CABELO - The root of it all

Novo Cabelo

CABELO – The Root of It All is the official podcast from Novo Cabelo, hosted by founder Rob Wood. Each episode goes beyond the surface, bringing you honest conversations with industry professionals, business owners, hair experts, clients and inspiring guests. From hair replacement and confidence to entrepreneurship, innovation and personal journeys, Rob explores the stories, challenges and expertise that shape the industry. Whether you're considering a hair system, work in the hair industry or simply enjoy meaningful conversations, this is where it all begins. novocabelo.co.uk

Episodes

  1. Oct 9

    Finding Your Voice & Saying What Everyone Else Is Thinking | Lucas Freitas | The Root of It All

    In Episode 5 of CABELO – The Root of It All, I sit down with Brazilian hairdresser, blonde specialist and content creator Lucas for an honest, hilarious and at times surprisingly personal conversation about hair, social media, neurodiversity and finding your voice. Lucas takes me back to where his career began in Brazil, growing up around the hair industry before starting his own journey as a hairdresser 19 years ago. Ironically, blond hair was once the thing he was most afraid of working with today, it's become his speciality. We talk about Lucas moving to the UK eight years ago and essentially having to start again. Despite having already built a name for himself in Brazil, he arrived in the UK without a clientele, initially working mobile while navigating a new culture, different ways of working and, occasionally, some hilarious language barriers. Lucas also shares how his brutally honest social media content began. Frustrated by the way hairdressers and barbers can sometimes be treated, he started talking openly and very humorously about the things stylists experience behind the chair but don't always feel able to say. The response was huge, with other professionals recognising themselves in what he was saying. But behind the humour, there's another side to Lucas. We talk about being diagnosed with ADHD and being on the autistic spectrum, how sensory overload can affect him in a busy salon and the importance of recognising when he needs to step away and reset. Lucas also opens up about his mental health, the pressure of constantly being "on" for clients and learning to respect himself when he's having a difficult day. Looking to the future, Lucas wants to continue growing his platform not simply to be known as "the funny guy", but to give a voice to people in the industry who need to hear that it's okay to set boundaries, stand up for yourself and be treated with respect. In this episode: Lucas's journey into hairdressing in BrazilMoving to the UK and starting againBuilding a clientele from scratchGoing from being afraid of blond hair to becoming a blond specialistThe reality of life behind the chairHow Lucas's brutally honest content went viralFinding humour in the frustrations of the hair industryBeing diagnosed with ADHD and autismSensory overload and working in a busy salonMental health and the pressure to always be "on"Setting boundaries with clientsFinding your voice on social mediaLucas's ambitions for the futureThis is a conversation about being yourself, finding your voice and having the confidence to say the things other people might be thinking with plenty of laughs along the way. Welcome to The Root of It All.

  2. Sep 25

    Finding the Courage to Go All In | Lesley Reay | The Root of It All

    In this episode of CABELO – The Root of It All, I sit down with barber, hair replacement specialist and business owner Lesley Reay for an honest conversation about changing careers, taking risks and finding the courage to go all in. Lesley takes me back to a moment that completely changed the direction of her life. After being sacked from her job in retail and then finding out she was pregnant just two weeks later, a series of unexpected events eventually led her to retrain as a barber at the age of 29. We talk about starting again, becoming a single parent, being told she was too old for an apprenticeship and entering a traditionally male-dominated industry where not everyone believed she would succeed. Rather than letting those experiences stop her, Lesley used them as motivation to prove what she was capable of. After building a successful career and becoming fully booked as a barber, Lesley found herself looking for her next challenge. That's when she discovered hair systems. What initially began as something she planned to offer alongside barbering quickly grew into a completely new direction for her career. Eventually, Lesley reached a point where she knew she had to take the leap, leave traditional barbering behind and build something of her own. We talk about creating a private space where clients experiencing hair loss feel comfortable, the deeper relationships that come with working in hair replacement and how the move has changed Lesley's life both professionally and personally. Lesley also opens up about the financial impact of moving into hair systems, working smarter rather than simply working more, overcoming burnout and gaining something incredibly important to her — more freedom and more time with her son. In this episode: Getting sacked and unexpectedly starting again Becoming a mum and retraining at 29 Breaking into the barbering industry Proving people wrong in a male-dominated profession Going from fully booked barber to hair replacement specialist Discovering the opportunity in hair systems Finding the courage to go all in Starting her own business Building deeper relationships with hair loss clients Working smarter and overcoming burnout Creating more freedom and time with family Saying yes to new opportunities and what's next This is a conversation about starting again, backing yourself and having the courage to take an opportunity when you know it's time for something more. Welcome to The Root of It

  3. Sep 11

    Turning Your Toughest Moments Into Your Superpower | Kirsty Woolnough | The Root of It All

    In Episode 3 of CABELO – The Root of It All, I sit down with hairdresser and entrepreneur Kirsty Woolnough for an incredibly open and honest conversation about hair, business, mental health and finding purpose through some of life's most difficult moments. Kirsty takes me back to where her career began and how her passion for creativity eventually led her into hairdressing. We talk about building a loyal client base, taking risks in business and the rather unconventional decision to convert a bus into a mobile salon during lockdown. But behind the success, Kirsty was facing a much more personal battle. She opens up about being diagnosed with bipolar II, experiencing some of the darkest periods of her life and the impact it had on her relationships, family and career. We also talk about the misconceptions surrounding bipolar, learning to manage the condition and why Kirsty now believes it can sometimes be her superpower. We also explore how a client's experience with cancer changed the direction of Kirsty's career and sparked her passion for hair loss, hair enhancements and hair replacement. Today, she's using everything she's learned to help people feel more confident in themselves and has exciting plans to educate other professionals and make these services more accessible. In this episode: Kirsty's journey into hairdressing Building a business and taking risks Her bipolar II diagnosis and mental health journey The reality of working while struggling behind the scenes Why hair can mean so much more than appearance Moving into hair loss and hair replacement Turning difficult experiences into purpose Kirsty's plans for the future This is a powerful conversation about resilience, ambition, mental health and the importance of doing something that gives you purpose. Welcome to The Root of It All.

About

CABELO – The Root of It All is the official podcast from Novo Cabelo, hosted by founder Rob Wood. Each episode goes beyond the surface, bringing you honest conversations with industry professionals, business owners, hair experts, clients and inspiring guests. From hair replacement and confidence to entrepreneurship, innovation and personal journeys, Rob explores the stories, challenges and expertise that shape the industry. Whether you're considering a hair system, work in the hair industry or simply enjoy meaningful conversations, this is where it all begins. novocabelo.co.uk