Red and yellow and pink and green, purple and orange and blue; super hair stylist Alisha Dobson can dip-dye your hair any colour of a rainbow and stitch you a sick weave too.
Working part-time in the back of WAH! Nails‘ trend trail-blazing hair salon Bleach, 25-year-old London based session stylist Alisha Dobson is hair legend Lyndell Mansfield’s right-hand woman. First meeting her CLM signed master and mentor by chance, Alisha had long been an admirer of Mansfield’s editorial work. The first lady of fashion’s follicles, Mansfield’s groundbreaking, polished and accomplished styling skills have graced the glossy spreads of the world’s most prestigious magazines. Today, Alisha is coming up on her own, working independently with up-and-coming stylists, photographers and make-up artists, putting the skills Mansfield has helped her perfect into practise. Part of the next generation of talent taking over, i-D Online caught up with Alisha to get the low down on her blow dry and pick up some tips on how to keep our locks looking fly.
How did you first come to assist Lyndell? A chance meeting with her previous first assistant in Cornwall, Lyndell was on the look out for someone new!!
What aspects of her work do you admire? It’s everything I love in hair, from groomed to grunge, she always creates beauty whether in the quality or the quirk. She works hard and plays hard! She has an amazing amount of energy that out runs everyone!
Tell us about some of the shoots you’ve assisted Lyndell on? Shooting in Paris, not so exotic but Lyndell knows the city and chatting in French with her Australian accent is something to witness! My favourite shoot with her was with Ellen von Unwerth in a London graveyard… so beautiful!
How would you describe your own aesthetic? I am still learning and developing. I’m trying out new things and learning new techniques constantly.
When did you first discover your passion for hair styling? Having curly hair as a child that my mum couldn’t control was my starting point, I had to learn how to tame it!
What styling products could you not live without? Bumble and Bumble’s seaweed shampoo and super rich conditioner, prep and hair powder and Moroccan oil!
Tell us something about Lyndell no-one else knows? When she was little she would get into bed wearing her favourite or newest shoes just to wear them for longer, always the fashionista!!
What hair trends are going to be big in 2011? Lots of pastel colours either all over or pastel highlights through blonde or browns. All about colour this year.
What photographers, stylists and makeup artists do you work with most? Pandora Leonard and Annabel Callum Mua.
What would be your dream shoot to work on? A Tim Burton and Tim Walker collaboration with Lyndell on hair and Andrew Gallimore on make up!
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