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“It Feels Like We’ve Worked Together Forever” – Adam Reed And Sarah Black Discuss The Roots Of Their Powerhouse Partnership

“It Feels Like We’ve Worked Together Forever” – Adam Reed And Sarah Black Discuss The Roots Of Their Powerhouse Partnership

Jun 27, 2024 | CONVERSATIONS, EXPLORE

CATEGORIES > INFORM > CONVERSATIONS

“It Feels Like We’ve Worked Together Forever” – Adam Reed and Sarah Black discuss the roots of their powerhouse partnership

Their bond was born out of a love for colour, here’s how the relationship flourished on the salon floor

https://youtu.be/-EZzmBCSbsQ

In this video short exploring the working life of a dynamic duo, Adam Reed, founder of salon and product brand, ARKIVE by Adam Reed, formerly known as Adam Reed London, and his colour director, Sarah Black, talk candidly about the manifold benefits of being more open and connected. Together, they have found a much more progressive way of working, and shared conversation is key. Hear their fresh take on togetherness.

A Creative HEAD video project in partnership with L’Oréal Professionnel Paris 

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Unveiled! The Fellowship’s New President

Unveiled! The Fellowship’s New President

Jun 26, 2024 | INDUSTRY NEWS, INFORM

CATEGORIES > INFORM

Unveiled! The Fellowship’s New President

Industry celebrates Ashleigh Hodges at President’s Night in Manchester.

Ashleigh Hodges

Ashleigh Hodges

Ashleigh Hodges is the new – and youngest ever – president of the Fellowship for British Hairdressing. 

Unveiled at President’s Night, hosted at the O2 Victoria Warehouse in Manchester, Mash Creative Studio founder and davines colour ambassador Ashleigh replaces Robert Eaton in the role. The event also honoured industry icons, with including Trevor Sorbie MBE, Errol Douglas MBE, Beverly C, Keith Harris, Andrew Collinge, Mark Hayes, Lisa Shepherd, Zoë Irwin, and Nicky Clarke OBE.  

And with the icons theme in mind, the 2024 FAME Team – Harry Andreou (Ventura), Ilaria Bellemo (TONI&GUY Canary Wharf), Stephen Campbell (Hair & Co) and Elle Foreman (Tribe Salons) – delivered a show that interpreted looks originally created by the icons, under the guidance of their mentor, Sally Brooks. 

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Focus On: Efi Davies – The Avant-Garde Supremo Who Just Made The 2024 Most Wanted Hair Icon Shortlist

Focus On: Efi Davies – The Avant-Garde Supremo Who Just Made The 2024 Most Wanted Hair Icon Shortlist

Jun 25, 2024 | EXPLORE, PORTFOLIOS

Focus On: Efi Davies – The Avant-Garde Supremo Who Just Made The 2024 Most Wanted Hair Icon Shortlist

Why Toni&Guy’s International Artistic Director has her eye permanently on the next generation.

by ATHERINE | EXPLORE > PORTFOLIOS

 

Toni&Guy’s International Artistic Director, head of the Avant-Garde and Long Hair Departments and leader of the Session & Editorial and Styling & Finishing courses, and now taking her place on Most Wanted’s prestigious Hair Icon shortlist for the first time… It’s fair to say that Efi Davies is one of the industry’s most impressive creative talents.

An innovator whose mastery of braiding and hair up styles knows no bounds, Efi is pivotal when it comes to conceptualising and art-directing the editorial and avant-garde concepts within Toni&Guy’s global collections and campaigns, working closely with Global Brand Director Sacha Mascolo-Tarbuck and Global Creative Director Cos Sakkas (who is also on the Hair Icon list).

But none of it would have happened if Greek-born Efi hadn’t decided 25 years ago to pay a visit to her sister in London… Instantly hooked by the fashion and music scene, Efi took a job as an assistant at Toni&Guy, where founder Toni Mascolo took her under his wing and ignited her dream of pushing boundaries within the industry. 

Creative HEAD caught up with this incredible artist as she took a break from Fashion Week…

 

Toni&Guy’s International Artistic Director, head of the Avant-Garde and Long Hair Departments and leader of the Session & Editorial and Styling & Finishing courses, and now taking her place on Most Wanted’s prestigious Hair Icon shortlist for the first time… It’s fair to say that Efi Davies is one of the industry’s most impressive creative talents.

An innovator whose mastery of braiding and hair up styles knows no bounds, Efi is pivotal when it comes to conceptualising and art-directing the editorial and avant-garde concepts within Toni&Guy’s global collections and campaigns, working closely with Global Brand Director Sacha Mascolo-Tarbuck and Global Creative Director Cos Sakkas (who is also on the Hair Icon list).

But none of it would have happened if Greek-born Efi hadn’t decided 25 years ago to pay a visit to her sister in London… Instantly hooked by the fashion and music scene, Efi took a job as an assistant at Toni&Guy, where founder Toni Mascolo took her under his wing and ignited her dream of pushing boundaries within the industry. 

