Biography
Ryan is one of London’s top hair stylists. His talents and creativity are popular with the stars and take him backstage regularly in charge of hair for national TV shows and red-carpet events including Love Island, The Brit Awards, Britain’s Got Talent, The X Factor UK and most recently, Eurovision, where he was part of the glamour squad for the UK entry 2025!
Ryan’s expertise also extends into the world of fashion where he is a regular face backstage at London, Milan and Paris Fashion Week creating exceptional looks and hair that’s runway ready.
Celebrity clients include Kate Moss, Little Mix, Mel C (Sporty Spice), Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid.
“Following the loss of my parents when I was young, I moved to live with my aunt in Burntisland. With very little money and no role models in my immediate surroundings, I struggled to figure out where my life was going.
“It was my Gran who asked if I ever thought about becoming a hairdresser as I showed a keen interest from an early age; being young and living in a small town, saying I was interested in hair and beauty was not without risk. Gran’s encouragement persisted until I took that first step of visiting Adam Smith College (now Fife College’s Kirkcaldy Campus) and started enquiring about courses. A first step which would be the start of the rest of my life.
“The thing I enjoyed most about being at college was learning as much as I could; new techniques, new skills, understanding the endless possibilities of hair and what I could do with it. I loved the practical sessions with clients in which I could really sharpen my skillset. A pivotal moment was an event the College held with a former hair student, Steven Glendinning. Seeing him on stage, talking about his career in London and how he created looks was inspirational; he had made sheets of hair and then folded them into the hair. This was a transformative moment; I ran straight home and experimented with this same technique immediately. I wanted to push myself from thereon to be the best that I could and embrace new challenges.
“College had a lifechanging impact on me, I had found my tribe meeting likeminded people with shared enthusiasm and a passion for hair. My creativity had found a home and I found purpose, somewhere I could hone my craft. College not only provided the facilities, but mentors and teachers also. I saw for myself that the industry rewarded passion, hard work and dedication.
“There have been many career highlights along the way more recently reaping the benefits of going freelance: I am my own boss, choosing my hours, setting my fee and generally calling the shots taking the jobs I want to do. I have also achieved personal goals in working with high-profile clients, huge TV productions and fashion shows around the world.
“To build on this success I also have some long-term goals which include: working backstage at New York Fashion week, a Vogue front-cover shoot, and leading a hair team at London Fashion Week.
“My advice for current and future students: as the leader of your own destiny always be passionate, ask questions, soak everything in, keep your focus, work hard, and don’t forget to have fun along the way!”
Related Courses
This course equips aspiring hairdressers with creative cutting, colouring, and styling techniques, emphasising career readiness. Participants need salon experience or two years of industry background. Activities involve paired work and model sourcing for assessments, offering diverse career opportunities in hairdressing.