If you follow Jeremy Pugh on social media, you may be aware of how he got into the salon professional industry. If you aren’t, in short: he enrolled in a cosmetology program while serving time in prison and it fully transformed his life. In his work as a hairstylist and content creator, Pugh has reached millions of people on social media, pretty regularly, demystifying beauty for pros and consumers alike.
Earlier this year, Pugh shared his story at the Serious Business conference in New Orleans and connected with Debbie Webster, Global CEO of Vidal Sassoon. Within weeks, Pugh and Webster connected at the Sassoon Academy in Beverly Hills, discussing how the Academy’s legendary precision education could intersect with the modern reality of the industry. That conversation led to a what is now a unique collaboration between the Sassoon Academy and Pugh, combining Sassoon’s foundational cutting and color techniques with Pugh’s specialty in blowout styling, finishing, and creating professional content for social media that actually performs into a class.
Webster says, “We’re delighted to welcome Jeremy Pugh into the Sassoon Academy for this special collaboration. At Vidal Sassoon, precision, discipline, and a commitment to continual learning are the foundations of our craft. Jeremy’s decision to fully immerse himself in our training reflects the curiosity and dedication that define great hairdressers.”
The first class will take place at the Sassoon Academy in Beverly Hills on April 26-28th, focusing on “Lavish Brunettes.” The two-day color portion will be taught by Sassoon North American Color Director Richie Rivera. Pugh will teaching the third day, which will focus on blowouts, styling and finishing techniques, along with content creation for hairstylists. Attendees will work with live models and leave with professionally photographed images for their portfolios.
Pugh tells The Tease, “Vidal Sassoon has always represented the gold standard of precision and technical education in our industry, so the opportunity to collaborate with the Academy feels incredibly meaningful to me. What excites me most about this partnership is the chance to connect that timeless foundation with the modern reality hairstylists are navigating today. Stylists are no longer just artists behind the chair. They are also creators, educators, and entrepreneurs building their businesses both in the salon and online.”
He adds, “With such a large percentage of product purchases now happening outside of the salon, it’s more important than ever for professionals to understand how to share their work digitally and build sustainable income streams beyond services alone. My goal with these classes is to help stylists strengthen their technical craft while also learning how to document their work, create content, and use those skills to grow their careers in a much more empowered way.”
Purchase tickets for “Lavish Brunettes,” here. Each class is limited to 16 spots ensuring that the education is intimate and hands-on.
A second class is scheduled for September 6 and 7 in New York during Fashion Week, focusing on the iconic Sassoon bob, again followed by a third day dedicated to blowout styling and digital content creation. There are already plans for a third class in London the same week of Salon International with Sassoon International Creative Director, Mark Hayes.