Creative HEAD caught up with this incredible artist as she took a break from Fashion Week…

What would you say are your strongest points as a hair artist?

Oh, that’s not a very easy question to answer… I try not to repeat myself and like consistently to evolve and come up with new ideas to share. I love pushing the boundaries of traditional hairdressing, constantly experimenting with something  unique. It doesn’t happen very often but it’s all about experimenting, right?

Do you have such a thing as a typical week? If so, what does it look like?

No two weeks are the same. Whether teaching at the Academy, working backstage at a show or on set on a collection, I strive to transfer my skills, knowledge and experience to the young creatives around me, who I expect one day will go on to make my work seem old-fashioned. Every week brings its own challenges and opportunities, so life is always unique and interesting.

You’re the International Artistic Director at Toni&Guy, which is a REALLY BIG DEAL. What elements of your role give you the most satisfaction?

It’s the opportunities to inspire and be inspired, the ability to mentor and nurture new talent, and the chance to innovate within the industry. I have lived the dream and hope that it’s now my turn to pass on the torch.

These images are from my current collection using macramé techniques on synthetic hair that I melted and stretched to create beautiful bob shapes, precisely interlacing the models’natural hair to sit how I wanted it. It creates a poetic yet futuristic feel.

The last three weeks (or months): where have you been, who have you worked with, and what have you been planning?

The last few weeks have been packed full of creative shooting and prep days. We have been heavily involved with London Fashion Week Men’s and were a part of the British Fashion Council’s 40 Years of London Fashion Week exhibition. I had the honour of having two of my avant-garde creations on display that celebrated Toni&Guy’s 20-year partnership with the British Fashion Council.

Looking back, who/what has got you to this point in your career?

A lot of hard work and determination. Every origin story requires a bit of magic and mine came in the shape of Anthony and Toni Mascolo. I will be eternally grateful to them both for seeing something in me, taking me under their wing and, through the sheer power of their own passion, opening my eyes to the idea of innovation and creative vision within the industry. Also to our CEO, Sacha Mascolo-Tarbuck, who has been behind me throughout my career, giving me amazing opportunities and encourouging me in everything I do.

I have worked with Tolu Coker for several seasons and have an amazing relationship with her. I create bespoke hair pieces and headdresses to complement her collections and love being educated on her culture and how I can follow it through into the hair.
This image shows one of my favourite moments from last fashion week in February. The Toni&Guy Session Team and I created beautiful clean yet edgy finger waves. Everything was tailored to the individual model, which made it look really natural.
This is ‘New Wave’ from the Toni&Guy 2007 Kaizen collection. It was the first haircut I did for a Toni&Guy collection and I absolutely adore this image.

Your ultimate creative collaboration – what would that look like? Who would be in it?

Throughout my career I have had the priviledge to work with incredible people – stylists, photographers, make up artists and designers – and I am grateful to them all for their friendship and influence. 

What excites you about hairdressing right now?

The continuous education and sharing of knowledge within the industry. Whether through demos or social media platforms, the constant exchange of new ideas and techniques helps us all to evolve and push the boundaries of what we can achieve in hairdressing.

What frustrates you about hairdressing right now?

The decline of the younger generation. Less and less  Not enough young people coming into our industry.

What’s your opinion on why so many hair pros work for free backstage and on set, and how do you think they can establish more value for the work they do?

Many in the hair industry are driven by passion and a love for their craft, so find themselves agreeing to work for free. While it’s okay to do that occasionally and it gives you great experience, it’s really important to make sure you get proper credit for your work and that your contributions are acknowledged. It’s also important to keep a strong image bank of work to document your work across social media as much as possible!

This image is from my avant-garde Crystal collection from 2010. It is very important to me because it’s created from the model’s natural hair, using a boning technique to create structure and add height
These pictures are from a shoot I did for the Journal Magazine with David Mannah. I trapped the hair inside of resin, pushing the boundaries to create something cool. The futuristic bob incorporates some 1920’s influences through the cut, and with the Mohawk I wanted to create an edgy, punk feel.

Describe your perfect Fashion Week experience.

I have worked with Tolu Coker for several seasons and have an amazing relationship with her. I love working on her shows. It’s a true collaboration, where we meet and disuss her ideas and inspirations and I create bespoke hair pieces to complement her designs. She has educated me so much about culture that I have taken and used in my own work. For AW24 I created and dressed 20 wigs in three days!

What can be done to encourage more young people into the industry?

As hairdressers, it’s crucial to transfer our passion and excitement to the younger generation, keeping them motivated and inspired – they are the backbone of our industry and future. One way to do this is by attending open days at schools, where we can educate and inspire students in an environment where everyone feels comftorable.

And these questions from a couple of your peers!

From Naomi Brooks, The Hair Sanctuary, Manchester: When you are going through a creative block, what do you do to get back in the flow and get your creative juices flowing again? 

Hi Naomi! We can all find outselves stuck in a bit of a block from time to time. The first thing I do is take myself out of situation that has caused it. I might go for a walk, or start working on something new. Sometimes, a bit of rest and a change of scenery are just what I need to return to my work with fresh eyes and renewed energy.

