Rainbow Room International brings Japanese innovation to the Ayr salon
After an inspiring educational trip to Japan, Scotland's largest salon group, the award-winning Rainbow Room International, is now implementing key insights gained from the experience into their salon environment.
The trip was made possible by Laura Leigh Kerr, the Director of Howard Street Academy, and the 2024 Educator of the Year for the prestigious Fellowship for British Hairdressing. She played a crucial role in securing the successful bid that allowed the group to embark on the unique, once-in-a-lifetime journey to the Far East..
The opportunity followed a rigorous application process funded by the Turing Scheme, which ultimately approved the trip.
The experience was not only an opportunity for the eight young apprentices selected to participate, but it also proved transformative for everyone involved.
The meticulous techniques, respectful client rituals, and deep appreciation for the hairdressing profession in Japan left a lasting impression.
For Riccardo Corvi, salon director of Rainbow Room International Ayr, and apprentice Ava Lester, the educational trip to Japan was a profound reminder that true excellence in hairdressing lies in technique, focus, and the courage to create with intention.
Travelling as part of the select group representing Scotland's leading salon group, Riccardo and Ava were immersed in Japan's unique salon culture, where discipline, calm, and craft go hand in hand.
Riccardo said: "What we experienced wasn't just skill, it was precision with purpose. Everything we saw, from cutting to styling, was about control, discipline and deep respect for the process. That mindset has already elevated how we're approaching our work back in Ayr."
Ava, one of the eight apprentices chosen for the opportunity, was particularly struck by the serenity of the salons.
She said: "It was so chilled and quiet. You felt relaxed as soon as you stepped in, like you were in a completely different world."
But beyond the atmosphere, it was the technique that left a lasting impact.
Ava described a hair-up demonstration that used just a single pin to create a perfectly formed French roll, no heat, barely any product, only backcombing and technique.
She said: "It was so precise and so effortless. It showed me how much you can achieve when you strip it all back and focus on the craft."
Riccardo agreed that this minimalist, deeply considered approach is something his team in Ayr is now embracing more than ever.
He added: "Less product, less rushing, more thought, more purpose. The team has returned with a sharper eye, a steadier hand, and a real appreciation for the power of precision."
Inspired by Japanese calm, clarity, and technical mastery, both Riccardo and Ava are championing a return to thoughtful creativity, where each section, snip and styling move is done with care, clarity and confidence.
Riccardo said: "Japan reminded us that hairdressing is an art form, one that deserves time, focus, and a genuine love of the craft.
"And that's exactly the energy we're bringing back to Ayr."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
How much debt is the UK in and how do we fare compared to other countries?
From defence spending to rising tariffs, governments across the world seem to have gone borrowing daft The UK's financial climate is precarious and ever-changing, to say the least. From the cost of living crisis to the ongoing energy crisis, Brits are being forced to tighten their belts and watch what they're spending day to day. New figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show just how tough things are right now. More than 2.7 per cent of gas and electricity direct debits failed in April because there wasn't enough money in people's accounts. At the same time, more people are missing loan repayments, often taken out to cover everyday costs. But how healthy is the UK's economy compared to other countries in the world, and how deep in debt are we? Well, the picture isn't too pretty across the world when it comes to the total sum of money owed by governments. In fact, global public debt has soared dramatically past a record $100 trillion (£74.4trn), according to Love Money. Along with 10 per cent tariffs on all British goods, the president imposed 25 per cent levies on cars and steel. He later increased the tariff on steel to 50 per cent, but gave the UK a reprieve, keeping its rate at 25 per cent until at least July 9. