Trevor Sorbie is one of the most influential names in British hairdressing, a title earned over five decades of cutting, colouring, and reshaping how people think about hair. From his flagship salon in Covent Garden to locations in Hampstead and Manchester, the Trevor Sorbie name became a benchmark for craftsmanship long before “celebrity hairdresser” was a common phrase. This article looks at his career, his salons, and the legacy he left behind.
Who Was Trevor Sorbie?
Trevor John Sorbie was born on 13 March 1949 in Paisley, Scotland, before his family moved south to Ilford when he was eleven. He left school at fifteen and began cutting hair as an apprentice to his father, learning the trade from the ground up rather than through formal styling school.
By the age of twenty, he’d opened his own barbershop in Edmonton, North London. He quickly grew restless with basic men’s cuts and made the switch to women’s hairdressing, a decision that would define the rest of his career.
Sorbie passed away on 8 November 2024 at the age of 75, following a diagnosis of bowel cancer. His death was met with tributes from across the hairdressing industry, recognising him as a genuine pioneer rather than just a well-known name.
The Wedge Haircut and Early Career Breakthroughs
Sorbie is widely credited as the creator of the wedge haircut, a style that became one of the defining looks of the late twentieth century. He trained at the Richard Henry School of Hairdressing before joining Vidal Sassoon in 1972, becoming Artistic Director there just a year later.
After Sassoon, he spent time at Toni & Guy and John Frieda, absorbing different techniques before striking out on his own. This period shaped the technical foundation that made him a four-time winner of British Hairdresser of the Year, a record few in the industry have matched.
Trevor Sorbie’s Salon Empire
Sorbie opened his first salon on Stamford Street, London SE1, in 1977. Two years later, he opened a second location that would go on to become the brand’s most recognisable address.
Trevor Sorbie Covent Garden: The Flagship Salon
The Trevor Sorbie Covent Garden salon opened in 1979 and remains the brand’s flagship to this day. Originally a smaller venue nearby, it later relocated to its current spot on Floral Street, where it’s operated for decades.
This salon became known as a training ground for some of the industry’s most skilled stylists and colour technicians. Many staff members went on to become educators themselves, travelling internationally to teach the techniques developed at the Covent Garden site.
Trevor Sorbie Hampstead: Expanding Beyond Central London
As demand grew, Sorbie expanded his brand beyond the centre of London. The Trevor Sorbie Hampstead salon opened as the second London location, giving North London clients access to the same standard of cutting and colour work without travelling into the West End.
Hampstead has long been home to a discerning, style-conscious clientele, which made it a natural fit for the brand’s expansion. The salon carried forward the same training standards established at Covent Garden, ensuring consistency across locations.
Trevor Sorbie Manchester: Taking the Brand North
The Trevor Sorbie Manchester salon extended the brand’s reach outside London entirely, bringing the same cutting philosophy to the North West. This expansion reflected a broader ambition: Sorbie didn’t want his name attached to a single London postcode, but to a standard of hairdressing recognised across the UK.
Manchester’s salon scene has always been competitive, and the presence of the Trevor Sorbie brand there reinforced its reputation as a genuinely national name rather than a London-only phenomenon.
Full List of Trevor Sorbie Salon Locations
Over the years, the Trevor Sorbie brand grew to include multiple UK sites and international ventures:
| Location | Notes |
|---|---|
| Covent Garden, London | Flagship salon, opened 1979 |
| Hampstead, London | Second London location |
| Richmond, London | Additional London site |
| Brighton | Opened in 2004 |
| Manchester | Extended the brand outside London |
| Bristol | South West England location |
| Dubai | International expansion |
This spread of salons meant the Trevor Sorbie name became recognisable well beyond hairdressing circles, appearing in magazines, on television, and among a loyal celebrity clientele that included figures like Grace Jones and Helen Mirren.
Recognition, Awards, and the MBE
In 2004, Sorbie became the first hairdresser ever to receive an MBE, a milestone that reflected both his technical influence and his contribution to the wider industry. He also appeared on television programmes such as Channel 4’s Faking It, bringing hairdressing craft to a mainstream audience in a way few stylists had managed before.
His internal training system, known as the Vardering Program, became a defining part of how Trevor Sorbie salons operated. Every stylist and colour technician working under the brand had to pass this rigorous process, ensuring a consistent standard across every location, from Covent Garden to Manchester.
The My New Hair Charity
Beyond commercial hairdressing, Sorbie’s most personal legacy may be the charity he founded called My New Hair. It began after he helped his brother’s wife create a wig that looked convincingly like real hair while she battled bone cancer.
The experience led him to shift his focus almost entirely toward the charity, training hairdressers to cut and style wigs so they looked natural for cancer patients losing their hair to chemotherapy. He later took the campaign to Downing Street and worked on improving national policy around NHS wig provision, a cause that mattered to him more than commercial success ever did.
Frequently Asked Questions About Trevor Sorbie
Is Trevor Sorbie still alive? No. Trevor Sorbie passed away on 8 November 2024 at the age of 75, following a diagnosis of bowel cancer.
Where is the Trevor Sorbie flagship salon? The flagship salon is in Covent Garden, London, located on Floral Street. It opened in 1979 and remains the brand’s most well-known location.
Does Trevor Sorbie have a salon in Manchester? Yes, the Trevor Sorbie brand operates a salon in Manchester, extending its reach beyond London and the South East.
What is Trevor Sorbie best known for? He’s widely credited as the creator of the wedge haircut and was a four-time winner of British Hairdresser of the Year, alongside being the first hairdresser to receive an MBE.
What charity did Trevor Sorbie found? He founded My New Hair, a charity that trains hairdressers to style wigs for cancer patients and campaigns for better NHS wig provision.
Are Trevor Sorbie salons still open after his death? Yes, the salons, including those in Covent Garden, Hampstead, and Manchester, have continued operating under the brand he built, carrying forward his training standards and ethos.
A Lasting Legacy in British Hairdressing
Trevor Sorbie’s influence stretches well beyond any single haircut or salon address. He built a brand on technical skill, consistent training, and a genuine commitment to giving back through My New Hair, something not every celebrity hairdresser can claim. Whether it’s the flagship Covent Garden salon, the Hampstead branch serving North London, or the Manchester site carrying his name into the North West, his standards continue to shape how these salons operate today.
If you’re considering a visit to one of the Trevor Sorbie salons, whether in Covent Garden, Hampstead, or Manchester, you’re stepping into a legacy built on genuine craftsmanship rather than fleeting trends. Booking a consultation with one of the trained stylists at these locations is the best way to experience that heritage firsthand.
