Sam McKnight MBE
Sam McKnight MBE is the founder of cult hair-care brand, Hair by Sam McKnight. Sam is also known for his work as a hair stylist – his unparalleled portfolio of work reads like a who’s-who of high-fashion and A-list celebrity: he is credited with the creation of Princess Diana’s iconic slicked-back hairstyle for her Vogue magazine shoot, and was her personal hair stylist for seven years.
He worked extensively with supermodels Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, Kate Moss & Naomi Campbell throughout the 90s, and in 2023 he was awarded an MBE for services to the fashion and beauty industries.
1. Tell us a little bit about your business…
Hair by Sam McKnight is my collection of luxurious easy-to-use hair styling products, and skin-care inspired haircare. These are the only products I need in my kit for fashion shows, cover shoots and the red carpet. I started the business to change how women think and feel about their hair – to help them realise hair is their most versatile accessory, and the products make this simple.
2. How did you get into the industry?
I have been a hairstylist for the past four decades working on fashion shows, campaigns and magazine, creating some of the most iconic s images with Kate Moss shoots with icons like Kate Moss, and with celebrities such as Cate Blanchett, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Jodie Comer. I’ve collaborated with some of the beauty giants on hair products before – but this time it was about me developing the most effective products on the market without constraint. Every product has been rigorously tested by myself and team. If they don’t pass the test and make it into my kit bag they don’t make it at all.
3. What are the biggest opportunities and challenges in your industry?
The hair market is growing hugely, but is getting crowded. For me its about having years of experience and having an innate sense of whats new and what’s coming next, how people want to look now and how they want to look in the future even though they don’t know it yet. Its reinforced my view that the opportunity is in creating great products which are not complicated , do what they say, are effective and easy to understand. Whilst creating a luxurious sensory experience with products featuring cutting edge formulations, a fine fragrance, premium ingredients and environmentally conscious packaging.My styling sprays, like our multi-award-winning Cool Girl Texture Mist, are foolproof , they brush out easily – so even if you use too much, you’re not back in the shower. But with a crowded market, giving customers the chance to try your products is the challenge!
4. How would you describe your leadership style?
I am just myself. I don’t like a lot of the ego and drama that people often associate with the fashion and beauty industry. I stay focused on the job at hand, but like to work with good people who don’t take themselves too seriously. Keeping things calm, drama-free whilst delivering inspiring and innovating content and products is how I like to work.
5. How do you get the most out of the people who work for you?
I have a core, loyal team who have worked with me for over 20 years. Over this time, you develop great trust and compliment each other’s skills. When bringing new team members on, we’re always looking for people who share our values but bring a different skill – and then we play people according to their strengths. You can’t all be great at everything, so it’s about playing to strengths and getting everyone shining.
6. What are the most crucial elements to your business running smoothly and being successful?
We’re at a stage of huge growth, so there will always be growing pains. We know things won’t always be smooth. But we develop strong relationships – especially with our customers. As long as we are delivering incredible products which make customers look and feel amazing, they will stay with us on the journey even with bumps along the way.
7. How has the past 12 months been for you?
Hugely exciting! And very busy. We were the UK’s most talked about hair brand in 2023, according to MMI media monitor. And that’s because we were extremely busy. We released incredible new products, including our Cool Girl Care collection – bringing customers voluminous hair from the shower. We worked hard creating incredible content to inspire customers with a variety of magazines and influencers.
8. What will the next 12 months look like for your business?
We have some amazing new launches which I am very excited for. We have just released our Love Me Do Nourishing Oil which we have been working to perfect for years. It is the hair oil that even those who tell me “they can’t use hair oil” love.
We also have listened to our customers and have some releases in Autumn which I know people have been waiting for…
9. What are the highlights of your career so far?
As a hairstylist, there have been many. Being part of the phenomenon that was the Supers in the 80’s and 90’s, working with Princess Diana, my long standing collaborations with the late Vivienne Westwood and Karl Lagerfeld, as well as renowned photographers such as Nick Knight and Patrick Demarchelier to only name a few. As a founder, seeing our products on the shelves of Space NK, Selfridges and Liberty was a huge highlight as this business started around my kitchen table, and my front room was the stockroom. And now when I see such an amazing reaction on our social media @hairbysammcknight and in reviews on our website, it brings me a lot of joy.
10. What’s the biggest business mistake that you’ve learnt from?
I’ve learned to always keep innovating and challenging. We have to think differently to deliver best-in-class. I am always challenging our teams to push toward what we didn’t think was possible. We released the first, innovative Hair Cleanse Cloths in the UK, and they’re fully biodegradable. We’re working with some incredible new packaging companies to help lead the charge away from plastic.
11. What’s the best piece of business advice you’ve been given?
Create amazing products – and get them into customer’s hands. Products that really work will ultimately succeed, and the best way to prove this is to help customers see it for themselves. With every order on our website we give two free sachets of our hair care products – people have often been using their haircare for years. But we really believe ours is the best so I love ensuring customers can try it… and it works!
