Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of styling hair for many celebrities at red carpet events and VIP occasions, an experience I absolutely love, especially when collaborating with the entire glam team to bring a vision to life. But let me tell you, there’s a lot more preparation involved than people might think; it’s not as simple as me showing up and magically transforming hair on the spot!
The journey begins long before the event. The celebrity will have fittings with their stylist, who carefully considers every detail: the type of event, the celebrity’s body shape, and the overall vibe they want to achieve. Once the outfit is finalised, I step into designing a hairstyle that perfectly complements the look. Everything — outfit, hair, and makeup — needs to work harmoniously together to create that show-stopping moment.
What many people don’t realise is just how much effort goes into these events. Hours upon hours of behind-the-scenes work go into ensuring everything is flawless. It’s a process that reminds me of preparing for a wedding—the time, the energy, the attention to detail. And just like brides, celebrities face their fair share of pressure. They’re constantly under the watchful eyes of the press and the public, with every detail scrutinised: “Her hair didn’t suit her,” “I didn’t like the dress,” “She’s got a spot!”. And let’s not forget the added stress of navigating the red carpet -managing elaborate heels, avoiding tripping over a long gown, and maintaining composure under all that pressure.
Walking the red carpet really is a lot like walking down the aisle: there’s excitement mixed with plenty of nerves. That’s why I treat my celebrity clients just like I do my brides — it’s their special moment, and I want them to look and feel their absolute best. Working with celebrities who is a lot like working with brides.
One piece of advice I emphasize is to start with the outfit, as it lays the foundation for the entire look. Once you’ve chosen what to wear, think carefully about how your hairstyle and makeup can enhance the overall look. Break it down into categories:
- Type of event
- What to wear
- Hairstyle
- Makeup
And once everything is in place, shoulders back, head high, and rock it with confidence!
My recent red carpet creations for the fabulous Kara Tointon, styled by my favorite stylist, Kelvin Barron.
Last minute changes
Last week I had the pleasure of working with the English actress, Kara Tointon (EastEnders, Strictly Come Dancing, The Sound of Music Live). On the day of the event, I arrived at the Four Seasons Hotel in Tower Bridge to attend to Kara where she had a wonderful suite. I had a brief from her that she wanted a small bun at the base of the neck, and a loose middle parting fringe. I did say to Kara her hair was too short for this look, but she was determined to give it a go. I did manage to get it into a small bun using a hair net, but when we styled out the fringe, we decided we both preferred a messier look and side parting.
Kara trusted me to change the look in the remaining time of 15 minutes. Because I’ve been working with hair up for many years and have had a lot of experience working on location and to tighten timings, I was able to create a textured look pretty quickly! We ended up with a ’60s vibe textured tuck half up half down with the bed hair kind of feel. She totally rocked this editorial look!
I look forward to working with Kara again in the near future for her next event. I wonder what we will create together next time. It’s always such a joy to collaborate with talented professionals, as being a part of these unforgettable moments not only allows me to showcase my craft but also reinforces the trust we build, letting celebrities shine their brightest.