Nick Malenko Net Worth 2026: Hair Icon’s Earnings
Nick Malenko Net Worth breakdown covering his luxury salons, celebrity clients, and long career as a L’Oréal educator and TV personality.
Author:James RowleySep 28, 20254.3K Shares198.9K Views
Nick Malenko was born in June 1959 and grew up in the Wednesfield area of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands. He later described his upbringing as having “humble beginnings,” indicating a modest family environment. Malenko has said that he did not pursue university; he recalled that in his youth “university was a big thing,” but he “knew [he] would never be clever enough for that.”
From a young age, he showed a flair for fashion: a local profile notes that he and his long-time partner, Royston Blythe, were “always snappy dressers, even during childhood.” Mostly based on interviews, he has also said that he still keeps in touch with “friends from when I was at school,” suggesting that he has maintained strong ties to his local community.
| Key Fact | Details |
| Full Name | Nick Malenko |
| Birth Date | June 1959 |
| Birthplace | Wolverhampton, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Profession | Celebrity hairstylist |
| Celebrity hairstylist | 50+ years |
| Business Partner | Royston Blythe |
| Salon Brand | Royston Blythe |
| Major Salon Cities | Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury |
| London Location | The Dorchester |
| Brand Ambassador | L’Oréal Professionnel |
| Net Worth (2026) | Not publicly disclosed |
Nick Malenko Career
Nick Malenko is a British celebrity hair stylist and salon owner whose career spans more than half a century. He is best known as the long-time business partner of stylist Royston Blythe, together co-founding the Royston Blythe salon brand.
The pair jointly ran multi-award-winning salons first in Wolverhampton and later in Shrewsbury and London. Malenko’s reputation grew through styling high-profile clients, contributing to fashion shows, and appearing in the media.
Over the decades he earned industry-wide recognition, including multiple British Hairdressing Awards, and served as a global ambassador and educator for L’Oréal Professionnel. His work, noted for its technical skill and luxury focus, has been featured on magazine covers and television, cementing his status as an expert in high-end hairstyling.
How Nick Malenko Built His Career In The Hairdressing Industry
Malenko began training as a teenager, securing his first professional salon job at age 14. He credits an early break to working with model Katie Price, who was impressed by his styling on a shoot and invited him to style her hair again in Marbella, opening doors to celebrity work.
In 1989 Malenko took a major step by purchasing a Wolverhampton hair salon, refurbishing it under Royston Blythe’s name. He and Blythe built their business from the ground up, working long hours and servicing every client to grow the salon’s clientele and reputation.
This relentless work ethic laid the foundation for their brand: their Wolverhampton salon never “turned anyone away” and they treated building the business as their priority, often working through holidays and late nights. Malenko’s early career therefore combined on-the-job training, talent for high-fashion looks, and hard work, setting the stage for rapid growth once celebrity opportunities arrived.
Partnership With Royston Blythe And Salon Success
Nick Malenko’s partnership with Royston Blythe became the cornerstone of his career. In 1989, the two stylists joined forces by taking over a Wolverhampton salon together.
Over time, they expanded the brand to multiple locations: a second salon in Shrewsbury opened in 2013 and a prestigious London outpost at The Dorchester on Park Lane. Under their co-leadership, Royston Blythe Hair Salons won numerous regional and national awards, for example, the salon team won the 2014 Midlands Hairdresser of the Year title at the British Hairdressing Awards, reflecting the brand’s success.
Malenko and Blythe also served as international educators and ambassadors for L’Oréal Professionnel, traveling to present fashion collections and techniques at shows and seminars worldwide. This co-creative partnership not only built a highly decorated salon business, but also established Malenko’s name as a leader in the industry.
Nick Malenko’s Celebrity Clients And Media Recognition
Malenko’s salon career is distinguished by a long roster of celebrity clients and widespread media exposure. His work has graced front covers of top magazines, and he has styled many famous personalities.
Notable clients have included supermodel Katie Price, whom he styled for her 2005 wedding to Peter Andre, Hollywood actresses Ursula Andress and Goldie Hawn, pop singer Katy Perry, and movie stars Antonio Banderas and Mickey Rourke. The salons’ portfolio also boasts figures like Katie Price herself for multiple weddings and TV presenters.
This high-profile clientele led to regular press features. Vogue, Hello! and OK! ran spreads on their work, and the salon often boasted of having the big names in entertainment under its scissors.
In parallel, Malenko became a media personality. He and Blythe were cast as recurring characters on reality TV, most prominently on ITVBe’s The Real Housewives of Cheshire. They also appeared on shows such as Tamara’s World with Tamara Ecclestone and Coleen’s Real Women, bringing their expertise to a wider audience.
These appearances and Malenko’s flamboyant style made them minor celebritiesin their own right. The late TV host Lorraine Kelly even dubbed them the “Dream Queens” on-air. In this way, Malenko’s client list and media presence reinforced each other, helping to promote the salon brand and his own professional standing.
