BAFTA Hair Stylist Paul Edmonds’ Top Haircare Tips

Hi Paul, thanks for taking the time to chat to me. You’ve had an incredibly successful career, working on film sets, styling celebrities’ hair and founding your own salon in Knightsbridge and working at the BAFTA awards. How did you get into hairdressing?I trained as an apprentice in Birmingham. Then I moved to London and worked for various brands before setting up my own in Knightsbridge. For the record - apprenticeships can work!You first collaborated with Vogue on a tribute to Salvador Dali in 1988. Since then, you’ve worked with leading designers, actors and directors. What has been your favourite and most rewarding project to work on?

We recently became the official hair partner of the EE British Academy Film Awards, so that’s definitely up there! I love merging with the amazing talent, my team and the wonderful clients who have been part of this 25-year journey. Seeing our brand at the awards was an incredible experience!

It’s both exciting and a lot of work

I’m also humbled by our BAFTA partnership, which I personally consider an extension of my existing BAFTA membership. I’ve even had the privilege of being a judge for the awards too!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BsdJ5mKhxxw/

At the BAFTAs, the team style the hair of actors, actresses and emerging talent in both our Knightsbridge and Battersea Power Station homes. The BAFTAs means we can spend a whole weekend immersing ourselves with the BAFTA team, their clients and the citation readers.

It’s both exciting and a lot of work, but we are very proud of this association. After all - how many salons and talent can say they get to do this very British and iconic awards ceremony?!

You’ve styled the hair of many celebrities, including Keira Knightley, Margot Robbie, Sam Smith and Emma Thompson. When did you first start working with celebrities?

I started working with celebrities at the BBC where I taught makeup artists how to apply salon hairdressing techniques. I worked with and met some amazing people there!

I’ve styled hair for Fantastic Beasts, Tarzan and Mamma Mia!

When I started working in film, I was the only a hairdresser who could do a short back and sides which matched the brief set for the film Chariots of Fire. Since then, I’ve styled hair for Fantastic Beasts, Tarzan, Mamma Mia! and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.

Thanks to my work in the film, TV and music industries, I got to go to the Oscars in 2017. That was definitely one to remember!

You were honoured with a BAFTAs membership in 2013 and have since been the official stylist for the awards. What's a day at the BAFTAs really like?

My team and I are in the Savoy from Thursday [7th of February] afternoon prior to the Sunday [10th of February] award show where we set up our pop-up salon, social media engagement room and VIP styling area. On Friday, we have lots of our clients, press, friends and family visit the suite, then on Saturday our influencers come and visit us.

We style the nominees, VIPs and guests for the ceremony

Sunday is the big day: we style the nominees, VIPs and guests for the ceremony itself! There are also a lot of parties across the weekend that we style hair for too.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Btihp3-Be9C/

Let’s talk about trending hairstyles and your top tips for healthy hair. What is the most requested hairstyle right now?

Everyone is requesting the blunt and bevelled cut at the moment, whether they've got lengthly locks or a cropped bob.

If you could give our readers three pieces of advice to maintain healthy hair, what would they be?

My first tip would be to have regular trims every 6-8 weeks. It keeps hair looking fresh. Then, treat yourself to regular in-salon hair treatments. These can be really quick, but amazing for you hair. Finally, make sure you use the right products for your hair type. At Paul Edmonds London, we bespoke our treatments to your hair type to ensure you have the right hair treatment for your hair and to meet the needs you are targeting.

What is your biggest professional achievement and proudest moment?

My daughters and my Paul Edmonds team! I mentor and train my family of experts. I’m not going to live forever so having a fully-trained team of experts will create a fantastic legacy for Paul Edmonds London in the future. Plus, it opens up the possibility of expanding into more locations.

I’m also proud of still being relevant after having been in the business all these years

What’s your favourite haircare range and why?

Definitely Shu Uemura! I am a Shu Uemura Ambassador and our Battersea Power Station salon is Shu Uemura's first UK flagship.

Shu Uemura products are made from some of the world's best haircare ingredients. Both their products and in-salon treatments work amazingly. Best of all, the Shu Uemura range can be cocktailed to create a tailored haircare regime for you!

What are the must-have haircare products you’d recommend using?

I regularly use the Shu Uemura Blow Dry Beautifier. It's a heat protector that makes creating beautiful blow dries effortlessly. I also love the Shu Uemura Absolue Overnight Serum. It restores mature hair for a youthful gloss and softness.