Tech That Pays You Back: My Thoughts on AI and the Future of Hairdressing from Salon International
At Salon International, I shared my thoughts on the future of AI in hairdressing and why human connection will always sit at the heart of what we do
Earlier this month, I was invited by Hairdressers Journal to speak on the Business Live Stage at Salon International in London — the biggest event in the hairdressing calendar.
The talk was called “Tech That Pays You Back,” and my key message was simple:
we must learn to value human intelligence as much as artificial intelligence.
Right now, we live in a human-led, AI-assisted world — and that’s a good thing.
AI might become more dominant in the future, but for now, humans need other humans. There’s an energy exchange that technology just can’t replicate.
As I looked out at the audience, I thought: every person in this room could have stayed at home and watched this talk on Zoom. But they didn’t. They travelled to London, shared space, and exchanged ideas. That’s where the magic happens — in the room, not on the screen.
Humans First, Tech Second
I was joined on stage by Gavin Hoare, maître d’ at the multi-award-winning Richard Ward Metro-spa Salon in London, and the UK Managing Director of Vagaro Jason Downes, one of the leading high-tech booking platforms in the industry.
(And yes — they gave me the world’s spinniest chair, so staying composed was half the challenge.)
While we each brought different perspectives, the common thread was clear:
AI is already here — whether we realise it or not.
Many people use it daily without even noticing — from Canva to CapCut, even the way your phone automatically enhances your photos before they hit your feed.
The key is understanding how to use it to make life easier — automating everything that doesn’t need a human.
Bookings, flows, and admin? Automate them.
But when it comes to people — the consultation, the welcome, the energy of the experience — that must stay human.
The Power of the Human Touch
I’ve always admired Fred Sirieix from First Dates, who says:
“Smile, look, and acknowledge someone before they’ve even seen you.”
That’s what real connection looks like — and that’s the part of our industry that AI should never replace.
Hairdressing will always be about human-to-human energy.
AI can streamline the background work, but it can’t replicate empathy, instinct, or presence.
What’s Next
Since that talk, we’ve been breaking down our business into a thousand small parts —
and improving each one by 1%.
That’s our philosophy at NOCO Hair: progress through marginal gains and continuous evolution.
You can catch clips from my Salon International talk and behind-the-scenes videos over on Instagram:
👉 @noel_noco.hair
Or check out our NOCO Hair Academy, where we’re helping stylists combine human skill with modern technology — shaping the future of hairdressing, one stylist at a time.
