A Chat with Celebrity Hairdresser Melissa Timperley, Founder of Melissa Salons

“We’re redefining salon luxury with precision, inclusion and education at our core.”

Tell us about Melissa Salons

When I opened Melissa Timperley Salons at just 24, I had little more than a dream and a pair of scissors. I wanted to build a place that felt like home for clients from every walk of life and to be a visionary and forward thinking leader in the hair industry to prove that hairdressing isn’t a dead end career. Fast forward 9 years and that dream has grown into a three-floor, award-winning salon right in the heart of Manchester’s Northern Quarter. To this day, it still feels surreal to say we’ve won 25 industry awards.

At the salon, we live by three principles: precision, calm, and inclusivity. From hijab-friendly spaces to gender-neutral pricing, silent appointments to celebrity styling, we’ve designed an environment where everyone feels welcome. For me, it’s not just about hair—it’s about giving people a sense of confidence and belonging.

How did you come up with the idea for the company?

Hair has always been in me. I was the kid cutting my dolls’ hair at four and my sisters were fantastic live models to practice on. At 16, I trained at Vidal Sassoon in Manchester and went on to achieve Distinctions in both their Classic and Creative precision-cutting programmes. That experience taught me the importance of technique—but I wanted something more.

I wanted a salon where technical excellence was matched with warmth and inclusion. A space where precision cuts, balayage, curls and coils sat alongside honest conversations, laughter, and even silence when a client needed peace. That’s how Melissa Salons was born.

Tell us about your core products or service

Our services are built around precision cutting, colour artistry and treatments. I love a sharp bob, but I’m equally passionate about working with curls, coils, and textured hair. We offer everything from balayage and grey blending to short hair long hair curly hair and have treatments for smoothing, shine, deep repair or hydration.

We’re also specialists in discreet appointments for celebrities and influencers, which has been an incredible part of my journey—styling some amazing people while keeping the focus on trust and professionalism.

What most excites you about the hair industry?

I get excited by the fact that our industry never stands still. New treatments, tools, and techniques constantly push us to evolve. But most of all, I love that hairdressing is about transformation. A new cut or colour isn’t just cosmetic—it can help someone face a wedding, a job interview, or even a funeral with strength and dignity. We’re there for our clients through the most intimate details of life and helping them to feel the best version of themselves is a joy and a privilege.

In 2022, I launched the MT Masterclass with my team Sara and Joe to help hairdressers boost their cutting confidence. We’re proud to have won educators of the year which is such a huge accolade. We have also released our own scissors with Alfa Italia—a surreal full-circle moment, considering how much a great pair of scissors matters to us.

What has been the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome along the way?

The hardest part has been scaling without losing the standard. Early on, my personal bookings became so in demand that I physically couldn’t take more clients. The solution was to grow a team that shares the same values and train them through the MT Precision Principles.

Building a salon team that works seamlessly together takes time, investment and relentless focus. But seeing us win Salon Team of the Year at the 2024 British Hairdressing Business Awards proved that challenge was worth it.

What is your number one piece of advice to aspiring entrepreneurs?

Be proud of your craft. I used to feel embarrassed when people asked what I did for a living. Saying, “I’m a hairdresser” was often met with silence, as if it implied failure. But that’s a stereotype we need to smash.

Hairdressing is science, art, maths, psychology, and diplomacy all rolled into one. Our scissors are sharper than a surgeon’s scalpel. We calculate angles and chemistry formulas in real time. We stand on our feet for 12-hour days, often cutting ourselves, burning our fingers, and missing meals—because we care more about the client than our own comfort.

And we’re there through the biggest milestones of people’s lives: the weddings, the birthdays, the break-ups, even the funerals. We become part of their story. That’s not “just” hairdressing—that’s transformation.

My advice? Don’t ever let anyone belittle your passion. If you love it, own it, and build something extraordinary from it.

What can we hope to see from Melissa Salons in the future?

We’ll keep evolving our education platform, MT Masterclass, and sharing our scissors with stylists across the UK and beyond. Our mission is to keep raising the bar for what a salon can be—an inclusive, creative, precision-driven home for clients and stylists alike.

The truth is, hairdressing isn’t a dead-end career. It’s a craft that can take you around the world, into the homes of celebrities, onto education stages, and into the hearts of clients. And I’m proud—immensely proud—to say: I am a hairdresser.