The Doves

Christopher Dove has been at the very top of the international hairstylist scene for many years. He was born in Bangor, Northern Ireland, in 1960, but grew up in Leeds in the north of England. His earliest experience as a hairdresser was at the age of 13. Following an unsuccessful attempt to colour his hair at home, Dove asked a neighbouring hairdressing salon to save the day. He was so taken by the professional colour treatment and the impressive results that he spent the rest of the day in the salon, watching the colourful comings and goings. From that day on, he abandoned his other career ambition of becoming a costume designer. During his training in the Sophisticut salon in Paignton, in Devon, England, Dove was already extending his horizons: “This was where I learned the basics, the handiwork. But at that time, I was already attending a lot of extra courses to prepare for what has today become my life: teaching and sharing knowledge.” Christopher Dove and his wife Sonya have received many awards for their work. But he is particularly proud to have won the title “Haircolorist of the Year” in the USA, on three occasions.




When did you first become aware of Wella?
Again, it was during my training period, because of Koleston, which I still believe today to be the best hair colour there is.

What, in your opinion, is special about Trend Vision?
It’s the way in which the whole world is connected, as in this case in relation to hairstyling. For me, it’s very exciting not just to transform megatrends here into avant-garde hair messages, but also to transform these later into wearable hair fashions in the USA, without losing sight of the trend statement.

As a hairstylist, what would you still really like to achieve?
Well, I’d like to create my own fashion line.

Which technique are you particularly interested in for the future?
Well, technique... I would say structure more than anything else. I’m already giving seminars about what’s important in terms of the organisation and execution at a photo shoot. It’s important to me to pass on my knowledge from many years of experience, to help young stylists avoid making the same mistakes I did.

Do you follow a particular philosophy in your work?
It’s important for me always to maintain high standards. Constancy and consistency are essential. Any person who sits on their laurels because they believe they have reached the top will very quickly fall back and lose their connection to things.

What do you think is the source of your creativity?
For me, it comes from the multifaceted talents of many different designers, especially Galliano. He combines haute couture and prêt à porter in a fantastic way.