Meet the new fame team

Following the announcement of the new FAME Team at the Fellowship for British Hairdressing annual Luncheon and Awards on 2 December, we thought it would be good to get to know the members better before they embark on possibly the most exciting year of their careers. Dafydd Rhys-Thomas, Ken Picton Salon, Cardiff Why did you want to be in the FAME team? The FAME team has always been an ambition for me and becoming the latest member is one of my top career moments. For years I have followed the team’s progress and admired the careers of past FAME team members like Indira Schauwecker, Lisa Shepherd, Zoe Irwin to name a few. Now being in the team while past FAME team member and hairdressing icon Errol Douglas is president of the Fellowship is incredibly exciting for me and I hope we can make him proud. Who is your biggest career inspiration? There are so many inspiring hairdressers out there and British hairdressing is definitely the best in the world. All you need to do is look at HJ’s British Hairdressing Awards and you will see a feast of talent, creativity and inspiration. It is very difficult to pin down one person that has the biggest influence on me. Akin Konizi is a master in creating sharp geometric cuts while Angelo Seminara takes hairstyling to other realms. But Alexander De Paris was for me someone that symbolises French hairdressing elegance. I once had the opportunity to see one of his artistic directors put on a show at a L’Oreal Congress. He did not once speak, but had the audience eating out of his hands purely with his skill. What or who inspires you outside of hairdressing? I thrive on adrenalin, deadlines and working under pressure and I know that it is my ability to be fearless that makes my work exciting. It is John Galliano’s maximalist statements both through his main label and previously at Dior Haute Couture in addition to his ability to present ideas in their purest form that I hope to emulate in my own work. I am aware that hair stylist’s visions are often secondary to the aesthetic of the designer, yet I believe that once presented in a collection the stylist’s work supports and bolsters the image and show concept as much as the styling, make-up, set and lighting. What would you most like to get out of your FAME team experience? I hope to better myself both on a personal and professional level. The FAME team programme will undoubtedly give a great platform to showcase my skills through photo shoots, seminars and fashion shows. Embarking on a year-long programme of work and masterclasses from some of the industry’s biggest names is something I can’t wait to start. Something that makes this even more exciting is sharing this great opportunity with my three incredibly talented team mates. I have a good feeling about the next year! Tell us something about yourself that people might not know. I have a foundation NVQ in both building work and carpentry. It would take far too long to explain why but I guess I like to create shapes and cut things!   Simon Tuckwell, Zullo and Holland, Nottingham Why did you want to be in the FAME Team? I've wanted to be a part of the FAME team since I started as an assistant 10 years ago and I still can't believe I’m part of this year’s team! The chance to build on our skills and work with some of the most amazing people in our industry is a dream come true. I’ve followed what the FAME team get up to every year; the education and opportunities are second to none and I knew that was something I wanted to be a part of. Who is your biggest career inspiration? There are so many people who have inspired me in our industry, but for me, my biggest career inspiration has been Debbie G; without her I wouldn’t be where I am today. She gave me the confidence and the skill to push myself many years ago and she made me the hairdresser I am now. I can’t thank her enough. What or who inspires you outside of hairdressing? I love fashion; watching what is happening on the catwalks is a great way to keep up to date with the latest hair trends. I also love music and going to watch bands live. The passion and talent that musicians can demonstrate is really inspiring. What would you most like to get out of your FAME Team experience? I want to learn as much as possible from all of our mentors throughout the year. I want to grow and shine, to become the very best I can ever be. I want to improve my skills and create that incredible relationship within the team; the whole industry will be watching us and we want to make them proud! Tell us something about yourself that people might not know. I’m a bit of a geek and I love comic books and cartoons. I’m a huge Batman fan; I have a collection of every Batman & Batmobile at home!   Leighanne Regan, Kyle Beasley Hairdressing, Leicester Why did you want to be in the FAME Team? The FAME team is an incredible learning opportunity, I wanted to be part of the team to gain a much greater knowledge of the industry and my craft and then share what we have learned to help develop and inspire others. Who is your biggest career inspiration? I have many, Guido is an incredibly inspiring hairstylist and trend setter and Gianni Scumaci's ideas are mesmerising - he's a true artist. What inspires you outside of hairdressing? I'm inspired greatly by fashion, I am drawn to designers that use their collections to create a statement or an attitude such as Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood and Fyoder Golan. But I am also inspired by art, music and photography. Currently I am influenced greatly by Japanese culture. I am captivated by the history and the exquisite attention to detail and accuracy in design . What would you most like to get out of your FAME Team experience? My FAME team year will be the beginning of the next stage in my career and I plan to take as much as possible from this experience. I want to learn and develop my skill, as well as work with the rest of the team to inspire and teach others and use what we have learned to produce some incredible work. Tell us something about yourself that people might not know. I am a black belt In tae kwon do - don't remember a thing sadly.   Ellenora Dean, Michelle Griffin, Birmingham Why did you want to be in the FAME Team? I wanted to be in FAME Team because I want to become the best that I can be. Who is your biggest career inspiration and why? Creatively my biggest inspiration is Robert Lobetta; I love his inventive mind. But Chris Moody from Redken has been a great mentor over the years, he has the most amazing way of communicating with an audience and that is something I have always aspired to. What or who inspires you outside of hairdressing? The work of designers such as Mary Katrantzou, Jane Bowler and Vivienne Westwood; the shapes and structures I love! Also photographer Tim Walker has a particular balance of fantasy and sinisterness which intrigues me. What would you most like to get out of your FAME team experience? This is going to be a life changing year! I plan to learn as much as possible, build many friendships and create a platform for the start of the rest of my career. Tell us something about yourself that people might not know. I once had hypnotherapy for my fish phobia It didn't really work, so for future reference can anyone reading this please avoid coming into contact with me if they have anything fish or even sea related. Thank you !