Awards, Achievements, And Professional Milestones
Throughout his career, Malenko has accrued numerous honors. He and his salon team have won major industry awards repeatedly. For example, he earned the title Midlands Hairdresser of the Year at the 2014 British Hairdressing Awards with colleague Sophie Beattie.
More broadly, the pair’s creative work received four British Hairdressing Awards in total, signaling peer recognition at the highest level. The salons also held multiple regional L’Oréal Colour Trophy titles and other national trophies, reflecting both technical skill and artistic innovation.
Beyond competition awards, Malenko’s professional milestones include his tenure as a global ambassador and competition judge for L’Oréal. He worked on product launches and creative seminars worldwide, representing the brand on stages from Paris to Dubai.
He also invested in education for many years. He gave masterclasses and judged emerging stylist contests, helping to raise industry standards. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Malenko took a leadership role in a charity initiative: he helped organize National Hair Sunday, a movement in which salons across the UK offered free haircuts to NHS workers.
This effort demonstrated his industry influence and commitment to social contribution. Each award and project bolstered Malenko’s authority as an experienced hairstylist and entrepreneur.
Nick Malenko’s Influence In Luxury Hair Styling
Nick Malenko built a reputation for luxury and creativity. By operating from an exclusive London location at The Dorchester hotel, he gained access to the most high-end circles. From there, he styled clients linked to royal households and designer events.
For instance, he and Blythe worked on Christian Lacroix’s fashion presentations at the Victoria and Albert Museum and provided hair for events tied to Royal Warrant holders. They were even invited to contribute at a five-day Royal Warrant exhibition held at Buckingham Palace.
Such prestigious assignments underline Malenko’s status: his techniques were trusted at the uppermost levels of society and fashion.
His luxury influence also shows in his salon’s aesthetic and output. Malenko’s work was acclaimed for photographic artistry and innovative styling. Industry peers recognized his creative vision; as one trade journalist noted, his collections and salon work garnered awards from all corners of the world.
In short, by consistently serving elite clients and high-fashion events, Malenko helped shape trends in upscale hairdressing, cementing his authority in luxury hairstyling.
Current Work, Media Presence, And Business Activities
After decades at the helm of his salons, Nick Malenko has largely stepped back from day-to-day salon management. In 2023, both he and Royston Blythe officially retired from running their salons.
Control of the Royston Blythe business passed to Charles Douek, a senior stylist who had trained under them. The Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury salons continue to operate under the Royston Blythe name, maintaining the brand that Malenko helped build.
Although semi-retired, Malenko remains a respected figure in the industry and media. He still appears occasionally on television and in interviews as an expert stylist, and he has a following on social media where he shares professional insights, often alongside Blythe.
His recent reality-TV appearances, including Real Housewives of Cheshire as recently as 2023, keep him in the public eye. Meanwhile, he continues to be officially listed as a company director of Royston Blythe Ltd according to corporate filings, reflecting ongoing ties to the business.
Nick Malenko Net Worth
As of 2026, Nick Malenko’s net worth has not been publicly disclosed, and no figure has been officially verified by major financial authorities. His income is believed to derive from his co-ownership of the Royston Blythe hair salons in Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton, his appearances on television and reality programmes (including The Real Housewives of Cheshire), and his work as an educator and brand ambassador for L’Oréal Professionnel. However, specific earnings from these activities have not been publicly disclosed.
FAQs
1. Who Is Nick Malenko?
Nick Malenko is a British celebrity hairstylist and salon owner known for co-founding the Royston Blythe salon brand with partner Royston Blythe. He built a reputation over more than five decades in the hairdressing industry, working with high-profile clients and fashion events.
2. What Is Nick Malenko Known For?
He is best known for his long partnership with Royston Blythe and for running award-winning salons in Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury, and London. Their work has appeared in major magazines and they have styled celebrities and public figures.
3. Did Nick Malenko Appear On Television?
Yes. Nick Malenko and Royston Blythe have appeared on several TV programs, including The Real Housewives of Cheshireand other lifestyle shows. These appearances helped raise their public profile beyond the hairdressing industry.
4. What Salons Did Nick Malenko Run?
Nick Malenko co-ran the Royston Blythe salons located in Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury, with a former location at The Dorchester hotel in London. The salons became well known for luxury styling and celebrity clientele.
5. Is Nick Malenko Still Working As A Hairstylist?
Nick Malenko and Royston Blythe stepped back from active salon work in 2023 after around 50 years in the hairdressing industry. Their salon brand continues to operate under new leadership while maintaining the name they established.
James Rowley
Author
James Rowley is a London-based writer and urban explorer specialising in the city’s cultural geography. For over 15 years, he has documented the living history of London's neighbourhoods through immersive, first-hand reporting and original photography. His work foregrounds verified sources and street-level detail, helping readers look past tourist clichés to truly understand the character of a place.
His features and analysis have appeared in established travel and heritage publications. A passionate advocate for responsible, research-led tourism, James is an active member of several professional travel-writing associations.
His guiding principle is simple: offer clear, current, verifiable advice that helps readers see the capital with informed eyes.
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