How Middlesbrough-based hair extension business HeadKandy is proving a hit with customers all over the world
Q & A
THE SWEET SPOT
How Middlesbrough-based hair extension business HeadKandy is proving a hit with customers all over the world
HeadKandy Hair is a professional hair extension brand, founded and created by award-winning stylist Janine Taylor. Born from her viral Super Salon in Coulby Newham, the brand combines more than 20 years of expertise with premium extensions and professional haircare designed for seamless blends and elevated results. We asked CEO Janine( pictured, right) to tell us more...
What do you love most about your job? It’ s not just about hair, it’ s about confidence, happiness and real transformations. I love hearing people’ s stories and knowing I’ ve played a part in making them feel good about themselves – that they can walk out with their heads held high, looking their best. The transformations are what really motivates me.
How did your business evolve over the years? I started out in 2005 as a mobile hairdresser so I could work around my two young children. As my client list grew, I quickly realised I needed to expand. That’ s when I opened my first salon, which eventually grew to a team of 15 staff, and before long we outgrew that space. In 2018, I opened a second salon at Marton Shops, and as the business kept growing, I took on the unit next door, so I was running two salons side by side.
During lockdown, I noticed there was a lack of premium quality hair extensions, which led me to launch HeadKandy Hair as an ecommerce platform. The business kept growing, with our Stockton salon opening in 2022, and the response was incredible.
In July 2025, I launched our viral Super Salon, which was a massive leap and a £ 300,000 investment. The Salon, as it’ s known, is located at the Parkway Centre at Coulby Newham in Middlesbrough. It houses more than 30 staff and offers a full range of hair and beauty treatments, including mesh systems, all under one roof. It’ s a super space and really elevates the client experience. It’ s something I am really proud of.
Clients are travelling from all over the UK and we’ ve had some from as far away as Spain and Sweden for the HeadKandy Hair treatment.
Now, in 2026, HeadKandy Hair is having a full rebrand to reflect who we are today. Behind the scenes, I’ ve been sourcing the highest-quality hair, testing and refining everything until we were completely happy with it. The rebrand marks a sleeker look and reflects the premium quality we’ re known for.
We’ re launching two collections: the Core Collection for a lighter, natural density, and the Signature Series, which I’ m really proud of – this is our best quality hair for enhanced density and fuller results. I’ m proud to say it’ s the best hair we’ ve ever launched.
What is the best compliment a client has ever paid you? Being told that I’ m down to earth, humble and easy to talk to really means a lot because I want people to feel comfortable the moment they sit in my chair. Clients often tell me I’ ve changed their lives or given them confidence they never had before, which means the world to me.
What makes your business stand out? Clients are travelling from all over the UK and we’ ve had some from as far away as Spain and Sweden for the HeadKandy Hair treatment. We regularly reach more than 10 million per month on our social media channels.
For me, it is the experience we offer each and every client. We want them to feel extra special. It’ s about being relatable and accessible to all.
I show up as myself, both in the salon and online, and people really connect with that. Our salons are for everyone, no matter who they are or what they’ re going through. Creating a space where people feel comfortable, included and confident has always been at the heart of everything we do. This is going to be a big year for HeadKandy Hair.
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