Join writer Cat Cochrane on a journey through the Southside's many salons and barbers as she gets to know the people behind the chair. In this edition, Cat sits down with the team at Roar Hair & Beauty salon on Pollokshaws Road.

By Cat Cochrane | Photos by Alison Johansson

To step off the bustle of Pollokshaws Road and through the door of Roar Hair & Beauty is akin to a warm hug on a chilly autumn day. The Strathbungo salon near the corner of Queen’s Drive is known as much for its big welcome as the merit of its hair cuts.

This is, in large part, thanks to the inclusive nature of founder and owner, Brian Leo McCallum. With two further premises in Giffnock and Muirend, the Southside salon has grown into something of a community favourite.

Stylist Fiona Cameron has been at Roar for six years having previously worked at the iconic Rainbow Room in Glasgow’s City Centre for close to quarter of a century. Ironically Leo trained under Fiona at the famous salon – and she is now part of his small dedicated team she describes as “a family affair.”

Pointing proudly to the salon’s framed awards nestled in the front window, Fiona laughs: “I started in the nineties when rubber-capped highlights were in and you could only get one colour. When I was training, if a guy in Glasgow was to come into the salon for a colour, he’d be a bit embarrassed.”

Over the years Fiona has met Rod Stewart outside the Rainbow Room and once styled the hair of actress and singer Clare Grogan, ahead of a Hogmanay gig.

It’s changed days in hair salons, admits Fiona. Speaking of the local styles seen in the community, she says, “Mullets have been around in Govanhill for a couple of years, but perming I can do with my eyes shut and that’s a trend that’s also came back round again.”

Roar offers longer appointments with clients for a more one-to-one feel and, alongside their colleague Aiman, everyday is a learning day, even for this experienced duo. “We work well as a team,” says Fiona. “We learn from each other and Leo is very good at pushing us out of our comfort zone.”

Professional photoshoots showcasing Leo and Aiman's styling work hang on the salon walls. Passionate about innovation, Fiona says: “I like to visualise something new and different for clients’ hair – with our regulars we don’t just provide the same thing, we offer them change.”

Leo had the opportunity to take the team to London in July as a nominee for Salon Team of the Year at the British Hairdressing Business Awards. It’s something Fiona is particularly proud of. “It was a big one for me because I’ve always wanted to go to those awards,” she says.

While word of mouth is key to Roar welcoming new clients, social media has led to a run of influencers sharing their experiences of visiting the salon. “If a hair trend is on TikTok we’ll hear about it soon enough,” Fiona says.

Fiona says, “I love our younger clients – they are quite out there with their fashion and style and they come in and share stories of their interesting lives. They let us know how they want to express themselves through their hair.”

Sharing the changes she’s seen in her six years working in the Southside, Fiona says, “There’s more and more cafes and it’s definitely a lot quirkier… But while there’s all the choice, I must admit, I still love a wee cheap roll and sausage.”

Fiona smiles sharing a recent journey to work. “I get on the bus to work as I live on the north side of Glasgow,” she says. “And there was a woman in front of me on the phone who said, ‘I’m just at Roar now, I’m getting off shortly.’ I was all chuffed, it’s as if the salon’s a landmark along this way.”