Conversations on colour: mark creed

Mark Creed of Philosophy Hair has more than 30 years of experience in the professional hairdressing industry and his name is synonymous with colour - he's even a past president of the prestigious Fellowship for British Hairdressing. Mark is also a member of the L'Oreal Professionnel 20:20 Colour Collective; an elite group of colourists from across the UK. Here, we find out more about his life in colour. 1. What do you love most about being a colourist? It leaves me in the enviable position of making people's dreams come true. No profession can match the sheer joy of adding colour to someone's life. Professional colourists are now sought by all discerning clients, thus making the discipline on par with styling and cutting within all salons. The continual evolution of hair coloring products is truly breathtaking too. 2. What do you think are the biggest challenges facing professional colourists in 2015? Ensuring clients continue to visit salons to have their hair coloured, as opposed to using the DIY kits from the supermarket. Communication is absolutely key to ensure the client is well informed and fully updated on the whole plethora of expert bespoke techniques that we offer within the salon. 3. What do you think is the most exciting thing about being a colourist in 2015? 2015 and beyond will see the colour service grow within salons as techniques become increasingly artistic and intricate. It’s so special to see the market grow year on year. Hair colouring application techniques and palettes of colours have now truly entered an age where they play an integral, significant part in trends and fashion, thus making it essential that every professional colourist is also part of the fashion zeitgeist. 4. What colour trend or technique are you most excited about for 2015? I think 2015 will see a movement towards more freehand artistic techniques. Current highlight/lowlight clients will seek an amalgamation of traditional 'foiling' along with an application that exudes artistry in it’s freehand approach. 5. What one piece of advice would you give to trainee colourists who would love to be where you are now? Never stop exploring new colouring techniques; continue to push the boundaries of fashion and keep fresh by attending as many educational events within the industry as you can. Never compromise on your foundation disciplines of hair colouring and always remain THE colour professional.