I have some exciting hair news for you all. To celebrate the new Taylor Taylor salon on the second floor of Liberty, my hair hero Zoe Irwin has designed a collection of styles using their iconic print scarves.
My friendship with Zoe stretches back over a decade. After cutting my hair, I could instantly see what a genius she is. She’s one of the rare talents who cuts as well as colours. And aside from her role as Principle Creative at Taylor Taylor, she is also an Ambassador for GHD UK, and a Wella Colour Trend Expert. There is nothing this woman can’t do!
I caught up with Zoe to find out about the collection:
‘I grew up with Liberty prints. They were something I learnt about as a child when fabric would be bought by the meter and made into sundresses. For years, I’ve bought silk threads and lace from haberdashery stores to use in hair for my work as a session stylist.
When I started working at Liberty, I learnt more about the incredible history of the store and the beginnings of its iconic prints. Walking past the fabrics to the Taylor Taylor salon each day, I began to buy meters of the fabric and play with strips of it in hair. Spending a summer in Argentina was also inspiring – vibrant prints are knotted and tied into hair, and Frida Kahlo images are painted on the walls by street artists all over the city.
When I started designing hair styles for the Liberty collection, I thought a lot about who each girl would be. Some styles are more classic with a seasonable update, and some are playful and a fresh take on braiding. The knotting in the “Bow Tie” was inspired by the Simone Rocha hair from the AW18 show – loosely falling into a pony then worn with the fabric tied in a feminine bow. “Material Girl” is with a cross braiding technique that uses several prints and hangs softly with the fabric extending the look. Women love the way it makes their hair feel longer.
Each appointment we offer is truly bespoke. It starts with our client choosing their fabric, and you can match or clash the prints. The wonderful thing about styling with fabric is how it makes finer hair seem thicker and helps the style last for days. The service includes a shampoo and blow-dry, and then we style using products that keep the hair fresher for longer. Most people leave it in for about three days but some have kept it in for even longer. The reaction to this project has blown me away – girls just love the uniqueness of the style, and it really is a conversation starter. I’ve had mothers bringing their young daughters along, sometimes with their friends for a treat. To me, it’s a celebration of the beautiful, iconic Liberty prints that look so gorgeous wrapped in hair in a really cool, fresh way.’
So, there you have it! I for one can’t wait to get to Liberty and try this look out – watch this space! In the meantime, if you want to grab yourself an appointment, head to taylortaylorlondon.com @zoe.irwin libertylondon.com
LSx