EP401: The Chair Changed Everything — Rio Agor Watts (Revlon Pro Education)

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