With four decades of experience as a hairdresser, salon owner, educator and business leader, Fiona Johnston has stepped into the role of NHBF President with a clear mission: to strengthen the industry’s voice, protect its businesses and build a more sustainable future for the next generation.
The National Hair & Beauty Federation has begun a new chapter with the appointment of Fiona Johnston as President. Officially taking up the position on July 6, 2026, Fiona brings extensive industry experience and a first-hand understanding of the opportunities and pressures facing salons, barbershops and beauty businesses across the UK.
Fiona’s career spans 40 years across hairdressing, business leadership, education and team development. She is the founder of Trigg Hair Studio and The Curly Coach Academy in Edinburgh, where she has combined creative expertise with a strong focus on commercial performance, inclusive services and continuous professional development.
Her specialism in curly and textured hair has played a significant role in shaping both businesses. Through her salon and academy, Fiona has worked to ensure clients with every hair texture feel welcomed and understood, while helping hair professionals develop the technical skills and confidence needed to serve a more diverse clientele.
However, it is not only her creative and educational background that she brings to the presidency. As a working salon owner and employer, Fiona understands the realities of building a team, managing rising costs, adapting to changing client expectations and creating a business model that can support long-term careers.
At Trigg Hair Studio, she has placed particular emphasis on employment, progression and workplace culture. The salon introduced a salaried wage structure, clearly defined pricing levels and individual progression journeys for team members, helping employees understand how they could develop their skills and increase their earning potential. Flexible working options, regular reviews and a focus on wellbeing have also helped create a supportive environment built around shared values.
That people-first approach is set to influence Fiona’s leadership of the NHBF. Throughout her career, she has advocated for stronger teams, positive workplace cultures and ongoing education, believing that successful businesses depend on the growth of the people within them.
A Mission Built Around the Industry’s Future
Fiona has set out four central pillars for her presidency, with a clear focus on strengthening the industry’s collective voice, supporting apprenticeships, continuing the campaign for VAT reform and helping hair, beauty and barbering businesses become more resilient.
For Fiona, the role is rooted in representation. She wants the NHBF to remain closely connected to the professionals it serves, ensuring that the experiences of salon owners, barbers, beauty professionals, employers and educators are heard by policymakers.
That advocacy comes at a crucial time. Labour-intensive businesses across the sector continue to face pressure from VAT, employer National Insurance contributions, wage increases, business rates, rent, energy, products and insurance. Fiona has already taken an active role in bringing those concerns directly to decision-makers, including presenting evidence to the Low Pay Commission on the impact of rising employment costs.
“The new Prime Minister has spoken about backing small, family-owned and community businesses,” Fiona said in a recent NHBF statement. “Now we need that commitment to turn into action. Our sector is being hit from every direction. Too many businesses are still open, but only just surviving.”
VAT reform remains one of the NHBF’s most urgent priorities. The Federation is calling for a reduced 10% VAT rate for labour-intensive personal care services, arguing that the current system penalises businesses whose largest investment is their people. For Fiona, there is a need to not simply ease pressure on owners, but give businesses greater confidence to employ, train and grow.
Apprenticeships will be another defining focus of her presidency. Having built her own career through the industry and spent years developing teams and educating professionals, Fiona understands how important accessible, high-quality training is to the future workforce. Her mission is to protect opportunities for young people while encouraging businesses to view apprenticeships as an investment in the long-term strength of the sector.
She also wants hairdressing, barbering and beauty to receive greater recognition as highly skilled, professional and rewarding career paths. These industries contribute significantly to employment, local economies and the health of high streets, while also supporting the confidence and wellbeing of millions of clients.
Leadership Grounded in Experience
Fiona’s appointment brings a working business owner to the forefront of the Federation. She knows the challenges facing members because she has experienced them herself, from pricing services sustainably and retaining talented employees to investing in education and responding to changing consumer needs.
Her presidency will combine that practical knowledge with a commitment to listening. The NHBF is a member-led organisation representing hair, beauty, barbering and aesthetics professionals, and Fiona’s ambition is to ensure those voices help shape its future direction.
Awards and industry recognition have marked Fiona’s career, but she has consistently placed greater value on the trust built with clients, teams and the wider professional community. It is that grounded, people-focused perspective that now sits at the heart of her new role.
As Fiona begins her presidency, her message is clear: the industry must speak collectively, invest in its people and continue making the economic and social value of its work impossible to ignore. With experience spanning the salon floor, education, employment and business leadership, she enters the role ready to champion a stronger, fairer and more sustainable future for the entire professional hair and beauty community.
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