Claire Martin is an award-winning hair professional and established texture expert across London salons and the fashion industry. After graduating from College of North West London in Hairdressing and Barbering, her 13-year career includes becoming a finalist on E4’s “The Big Blow Out”, being crowned Redken Brand Ambassador and launching her own online education platform.
The main reason I chose the College of North West London was because it was close to home. I didn’t want to spend time and money travelling too far to college each day. Looking back, it completely changed the path I was on. Things weren’t going well for me at the time, and I risked becoming a product of my environment.
I’d done some hairdressing before, but I knew I needed CNWL to get training in all hair types. Training in London was a huge advantage because of the diversity of clients. You learn to work with every texture and style, which people outside cities often don’t get. That experience shaped how I approach hairdressing today.
Becoming a Redken Ambassador in 2020 was a major turning point in my career. It has opened the door to so many more clients and elevated my professional profile.
In 2023, I was a finalist on the Channel 4 show The Big Blow Out, which was such a surreal experience. And last year, I won CreativeHEAD’s Most Wanted Textured Expert Award.
I want to make a difference in how people understand and care for textured hair.
There’s a real gap in the industry, and even in families, where parents of mixed-heritage children often don’t know how to manage their children’s hair. The lack of knowledge around it is uncomfortable, and there is so much cultural importance and pride in textured hair that I want to celebrate in my work.
That’s what drives me to teach and share knowledge At Redken HQ (L’Oréal), I am always speaking to students and stylists about textured haircare and education.
Learn patience. It’s one of the most important tools you’ll ever have, and it’s not something you can buy. It takes time to build your skills, and you can do this by shadowing people and learning from mentors.
It’s also really important to start out employed rather than going straight into freelance work. When you’re employed, you have guidance and structure, which will help you when things inevitably go wrong or you have difficult clients.
Even this month, I did a live broadcast to around 500 hairdressing students about what to expect after college, and one of my key messages was: don’t rush. Social media can make successful hairdressing look instant, but it takes time to truly become an expert.
If you’re keen on going freelance, you should also consider how to prepare yourself for that while at college. I studied Business and IT alongside my Level 2 and 3 Diplomas in Hairdressing and Barbering, plus an Afro Hairdressing module. That combination gave me the creative and the business skills I needed to build my career.
I’m passionate about helping to close the gap in textured hair education. There’s still so much to do in this space, and I want to be part of leading that change.
Learn more about our Hair and Beauty courses here.
Are you a college alumni? Tell us what you’re up to – we’d love to share your story! Email marketing@ucg.ac.uk.
“My experience at College of Northwest London, has been exciting, it has been thrilling and it has been full of opportunities, and we have the tutors that help us whenever we’re in need. We go on educational trips to get a feel for what university life is like. We have the careers advisors that help us on our path, our university path.”
“The facilities here are brilliant. You have range of courses you can study. My teachers in the Performing Arts department have got history in the industry, which is very useful. You get to ask them for advice and actual knowledge from the industry, and take that into your own work within the college also afterwards. ”
“At City of Westminster College, my experience has been the best of all the other colleges I’ve attended. The reason I like CWC is because the teachers make my journey easier with assessment and exams. I’m a Level Two Science student and I enjoy my lessons because most of them are practical, which are helpful for me. I love studying at CWC because you meet people from other countries – all over the world and from all different communities.”
“My favourite thing about studying here has definitely got to be the teachers. They’re really helpful, kind and in the industry, so it’s good.”
“The technical knowledge and hands-on experience gained during my apprenticeship at College of North West London have been invaluable, particularly in understanding site processes, health and safety requirements and the understanding of electrical systems.”
“My experience studying at City of Westminster College has been amazing. It’s been so welcoming; I enjoy it very much because of the staff members we have here. They’re very approachable and I could come to them with any question, and it will be answered straight away. And if I come early for a class, I can use the Learning Resources Centre, I can use the computers, the books, just to continue all my studies outside the classroom time.”
“The training process was seamless. I had good instructors who were very flexible, supporting people of all learning levels. On the last day after our exams, a security company came and did a presentation. We had the opportunity to have an interview afterwards. I told them about my experiences, and they said I would be a good fit. I formally applied for a role and started with the company soon after. Getting into security has opened doors for me. I hope I will continue to take steps up the career ladder.”
“Coming to study at the City of Westminster College was the best decision that I had ever made. The teachers are very accommodating – they help you learn things in a way that might be easier for you to learn. They are very supportive and I think that’s one of the best things about learning here.”
“I was so grateful to have won Apprentice of the Year at the West London Business Awards 2026, I could not have done it without the support my company Size Group and the College of North West London.”
