Sassoon european colour director peter dawson has sadly passed away

Sassoon European colour director Peter Dawson has sadly passed away. He was greatly loved within the hairdressing industry and travelled around the world as an inspiring educator to grow hairdressers' love and passion for colour and teach new skills and techniques. Sassoon international creative director Mark Hayes shared a heartfelt tribute to his colleague and dear friend. He said: "I have been fortunate to have worked with some of the great Sassoon talents and Peter was certainly one of the greatest. Supremely gifted, technically assured as well as an incredibly warm, friendly individual with a wicked sense of humour, Peter always represented the company with style and grace and I have been privileged to have shared so many special moments with him. The thoughts and prayers of Sassoon are with his family at this sad time." Tim Hartley who worked with Peter at Sassoon for many years took to Instagram to share the sad news. He told his followers: "Terribly sad news today. My great friend for over 35 years during my time at Vidal Sassoon and beyond! Peter Dawson International colour director and showman has passed away. We all adored him so much. Talented and charismatic his legacy will live forever. Love and light to his family and all his fans all over the world. RIP." Peter decided to join the hairdressing industry 45 years ago at the age of 16. He saw a photograph of the 'Brush' cut by Christopher Brooker and vowed to learn how to design hair in remarkable ways. Embarking on a three-year apprenticeship splitting his time between Sassoon Leeds and Sassoon Manchester, Peter made the decision to specialise in colour. He still remembers this moment of realisation when he entered the colouring department at Sassoon and feeling a sense of home – a feeling that has stayed with him ever since. He became Sassoon's European colour director 13 years ago and has directed the quality of colour education and its implementation within the European Sassoon salons ever since. He will be greatly missed. Please do get in touch if you'd like to share your personal tribute to Peter with HJ.