Beverley’s Max Nicholson Salon has marked two years in business by unveiling a unique, new approach to how hair is cut and styled.
“Our new style menu is a unique mood board that allows our clientele to see and visualise what they want,” said Max, 22, who leads a three-strong team of stylists, colourist and assistants at the North Bar Within hairdresser, including colour stylist Billy and junior stylist Phillippa.
“The Max Nicholson Salon style menu is not a technical manual or a shade and colour chart. It’s a simpler approach to hair styling that references textures and nature allowing customers to relate their feelings to things in real life.
“I think that the mood board helps to give our customers the opportunity to say ‘I can relate to that or I like how that makes me feel’, more closely reflecting who they are, their spirit and emotional being. It’s about us helping them to be honest about who they are, perhaps being different without trying to be.
“Obviously, the cuts and colouring, men’s and ladies, are an essential part of the high quality service our salon provides and Max Nicholson Salon offers our own versions of celebrity haircuts. But it’s not just about the cut of the hair or the colour we give the hair – colour is just where the hair ends. It’s not about trends, trends are temporary, style is permanent.
“Our job is to help make our customers feel and look amazing and we are passionate about creating timeless looks with a wash and cut which people maintain at home, repeatedly wash and dry and still look great.”
Max, who graduated with straight distinctions from East Riding College in 2018 and worked at local salons, opened the doors of his eponymous Max Nicholson Salon in 2021 on the floor above Andrew & Rogers Optometrists, who have supported, and mutually benefited from, Max starting and growing his first business.
Now as the business enters its third year the young entrepreneur and his team have a growing client list approaching 600 customers.
“We aim to make people feel at home, to be relaxed and feel that they can be themselves. This personal approach is behind us having a loyal clientele of local customers and also customers who travel from across the north from towns and cities like Leeds, Harrogate and York; these are customers who, typically, have been looking for a salon when they visited Beverley and then made the choice to travel back here when they’ve liked the service and cut and style we’ve given them.”
Happy customers include Sarah Murton, who posted in November, ‘Amazing service, booked to coincide with a day out in Beverley but I can honestly say I will make the 50-mile journey to ensure that Max cuts my hair again. Hands down the best haircut I’ve had.’ And Sam England, who recently said: ‘I used to always worry about getting my hair cut in a salon: hairdressers wouldn’t always listen to what I would like. Max took the time to talk to me and discussed what would best suit my face. I left the salon extremely happy and confident with the cut. I will never go anywhere else now!’
Max, whose business enjoyed a busy Christmas and new year, added: “We are optimistic that the next 12 months will be as good if not better than 2023 and can’t wait to see what 2024 brings.”
One area is the development of hairdressing as a career for young people coming out of school and through college, including hiring apprentices, which Max Nicholson Salon has already done through the European Social Fund-supported The Apprenticeship Hub.
“Apprentices bring a fresh outlook to how you do your business, a new perspective, a beginner’s outlook that can challenge your technique so that while you are helping to teach them, they are teaching you.
“That fits with our ethos of helping to create jobs, improve skills and offer work experiences as there is a lack of hairdressers coming into the industry.”