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned public debt is set to soar to 100 per cent of global GDP by 2030, up from 95.1 per cent this year. But plenty of countries have already surpassed this alarming threshold. The UK's debt-to-GDP ratio, which compares a nation's public debt to its annual economic output, is set to climb over the next few years. The UK's GDP is currently sitting at 103.9 per cent, but could be 106.1 per cent by the end of the decade. This would be a historic high not seen since the 1950s, when Britain was still recovering from the Second World War. The IMF has warned the UK's high debt levels could harm economic growth and leave it vulnerable to sudden shocks. due to a significant amount of its government bonds now held by riskier hedge funds and foreign investors. Elsewhere in Europe, France is sitting at 116.3 per cent of GDP. Almost everyone is covered by the social security system in France, and its large welfare state shields households and businesses from external shocks such as the pandemic. The country is cutting an extra €4.7billion (£4bn) in spending this year, but it might not make a difference. France owes $3.8trillion (£2.82trn) and the interest payments alone eclipse the entire French defence and education budgets. Across the Atlantic, the US is sitting on the biggest public debt pile in the world, with 112.5 per cent of GDP. Government liabilities amount to a whopping $36.2trillion (£28.65trn), which is more than double what China owes. Meanwhile, Russia has the smallest current debt-to-GDP ratios out of the world's 25 leading economies, sitting at 21.4 per cent of GDP. In 2014, Russia invaded and subsequently annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine. Since then, Russia has worked to protect its economy from sanctions, minimising external debt through strict fiscal and monetary restraint. But amid ongoing military spending as a result of the Ukraine war, and international sanctions, the Russian economy is now suffering, with Putin's regime having resorted to aggressive borrowing. Russia is now relying on internal financing as its main lifeline, again as per Love Money. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Glasgow Times
3 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Marjory from near Glasgow shares her secret after turning 100
Giffnock resident Marjory Davies enjoyed celebrating the occasion last month with a stay at Seamill Hydro Hotel in Ayrshire. She then followed this up with a party with friends and neighbours in the communal lounge of her retirement complex, Hilltree Court. Marjory enjoyed a party at her retirement complex (Image: Sourced) Marjory said: 'I've had the opportunity to experience so many different things, but I don't like a fuss or maybe just a little, but I want to be recognised as a person too, not just for turning 100.' Marjory was born on June 3, 1925 and grew up Bellshill in North Lanarkshire. She displayed a flair for language early on, becoming a favourite of her primary school headmaster with her love of poetry and ability to recite many poems in front of the class. READ NEXT: Pair from near Glasgow find friendship at care home As an engineer, her father was deployed to Birmingham to work on Operation Pluto (Pipeline Under the Ocean) during the Second World War, building oil pipelines under the English Channel to supply fuel to the Allied forces in France. Marjory studied English and French at Birmingham University, and after graduation became a teacher at a girls' school. READ NEXT: Residents hit out at 'shocking' state of cemetery She met her husband Idris in 1972 and then settled in Wales with their son Jeoffrey. Their shared love of rambling took them to many places, with Marjory confessing that she loves to explore. 'If I see a path I want to follow it and see where is goes,' she explained. 'I have a fascination for maps.' Marjory enjoying her party with her cousins Winfred and Deirdre (Image: Sourced) She believes that 'getting to know people and taking an interest in them' is the key to reaching a century and her best piece of advice for younger people is to 'be open-minded.' The most important invention she has seen in her lifetime is the telephone. 'I was 20 years old before we had one,' said the centenarian. Marjory's daily life includes needlework and gardening, which she 'does a lot at Hilltree Court.' She credits the complex with keeping her active and social. 'I've made some lovely friends and I enjoy all the social activities,' she said. 'During Covid, I felt very lonely and isolated, which is what drew me to Hilltree Court. '(I wanted) to be nearer family and make new friends.' Claire Winter, the Hilltree Court estate manager, knows Marjory well and praised her thoughtfulness. 'She always dropping cards through people's doors if they are unwell and sending her love,' explained Claire. 'Marjory always takes an interest in people and really listens to what they have to say. 'She really is an inspirational lady.'
Economist
3 hours ago
- Economist
How is Britain doing under Keir Starmer?
