On 1st October 2026 Corry Riley celebrated 35 years in hairdressing. As far back as she can remember, she’s wanted to be a hairdresser. We go behind the chair to discover her amazing journey.
Some of her earliest memories are of cutting her doll’s hair. “I used to lop bits off my own too,” says Corry. “My Mum would ask me if I’d been cutting my hair, and I’d deny it… meanwhile there was hair all over the bedroom carpet!” She later graduated to doing her aunt’s and Nana’s hair, who, clearly confident in her talents, used to let her practice on them when she was just 12 years old. “My Auntie had really thick hair, so if I made a mistake, it was easier to hide!” This was all done on the understanding that when she qualified, she’d make sure they were fitted in!
“I’ve loved hair for as long as I can remember. I’d buy hairdressing magazines, and I had a few books on hairdressing too. I remember one in particular by John Frieda that spoke of how John got into the industry and talked you through lots of styles and haircuts. I found it so interesting.”
“I think it’s a blessing to know what you want to do when you leave school. To be passionate about something and know the path you want to take makes you more driven. I think it’s a blessing to know what you want to do when you leave school. To be passionate about something and know the path you want to take makes you more driven.”
Corry did well at high school but has always been aware she has a more creative brain. She enjoyed painting in art class, particularly exploring with watercolours and creating abstract art. She left school after her O Levels and began an apprenticeship in a salon on William Street, where she had a great vantage point of Charlie Miller on Stafford Street. “I used to stare at it longingly…” she says. “My friend Ashley, who now works for Cheynes, and I, thought that everyone who worked there looked so cool.”
From working in the industry and frequenting the same pubs and clubs, Corry got to know Josh Miller and some of the other stylists, and eventually got her wish. After an interview with Jason Miller, she was given a full time position at Charlie Miller, retraining in ‘the Charlie Miller way’ for some months before she went on the floor. “I remember feeling really nervous at first.” Says Corry. “But the team I worked with were so friendly and welcoming, especially Rachel and Mamie who were on reception at the time.
“The ‘80’s were an exciting time for hair.”
“There was a lot of short hair. Women were going for short crops that were previously seen as more masculine, but with the likes of Annie Lennox with her short copper hair in the spotlight, it was an incredible time to start in this industry. There was so much individuality.”
“Now, there’s a lot of long hair on women and girls, and as beautiful as it is, I do think people have developed a fear of short hair. They’ll decide that they don’t suit it. Maybe they’ve had one bad haircut, or no one has told them what short cut might suit their bone structure. But short hair can transform. It might make someone look years younger, or accentuate their best features. ” Corry has had to move with the times. With longer hair in vogue and the rise of the balayage, not to mention the improvement in quality of the tools available for home use, people are coming to the salon less often than they were when Corry first began building her clientele. In her years with Charlie Miller, Corry has given her all to learning and embracing as many techniques as possible, from the tried-and-true perm to our newest addition to our services; hair extensions.
“If you get to the point in this industry where you think you know it all, then it’s time to hang up the scissors.”
“Cameron and I went to London to Central St Martins College of Fashion, and the style of hair… wow. As soon as we walked in we were blown away by the creativity. I’d highly recommend all stylists, or anyone with an interest in fashion, visit in some capacity if they can.”
“It was their end of term show, and we were part of a team creating session hair-a lot of Avant Garde work- for the models. At first, I looked around and realised that everyone else was in their teens or their 20’s and I was a similar age to the hairdresser running the team.”
“You have to be open to being the best you can be, open to learning and expanding your knowledge. And you’re never too experienced to ask for a second opinion.”
Corry quickly found her stride though, embracing the session work, which is wildly different to the daily hairdressing done in a salon. “It’s like following a recipe.” She says.
The only thing that stood in her way in the end, was doing the hair of 6ft tall models wearing heels, while 5 foot tall Corry stood in her trainers touching up their hair! Corry’s small stature has often been an obstacle as a hairdresser, but she’s always found a way!
“Everyone has a skill, or something they can bring to the table.”
Corry knows that there’s always something new to learn in this industry, and everyone has something to offer. “Some of the trainees are incredible with photographing hair for example, the younger hairdressers are brilliant with social media. There’s so much the trainees can teach me about that.” She also embraces any training nights her colleagues offer. “I went along to a gents hair seminar that two of the younger hairdressers, Kieran (of South St Andrew Street) and Alison (from Holy Corner) hosted and took away a lot. When I started hairdressing, it was all about softness and texture but now, lots of gents want the look of solid lines; hairdressing changes.”
Of all the many things she’s learned so far, a piece of advice given to her by Charlie Miller himself stands out the most; “‘Big heart, small head’ has served me well, not only in hairdressing but in everyday life.” says Corry.
The most exciting thing someone could say when they sat in Corry’s chair is “Just do what you want.”
“I do enjoy a free reign,” she says. “When someone comes into the salon and says ‘cut it all off’ or ‘do what you think will suit me’ that’s really exciting. This kind of confidence of course comes with experience. Corry knows the power an effective and thorough consultation holds.
