About Simon Tuckwell and Blank Space Creative
Simon Tuckwell is the visionary founder behind Blank Space Creative, a co-working hub for artists and creatives located in the heart of Nottingham. With a passion for collaboration and forward-thinking salon culture, Simon has built a space where creativity thrives and professionals grow together.
Alongside his talented team at Blank Space Creative, Simon has embraced Colourstart, a progressive move that has significantly enhanced the salon’s operations and client experience. His commitment to innovation and education continues to shape the future of hairdressing, making Blank Space Creative a standout destination for both stylists and clients.
“I wanted a patch testing system that supports the evolved way that we work today. My clients travel, we work fast, we work creatively and Colourstart allows us to remove unnecessary barriers while still keeping everyone safe and protected.”
Blank Space Creative is home to 14 independent stylists, each running their own column while working under one roof. This unique structure demanded an allergy testing solution that could maintain consistency across the entire team while respecting each stylist’s autonomy and creative workflow.
The limitations of traditional allergy testing were becoming increasingly apparent. Clients having to make at least two trips to the salon for skin testing felt outdated and cumbersome. For a team that works fast and creatively—with stylists travelling internationally with clients—the old system was creating unnecessary friction.
“Traditional patch testing was becoming clunky, inconsistent and often confusing for clients and our stylists,” Simon explains. “We’ve upgraded every other part of service and technology, so why not our patch testing? It also felt like traditional testing stifled our creativity.”
Why Blank Space Creative Chose Colourstart
For Simon and his team, the decision to switch to Colourstart was about finding a solution that matched their evolved way of working. Every stylist at Blank Space Creative has moved over to Colourstart because it addresses the specific challenges of modern, independent salon life.
“I travel all over the world with clients, so I needed something consistent and trustworthy,”
Simon notes. The solution needed to work seamlessly whether stylists were working in Nottingham or travelling internationally, providing the same level of protection and professionalism regardless of location.
Colourstart gave them a clear, recognised, professional way to streamline the allergy testing process while genuinely improving the client experience—not just making it faster, but making it better.
Seamless Phorest Integration
One of the key factors in Blank Space Creative’s successful implementation has been Colourstart’s integration with Phorest, the salon management software they already use.
“Because we all work under one roof but run our own columns, our skin testing system needs to be simple and adaptable. Colourstart integrating with Phorest gives us that,” Simon explains.
The integration means that communication and record-keeping are centralised and consistent across all 14 independent stylists. Each stylist can handle their own clients without the process getting messy or complicated. Everyone follows the same protocol, eliminating crossed wires while maintaining the independence that makes Blank Space Creative unique.
“Implementing Colourstart has been really straightforward.”
The practical rollout at Blank Space Creative proved to be remarkably simple. An email is automatically sent out with every single colour booking, making the process seamless for both stylists and clients.
“It’s super simple to follow and once clients understand why we’re doing it and how it benefits them long-term, they get on board quickly,” Simon says.
The actual day-to-day management of Colourstart has removed much of the awkwardness that previously surrounded allergy testing conversations. The system is clear to use, and clients appreciate the professionalism and care it demonstrates.
Beyond the convenience factor, Colourstart has given the entire team peace of mind. The vendor insurance and alignment with best practice mean that every stylist—working independently—knows they’re covered and operating to the highest professional standards.
“I’d say it’s made our colour services feel more modern, more professional and more client friendly. I wouldn’t go back.”
The transformation at Blank Space Creative demonstrates what’s possible when salon systems evolve to match the way professionals actually work today. All 14 independent stylists voluntarily made the switch to Colourstart—a powerful testament to how well the system fits their needs.
The benefits extend beyond operational efficiency. Colour services now feel aligned with the modern, creative, and professional atmosphere that Blank Space Creative has cultivated. Clients experience a smoother, more sophisticated journey from booking to final result, without compromising on safety or compliance.
For Simon and his team, Colourstart isn’t just an allergy testing system—it’s an enabler of the creative, client-focused, independent model they’ve built. It removes barriers without removing protection, supports flexibility without sacrificing consistency, and brings allergy testing into the same contemporary space as every other aspect of their evolved salon culture.
The verdict from Blank Space Creative is clear: modern salons deserve modern solutions, and there’s no going back to the old way of doing things.