Government-performance tracker, 100=best Our index covers the eight metrics voters say matter most to them After a year in office, Sir Keir Starmer's Labour government is in rough waters. On July 1st the prime minister abandoned cuts to Britain's welfare budget, after a large rebellion of Labour MPs forced him to gut his proposed legislation. The government's standing in opinion polls is poor. Sir Keir's promise to bring stability after the years of tumult that followed the Brexit referendum of 2016 looks hollow. He would doubtless ask voters to ignore the drama in the House of Commons, and look at the progress he has made on improving their lives. We have done just that. To monitor whether the government is on track, we have devised an index based on several measures that resonated most with voters. Sir Keir entered Downing Street in July 2024 promising to 'stop the chaos' and begin a 'decade of national renewal'. He identified a list of government missions that, if achieved, would improve the lot of ordinary people. There are three problems with his approach. First, the targets are too modest. Second, in its first year the government has made very slow progress. Third, Sir Keir's goals do not have much resonance with voters. The Economist commissioned a survey from More In Common, a polling firm, to find out the kind of metrics that people think would improve their lives and increase their propensity to support the government at the next general election. People told us, for example, that they are more concerned about their own incomes than about GDP, and about lower bills rather than clean energy. And they really dislike potholes. Our metrics cover eight domains: immigration, income, housing, health, energy, crime, transport and the environment. By normalising every metric on a scale from zero to 100 and taking the average we get an overall government-performance score (read our methodology for further details). It is not a perfect measure—for example, it equates changes in NHS waiting lists with increases in housebuilding—but it serves as a useful gauge which we can track over time. And on this basis, things do not look rosy for Labour. Although the index has risen slightly from its nadir in 2023, the improvement has been very slow. Between now and the next general election—which is not expected until spring 2029—we will update the metrics each month to see whether the government is making progress. Explore the eight indicators in detail below. Sir Keir promised to 'smash' the gangs of people-smugglers that ferry migrants across the English Channel from France to Britain. He created a new £150m ($200m) border-security command and worked more closely with the French authorities. But the smugglers have adapted their methods to avoid detection and interference. Small-boat migrants increased to 43,309 in the year to June 30th, a 38% increase on the same period a year ago. Income The government rightly identifies that Britain has a growth problem. In the five years before it came to power, GDP increased by a mere 4%, compared with 13% in America. But most people do not pay much attention to GDP figures. It is the size of their pay-packets that matters most to them, with 30% of respondents to our survey saying that rising take-home pay would increase their propensity to vote Labour at the next general election. On this metric, Labour can point to some success. Inflation-adjusted average pay in the year to April 2025 increased by 1.8% compared with a year earlier and is firmly above its long-term average of 0.8%. The state of Britain's housing market is one of voters' biggest preoccupations. Although they might disagree over where to locate them, both the government and most of the public recognise that more homes must be built. Following on from previous Conservative administrations, Labour has adopted a target that 1.5m new homes should be built over the course of a five-year parliament. Sir Keir said he would 'back the builders, not the blockers' and has made planning reform a priority, but it will be years before its full effects are felt. In the meantime, additions to the housing stock in England (housing policy is devolved to the United Kingdom's four constituent nations) decreased in the year to the end of March to just 201,000, a nine-year low. Energy Household energy bills, % of take-home pay* *Average spending on gas and electricity as % of household disposable income†Q1 2000 to Q2 2024 Sources: Department of Energy Security and Net Zero Office for National Statistics The Economist Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 sent domestic energy bills soaring. The Conservative government spent £60bn to shelter households from the highest prices, but that was just a sticking plaster. To insulate the country from volatile natural-gas prices, Labour wants the country to become a 'clean-energy superpower'. Its ambitious goal is that 95% of electricity be generated from low-carbon sources by 2030. In the meantime, Britons simply want lower energy bills. The cost of energy is the most decisive