STYLING SECRETS FROM THE HAIR EXPERTS BEHIND GANGS OF LONDON
When creating characters for the TV screen, getting their hair right is one of the most important parts. In fact, according to BAFTA-nominated Make-up and Hair Designer, Helen Speyer, you can change everything about how somebody looks by changing their hair.
The Paul Edmonds team are experts in film and TV, having worked on some of the biggest, most exciting productions in the industry over the last 40 years. Most recently, we worked with Helen on gritty Sky drama, Gangs of London, which follows rival gangs and criminal organisations as they tear the city apart with their turbulent power struggles.
But how do you transform a friendly and professional actor into a ruthless, cold-blooded gangster? We caught up with Helen and our very own Artistic Director, Zoe Rodgers, to discover how they created these cutting edge characters.
“Gangs of London is a very unique show. It reflects a modern, contemporary London with a heightened reality, featuring diverse characters with fascinating personalities. My first priority when creating the characters is their hair. Once we’ve achieved that, I can add make-up, scars, tattoos and injuries to really enhance the character.”
- Helen Speyer, Make-up and Hair Designer
NARGES RASHIDI
as Lale
As the leader of the Kurdish PKK fighters in London, overseeing an international drug distribution ring, Lale is a boss-bitch babe. Her character is sleek, sophisticated and cutting-edge, and Helen wanted to reflect this personality in her hair.
“Narges has naturally wavy, thick, Iranian hair which we cut into a sharp long bob. We created a super dark, almost-black colour using L’Oréal Majiral No.3 and finished with a NanoSmooth treatment for the sleek and shiny look. We used Shu Uemura Essence Absolu when blow-drying to maintain the shine.”
- Artistic Director at Paul Edmonds London, Zoe Rodgers
To get Lale’s sleek and sophisticated, modern action woman look for yourself,
ERI SHUKA
as Mirlinda Dushaj
One half of the show’s powerhouse couple, Mirlinda is a strong, beautiful woman married to the dangerous Albanian gang leader. She needed a look that would reflect her character’s strength and stand out from the rest of the cast. As her character developed, her hair colour intensified, transitioning from a natural auburn into a super-glamorous, strong shade of copper.
“I’m always script-led, creating a character that fits into the story while still being believable and real. Zoe makes it all possible, blending the look we want with the reality of the hair we have to work with. We have good communication and I trust Zoe completely to create the look.”
- Helen Speyer, Make-up and Hair Designer“We reshaped Eri’s whole haircut to complement her face shape, adding soft layers to her naturally thick and wavy hair. We wanted it to look effortless, so we used Iles Formula Shampoo, Conditioner and Mask to add moisture and tame the waves.”
- Artistic Director at Paul Edmonds London, Zoe Rodgers
Enjoy strikingly beautiful, hydrated locks like Mirlinda’s with
WALEED ZUAITER
as Koba
An international arms dealer and cold-blooded leader of the Georgian mafia, Koba was brought to London to bring order to the city. He doesn’t play by the rules and his unhinged nature is reflected in his rather out-there look.
“Koba is a bleached blonde bad-ass, but Waleed’s hair is naturally very dark. Thanks to COVID restrictions, it had completely grown out since the previous season, and we had to make sure the colour was a perfect match for continuity purposes. We used bleach and toner, making sure not a single strand of yellow could be seen.”
- Artistic Director at Paul Edmonds London, Zoe Rodgers“Koba is a quirky, unusual gangster. He stands out when he walks into the room and has a strong presence, which is why we went for the striking bleached blonde look. I always think the blonde maintenance is one of the hardest to manage but it all worked really well.”
- Helen Speyer, Make-up and Hair Designer
Experience your own icy blond coolness with
MICHELLE FAIRLEY
as Marian Wallace
The ruthless matriarch of the Wallace family, Marian’s look has always been sensible and understated. For the new season, her wardrobe had a bit of an update, and her hair needed the same treatment.
“As the head of a wealthy gang, Marian needed to look expensive, underplayed, stylish and well-groomed.”
- Helen Speyer, Make-up and Hair Designer“Helen wanted to update the character’s hair to look more fashionable, so we gently cleansed Michelle’s very dark base colour to lift it a little. Then we added a full head of highlights to create a lightweight, textured look and feel. She has very fine hair so we wanted to keep the look natural but youthful.”
- Artistic Director at Paul Edmonds London, Zoe Rodgers
Get stronger, more radiant hair like Marians with
At Paul Edmonds London, we’ve developed an expert team of specialists in both hair and beauty who work alongside Helen to create some of the most exciting characters on our screens right now.
As a member of BAFTA himself, Paul’s background in styling for film and TV is enviable. The work we do in the salon sets the groundwork for the stylists on set, bringing the characters to life, giving the actors the confidence to produce an incredible performance, and ensuring the filming process is as sharp and effective as it can be.
Get into character with your own silver-screen ready hair! Book an appointment with Zoe and the team at our Battersea salon or shop our favourite products from our online store.
KING’S CORONATION GIVEAWAY
To celebrate the King’s Coronation this weekend, we’re offering a blow dry and manicure worth £250 for the lucky winner of The Handbook and Battersea Power Station’s big giveaway.
Here at Paul Edmonds London, we treat all our clients like royalty. With help from our expert stylists and beauty therapists, the winner will enjoy a weekend in London with a luxury pampering session fit for a king.