Meeng MINDS WHEN TWO TOP COLOURISTS GET TOGETHER FOR AN OH-SO ENGLISH AFTERNOON TEA, WE GET THE GOSSIP ON SOME OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES THEY FACE EVERY DAY. NOT ANOTHER SALON’S SOPHIA HILTON – WINNER OF MOST WANTED COLOUR EXPERT 2018 – AND US INSTAGRAM SMASH AND JOICO AMBASSADOR, LARISA LOVE, GET DEBATING… 2018 2018 42 | <strong>PAINT</strong>
ON INSPIRATION... Larisa Love: I find my inspiration from nature – especially when I travel and experience different cultures. The sunrise, the sunset, all the different colours, all the different melts. I don’t really find inspiration from people. I mean I look at their work and think ‘oh wow, that’s beautiful.’ But I want to create my own type of art on my clients, so travelling, culture and nature really are my top sources of inspiration. Sophia Hilton: I’m really interested in the practicalities of hairdressing. I’m inspired by ‘well, this is super-creative, but how practical is it?’ ‘How could I make money out of this?’ Because what I think is happening in the UK is that creative hairdressing isn’t being pushed as hard as it could be, simply because you can’t afford the product. People are wondering how to make it work for them, within their means. I guess I’ve been less inspired by hair recently and more inspired by the whole picture. ON INSTAGRAM... LL: I utilised Instagram very early because I saw the potential in it. As Instagram is a visual platform it’s amazing for us hairdressers – or any artist out there – to really put yourself out there. Slowly but surely, I built up the type of clientele that I wanted from social media. I want people like me – young and fun and edgy with their hair. It’s where 99 per cent of my clientele is from and it’s where brands found me. I don’t think I would be anywhere near where I am without social media. I am not the best hairdresser out there, but I am great at marketing myself on social media. SH: It’s really hard to get Instagram going when you’re in a really classic salon that might have a lot of middle-aged ladies. It’s tough when you don’t have that impressive client list coming in for transformations... I’m glad I experienced that because now I can give better advice when I teach on social media, because I learned how to do all that stuff. Marketing is really important – if you have a great product but you don’t know how to sell it, then it will only stay a great product on the shelf. You are a product and you have to learn how to package yourself. ON TRENDS... SH: I don’t really care for the trends moving as fast. I actually like the consistency of offering a certain product that people buy that has guaranteed, tried-and-tested results. Our work is quite simple – I like to deliver consistency and be known for something. Different things work for different people; you’ve got to find what works for you that’s niche. LL: What I’m starting to see way more frequently is dip-dye. It’s coming back, and as blocking dip-dye, like a line. I actually really love it. I did it in my hair – I had a yellow dip-dye going through, just on the ends, and it looked so cool. I’ve started seeing that everywhere, especially with blunt bobs. ON THE BEST ADVICE EVER RECEIVED... LL: Don’t compare yourself with someone else. I think a lot of people do it with others at a higher level than them, but forget that everyone started out exactly where they were. They just want to jump the gun and skip all the steps where they’re growing and learning, but you’ve got to start at the bottom. Go your own pace, at your own growth and be yourself, be authentic to be the best that you can be. SH: There’s a northern expression: ‘you don’t get owt for nowt’, so you get nothing for nothing. I love it. I’ve always worked hard – I’m from a family of hard workers, we graft. You get out what you put in so I’ve always put a lot in so… bye-bye, social life! WHEN SOPHIA MET LARISA See what else our <strong>PAINT</strong>ER and Most Wanted Colour Expert Sophia has to say online! creativeheadmag.com/paint <strong>PAINT</strong> | 43
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