Meet the Team
Ripon
Tom O’Brien
Tom O’Brien founder of Baroque Salons
At just 14, Tom started out as a Saturday boy which later evolved into a full time career—something he’d always dreamed about. His training took place in Knightsbridge, London working for Toni & Guy where his passion for the beauty and glamour of the hair world, was ignited. With each year, Tom pushed himself further, entering industry competitions and arriving home with trophies.
As a finalist of British Avante Garde Hairdresser of the year, Tom’s career continued to gain momentum. Session styling became an obsession and one of his proudest achievements was styling the latest spring/summer looks for Amanda Wakeley at Claridges. Tom has continued to work at London fashion week and high profile industry events, demonstrating new concepts and ideas.
Tom’s work is creative and diverse and has featured on the front cover of numerous glossy industry magazines which have been published all around the world. Tom created opened his first salon in Harrogate before opening the Baroque flagship salon in Ripon.
Although joint owner of the salon, Tom works as a freelancer within Baroque, both as a stylist and educator.
Tom also has a passion for Nutrition and Reiki Healing, holding the accreditation of being a Reiki practitioner and maintains a private practice within the Baroque premises, offering existing and new clients the opportunity to experience a fully holistic service.
Tom works with Kevin Murphy colour, whilst still creating the magic with his scissors!
Jack
Senior Art Director/ Salon Floor Manager
Jack is the longest serving member of the Baroque team, with more than 13 years’ experience. He is also the manager of the Ripon salon
Joining the Harrogate salon in 2007 as an apprentice, he soon became one of Tom O’Brien’s early protégé’s. Along with completing his training with Tom O’Brien he has been educated at the Aveda Academy in London and with Kevin Murphy in Manchester, where he was accredited the title of a Kevin Murphy Session Stylist. Jack fully embraces the importance of education, actively supporting our apprentices with their in-house training.
Part of the Art Director team, he works alongside Verity and Louise and is experienced in both L’Oreal and Kevin Murphy colour.
Coupled with being highly skilled in all aspects of cutting and colouring, Jack is a fully qualified barber and commands both a strong male and female client base within Baroque.
Jacks strengths are his technical skills and his ability to create a bespoke finished look, for every individual client, using his wealth of experience within the industry.
Verity
Art Director/ Baroque Training Manager
Her arrival to our Ripon salon has been super exciting for the existing team and for all our guests, we welcoming her existing loyal guests to witness the beauty and tranquility of Baroque’s Ripon salon.
Louise
Art Director (Freelancer)
Having been Sassoon trained, Louise has a wealth of knowledge and experience within the industry, which she incorporates into her Art Director role. She is passionate about the hair and fashion industry and demonstrates a high level of knowledge of current trends within the industry.
Louise has featured as a session stylist with GHD, at the prestigious Sydney Fashion Week and worked alongside many of our industry heroes.
She has assisted Tom with his award-winning collections and follows the ethos of art as her inspiration for Baroques Artistic team.
Louise has worked with all the major colour brands and so has extensive knowledge in colour techniques, coupled with all aspects of advanced precision cutting.
She joined the Harrogate salon as an employee, working closely with Tom O’Brien before advancing her career to work within the Ripon salon. She has now developed a strong and loyal client base as a freelance Stylist within the Baroque premises.
Liv
Style Director/ Great Lengths Extension Specialist.
Trained by Tom O’Brien, Liv qualified in the Ripon Salon.
Liv is an exceptional colourist, specialising in blonde tones, ballayage and classic precision cuts and has a wonderful way of putting all her guests at ease with her detailed consultations. .
A strong technical stylist who is consistently pushing the boundaries of her creativity, she also has a passion for hairdressing which shows in her abilty to create some stunning bridal and party hair.
She has an abundance of product knowledge to share with you, so if you are having any hair or scalp issues Liv can prescribe a bespoke home care regimen to look after you between your services.
As an accredited Great Lengths extension technician, Liv is on hand to offer a private consultation for anyone looking for fuller thicker hair, as a result of hair loss.
Ben
Creative Stylist
Jude
Stylist/ Colour Technician/ Beauty Works Extension Specialist
Jude Is on route to becoming an exceptional stylist, he is a fully qualified colour technician, specialising in all aspects of technical colour.
Favoured by Tom O’Brien, who uses him to assist with his technical colours!
He is an accredited BEAUTY WORKS technician. Specialising in Nano Bead Extensions and Wefts.
Don’t overlook his styling skills too, Jude creates amazing technical blow dry’s, for that special occasion when you need to look fabulous!!
Jude currently offered fantastic value for any guest wanting a one length cut, in which he excels.
A very popular character who is favoured by many guests and will always greet you with his infectious smile.
Will
Artistic Director
Well…I am not really sure where to start with Will?
He joined Baroque way back in 2009 as an apprentice.
He swiftly excelled, joining the ghd fame team and becoming a session stylist on the UK and International circuit.
Many awards later Will settled in Brighton and built a strong client base, before opening his own successful salon in Brighton, called Studio 2
Although we have lost Will as a stylist we have retained him and his creative skills, as a freelance photographer and Artistic Director.
He recently lead Baroque’s entry into the British Hairdressing Awards. Of which we are proud to announce that we achieved the accolade of 2024 finalists for the North East of the UK
Will is recommending his previous guests to book with Tom!
Aaliyah
Apprentice
Aaliyah, has recently joined Baroque and is passionate about becoming a hair stylist.
She has an an amazing personality that will put everone at ease.
Already a strong member of the team we are expecting to see great things from Aaliyah.
A star in the making!
Alison
Reception
Ripon Salon
