From hairstylist to visionary brand founder, Bianca van Zwieten is redefining the role of hair in fashion - and building a movement along the way.
The Early Days: Building from the Ground Up
“I started when I was about 20,” Bianca recalls, thinking back on her entry into the hairstyling world. “Just a standard two-year course. Nothing fancy.” But what followed would be anything but standard.
She dove into the many facets of the industry - cutting, styling, editorial shoots, shows, and education. “I’ve done everything,” she says, laughing. “One day I was behind the chair, the next backstage at fashion week.” Somewhere in between, she also studied Fashion Branding at AMFI, giving her a deeper understanding of storytelling and aesthetics.
“I was always doing everything - fashion, education, salons. For me, it was all connected.”
Creative Director & The Pivot Point
Bianca’s real entrepreneurial journey kicked off when she rented a chair in Amsterdam and began teaching masterclasses. That led her to an even bigger role as Creative Director at a boutique salon chain with over ten locations.
“They needed someone to bring fashion, visuals, and education into the brand,” she explains. “I was that person.”
But as the business grew. That chain decided to changed direction and grow more commercial, Bianca’s artistic values clashed with the new direction. “It became only about speed, margins, volume,” she says. “And I just thought—this isn’t it for me.”
“I need to feel passion in what I do. I still have 20 years left to work. I want to love it.”
Kuro: More Than a Salon
That passion became Kuro: a high-end, fashion-forward salon and creative brand. Launched with PR specialist Eva Peters, Kuro isn’t just about hair. It’s about expression, culture, and experience.
“Kuro is a brand you can feel,” she says. “It’s about hair linked to fashion. Paris catwalk-level styling. With soul.”
The vision? Bold, fashion-first cuts grounded in wellness. A space that values time, quality, and identity.
“We say: we push the boundaries, within your own style.”
At Kuro, stylists aren’t overworked. Clients aren’t rushed. Moodboards are standard. It’s a place where people are truly seen—and styled accordingly.
The Academy: Training the Future
In tandem with the salon, Bianca launched the Kuro Hair Academy- the first course is a six-day Session Hair School for stylists who want to work in fashion, backstage, and editorial. “There’s a gap between the salon world and the fashion world,” Bianca notes. “I want to bridge it.”
So far, the program is a hit. The next step? Scaling through online masterclasses and creating a dedicated platform just for the academy.
“It’s not just about technique, it’s about community. That might be the most important part.”
The Academy also collaborates with major brands like Goldwell and Ferris on presentations, campaigns, and editorials. It's not just education, it’s real-world experience.
Credits: Vogue CS Photo: Per Appelgren
Creative Inspiration: Past, Present, and Pop Culture
Where does someone with such a specific creative eye find inspiration? “Mostly from society itself,” Bianca says. “From what’s happening in fashion, culture, and the streets.”
Having worked in the industry for 25 years, she’s seen the cyclical nature of style. “I get moodboards full of Galliano and 90s imagery and I lived through that era,” she smiles. “It’s cool to reimagine it for today.”
She draws from subcultures, pop icons, and even surreal art to shape the Kuro aesthetic. “Some of our images are more like sculpture,” she says. “It’s hair as art.”
“It’s not always wearable. Some of our work you hang on your wall. That’s the point.”
And the clients? They get it. “They appreciate the vision, even if it’s not what they want on their head. They come because they trust our taste.”
Friendship as a Foundation
Despite her impressive career, Bianca is clear: none of it happened in isolation. “I had no budget,” she says, “so I collaborated with work friends.”
In fashion and hair, freelancers often become collaborators and collaborators become friends. “You do a shoot for someone, they help you on the next job. Eventually, they’re at your birthday dinner.”
“Everything I’ve built, I built with friends.”
Her long-standing creative relationship with Creator & TikTokker Marthe Woertman is a perfect example. “We’ve done everything together. Now she books me for Cannes. And I can bring her into major campaigns. We grow side by side.”
Credits: Numéro Cover NL Photo: Chris Phillipo Talent: Marthe Woertman
The Power of Female Connection
As Bianca’s career evolved, so did her friendships. “I still love my old friends. But they don’t always understand what I do. I’m the only entrepreneur among them.”
She realized she needed connection with women who were in the same phase - building something, raising a child, making bold moves. “You can’t expect people to meet needs they don’t understand,” she says. “It’s not fair—to them or to you.”
Now, her network includes women from all corners of her life—old friends, new collaborators, fellow creatives. “They energize me. I get so much back. Ideas, support, motivation.”
“You’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with. So choose wisely.”
Letting Go of Guilt, Leaning Into Growth
It wasn’t always easy to shift her mindset around friendship. “I used to feel guilty,” she admits. “Like I was leaving people behind. But I’ve learned, you’re not abandoning anyone. You’re just evolving.”
Today, Bianca is surrounded by people who lift her up and reflect her ambition. “My community isn’t huge. But it’s strong. And that makes all the difference.”
“You can’t grow if you don’t allow your circle to grow too.”
What’s Next for Bianca and Kuro?
More collaborations, more courses, and perhaps even more salons—when the time is right. But always with intention, always led by passion.
“I believe in doing things with meaning. Otherwise, what’s the point?”
For Bianca, hair isn’t just hair. It’s a medium. A language. A culture. And Kuro is the platform that lets her—and others—speak fluently.