metric among our eight measures, with more than half of respondents saying that they would be more likely to vote for Labour in the next election if energy prices came down. Household energy prices have fallen in recent months, but are still above their long-term trend of 2.5% of take-home pay. The National Health Service (NHS) came under severe strain during the pandemic. Wes Streeting, the health secretary, says the NHS is 'broken, but not beaten'. The government's main target is to reduce the referral time to see a specialist consultant doctor, but most respondents to our survey said that they would like to see accident-and-emergency (A&E) waiting times decrease. The NHS has a target that 95% of patients arriving in A&E should be seen within four hours: that has not been met for a dozen years. In the 12 months to May just 59% of the 17m patients arriving at major A&E departments were seen within that time. A perennial complaint is that crime rates are too high. In truth the total number of incidents in England and Wales has fallen by three-quarters over the past three decades. In fairness to the complainers, that figure excludes fraud and computer misuse—a new category of crime for which historical data are not available—and is likely to undercount certain types of petty crime, such as shoplifting. Labour wants to increase the visibility of policing as well as halve knife crime and violence against women, and also tackle anti-social behaviour. But respondents to our survey said they would simply like to see lower overall levels of crime. According to a national survey, in the year to the end of December 2024 there were 4.8m crime incidents, 10% more than a year earlier. When travel and other restrictions caused domestic tourism and wild swimming to rise during the pandemic, Britons were appalled to discover that after heavy downpours the country's coastline, rivers and lakes are used as an open sewer. When asked about environmental targets, two-fifths of respondents to our poll pointed to sewage reduction, whereas one-fifth wanted the country to focus on net-zero. Last year there were an average of 32 spills at each of the country's 14,000 storm overflows, 4% fewer than the previous year. That is still too high: the water companies have devised a £12bn plan to reduce sewage spills to 18 per storm overflow by 2030. Transport *12-month moving average†Jan 2017 to Jun 2024 Source: AA Forget trains, planes or buses: there is nothing that irks Britons more than the state of the country's tarmac. Potholes pepper the nation's roads, which a committee of MPs have labelled a 'national embarrassment'. In December 2024 the government announced £1.6bn of funding to fill potholes, but the Asphalt Industry Alliance, an industry body, says that ten times that amount is needed for the backlog of repairs. Monthly data from the AA, show that the number of vehicle breakdowns caused by potholes—typically damage to wheels, steering and suspension—in the year to June averaged 51,095 per month, 7% fewer than a year earlier. As transport spending is limited for the remainder of the parliament, motorists are likely to have a bumpy road ahead. Methodology Our index incorporates data across eight domains: immigration, income, housing, health, energy, crime, transport and the environment. To aggregate all of these data into a single composite index we 'normalised' our data on a scale of zero to 100, where zero is 'worst' and 100 is 'best'; and where all other values are indexed relative to those possible minima and maxima. The overall index is a simple average of the eight sub-indices. The minima and maxima vary for each metric, as follows: Small-boat migrants, Jan 1st 2019 to present (daily data). Zero index points = maximum value in series (48,760 on 31st Oct 2022); 100 index points = zero small-boat migrants. Average weekly pay, % change from a year ago, Jan 2010 to Apr 2025 (monthly data). Zero index points = minimum value in series (-2.6%, March 2023); 100 points = maximum value in series (4.2%, August 2021). Housebuilding, Q1 2010 to Q1 2025. Zero index points = minimum value in series (133,000 new homes in Q4 2010); 100 index points = 300,000 homes (the government's target). NHS A&E, % seen within 4 hours, Jan 2012 to May 2025 (monthly data). Zero index points = minimum value in series (56.7% in Mar 2023); 100 index points = 95% (the NHS target) . Crime incidents, Q1 2010 to Q4 2024. As crime has been declining for three decades, the index is calculated as a deviation from the long-term linear trend. Zero index points = maximum value in series above trend (Q1 2012); 100 index points = minimum value in series below trend (Q1 2017). Energy costs, potholes and sewage: zero index points = maximum value in series as presented in charts above; 100 index points = minimum value. As the timeliness of each metric differs (from daily to quarterly), we have taken the quarterly average for each before calculating an overall average score. The overall index series begins in Q1 2019 (the first period when all eight metrics are available).
