Charlie Le Mindu

Q: Hi Charlie, how the devil have you been? I know that you’ve been busy, so what are you working on at the moment?

A: Hi, Ah I’m very good and very busy. I’m working on something with Disney at the moment, for Rapuntzel: their new movie. There’s an exclusive for you.

Q: Ah it all sounds very lucrative and exciting. Have you always had the fascination with hair?

A: Yes, since I was a young boy and used to see all the lovely women’s hair in my mother’s pub. They all looked so fantastic and glamorous.

Q: I’m picturing your mother as being a hybrid somewhere between Bet Lynch and Peggy Mitchell. Did you find it difficult to get where you are now, career wise?

A: I don’t think I’m at the peak or at the top of my profession in any way. I think I’m far from it. You just need to test yourself all the time…and have sex with the right people.

Q: Describe your own personal style?

A: I’m a gypsy. I don’t have a style. It shifts around a lot. I mix it up a lot, I’m fortunate enough to have a creative set of friends so I wear a lot of their designs too.

Q: I loved your lips collection, how did you manage to think of a project that was so outlandish?

A: I think that just the pure thought of having hair on and around your lips is disgusting, so that’s why I chose to do it. The models looked amazing walking down the catwalk with these huge fucking lips stuck to the tops of their head. So sleek.

Q: Your first collection at London Fashion Week was only last year: what do you find, style wise, that is so unique about London?

A: It’s meant to be such a hub for creativity but lately it’s just boring. I loved everything about London a few years ago, everyone was dressing up and living for the night-time, but now everyone has their heads down. We need a new generation to come through to fire things up a little.

Q: Are you planning on staying in London for the meantime, and if you had to live anywhere else, where would that be?

A: I don’t know, but I don’t think so. I like London but I want to see other places, a place that houses more freaks! I like Berlin a lot. It’s like the new Dalston.

Q: What is the worst hairstyle that you have ever had?

A: I once had a cross on my forehead. It wasn’t bad, it was just an acquired taste. I loved it but it got frowned upon by the general public.

Q: What direction do you predict men’s grooming to go?

A: It’s going to go forward. Men will soon be more groomed than the most elegant of ladies. Everyone should just wear wigs.

Q: What hair products do you use?

A: Shu Eumura. It has an amazing scent and it leaves the texture of my hair in beautiful condition. My hair is constantly morphing into something else so I like to give it a good rest sometimes. I might just shave it all off and keep the cuttings for a future wig.

Q: I heard that you used to cut the hair of Barbie dolls when you were a young boy. Do you prefer to work with long hair or shorter crops?

A: I prefer longer hair, especially longer hair on boys. I still have Barbies but my muses to me are like the human equivalent.

Q: Was it a lot of fun doing your ‘pop up salon’ in Berlin and Soho’s Machine-A boutique? I can imagine that to get pretty messy?

A: Oh it was amazing. We all had so much fun but when it came to the end of the day we were hardly cutting any hair and just dancing around, drinking and being crazy.

Q: You’ve worked with some amazing creatives and artists, if you could cut anyone’s hair who’s would that be?

A: I love working with everyone, if they’re interesting and individual. They don’t have to be famous, wealthy or popular. All I ask is that they have an open mind, a creative eye and a wild imagination. I love Jodie Harsh and singer, Peaches, they’re both so outspoken and full of character. They take risks and trust my ideas. I love to have a great relationship with my muses. I make them look good and they make me look good. They promote me..on their heads.

By Shane Hawkins