Akin Konizi has status, experience and a lot to say about salon hairdressing. He is, after all, a founding force at HAB Salons group. This brand has dominated high streets in the London area since 1997. An award-winning training academy is home to the HOB Creative Team, led by Akin. Oh yes, and he’s been named British Hairdresser of the Year four times. So our man clearly has great skills in education and creativity to accompany real commercial nous.
This brings us to the question in hand: How to be creative, to nourish your artistic soul, and work daily in the salon environment? The is where your clients want a commercial cut or colour – soft lines, subtle colour and easy-to-style hair. But is it testing your creativity? Here’s what Akin as to share. It’s inspiring…
Akin on creativity
Akin Konizi has enjoyed a busy first half to 2026. The HOB Academy is booked up, and the salons are flourishing. He’s also a nominee for British Hairdresser of the Year 2026. To keep a balance between creativity and salon work, Akin believes it’s not about being dramatic but about being aware of moving trends. “Being creative is about finding the village fashionista; the cool girl who wants something different, or Mrs Jones who you know would look great with a pixie. Creative is about driving fashion within your clientele and giving them the option to be more adventurous with their look.
“Every time a client comes in – whether it is six or 15 weeks – it is our responsibility to guide them into their next look. They don’t wear the same jeans or trainers for more than a couple of seasons, so why should their hair stay the same? It’s our job as hairdressers to be promoting change and inspiring not just our clients, but ourselves and the industry too.
“Creativity is the most important factor in hairdressing; we’re not artists but we are craftsman, and if there isn’t a passion for creativity within your work you might as well become a factory worker.”
“The creativity is what will drive you to improve your skills, develop your understanding of your clients, give you an understanding of fashion and open up a whole new world of possibilities within your industry.
“It seems creativity has taken a back seat to long hair and commercial hairstyles, but creativity can be used at any time to keep you motivated and pushing for growth in yourself and your clientele – it’s not just a trim. Even if a client doesn’t want a creative hairstyle, she wants to know that you could give her one if she was ready for something new. Otherwise, she may just go somewhere else for that change.”
Inspiration from Akin
Top tips from Akin might help; consider which you can follow:
1 If you are a successful salon stylist, being creative is about pushing yourself to be fresh and introducing something new. It doesn’t have to be strong angles or crazy
colour placement; it can be a change in the fringe you are cutting, or the length of hair you are used to creating.
2 Everyone needs to be creative to a degree, but there should be a creative element in every salon that gets everyone thinking about the work they are creating.
3 Put a sign in your window asking for creative models for a show or shoot. In-salon events are a great opportunity to play with the hair in a different way.
4 It doesn’t matter where you live, there will be cool, trendy people in the area; just because you haven’t seen them doesn’t mean they’re not there!
5 Offer to do their cut and colour for free, so you build a pool of clients you can experiment with. That way you’ll build a new clientele who will talk about you but will also grow your creative outlook.
6 Research your favourite creative haircutters and colourists and ask them for some guidance. Understand their work, copy it and create your own version and develop your own techniques.
7 Update the way you cut a bob, or apply a colour, there’s no barrier to being creative, make it work for you and your clientele.
FIND OUT MORE
Find out more about HOB Academy: Instagram: @hob_academy or visit www.hobsalons.com/academy
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