Howard Street

Leigh first came to RRI on work experience back in 1996, and quickly found herself hooked. She qualified in 1998, spent five years perfecting her craft and training as a teacher in our Buchanan Street salon, then opened the Academy in 2003. Now an influential figure in the UK hair industry, this year Leigh helped to develop the new SVQ Hairdressing qualifications for the Hair and Beauty Industry Authority. As a hairdresser, Leigh is exceptional at colouring hair and tackling complex, creative cuts. It’s her belief that changing the colour or style of a person’s hair can genuinely bring out a different side of their personality.

Combining her two roles, Leigh says, gives her best of both worlds: training the next generation of top stylists, while still being able to work directly with clients. She loves seeing students graduate to ‘finishing school’, and watching everything she’s taught them click into place. She calls those the ‘lightbulb moments’. Her philosophy for success is clear: strive for perfection, don’t make excuses, know your strengths (and weaknesses), accept criticism, have confidence and – most of all – be creative.

Nikki joined RRI in 1998, at the tender age of 15. From that role as Saturday girl in the Royal Exchange Square salon, she went on to qualify as a stylist, do our teacher training programme (while still working with clients) and achieve her NVQ Level 3. Nikki taught her first course at the Academy in 2003. Since then, she has achieved her Schwarzkopf Master Colourist Degree and Academy Assessor qualification, and now teaches full-time at the Academy. Nikki knows first-hand that hairdressing can offer a really diverse and fast-paced career, and tries to instill that in her students, who she loves to see progressing week-on-week. Although she’ll always be extremely passionate about training, Nikki still gets a real buzz from working hands-on, colouring, cutting and styling her clients’ hair (she especially likes doing hair-ups for special occasions).

Caitlin joined RRI in 2008, and has been a qualified member of the Academy team since 2010. She qualified as an assessor in 2014 and is delighted to be one of the team developing RRI’s future stylists. In her own words, she loves teaching because 'I can help the students but develop myself too, as it keeps my own knowledge fresh'. She loves to see the students graduate and showcase their skills at seminars.

Caitlin has also achieved a Schwarzkopf Master Colourist Degree, giving her an advanced understanding of the science behind colouring (one of her favourite aspects of hairdressing). She can turn her hand to any hair type, but is a big fan of creating short, funky haircuts and putting hair up for nights out,and weddings and creating clean cut barbering. Her favourite is creative colour work and colour correction.. Whether she’s teaching or working directly with clients, her mantra is the same: be persistent, be patient, and be dedicated.

Nicole began her journey at Rainbow Room International Howard Street in 2017. Since qualifying as a stylist and becoming an assessor at the Academy in 2022, she continues to passionately shape the future of the industry.

Specialising in short, funky styles and diverse colour work, Nicole is a trendsetter who turns visions into vibrant realities. Beyond the hair, her chair offers a relaxed escape, setting the stage for a delightful experience. Having earned her Schwarzkopf Master Colourist Degree in 2022, she shows her continuous commitment to the craft and her education.

Nicole is known in the salon for her insightful advice, extending her expertise beyond the salon chair to guide clients in maintaining and caring for their unique styles. With confidence and flexibility, she crafts personalised final looks that exceed expectations.

Daisy started her career at RRI in 2018, and since 2020, she has been a qualified stylist at the Howard Street Salon. Also, loving her time as a member of our Academy teacher team passing on her expertise and skills to the next generation of the hair industry. Daisy does a wide variety of colours and cuts at the salon and likes to stay current with the trends, loves creating dimensional blondes and "lived in colour". Every service she delivers will be uniquely tailored for every individual client, and if you are looking for a sneak peek at some of her work you can check out her Instagram Hair Page, @Daisy.RRI, or even find yourself some hairspiration.

Meet Alana, an experienced salon stylist who has been part of the Howard Street Salon Team since 2021. Known for her passion for creating a positive and uplifting atmosphere, Alana takes pride in making clients feel fabulous about their hair, bringing joy and smiles to their faces. Her warm and welcoming personality, coupled with her techniques in creative colours such as balayage and highlights, has made her a favourite among clients seeking an unforgettable salon experience.

Beyond the salon, Alana actively assists in the RRI Artistic Team behind the scenes, contributing to the preparation of models for prestigious events like the British Hairdressing Awards. Her dedication to her craft took her to Italy for a two-week work exchange programme, where she immersed herself in the local hairstyling culture and shared her skills with professionals, paving the way for future international collaborations.

Alana's passion for blowouts, especially bouncy blowdry styles and creamy blondes, showcases her attention to detail and commitment to excellence. With a wealth of creativity and a positive spirit, Alana ensures every client leaves not just satisfied, but truly fabulous.

Like Training Director Leigh, Jamie first came to RRI on a week’s work experience. After just a few days, Jamie had fallen in love with the industry and decided to train. After qualifying, she worked as a stylist for two years before taking maternity leave when her son was born. When she came back (and we’re glad she did), Jamie opted for a role as a receptionist and has never looked back. Now she heads up the entire reception team here at the Academy, and has progressed to being involved with back office projects. Even after 19 years in the company she still loves seeing students blossom into fully-fledged stylists.

Isla & Robbie joined the Rainbow Room team in March 2017 as Digital Marketing Modern Apprentices; after completing their apprenticeship in December 2017, they have taken on important roles within the running of all things social media!