Errol Douglas styles Speech Debelle’s hair

British Hairdresser of the Year nominee Errol Douglas was at the Mercury Awards this week to style Speech Debelle’s hair for her big night. Hot underground favourite Speech has always wanted to have her hair done by Errol, who was delighted to offer his services.

Speech went into the salon on Saturday for a consultation and Errol created three looks for her:

“I coloured her hair especially for the day, focusing on the Mohican section, giving her highlights of light blonde and burnt shades. The sides of her hair were then corn-rowed in a crisscross pattern, leaving out the Mohican section of the hair. This Mohican section of hair was changed throughout the evening for the three different looks:

“For the red carpet, I used big-barrelled tongs all over the Mohican section of the hair, and then used Matrix Design Pulse hairspray to hold, and an oil sheen to keep the hair looking glossy.

“The stage look was a little bit more dramatic, it was backcombed at the roots to give lift and movement, the hair was teased up really high throughout the Mohican section, and sprayed for extra hold.

“For Speech’s acceptance, I blow-dried the previous look out using a medium round Kent brush. I then created small sausage sections all over the head, pulling hair backwards and then tucking under and pinning it before spraying with hairspray.”

South London rapper Speech has come from a notoriously challenging background; Errol is himself a London boy, with his own rags to riches tale seeing him grow up in Hackney before opening his own Knightsbridge salon. Errol’s clients include Jourdan Dunn, Kelly Rowland, Emilia Fox, Thandie Newton and more.

Errol Douglas is at 18 Motcomb Street, Knightsbridge, London SW1X 8LB

Appointments: erroldouglas.com