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The mane As Greenwich’s Cutty Sharp – read that carefully – celebrates its first year in high-end hair and beauty, Sandy Dhaliwal meets owner Natasha Walker
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he ingeniously-named Greenwich hair and beauty salon, Cutty Sharp, celebrated its first birthday in early March. Model, hairdresser and Deptford resident Natasha Walker, the driving force behind the salon, realised her passion for hair after seeing herself transformed on campaigns for Calvin Klein, Gucci and DSquared2. Walker set up the venture with support from The Prince’s Trust and Bright Ideas Foundation. The Guide quizzes her on the salon, current hair trends and future plans… How has the first year been for the salon? The year has been fantastic for us. The Prince’s Trust warned us that the first two years would be the hardest, but we’ve had 11 months of profit, which is unbelievable.
How did Bright Ideas and The Prince’s Trust become involved? I didn’t have any funding or a business plan. I came across Red Ochre, who offered free courses on business plans. I presented to The Prince’s Trust and got full funding – it was like Dragons’ Den. I got additional funding from Bright Ideas Trust to set up and you get accountants and solicitors pro bono.
Salon director Natasha Walker Above: The Cutty Sharp Salon
What hair trends are making the transition from catwalk to sidewalk this season? There’s a new colour technique called dipping, where they dip the ends of the hair rather than highlight from the root. It’s been very popular with celebrities and we’ve had a lot of fashionistas coming in asking for that. Long bobs are very on trend, I saw a lot of those coming down the catwalk, and also plaiting; cornrows and French plaits are coming back. How do you plan to develop the salon this year? Currently I’m concocting facial creams, lips balms and exfoliating scrubs for a fully organic product range. I’d also like to start a mobile service for our disabled clients and residents who can’t get out. } 25 Corbidge Court, Glashier Street SE8 3ES 020 8691 9048; cuttysharp.com
Below: The Cutty Sharp salon Below left: Salon director Natahsa Walker (centre) with models at the salon’s first year anniversary celebrations
Images courtesy Cutty Sharp and Lucas Lockie Photography
Why did you pick the location for the salon? I noticed a gap in our area and wondered if I would be that person to fill it. I had the idea when I was a freelance stylist, and wanted to see if I could bring the flavour of Mayfair to our customers.
How did you come up with the salon’s name? One of my nieces came up with The Cut is Sharp. I came to look around and recognised the Cutty Sark, decided to shorten the name and that was it!
April May 2012 | The Guide 49
event
The mane As Greenwich’s Cutty Sharp – read that carefully – celebrates its first year in high-end hair and beauty, Sandy Dhaliwal meets owner Natasha Walker
T
he ingeniously-named Greenwich hair and beauty salon, Cutty Sharp, celebrated its first birthday in early March. Model, hairdresser and Deptford resident Natasha Walker, the driving force behind the salon, realised her passion for hair after seeing herself transformed on campaigns for Calvin Klein, Gucci and DSquared2. Walker set up the venture with support from The Prince’s Trust and Bright Ideas Foundation. The Guide quizzes her on the salon, current hair trends and future plans… How has the first year been for the salon? The year has been fantastic for us. The Prince’s Trust warned us that the first two years would be the hardest, but we’ve had 11 months of profit, which is unbelievable.
How did Bright Ideas and The Prince’s Trust become involved? I didn’t have any funding or a business plan. I came across Red Ochre, who offered free courses on business plans. I presented to The Prince’s Trust and got full funding – it was like Dragons’ Den. I got additional funding from Bright Ideas Trust to set up and you get accountants and solicitors pro bono.
Salon director Natasha Walker Above: The Cutty Sharp Salon
What hair trends are making the transition from catwalk to sidewalk this season? There’s a new colour technique called dipping, where they dip the ends of the hair rather than highlight from the root. It’s been very popular with celebrities and we’ve had a lot of fashionistas coming in asking for that. Long bobs are very on trend, I saw a lot of those coming down the catwalk, and also plaiting; cornrows and French plaits are coming back. How do you plan to develop the salon this year? Currently I’m concocting facial creams, lips balms and exfoliating scrubs for a fully organic product range. I’d also like to start a mobile service for our disabled clients and residents who can’t get out. } 25 Corbidge Court, Glashier Street SE8 3ES 020 8691 9048; cuttysharp.com
Below: The Cutty Sharp salon Below left: Salon director Natahsa Walker (centre) with models at the salon’s first year anniversary celebrations
Images courtesy Cutty Sharp and Lucas Lockie Photography
Why did you pick the location for the salon? I noticed a gap in our area and wondered if I would be that person to fill it. I had the idea when I was a freelance stylist, and wanted to see if I could bring the flavour of Mayfair to our customers.
How did you come up with the salon’s name? One of my nieces came up with The Cut is Sharp. I came to look around and recognised the Cutty Sark, decided to shorten the name and that was it!
April May 2012 | The Guide 49
