The Founders of Clo & Flo

Get to know boss women Clo and Flo, Owners of Clo&Flo
I am so delighted to introduce you to the owners of the best hair salons in London, Clo and Flo. I have been to their salon in South Kensington for the last 5 years and refuse to go anywhere else!

How did Clo&Flo launch?

clo&flo launched in 2014. We took the business over from our father, collaborated our skill sets, rebranded and re designed the shops which now accommodate the pilates studio within the salon space.

When you were younger what did you want to be?  

Flo – it sounds cliché but I always loved fashion. I loved experimenting with different outfits & always new what I liked and didn’t like from a young age. I really wanted to be a fashion stylist but fell into hair and now I can’t imagine doing anything else.

Clo – In all honesty I didn’t know what I wanted to be until later in life. I didn’t have an interest in going to university as a result, so I tried my hand at a few different jobs until I fell into an events job that I loved. What I loved most about it was the organization and managing a team. Alongside this I took a keen interest in exercise and decided to take a personal training course, I loved it so much that I decided to leave my career in events and that was the start of my career in the wellness industry. I then went on to train as a rehabilitation Pilates instructor as I was fascinated in the body and how you can heal yourself through movement.

What has been your favourite business moment to date?

There are so many but meeting our investor, the refurbishment of the shops and the launch of our Borough location was a real pinch me moment for us.

What makes Clo&Flo better than other salons?

We are one big family. We have such an amazing relationship with our clients and we have built a solid community amongst them and our team. The one bit of feedback that we get consistently is that the atmosphere is a really positive one and how at home they feel when they are in the shop. We have created a home away from home for both our stylists and our clients.

Who is the favourite person you have worked with?

Each other! We couldn’t imagine running the business with anyone else. We are so grateful for the amazing relationship we have and our individual skill sets that set us apart. It just works!

What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?

When you find something you love, stick to it. Leaning a new skill can always be challenging and it’s so easy to give up and move onto the next thing but perseverance and patience always pays off. And take care of your health.

Do you prefer colouring or styling?

Flo – it’s hard to choose because I love both! But if I had to choose colouring.

Who is your ultimate business inspiration?

Spanx & Facegym – Sara Blakely and Inge Theron are both women in business that we look up to.

What are 3 words to describe yourselves?

Clo – Calm, Kind & Hardworking

Flo - Loyal, Passionate & Hardworking

What is the secret to success?

Patience and perseverance. Learning and growing. Having the ability to know when to change direction when you need to. Putting in the hours, a lot of hard work and not ever giving up!

What advice would you give to future female generations?

Go for it and don’t be afraid to speak up or ask for help. Create a solid support network and believe in yourself. And if you fail, know that it is a lesson learnt, not wasted and change direction.

What motivates you?

Knowing that what we do makes a difference to people’s lives, empowering men and women with good hair and a healthy mind and body. And knowing that this transpires into the world when they leave clo&flo.

Which 3 people would make up your dream dinner party?

Flo - Adele, JK Rowling & Sara Blakely

Clo - Oprah, Jay Shetty, Gisele Bundchen

What are you grateful for?

Each other, our family, our health, our upbringing, the opportunities we’ve been presented with and the incredible support network we have around us.

What is one thing everyone should do?

Practice gratitude.

What are you reading right now?

Flo – Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason

Clo – Play nice but win by Michael Dell

What is your spirit animal?

Flo – Horses, they symbolize personal drive, passion and appetite for freedom.

Clo – A koala as it represents gratitude, healing, calmness & protection

What are you most unapologetic for?

Flo - Being disorganized! I blame my creative side

Clo – Spending time alone

What is the best aspect of having your own business?

Working with each other, having control over our decisions and making a difference in the world.

What is the hardest part of having your own business?

Never being able to fully switch off! You have to really love what you do as it consumes you. Finding a work life balance is a challenge especially at the start and we are yet to discover the secret to it!

What is something you’re currently working on?

We are currently looking to hire a manager to look after the two shops so we can focus more on the growth of the business. We would like to work on being more present on our social media too.

On a personal note we are always working on ourselves, selfcare is at the forefront of what we do so that we can be the best versions of ourselves for everyone else around us.

Where will Clo&Flo be in 10 years time?

It’s hard to say as we live in a world that is everchanging. But we love what we do and we will continue giving back to this world. We would love to have a product line in the future. Another dream of ours.