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.
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From Young Mum to Building 145 Collective | Jade Hayter | The Root of It All
In this episode of CABELO – The Root of It All, Rob Wood sits down with Jade Hayter, Glasgow-based hairdresser, entrepreneur and founder of 145 Collective, to talk about her journey from starting out in hairdressing to building her own business.
Jade takes us back to the beginning, from falling in love with the hair industry at a young age to becoming a mum at 20 and making the decision to go self-employed. She shares how she started her business with a £1,200 overdraft, took risks along the way and eventually created 145 Collective, a collaborative space for hair professionals and education in Glasgow.
Rob and Jade also talk about the realities of running a business, finding a balance between work and family life, and the importance of recognising how far you've come.
They also explore the power of social media, why building trust matters more than having thousands of followers, and how Jade's passion for helping clients with fine and thinning hair has shaped her career.
From taking that first leap into self-employment to building a business around creativity, community and confidence, this is a conversation about ambition, self-belief and doing things your own way.
Welcome to The Root of It All.
23 Oct 2026
From £15 to a Global Hair Brand | Victoria Lynch | The Root of It All
In this episode of CABELO – The Root of It All, Rob Wood sits down with Victoria Lynch, founder of Remi Cachet, to talk about her journey from starting out in hair to building an international hair extension brand.
Victoria takes us back to the beginning, from working two jobs and spotting an opportunity in the emerging hair extension industry to launching her business from a spare bedroom. She shares what it was like building a brand before social media, including handwriting salon addresses from the Yellow Pages and making just £15 in her first week of business.
Rob and Victoria also talk about the realities of entrepreneurship, self-belief, taking risks, knowing when to pivot and the sacrifices that come with growing a business.
They also explore how Victoria's relationship with hair extensions has changed over the years, the connection between hair and confidence, and why her own experiences have given her a new perspective on the people her products help.
From a £15 first week to building Remi Cachet into an international brand, this is a conversation about self-belief, resilience, business and never standing still.
Welcome to The Root of It All.
9 Oct 2026
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 Brazil
Moving to the UK and starting again
Building a clientele from scratch
Going from being afraid of blond hair to becoming a blond specialist
The reality of life behind the chair
How Lucas's brutally honest content went viral
Finding humour in the frustrations of the hair industry
Being diagnosed with ADHD and autism
Sensory overload and working in a busy salon
Mental health and the pressure to always be "on"
Setting boundaries with clients
Finding your voice on social media
Lucas's ambitions for the future
This 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.
25 Sept 2026
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
11 Sept 2026
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.
28 Aug 2026
The Truth About Building a Career in Barbering | With Vikki Harrison-Smith
Welcome to CABELO – The Root of It All.
I'm Rob Wood, founder of Novo Cabelo, and through this podcast I sit down with industry professionals, business owners and inspiring people to uncover the stories, experiences and lessons that have shaped their careers.
In this episode, I'm joined by Vikki Harrison-Smith, founder of SB Barbering Academy. With more than 30 years in the barbering industry, Vikki shares her journey from apprentice to academy owner, why education and confidence go hand in hand, and how barbering has evolved over the years.
We also discuss entrepreneurship, mentoring the next generation, and why more people are choosing creative careers over traditional corporate paths.
Whether you're a barber, hair professional, business owner, or simply enjoy honest conversations with passionate people, there's plenty to take away from this episode.
Subscribe to CABELO – The Root of It All for more conversations with inspiring guests from the worlds of hair, business and beyond.
14 Aug 2026
The Story Behind Novo Cabelo | Rob Wood's Past, Present & Future
Welcome to CABELO – The Root of It All.
I'm Rob Wood, founder of Novo Cabelo, and through this podcast I sit down with industry professionals, business owners and inspiring people to uncover the stories, experiences and lessons that have shaped their careers.
But for the very first episode, we're turning the tables.
I'm joined by Cliff, Head of Barbering at Novo Cabelo, who takes over the questions to find out more about my own story. From my past and the experiences that shaped me, to building Novo Cabelo and where I am today.
We talk about the journey behind Novo Cabelo, the challenges and lessons I've faced along the way, how the business has evolved, and what the future holds for both me and the brand.
It's an honest conversation about the person behind Novo Cabelo, how I got to where I am today, and what's still to come.
Whether you're interested in hair, business, entrepreneurship, or simply enjoy hearing the real stories behind the people building something they're passionate about, I hope you enjoy this first episode.
Subscribe to CABELO – The Root of It All for more conversations with inspiring guests from the worlds of hair, business and beyond.
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