper understanding of how hair is presented within fashion imagery.
Building a Business
Jason opened his first salon in Edinburgh in the mid-1990s and quickly began expanding. At its peak, the business employed around 70 staff across multiple locations. However, growth eventually forced him to reconsider what success meant. “I realised I didn’t actually want something that big,” he explains. “I wanted to know everyone who worked there.”
Alongside running his salons, Jason maintained a long-standing relationship with L’Oréal, something he describes as a defining part of his career. “I’ve been working with L’Oréal for over forty years,” he says. “That kind of loyalty means a lot.”
From Salon Floor to Fashion Week
Jason’s introduction to fashion week came through assisting established session stylists in London. The first experiences were challenging. Backstage environments moved quickly, and he admits he initially felt behind the pace required.
“I remember thinking I was miles behind everyone else technically,” he recalls.
Over time, those experiences led to opportunities across major fashion capitals, where preparation and organisation became essential. “You have to break everything down before the show,” he explains. “Everyone on the team needs to know exactly what they’re doing.”
“There’s a fine line between perfect and overdone,” he says.
Changing Standards and Smarter Clients
A major theme in Jason’s reflections is how much the industry has evolved. When he first started, access to education and inspiration was limited. Today, stylists and clients alike have access to endless references through digital platforms.
“The baseline is so much higher now,” he says. “People can learn anything online.”
Clients also arrive with far more knowledge and visual references. “They come in with pictures and ideas,” he explains. “Your job is to guide them and sometimes explain why something might not suit them.”
While expectations have increased, he sees this as a positive development for the profession.
Redefining Success
“When I was younger it was about ambition,” he says. “Now it’s about being happy.” Longevity, he believes, comes from staying curious and continuing to evolve with the industry.
His advice for younger stylists remains simple: find mentors, work hard and value relationships. “Careers are built over time,” he says. “Consistency and reputation matter.”
Looking Ahead
Jason Hall’s episode offers a grounded look at what it takes to build a long-term career in hairdressing. His experience highlights the importance of discipline, adaptability and strong professional relationships in an industry that continues to evolve.
Across more than forty years in the profession, one principle has remained constant for him: success comes from valuing people, staying curious and continuing to learn.