EP401: The Chair Changed Everything — Rio Agor Watts (Revlon Pro Education)
How To Cut It in the Hairdressing IndustryShow Notes
In this episode of How To Cut It, I’m joined by Rio Agor Watts at Revlon Professional’s head office in London. Rio is Revlon's Group Education Manager for the UK and Ireland, and her job is to make sure education isn’t just “product info” — it’s practical, relevant, and actually works on the salon floor. We unpack what her role really involves, from shaping the learning experience hairdressers receive to the behind-the-scenes work that most people never see.
Rio takes us through her own journey too — getting into hairdressing young, finding confidence and purpose in the salon, then moving from a large salon group into an independent and eventually into corporate education. She shares what she had to learn the hard way, and the moments that made her realise she wasn’t just a stylist, she was someone who wanted to develop others.
We also get into what Rio believes the industry needs right now, especially around texture inclusivity and education that’s done with respect and integrity. She talks openly about her mixed Nigerian, white and Spanish background, how that shaped her identity and hair journey, and why asking better questions in the salon matters. Expect honest insight on confidence, communication, boundaries, and knowing your worth — from someone whose entire job is helping hairdressers grow.
RESOURCES
Revlon Professional Education click HERE
Connect with Revlon Professional UK on Instagram @revlonpro_education_uki
Revlon Official Learning Hub click HERE
Connect with Rio on Instagram @riorevlonprofessional
Watch the conversation on YouTube @howtocutit
CHAPTERS
5:11 Weight Loss and Confidence
7:48 Roots and Identity
10:17 Texture Education Matters
12:05 From Money to Passion
14:08 Finding Growth at Headmasters
15:40 Leaving the Salon Machine
16:53 Why Education Wins
22:21 Joining Revlon Professional
23:57 Escaping the Doom Loop
25:52 Social Media and Booking
26:28 Educators and New Courses
28:53 Look and Learn Model
29:43 Visionaries Mentorship Programme
30:38 Championing Texture Inclusion
33:26 Neurodiversity in Education
36:20 Industry-Ready Training
37:35 Modern Work Boundaries
39:35 Ambition and Burnout
41:43 Social Battery Strain
43:22 Selling Yourself Well
44:34 The Power of Stage
46:06 What Makes Presenters Shine
48:15 Real Communication Matters
49:50 Retaining Talent Together
51:56 Charging Your Worth
54:39 Color, Care, and Scalp
56:39 Hair Loss and Growth
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