Want to get paid to create your own hair products?

Do you want to make a lasting impact on the hairdressing industry? One of the ways you can do that is to create your own hair products or product range. It is something that Clay Hair Salon owner James Davis has done with huge success. His brand Herra can now be found in countries around the globe. Here’s how he developed an award-winning product. "My hairdressing career started with a combination of working three days a week in Collection Hair Club in Weybridge and three days studying at Guildford College. "It was a brilliant grounding as I had a strict boss, who set the highest possible standards. There were several times when I doubted it was the right career path for me though. I always wanted to travel and be more involved in the business and my hairdressing was never quite as good as others around me. "I tried a few different career paths, but none of them lasted long because I missed hairdressing too much. All the time I was working in salons I knew I was advancing my knowledge as a businessman and hairdressing has always been a bit like therapy to me! "Back in 2009, I opened my own salon, Clay Hair Salon. It won Independent Salon – Business Newcomer of the Year at HJ's British Hairdressing Business Awards the year after, which put me and the salon on people's radar. "The following year I had a light-bulb moment where I thought there was the need for a luxury product that would protect hair from damage from the sun, air conditioning and other pollutants. "Everyone thought it would be impossible to do, but I was determined. I raised £50,000 to get it off the ground. Then I travelled the UK to source a manufacturer who was willing to support the R&D (research and development) journey and create samples. "I worked with my brother-in-law, who was a former fragrance expert for Chanel with an amazing eye for design, on creating a brand. "When I first saw Herra Hair Perfume, I was completely overwhelmed that I had been able to turn the product from a dream to reality. I still get a buzz every time I see it. "It has been a steep learning curve and there are things that could have been done a lot better in hindsight. But if you go into a business thinking you know it all from the start you will be very disappointed. "I’d urge anyone considering launching a product range to think hard about why they are doing it and what their end goal is. "If you want a product line for your salon, you can source a white label product from a company who already have the products, packaging and formulations and have it branded however you want. The quantities you need to order can be high, but the margins are good. "If your vision is to develop something new, get a product consultant to guide you on the implications and risks before you plough money into it. It will save you thousands of pounds and, more importantly, lots of time."