Highland Fling!

The final Fellowship for British Hairdressing Hair & Vision event of 2018 took place this week at the Jam House in Edinburgh.

The event is designed to showcase the creative work of a group of hairstylists, sharing not just their finished looks but also the process and concepts behind their work.

Following successful shows in Leeds, Cardiff, London and Glasgow, the final showcase of the year took place in Edinburgh, with a star-studded line-up of Scottish talent; and a few artists from further afield.

Fellowship President Karine Jackson was host for the evening, and started proceedings by inviting the first artists to the stage. Alan Findlay from Rebel Rebel in Glasgow was first up, showcasing futuristic, sharp men’s cuts. Next up was Charlie Taylor, whose eponymous salons are in Perth and Dundee. She worked with diverse colours and textured pieces to create a tactile look. Rhona McCallum from Clackmannanshire presented woven styles next, incorporating textiles into the hair, inspired by the work of session stylist Zoe Irwin. Simon Tuckwell, from Lee Holmes Salon in Nottingham, was inspired by grunge, showcasing muted colours and textured crops. A former F.A.M.E. Team member and now mentor for the ClubStar Art Team, he is an ardent supporter of the Fellowship, telling the audience:

It was the most life-changing moment of my career, and has transformed my work.

Next it was time for an interview, with two true Scottish hairdressing icons. Alan and Linda Stewart founded Rainbow Room International more than 30 years ago, and today it is Scotland’s biggest salon group. Over the years, Rainbow Room International has won some 56 awards - an achievement that Alan puts down to being true to themselves:

You have to be different and have your own identifiable stamp. As long as you can find like-minded people who believe in your vision, you can create work that helps us grow and inspire others.

Alan and Linda have been Fellowship members for 35 years and told the assembled audience,

It’s a great platform for up-and-coming young hairdressers, and we’ve had first-hand experience of that.

After the interview it was time for more hair from another panel of talented hairdressers. Sophie Laidlaw from Wonderland in Livingston used pom-poms and invisible thread to create a textured look that she called, “my own combination of order and chaos”. Marlon Hawkins from Brooks&Brooks in London showcased a basket-weave hair technique, creating intricate sculpted avant-garde looks. Robbie Purves from ArtHaus in Edinburgh was inspired by friendship bracelets to create woven braids, with textiles, tassels and threads added in for extra detailing. Current F.A.M.E. Team member Peter Mellon, from Medusa in Stockbridge, created sculpted finger-waves, prepping his wefts in Epsom salts to create an unnatural, starched texture.

The night was another rich creative showcase of hairdressing talent, with something for everyone to take away and be inspired by. As the final Hair & Vision of 2018, it set the gold standard - with more fantastic, inspirational, inclusive events to come in 2019.

Photography: @JARRED_photography