Hall of Fame is the ultimate achievement for the Black Beauty/Sensationnel Hair Awards winners. Winning your category three times propels you into the Hall of Fame. We chat to three of the talented stylists who have made it in this year
Name Lathaniel Chambers, The weave master
Hall of Fame Category Weave Stylist of the Year
Salon Lathaniel’s Couture Hair and Beauty
Congrats on making into the hall of fame! When you first entered the competition, did you think you would come this far?
Yes I did but I didn’t think it would come so soon, but I am very pleased to have won.
What makes a great stylist
I think a great stylist is able to take advice and keep bettering their work
What’s the best part of your job
It has to be helping someone who is isn’t completely happy with the way they look and help them look and feel better
What do you think will be the key hair trends for 2016
I think for 2016 there will be a lot of short sharp cuts but not so much of colour
What is your hairdressing weapon of choice?
I love my scissors
What products can’t you live without and why
I love the KeraCare Conditioning Crème Hair Dress and the KMS California Moist Repair Revival Cream
Lathaniel’s Couture, 198 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, London SE5 9QH; 020 3601 0683
Name Hector Obeng, The bride’s best friend
Hall of Fame Category Bridal Stylist of the Year
Salon Hector’s Global Hair With Zeal
Congrats on making into the Hall of Fame! When you first entered the competition, did you think you would come this far?
Yes, eventually, I mean that’s why we enter to finally get here
What makes a great stylist
A great stylist has to be passionate, have conviction and believe in yourself and your work
What’s the best part of your job
The best part of my job is everything really — clients encouraging me, my staff who are now like family to me and award nights like the Black Beauty/Sensationnel Hair Awards
What do you think will be the key hair trends for 2016
I think for 2016, we will see a lot of natural trends, a lot of Afros with intricate hair styles and a lot of western hairstyles mixed with braids. Also with colour, we are seeing a lot of the balayage in natural hair
What is your hairdressing weapon of choice?
I think it will have to be my hairdryer
What product can’t you live without and why
It would have to be my own product line, Hector’s product range, which is suitable for all hair types. In particular I love the Argan Oil Treatment
Hector’s Global Hair with Zeal, 73 Lower Richmond Road, Mortlake East Sheen, London SW14 7HJ. Tel: 020 8878 7069
Name Aycan Kemal, The natural hair guru
Hall of Fame Category Natural Hair Stylist of the Year
Salon New York Hair Design
Congrats on making into the Hall of Fame! When you first entered the competition, did you think you would come this far?
Yes, I recognised growth from the start and in 2000 when I first entered and opened my salon I won it with the braids category and it pushed me to keep going
What makes a great stylist
Doing something you love and are passionate about. Keeping in touch with modern trends and what women want. I also think it’s important to have and be inspired by greater stylists: there are a lot of them I look to and I have learnt a lot from them
What’s the best part of your job
Satisfaction from transformation. Sometimes people need a change and I am there to help them with that. When people look good, they feel good and I love that my job allows me to do that and bring the best out of people
What do you think will be the key hair trends for 2016
I think for 2016 there will still be the natural movement, I think for women who want to transition but can’t wait, they will begin to weave with the natural textures: kinky and full. I think relaxing is slowly getting out of the equation
What is your hairdressing weapon of choice?
I love my hairdryer with the fork attachment, all my combs and brushes. It’s more a case of what I need at the time. I also really love my Denman brush — I don’t think I can detangle some natural textures without it!
What product can’t you live without and why
It has to be coconut oil! It’s simple and effective — it can’t get any better than that!
New York Hair Design, 2 Langham Parade, Langham Road, London N15 3ND. Tel: 020 8888 3397
