TheIndustry.beauty Awards Winners' Interview: Legendary hairstylist Sam McKnight

In this series, TheIndustry.beauty continues to celebrate the achievements of the winning brands from TheIndustry.beauty Awards 2025 through a collection of dedicated interviews.

With the Awards dedicated to 'The Innovators' of the industry, we set out to uncover the forward-thinking strategies behind their success. From our winners, we discover everything from the importance of innovation and the trends influencing the next wave of beauty to the biggest opportunities and challenges facing the sector today.

In a special Hall of Fame Award presented by supply chain experts Bleckmann, TheIndustry.beauty honoured hairstyling legend Sam McKnight MBE for his extraordinary contribution to the beauty industry and his enduring influence on the world of hairdressing.

McKnight speaks to TheIndustry.beauty about discovering his unique voice and visual language in a competitive industry, the standout moments and collaborations that helped define his career, the inspiration behind launching his own product line, and more.

How did you find your unique voice and visual language as a hairstylist in a competitive industry?

It was all about instinct, really. I didn’t come into the industry with a blueprint. I was inspired by music, culture, and what was happening on the streets as much as by fashion itself. I think I found my voice by taking risks and never trying to mimic trends. I always approached hair as part of a bigger picture - it had to fit into the narrative of the image or the runway. That’s how my visual language evolved: intuitive, collaborative, and always in dialogue with fashion.

Can you tell us more about where you look for inspiration and how this specifically translates into your styling?

Everywhere. Art, nature - my garden in particular, travel, photography, music - you name it. I love looking at classic cinema or diving into archives of fashion photography. I’m also deeply inspired by people-watching; real style is often found in the everyday. When it comes to styling, it’s about distilling those references into something wearable and fresh - making the hair feel like part of the story without overpowering it.

You've seen the fashion and beauty industries evolve dramatically - how has the role of a hairstylist changed over time?

When I started, hairstylists were behind the scenes - anonymously crafting images. Today, we’re creative collaborators, brand builders, and often public figures ourselves. Social media has shifted everything. There’s more visibility and more pressure, but also more opportunity to shape the conversation. The role is more holistic now - we’re expected to bring not just skill, but vision and influence.

What hair trends are you loving right now, and which ones do you think have real longevity?

I’m not one for keeping in with trends, throughout my career I haven’t taken much notice of them. Although I’m often told that it’s because I create them rather than follow. More often trends have been inspired by a a runway show, or campaign moment and as fashion and beauty is working ahead by the time it’s a trend we’ve moved onto the next season.

The styles that really carry longevity, that have become timeless: are the ones that are most wearable and give confidence; from effortless, Cool Girl undone/done texture, through to the Supermodel Volume revival, and healthy, glossy hair.

You’ve worked with some of the most iconic figures in fashion - from Princess Diana to Kate Moss. What moments or collaborations stand out as the most defining in your career?

There have been so many incredible moments but working with Princess Diana was truly special. She had this quiet strength and elegance, and to be a part of her personal transformation - especially during that iconic short hair moment - was both humbling and career-defining.

Similarly, my long-standing collaborations with Kate Moss and Karl Lagerfeld were creatively electric. Those relationships shaped not only my career but also a deeper understanding of the power of hair in storytelling.

What do you think are the biggest opportunities and challenges in the beauty sector today?

Sustainability is both the biggest challenge and the greatest opportunity. The industry is being called to do better, and rightfully so. There’s also the need for more inclusivity - not just in imagery but in product formulation and representation. At the same time, beauty consumers are savvier than ever. If you can combine great performance with ethical values, you have a real chance to lead.

Your brand ‘Hair by Sam McKnight’ has become a cult favourite. What inspired you to launch your own product line?

I spent decades on set, creating looks with whatever was available, often mixing products or even making my own concoctions. I knew exactly what I needed but couldn’t find it on shelves. Launching the line was about sharing the backstage experience with everyone - products that were easy to use, smelled amazing, and delivered foolproof transformational results at home.

How did you translate your creative expertise into a commercially successful product range?

It came down to clarity of vision. I knew what worked because I’d been testing it under high-pressure conditions for years. We kept it simple, effective, and stylish - both in terms of packaging and performance. Listening to our customers and maintaining quality have also been key. We don’t release anything until it’s truly exceptional.

