David Gillson is a Salon Owner at Carlton Hair and Celebrity Hairstylist. He’s been a Style Awards contributor to local fashion magazines such as Elle, Marie Claire, Fair Lady, and Glamour. He’s also won an SA Style Award for Best Hairstylist and Innovative Style!

Tell us about the Toni & Guy Hair Course:

It’s twice a year in London at the Academy in Oxford. They showcase the latest cutting and colour trends. Stylists from all over the world attend.

What are the new styles for 2013?
A modern version of the 60’s look. There is a lot of volume and the Beehive is huge.
For men it’s the polished Rocker A Billy look which is influenced by the 50’s.
Laid Back Luxe look which has a lot of texture in the cut and is a relaxed out of bed look.
Fringe trend is big. It’s a long fringe, lash skimming and textured.
The Asian look which is a sharp fringe and short cut. It gives the bob and edgier feel.

What can we expect in terms of hair colour for 2013?
Blondes are warmer, with hints of strawberry, peach, rose and apricot.
Coppers and deep chestnut are divine this season and the Ombre trend is more subtle.
I’m loving the colour trends this season, they are more wearable, ombre is softer more flattering, even though tones are more unusual. Colours are pretty and soft.

Why do you go to London?
Hair Trends start on the streets in London. In New York people are more groomed and polished in Paris they are elegant and in Milan they are flashy. London is the source for hair trends because people are edgier and experiment

What Product can’t you do without?
Oi Oil from Davines. It’s a wonder product. You apply on the ends of your hair before or after a blow dry. It speeds up the blow drying time. It conditions and takes away the frizz in your hair. Oi Oil won best oil in the British Hairdressers Journal and in Vogue. It also has zero carbon footprint.

What would you like to see South African woman do more of?
I would love for them to be more conscious about the products they use in their hair and bodies.
For them to be more knowledgeable about the impact products have on the environment and on their bodies internally and externally.
South Africans are not educated about harmful ingredients like they are overseas. You have a right to ask if your hair dye is free of ammonia, parabens, formaldehyde and what effect it has on the environment.

Where to next?
Cosmoprof in 6 months. I go source new products so that my customers have the best available to them. I always make sure that we are on trend. On my last trip we brought back Flamboyage which did very well here in S.A.