Q&a with mizani ambassador shingai shoniwa

We met up with Mizani ambassador and Noisettes singer Shingai Shoniwa to talk all things hair at The Mayfair Hotel in London.

How did you feel about being asked to be an ambassador for Mizani?

"It was an absolute honour to be asked to come on board and help with spreading the Mizani mission. I'm happy to show people who have my kind of hair that they don't need to stress about it, and can have variety of looks."

Tell us how the collaboration came about...

"It feels like it was destiny really. Last year I'd made a mood board of images I loved and found inspiring, and that included pictures from a previous Mizani campaign. Then, when I changed hairdresser to Charlotte Mensah, I got a chance to try the Mizani treatments myself, and my hair just felt great and much easier to manage.

"I met with the Mizani team and they discussed their ideas for the brand - I was blown away and couldn't believe they'd asked me to be part of this."

How did you find the experience of modelling for a hair shoot?

"It was a really great day. The weather was awful - sleet - and we turned up at this building at Shooter's Hill. It looked like an industrial estate from outside but inside it was a hub of creativity."

What's it like being a British ambassador for a brand that's very popular in the US?

"I love the relationship between the UK and US, and I think the US is quite advanced in celebrating different cultures and races in beauty. They like the British because we take more risks.

"What I love about being a Londoner in particular is all the communities close to me. I grew up in Brockley with Irish next door neighbours, Mr Patel living over the road and a Chinese family a few doors down. London is a melting pot and I love that."

Who are your hair idols?

"I love old school movie stars like Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford and Josephine Baker with her finger waves. Also, Grace Jones continues to experiment with some amazing different looks."

What are your favourite Mizani products?

"I love the Coconut Souffle - it smells amazing, gives my hair a lovely fluffiness and moisturises. I'm also a fan of Supreme Oil, as I love the natural properties of argan oil and it's a product I can use to make my hair manageable when I'm left to my own devices! True Texture breathes life into curls."