Celebrating 20 Years of
Maxine Morgan, Tettenhall
In June 2006, I bought the salon in Tettenhall and put my name above the door. Twenty years later, it feels incredibly special to look back on the journey, the people who have been part of it, and the values that have guided the business from the very beginning.
The Early Years
My path into hairdressing began early. At 15, I started a Saturday job under Nicholas Davies in Tettenhall, where I first learned the particular rhythm of salon life: the way a conversation unfolds across a mirror, the way a good haircut can quietly alter how someone feels about the day ahead. By 16, I was on a training course, and by 22 I had joined the renowned Umberto Giannini salon in Kidderminster. It was an exciting time to be learning the craft, surrounded by some of the most talented hairdressers of that generation, including Freddie Cox, Cherry Trundle, Andrea Baker, Lisa Shepherd, Anne Bonser, Tim Scott Wright, and Simon Bates. Being around people of that calibre teaches you that skill is not just about technique, but also about attitude.
MAXINE WITH TIM SCOTT-WRIGHT
2000
With Umberto Giannini
Working under the late Umberto Giannini was one of the defining experiences of my career. His influence on British hairdressing was profound, and in 1999 he became the youngest ever British Hairdresser of the Year. Being part of his artistic team gave me opportunities that were inspiring and unforgettable, including British Hairdressing Awards work, Clothes Show Live, Salon International, editorial shoots, competitions, fashion shows, and even work with the Royal Ballet. It was a world that took hair seriously as a form of creative expression, and it shaped my standards for everything that followed.
MAXINE WITH UMBERTO GIANNINI
BRITISH HAIRDRESSING AWARDS 1999
Taking Ownership
I went on to become Assistant Manager in Stourbridge, and at 28 I opened the Tettenhall branch. When the opportunity came in 2005 to buy the salon, I did not hesitate. It felt less like a transaction and more like a commitment, to the place, to the people, and to the idea that a small business can be run with both ambition and integrity. In June 2006, the business officially became mine.
Our Ethos
From the very beginning, my ethos was simple. Hair condition comes first. I have always believed that truly beautiful hair begins with healthy hair, and that belief has shaped the salon ever since. Long before sustainability became a wider conversation in the industry, I was already looking for products that reflected a more considered way of working. A good friend, Alyson Fennell, who later worked at Paul Edmonds in Knightsbridge, introduced me to Organic Colour Systems. It immediately felt like the right answer to a question I had been quietly asking for some time: how to care for colour without treating the scalp and the planet as afterthoughts. I brought it into the salon as soon as I took ownership in 2006.
Today, we continue to work with Organic Colour Systems, alongside Davines and Keune, staying true to a long‑held commitment to high‑quality, eco‑conscious haircare. Organic Colour Systems was one of the world's first premium ammonia‑free colour brands, making it a natural fit for the kind of healthier, more considered haircare I always wanted the salon to offer.
The Harder Chapters
There have, of course, been harder chapters. During Covid, the salon was closed for 10 months. I kept every member of staff in their jobs, took nothing for myself, and had to borrow money to keep the business afloat. Now, as we face new pressures from government decisions, additional taxes and rising costs, it is clear that running a salon is rarely about profit. It is, above all, about resilience and staying afloat.
Training & Our Team
Another quiet ambition that has stayed with me throughout is the training of the next generation of hairdressers. A salon is not only a place for clients; it is also a classroom, a rehearsal space, and at its best a place where people are given the confidence to grow. Over the years, I have had the privilege of helping many talented people begin their careers, and that is something I remain deeply proud of.
Looking back over the past 20 years, I feel a profound sense of gratitude. To every member of staff who has been part of the salon, past and present, thank you. Your hard work, talent, loyalty, and care have helped shape Maxine Morgan into what it is today.
HARRIET COX RECEIVES HAIR & BEAUTY AWARD AT WOLVERHAMPTON COLLEGE APPRENTICESHIP SHOWCASE 2022
For Our Clients
Most of all, thank you to our clients. You are at the heart of everything we do and always have been. Your trust, your loyalty, and your support over the years mean more than words can say. It has always been about you. Always.