From Siobhan Haug, Haug London Haus, London: What’s been your most memorable overseas trip, and why?

Hi Siobhan! A lot of them have been with you ☺…. I will never forget going to Tokyo in 2010 and seeing my avant-garde collection for the first time, live on stage. It was such a proud and honorable moment for me. I will never forget it.

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Gorgeously Gritty, Inspiring Vision And Flawless Skill From Richard Phillipart

Gorgeously Gritty, Inspiring Vision And Flawless Skill From Richard Phillipart

Jun 20, 2024 | EXPLORE, TECHNIQUES, TECHNIQUES HEADER

CATEGORIES > EXPLORE > TECHNIQUES

Gorgeously Gritty, Inspiring Vision And Flawless Skill From Richard Phillipart

Politics, culture, bygone eras, personal stories… it all meshed and motivated Richard Phillipart to create two arresting looks for one of our best-loved Creative HEAD front cover stories back in 2018. This is two minutes of creative genius, and we’re still swooning.  

A Creative HEAD shoot in partnership with BaByliss PRO 

Hair: Richard Phillipart
Make-up: Cat Parnell
Fashion: Mekel Bailey
Videography: Sledge
Photography: Jon Baker
Production: The Creative Partnerships division at Creative HEAD
Shot on location in East London 

 

Lauren Bell the Coterie: In Session
Lauren Bell The Coterie: In Session
Lauren Bell The Coterie: In Session

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Nicola Coughlan is Talk of the ’Ton

Nicola Coughlan is Talk of the ’Ton

Jun 18, 2024 | DOCUMENTS, DOCUMENTS HEADER, EXPLORE, HOME EXPLORE

CATEGORIES > EXPLORE > DOCUMENTS

Nicola Coughlan is Talk of the ’Ton

Session stylist Halley Brisker lifts the lid on working with the Bridgerton star as its third series hits Netflix.

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Custom lace front wig for the Met Gala 2022, with colour by Jason Hogan

Dearest readers… Whether you are a Bridgerton fanatic, a member of the Polin fandom or have never watched an episode at all, you’ve most probably come across Nicola Coughlan at some point in the past few years. From Derry Girls to Big Mood, she has a knack of creating ‘wow’ moments that love to go viral. That’s in part due to her role as Penelope Featheringtonin the Netflix hit Bridgerton, and also because she enjoys an exploratory sense of style that captures attention online and on social media.

One of the more misunderstood parts of my job is the ‘style journey’ as I like to call it, which myself and other glam team members craft through the unique partnership we create with our clients. Almost everybody has a personal sense of style but when one also has a public-facing life, there often isn’t time to take care of hair, make-up and wardrobe choices when carrying out duties that come with the role. That’s where professionals come in…

Going red for the Barbie premiere in London

Met Gala 2022

However, where it gets particularly exciting is when my clients want to go a step beyond the expected and craft a style iconography. I’ve worked with a breadth of talent over the years; many like to execute minimal changes to their personal style and have us perform only that, as best we know how for them. Then others want to push the boundaries of style, which for any creative is a form of pure joy. Nicola has always been someone with a love of style and the courage to be dynamic. We met – along with make-up artist Neil Young, stylist Aimee Croysdill and nail technician Michelle Class – on a photoshoot for Refinery29 in 2020. Nicola was already established thanks to her role in the hit show Derry Girls, and was due to appear in the debut season of Bridgerton. We had no idea how big that show would become nor the importance of the role of Penelope Featherington within the Bridgerton universe!

 

 

 

 

 

“Nicola has always been someone with a love of style and the courage to be dynamic”

Halley Brisker

Halley Brisker

It often takes time to discover what our clients’ goals are when working with glam teams. In the nearly four years we’ve worked together as a team of creatives alongside Nicola, we’ve created looks that have incorporated extensive product knowledge – from the oily, sleek locks for the SAG Awards to textured, A-line bobs at The Baftas. Hair piece sourcing for faux bangs at front row shows for Miu Miu in Paris and braided hair bows for the Stylist magazine awards in London. We’ve experimented with colour too; Nicola went red for the Barbie premiere in London and with the custom-coloured lace front wig I created for Nicola at the 2022 Met Gala, Jason Hogan at Josh Wood Atelier painstakingly coloured it to complement a bespoke Richard Quinn dress.

 

Halley and the glam team at work behind the scenes

Stylist Magazine Awards, 2022

Throughout this incredible style journey we’ve gone on together, the thread that has been a relative constant has been Bridgerton, which has just launched its third season. That instalment sees Nicola’s character take centre stage in the plot, to become…  nope, I’m not giving anything away!

It’s no coincidence that as looks go, the hair finish in New York was one of our most straightforward; sometimes we ‘grow as we go’. Of course, I have no idea what the future looks like for Bridgerton or Penelope, but to see hundreds of fans turn out for Nicola was a special moment and a perfect opportunity to create simple, elegant looks for this milestone moment.

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