Lockdown Consumer Pivot

Lives Build Demand

MD London Origin

Shampoo Myths

Retailing in Salons

Building the Next Generation

Breaking Into Celebrity

Education and Opportunity

Salon Partnership Deal

Can a hairdresser and brand truly serve both consumers and the industry? That’s the hook of this episode—and the focus of our follow-up to our most-downloaded podcast of 2025. Recorded live at HairCon, with renowned celebrity hairstylist and founder of mdlondon, Michael Douglas.

Friend of the How To Cut It podcast, Michael Douglas is back to share why he’s returned to an industry event after building a consumer-led platform and launching mdlondon tools and styling products. He argues there’s no real divide between “professional” and “consumer” because it’s the same client, and says his lockdown Instagram Lives proved that sharing expertise fuels salon bookings rather than replacing them.

Michael addresses the industry backlash he faced, charts mdlondon’s evolution—from a shelved cordless concept during lockdown supply issues to early sales struggles and a Black Friday turnaround—and urges hairdressers to share knowledge, go live to attract clients, and help bring new talent into the industry.

This is a conversation you’ll have an opinion on, either way!

 Chapters
4:19 Lockdown Consumer Pivot
11:12 Lives Build Demand
15:58 MD London Origin
18:47 Shampoo Myths
20:05 Retailing in Salons
25:22 Building the Next Generation
27:17 Breaking Into Celebrity
29:14 Education and Opportunity
31:04 Salon Partnership Deal

Resources

MD London Website: mdlondon.com 

MD London on Instagram: @mdlondon

HairCon on Instagram @hairconshow

Spotd App find out more getspotdapp.com

Connect with Spotd on Instagram @getspotdapp

How To Cut It on Instagram @howtocutit

 

Can a hairdresser and brand truly serve both consumers and the industry? That&rsquo;s the hook of this episode&mdash;and the focus of our follow-up to our most-downloaded podcast of 2025. Recorded live at&nbsp;<a href="https://howtocutit.com/haircon-just-got-bigger/">HairCon</a>, with renowned&nbsp;<a href="https://howtocutit.com/andrew-barton-hairdresser/">celebrity hairstylist</a>&nbsp;and founder of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/mdlondon">mdlondon</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://howtocutit.com/michael-douglas-mdlondon/">Michael Douglas.</a>
Friend of the How To Cut It podcast,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyYo392_MnM">Michael</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyYo392_MnM">&nbsp;Douglas</a>&nbsp;is back to share why he&rsquo;s returned to an industry event after building a consumer-led platform and launching<a href="https://mdlondon.com/?srsltid=AfmBOopYKAy9sOWJgR4WP5GQ5bY0oY_6Dq-LTrhYNZq1IoZwpumrti3D">&nbsp;mdlondon tools&nbsp;</a>and styling products. He argues there&rsquo;s no real divide between &ldquo;professional&rdquo; and &ldquo;consumer&rdquo; because it&rsquo;s the same client, and says his lockdown&nbsp;<a href="https://howtocutit.com/ep166-how-a-lockdown-sensation-overcame-a-fear-of-going-live-with-sheree-thompson/">Instagram Lives</a>&nbsp;proved that sharing expertise fuels salon bookings rather than replacing them.
Michael addresses the industry backlash he faced, charts&nbsp;<a href="https://mdlondon.com/?srsltid=AfmBOopYKAy9sOWJgR4WP5GQ5bY0oY_6Dq-LTrhYNZq1IoZwpumrti3D">mdlondon&rsquo;s&nbsp;</a>evolution&mdash;from a shelved cordless concept during lockdown supply issues to early sales struggles and a Black Friday turnaround&mdash;and urges hairdressers to share knowledge, go live to attract clients, and help bring new talent into the industry.
This is a conversation you&rsquo;ll have an opinion on, either way!
<hr>
&nbsp;Chapters
<ul>
<li>4:19 Lockdown Consumer Pivot</li>
<li>11:12 Lives Build Demand</li>
<li>15:58 MD London Origin</li>
<li>18:47 Shampoo Myths</li>
<li>20:05 Retailing in Salons</li>
<li>25:22 Building the Next Generation</li>
<li>27:17 Breaking Into Celebrity</li>
<li>29:14 Education and Opportunity</li>
<li>31:04 Salon Partnership Deal</li>
</ul>
<hr>
Resources
MD London&nbsp;Website:&nbsp;<a href="https://mdlondon.com/">mdlondon.com&nbsp;</a>
MD London on&nbsp;Instagram:&nbsp;<a href="https://instagram.com/mdlondon">@mdlondon</a>
HairCon&nbsp;on Instagram&nbsp;<a href="https://instagram.com/hairconshow">@hairconshow</a>
Spotd App&nbsp;find out more<a href="https://getspotdapp.com/">&nbsp;getspotdapp.com</a>
Connect with&nbsp;Spotd on Instagram&nbsp;<a href="https://instagram.com/getspotdapp.com">@getspotdapp</a>
How To Cut It&nbsp;on Instagram&nbsp;<a href="https://instagram.com/howtocutit">@howtocutit</a>
&nbsp;

The ultimate resource and training guide for the hair industry, this is your one-stop shop for all things related to a successful career in hairdressing and barbering. 

Show host, Dom Lehane, interviews special guests from across the hair, fashion, beauty and creative occupations, educating you with their insights, inspirations and information to take your hairdressing and barbering careers to the next level. Whether you're considering a career in the hair industry, a trainee hairdresser, highly skilled hairstylist, ambitious barber or a salon owner there is something definitely here for you in this Podcast.

The ultimate resource and training guide for the hair industry, this is your one-stop shop for all things related to a successful career in hairdressing and barbering. 
Show host, Dom Lehane, interviews special guests from across the hair, fashion, beauty and creative occupations, educating you with their insights, inspirations and information to take your hairdressing and barbering careers to the next level. Whether you're considering a career in the hair industry, a trainee hairdresser, highly skilled hairstylist, ambitious barber or a salon owner there is something definitely here for you in this Podcast.

The UK and Irelands No 1 podcast show for the hair and barbering industry – giving the insights, inspirations and information to take your hairdressing and barbering careers to the next level.