How does Hair by Sam McKnight maintain its position as a leader in the haircare market? What strategies are critical to staying ahead of competitors and meeting consumer demands?

Innovation without losing identity - that’s the strategy. We stay close to what customers love about the brand while continuing to push forward. Being nimble, listening to feedback, and staying connected to fashion keeps us ahead. We’re not about chasing trends but about building a brand that people trust and love coming back to.

You won the Hall of Fame at The Industry Beauty – how does it feel to have your impact on the beauty industry recognised with this award?

It was incredibly touching. I’ve never set out for accolades - I just love what I do. But to have your peers recognise the work and the journey, especially after decades in the industry, is profoundly meaningful. It’s a lovely moment of reflection and gratitude.

If you could tell your younger self one thing at the start of your career, what would it be?

Trust your gut and enjoy the ride. Don’t worry too much about fitting in - your individuality is your superpower. And always be kind; this is a people business at its heart.

What can we expect from you over the next year?

More innovation, more fabulous hair days. We’ve got some exciting product launches coming, rooted in performance and sustainability. I’m also continuing to collaborate with fashion and art in ways that inspire me. There’s a lot to look forward to.

As the Hall of Fame award was pressented by Bleckmann, we asked Rachel Dyche, its UK Sales Manager, why it is important to champion innovation in the beauty industry and how it works with beauty brands to drive the market forward.

How do you define innovation in the beauty industry, and how is it reflected in the services you offer?

We work with beauty brands in the same way we work with any of our customers, be that fashion, lifestyle or beauty. We create a partnership and ensure that we have a solution tailored to the brands requirements and goals for future growth. Our service is omnichannel and provides an end-to-end logistics solution - from collecting your products at the point of manufacture and shipping into our facilities, to pick, pack, dispatch, and final delivery to the end consumer. This service is built on our expertise and excellence in the field, allowing us to continuously suggest improvements and efficiencies where we can add value to beauty brands and their offering.

Innovation is the ability to deliver the customer journey regardless of stepping into a physical store or ordering online. The beauty industry is continually breaking boundaries to introduce the newest and most accurate skincare products, ensuring customers receive offerings that are both genuine and groundbreaking. Our role is to ensure that the end-to-end service provided to the customer is as experiential as walking into store to receive a product and the personal touch that goes with a VAS to enable products to arrive in an experiential way.

What are the common struggles you’re seeing among scale-up brands and how can you help them? Also what are the big opportunities that you see?

Scale-up brands often require 3PL support early in their lifecycle. While we previously supported brands at a later stage, we've now introduced bscale - a solution specifically designed to give startups the support they need from day one. Through our automated solution within a shared, multi-user facility, bscale enables growing brands to scale globally and expand into new markets with ease.

Big opportunities are definitely linked to automation for beauty brands that have significant volume. Additionally, testing new markets before committing to a full setup is key to driving growth and gauging success.

In addition to working with bigger brands, you also seem to be very motivated to help smaller brands grow - why?

We see fantastic potential in smaller brands and recognise that many of them also going to become the bigger brands in years to come. We believe in their vision and are committed to supporting their global growth by providing the right infrastructure from the start. Helping emerging brands is where many of our success stories come from - and we love to play a part in their growth.

At what point do you think a brand should engage a 3PL and what are the key benefits of doing so?

Any stage where you feel you need support or expertise is the right time. We help brands from the ground up, so it’s never too early to reach out for advice or assistance in establishing your 3PL partnership and leveraging our expertise!

What future trends do you see shaping the beauty industry, and how is Bleckmann uniquely positioned to meet these evolving demands?

The growth we’ve seen in brands recently - particularly in terms of global reach - combined with evolving legislation worldwide, has required many to pivot and enter markets they may never have previously considered. Continued expansion is undoubtedly a key market trend, with electronics also emerging as a significant player in the space. Our experience allows us to support brands in scaling across territories while offering expertise on new innovative ideas that can enhance the customer journey, drive sustainability, and reduce costs.

TheIndustry.beauty The Innovators Awards will be back for 2026. Find out more at theindustry.beauty/awards. For sponsorship enquiries, please email partnerships@theindustry.beauty.