DYE JOB — For colourists and the colour-curious

Edward Darley has spent 33 years at Sassoon, with 27 of those at the Academy, becoming one of the industry's most respected colour educators — and, as Sophie describes him, a true “colourist’s colourist.” In this episode of DYE JOB, Edward and Sophie talk about what it actually takes to become a great colourist: technical skill, honesty, teamwork and the willingness to keep learning. They discuss how AI-generated hair imagery is creating increasingly unrealistic expectations in the salon, why sometimes the most professional thing a colourist can do is say no, and whether skills such as precision foiling are being lost in the age of balayage and freehand colour. Edward also reflects on more than three decades of Sassoon education, teaching around the world, the decline in traditional apprenticeships and why bringing experienced colourists together with the next generation remains essential. A conversation about craft, education, change — and never believing you know everything.

Lesley Jennison has spent four decades at the forefront of professional hair colour. From walking into Vidal Sassoon in Sloane Square at 17 to becoming Global Brand Ambassador for Schwarzkopf Professional and Fellowship Hairdresser of the Year, Lesley has built a career spanning salon work, education, fashion, shows, product development and creative collaboration. In this episode of DYE JOB, Sophie talks to Lesley about the hard graft behind that career: learning her craft at Sassoon, winning her first industry award as an assistant, creating colour collections, working internationally and developing the breadth of knowledge required to work at the highest level. They also look at where hairdressing is heading, why the industry needs to do more to excite the next generation, the limitations of learning solely through social media and why great colourists never stop learning. Warm, funny and candid, Lesley also reflects on the more personal side of a 40-year career — from the nerves she still feels before stepping on stage to the confidence hairdressing has given her and the time it has taken away. A conversation about colour, creativity, education, longevity and why hard work can take you to places you only dreamed of. DYE JOB — for colourists and the colour-curious.

Ben Gregory is an international hair colour artist whose work moves between fashion, celebrity, salon and creative business. His credits include Balenciaga, Calvin Klein, Valentino, Gucci and Moschino, alongside defining colour moments for Dua Lipa and Ryan Gosling. In this conversation, Ben traces the path from an outrageous, Boy George-obsessed teenager to a technically assured artist working at the highest level of fashion. He explains how test shoots, relentless curiosity and a willingness to say yes built his session career, while his partnership with his husband Dean grew into the Gregory Dean salons and brand. The discussion reaches beyond career highlights into authorship, comparison, authenticity and the future of the profession. Ben argues for colourists to be recognised as a creative division in their own right — properly involved, credited and valued — while speaking candidly about ambition, self-doubt, leadership and the need to know what you truly want.

Tracy Hayes has spent four decades at the forefront of professional hair colour, building a career that spans salon work, education, fashion, product development and creative collaboration. A former Creative Director at Sassoon and ambassador for Schwarzkopf Professional and Fudge Professional, Tracy has travelled the world teaching, launching colour collections and working on shows. Her creative work includes a long-standing collaboration with artist Julie Verhoeven and hairstylist John Vial , creating extraordinary looks inspired by everything from birds of paradise and cockatoos with Mohicans to monks with shaved hairlines. But what runs through her career is something less tangible: a belief in collaboration, generosity and sharing what you know. From her earliest days at Sassoon, Tracy understood colour as a conversation between the client, colourist and stylist. It is an approach that has shaped not only her work, but the way she has mentored and created opportunities for generations of hairdressers.

Josh Wood is one of Britain’s most influential hair colourists: a creative whose work has helped elevate the colourist from behind-the-scenes technician to an expert with a distinct voice, profile and value. In this conversation, Josh traces that journey from Barnsley and his early training at Vidal Sassoon to fashion, celebrity work, salons and the creation of Josh Wood Colour. He reflects on the curiosity and hard work that have sustained his career, while remaining clear that, despite the scale of everything he has built, he is still first and foremost a practising colourist. The episode also opens into a wider discussion about identity, leadership and the future of hairdressing. Josh speaks candidly about growing up gay under Section 28, his work as a patron of AKT, learning from younger generations and the need for salon businesses to respond to the way people now want to work and consume colour.

Hair colour has evolved dramatically over the past fifty years, and few people have witnessed—and influenced—that change more than Annie Humphreys. In this episode of Dye Job, Sophie sits down with one of the true pioneers of professional hair colour to reflect on a remarkable career that began at Vidal Sassoon and helped redefine the role of colour within modern hairdressing. Annie shares stories from the early days of Sassoon, working alongside some of the industry’s most influential figures and developing colour techniques that would inspire generations of colourists. She reflects on the importance of education, the privilege of mentoring others and why sharing knowledge has always been central to her career. Together they discuss creativity, collaboration, leadership and the evolution of hair colour, as well as the importance of curiosity, kindness and investing in the next generation. Warm, thoughtful and full of wisdom, this conversation is a reminder that the greatest legacy isn’t simply the work you create—it’s the people you inspire along the way.

When Jadah Dale left Canada for London, she arrived with little more than determination, ambition and a clear vision for the future. Before she had even secured an interview, she was telling everyone back home that she was moving to work at Bleach London. As she laughs in this conversation, she was simply "manifesting." That belief in possibility has shaped everything that followed. Over the past decade, Jadah has established herself as one of London's most respected creative colourists, earning the trust of musicians, artists and a growing community of clients drawn to her instinctive understanding of modern colour. Her signature blondes have become synonymous with her work, but behind the technical skill is a thoughtful, collaborative approach that values relationships just as highly as results. After seven years at Bleach London, she founded Studio Studios with a vision that extended far beyond opening a salon. She wanted to create an environment where people genuinely wanted to spend time—a space that felt welcoming, inspiring and creatively alive. Today, Studio Studios has become one of London's most distinctive creative salons, celebrated not only for the quality of its colour work but for the culture Jadah has carefully built around it. Throughout the conversation, Jadah speaks with refreshing honesty about the realities of building a business. She reflects on burnout, the pressure to seize every opportunity, the challenges of leading a growing team and the importance of protecting both physical and mental wellbeing. Rather than seeing leadership as being in charge of people, she believes it is about creating an environment where others can develop confidence, creativity and independence. Warm, thoughtful and quietly ambitious, Jadah's story is about much more than opening a successful salon. It is about having the courage to leave home, trust your instincts and build something that reflects your values. In just ten years, she has created not only an exceptional career, but a creative community where people—and great work—can flourish.

Brad Baker has built a career defined by creativity, curiosity and a willingness to evolve. From learning the fundamentals at Toni & Guy to embracing creative freedom at Bleach London, Brad established himself as one of Britain's most respected creative colourists. Editorial work, education and fashion have all played significant roles in his career, but this conversation reveals the experiences that shaped the person behind the profession. Brad reflects with remarkable honesty on grief, addiction and recovery, describing how hairdressing gave him purpose at a time when he needed it most. Rather than allowing difficult experiences to define him, he explains how they reshaped his understanding of creativity, confidence and success. Throughout the conversation he speaks openly about anxiety, self-belief and the importance of finding a community where he could truly be himself. One of the most compelling parts of the episode explores Brad's work with non-surgical hair replacement systems. What began as another chapter in his career has become one of its most rewarding. For Brad, this work is about far more than replacing hair. It is about restoring confidence, identity and self-belief for people experiencing hair loss, demonstrating that the impact of hairdressing often extends far beyond appearance. Honest, insightful and deeply human, this episode is a conversation about resilience, reinvention and the privilege of helping people feel more like themselves. It is also a reminder that while creativity may build a career, purpose is what gives it lasting meaning.