Claire Martin is an award-winning hair professional and established texture expert across London salons and the fashion industry. After graduating from College of North West London in Hairdressing and Barbering, her 13-year career includes becoming a finalist on E4’s “The Big Blow Out”, being crowned Redken Brand Ambassador and launching her own online education platform.
Why did you choose College of North West London?
The main reason I chose the College of North West London was because it was close to home. I didn’t want to spend time and money travelling too far to college each day. Looking back, it completely changed the path I was on. Things weren’t going well for me at the time, and I risked becoming a product of my environment.
I’d done some hairdressing before, but I knew I needed CNWL to get training in all hair types. Training in London was a huge advantage because of the diversity of clients. You learn to work with every texture and style, which people outside cities often don’t get. That experience shaped how I approach hairdressing today.
What’s been your career highlight so far?
Becoming a Redken Ambassador in 2020 was a major turning point in my career. It has opened the door to so many more clients and elevated my professional profile.
In 2023, I was a finalist on the Channel 4 show The Big Blow Out, which was such a surreal experience. And last year, I won CreativeHEAD’s Most Wanted Textured Expert Award.
What drives you forward in your career?
I want to make a difference in how people understand and care for textured hair.
There’s a real gap in the industry, and even in families, where parents of mixed-heritage children often don’t know how to manage their children’s hair. The lack of knowledge around it is uncomfortable, and there is so much cultural importance and pride in textured hair that I want to celebrate in my work.
That’s what drives me to teach and share knowledge At Redken HQ (L’Oréal), I am always speaking to students and stylists about textured haircare and education.
What advice would you give to our current students thinking about a career in hairdressing?
Learn patience. It’s one of the most important tools you’ll ever have, and it’s not something you can buy. It takes time to build your skills, and you can do this by shadowing people and learning from mentors.
It’s also really important to start out employed rather than going straight into freelance work. When you’re employed, you have guidance and structure, which will help you when things inevitably go wrong or you have difficult clients.
Even this month, I did a live broadcast to around 500 hairdressing students about what to expect after college, and one of my key messages was: don’t rush. Social media can make successful hairdressing look instant, but it takes time to truly become an expert.
If you’re keen on going freelance, you should also consider how to prepare yourself for that while at college. I studied Business and IT alongside my Level 2 and 3 Diplomas in Hairdressing and Barbering, plus an Afro Hairdressing module. That combination gave me the creative and the business skills I needed to build my career.
Finally, what are you excited about for the future?
I’m passionate about helping to close the gap in textured hair education. There’s still so much to do in this space, and I want to be part of leading that change.