HUH GOES GLOBAL
BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE LONDON SESSION

By Suzanne Munshower

Hairdressers Unlocking Hope is now international, thanks to some of Europe’s best and brightest hairdressers.  A roster of global superstars, including Anthony Mascolo, John Frieda, Charles Worthington and Annie Humphreys recently loaned their hands and hearts to the fundraising effort created by Vidal Sassoon and behindthechair.com’s Mary Rector-Gable. In mid-October, TIGI’s Bedhead Studios in Battersea welcomed this parade of VIPs for a two-day photo session.

The fact that these famous foreigners were willing to help raise money to build homes for New Orleans’ dispossessed was further testament to the giving nature of hairdressers everywhere.  They came to support BTC’s efforts and, to honor Vidal, but, most importantly, they came to wholeheartedly help those who had lost so much in Hurricane Katrina. For the British, the catastrophe of homes lost to flooding struck a vital chord, as they’d recently seen their own country attacked by severe summer floods, though with much less devastating effects.
Mark Melief, Creative Director of Holland’s cutting-edge Kinki chain—who came straight from teaching on platform in Greece–summed up the emotion when he recalled how upset he had once been when he’d realized that he had lost three family photographs forever. “And then to think that these people have lost everything! All their memories,” he said sadly. “I felt I had to be here.”

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Global Superstars
It wasn’t all sadness, however, as some of the professional beauty industry’s greatest stars and storytellers gave up time that could have been spent in the uncharacteristically bright British sunshine to come to the spacious South London photo studio so generously put at HUH’s disposal by Anthony Mascolo and the TIGI team.

French superstar Laurent D. flew in from his New York salon especially to pose, Charlie Miller came from Edinburgh, while Daniel Galvin juggled an appointment with Sharon Osborne to show up, along with Martyn Gayle, Tony Rizzo, Stephen Moody, Joshua Galvin, Annie Humphreys, Beverly C, Tim Hartley, Mark Hayes, Angelo Seminara, Lee Stafford, Clive Colman, John Frieda, Charles Worthington, Jamie Brooks, Nick Irwin, Richard Thompson, and Akin Konizi.  Some of the most famous salons in the world were represented, including Sanrizz, Burlingtons, Vidal Sassoon, HOB and Mahogany.

Four British Hairdressers of the Year were on hand (Beverly C, Anthony Mascolo, Charles Worthington, and John Frieda) as well as several Hall of Fame members (Angelo Seminara, Charlie Miller, Anthony Mascolo, and Jamie Brooks). When Mark Melief showed up and spotted legends Charles Worthington, Clive Colman and Anthony Mascolo chatting, he said in awe, “Wow! That’s not something you see every day!

Check out the first Hairdressers Unlocking Hope photo shoot in NYC!

Hairdressers burn the candle at both ends, and the first morning saw a few woozy guests! Linda Evans, TIGI’s always-effervescent PR, moaned, “We all stayed out too late after the Alternative Hair Show, and now I just want to sleep!” The Alternative’s mover and shakers—Tony Rizzo and Anthony—were filled with energy, though, running on sheer adrenaline and happiness as the Alternative’s success.

Personal Messages
As at the HUH New York and Los Angeles photo shoots, choosing a personal phrase was of the utmost importance to everyone who took part. The words, taken from interviews with people who’d lost their homes, were “tattooed” by airbrush artist extraordinaire Lisa Berczel from Battledress who flew in from Los Angeles with photographer Michael Pool. Makeup was thanks to Kè who donated her time because she was so touched by the Hairdressers Unlocking Hope cause. Interviews with all of the models were captured by Bed Head’s video crew for BTC-TV.

With so many meaningful options for their photographs, the choices people made were those with personal connections. Beverly C, who has had a rough few years following her divorce from Anestis Cobella and who’s now very much on track with a Beverly C salon soon to open in London, chose “Unbreakable.” Burlington founder Clive Colman didn’t have to think twice before opting for “Pushing Forward,” explaining, “It’s what I’ve done throughout my entire career.” The unstoppable Mascolo brothers chose “Survivor” (Bruno) and “Don’t Stop Trying” (Anthony) while Sassoon’s star educator Annie Humphreys chose one thing she’s got plenty of: “Memories.”

On the Set
Annie, and all the others, shared some of their memories on video for BTC-TV. Annie reminisced about working as a young apprentice for Vidal. Joshua Galvin also had some Vidal stories–and he brought some photos from his scrapbook displaying him and Vidal waaaay back when. (Joshua’s tattoo was “Alone,” but this is one raconteur who will never find himself that way!) Jamie Brooks apologized for showing up alone—his other half and Brooks & Brooks partner Sally was home in bed with flu and Jamie had just recovered enough to come.
Talk around the studio ranged from congratulations to Anthony and Tony Rizzo for the Alternative to  “haven’t-seen-you-for-ages” reunions like that between Trevor Sorbie creative director Angelo Seminara and Mark Melief, who’d met when the Kinki team toured with Trevor. Two of London’s biggest celebrity hairdressers, John Frieda and Charles Worthington, proved to be refreshingly down to earth, and quickly won the hearts of everyone in the studio. 

“This was such a special experience for us all,” says Mary Rector-Gable. “It was great seeing so many old friends and exciting to make new ones and meet some of our idols. To be with all these great international stars in the space of just two days took my breath away, and their generosity of spirit in coming to the aid of Americans in need touched my heart. Hairdressers Unlocking Hope has been a phenomenal experience for us all, and as we finished this shoot and headed for the groundbreaking in New Orleans, we all took pride in our industry and what we’ve accomplished. Together, hairdressers really can do anything!”

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