Asking the right questions and establishing what someone truly wants is vital. “The more you delve in to the consultation the more you might find that someone doesn’t really want a drastic change, or that a certain cut won’t work for their hair type or daily routine.” It might take time to establish what’s best and to build that trust but getting it right and having someone leave happy and confident is why she’s in this industry. “It’s so rewarding to create something that someone loves.”
In 2019, Corry won Outstanding Hairdresser of The Year at the annual Charlie Miller Achievement Awards, an honour she is deeply proud of. So unexpected was this accolade that Corry didn’t realise that her name had been called.
“I’ve watched so many people win it, and win it more than once, so I was just blown away. For once in my life, I was lost for words. “It’s lovely to be recognised, to be complimented and to get that recognition.”
Another proud moment for Corry was receiving her long service award, presented to her after her 20 year anniversary with Charlie Miller. “I don’t often get emotional but listening to Charlie talk about me was such a special moment.”
A further standout moment in Corry’s career was going to London for a photo shoot with Robert Lobetta. Photographs from this shoot would go on to appear on artwork in the salons, appointment cards and within the pages of our 50 Year Anniversary magazine.
“We stayed in the edgy, stylish Hempel Hotel in Kensington, and it was amazing. I watched and learned and assisted… it was an incredible experience.”
Her greatest achievement though, are her two boys, Jacob & Lucas. “They look so alike but couldn’t be more different. The teenage years are hard, and I am absolutely working on myself to practice calm! Being a mum is one of the hardest jobs in the world but I love them to bits and wouldn’t have it any other way. They keep me going.”
Life with a teenage boy keeps Corry on her toes, and anyone who knows her will attest to the fact that she is very rarely still. “I go and get my nails done every three weeks which forces me to sit down for an hour because I probably don’t relax as much as I should. I always feel like I have to be doing something.” Treating herself to a full-body massage is an essential part of her self care and she swears by Reiki too. She also relaxes by listening to music, listing everything from Country & Western to 90’s club. She’s found herself gravitating towards Pikes in Ibiza in recent years, a rustic, boutique hotel on the outskirts of San Antonio.
She’s spent many a vacation with her close friend Amber, Salon Manager of our Holy Corner branch.
“Corry & I have been friends for 31 years,” says Amber. “We have laughed, cried, holidayed and had many fun excursions over the years.” Corry describes her style as ‘classy eclectic’ which encapsulates her vibe perfectly and, possibly due to her aforementioned short stature, she’s very rarely seen without a pair of heels. Amber tells us a story of a particularly extravagant trip to Gina on Sloane Street which attests to Corry’s love of a good pair of shoes.
“The ones Corry loved weren’t available in the size two she needed. So we took a taxi to Bond Street to find the shoes of Corry’s dreams; she proceeded to try them on while the meter was running. We still have the shoes but they’re not comfortable enough to wear for very long, but I’ll always remember the giggle we had deciding to risk missing the flight home for a pair of shoes. We’ve talked each other in and out of all sorts of things.”
“Corry is a gem of a pal. She showed me the ropes on motherhood and is Auntie Corry to my daughter Willow.”
It’s obvious from Corry’s length of service just how much Charlie Miller means to her, and her respect for her colleagues shines through.
Beyond the Charlie Miller family though, she admires hairdressing icons such as Vidal Sassoon, Mary Quant and the celebrated colourist Annie Humphreys, dubbed The Mother of Modern Colour. Corrie is inspired by the life and careers of the likes of Dame Joan Collins and Dame Joanna Lumley. If she could have anyone in her chair, she’d jump at the chance to style Kylie Minogue’s hair. “I love her music and it would be incredible to talk to her about her life.”
Corry describes herself as chatty, fabulous and friendly and would like to be remembered as being real; “Genuine and honest, straight talking and no nonsense!” Corry speaks with so much passion about her craft, and her vast knowledge and deep insights into the industry are a joy to listen to. As much as Corry loves to learn from her peers, she has so much to share with others too. Cameron Thomson is one such colleague who has not only learned from her as a hairdresser but has developed a close bond with her too. “Corry isn’t just a great hairdresser, she’s the kind of person who makes every appointment feel special. She has a real talent, not just for styling hair, but for making people feel confident and comfortable in their own skin.” He says. “Whether it’s through her skill, her attention to detail, or the easy way she connects with people, Corry turns every visit into more than just a haircut: it’s an experience. Her clients don’t just leave with great hair, they leave feeling better about themselves and that’s what I think truly sets her apart.”
“She’s one of those people who makes everything better without even trying. She has a quiet strength, a great sense of humour, and a way of making people feel like they truly matter. She doesn’t do things for attention or recognition it’s just who she is.”
Whether it’s showing up when it counts, offering a few words of support, or just making people laugh at the right moment, Cameron tells us that Corry has a way of leaving a mark. “She might not always realise it, but the people around her do.” We hope she knows just how much she means—not only to her team but to every client, old and new, who appreciates her warmth, expertise and talent.