Breaking the glass ceiling with yet another pioneering first, top stylist and Hair Lounge salon owner, Charlotte Mensah has taken her place as the first Black woman to be inducted in the British Hairdressing Awards Hall Of Fame after winning Best Afro Hairdresser of the Year in 2013, 2014 and 2017.
It’s a fitting outcome for Charlotte who has been an ambassador for afro-textured hair for decades.
Charlotte has long been a spokesperson on the beauty of natural hair. Her expertise and wonderfully warm and engaging manner at her salon, Hair Lounge (located in London, Notting Hill), has seen Charlotte become the go-to stylist for a whole host of celebrity clients, many recognisable from TV, music and the business world, such as Erykah Badu, Janelle Monae and Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie.
Charlotte was officially inducted at the glittering British Hairdressing Awards 2018 event on Monday 26 November 2018, in a ceremony which saw the best hairdressers in the UK honoured. Speaking at the event, Charlotte said: “To be the first black woman to win this award is such a wonderful feeling – and also very humbling. I hope that I can act as an inspiration to the younger generation who might want to get into hairdressing – to show that anything is possible if you stay focused, work hard and follow your gut. Being able to fly the flag for afro and natural hair textures in the UK is such a huge privilege – it’s greatly rewarding to be recognized and celebrated by my peers.”
Charlotte’s achievements are not limited to styling hair, she also has an award-winning line of hair products under her belt. Her Manketti Oil collection has won a slew of awards as we reported in our feature last year.
I hope that I can act as an inspiration to the younger generation who might want to get into hairdressing – to show that anything is possible if you stay focused, work hard and follow your gut.
Charlotte advocates that afro/mixed curly hair should be maintained and cared for properly, ensuring it feels and looks its best. She says her products’ “luxurious formulas are as kind to the earth as they are to your hair”, encouraging many black women to form healthier relationships with their hair and embrace/accept its natural state.
During an exclusive interview we had with Charlotte in 2016, she told us “I just want to keep getting better at what I do and keep going!” We have no doubt that Charlotte will continue to keep smashing those ceilings with her usual style and talent.
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