Charlie le mindu backstage salon

At 13 years old, our young artist learned to cut hair in a small salon near Bordeaux. He learned the basic cutting techniques whilst sweeping the floor, but his fiery attitude was desperate for freedom in this rural atmosphere. Attracted more and more by the nightlife, he packed his bags and moved to Berlin, the European capital of alternative arts.

He passed through the chic French restaurants, the underground shops, and gay clubs, offering his services. I know some people hate theme parks. But when I was a kid, coming from a very poor family, theme parks felt like places without worries. The crazy music, the many different colored lights, everyone smiling. Eating colorful things. I love this, I want to create a place like this.

That will be every week for one year. Many things. Talent: Charlie Le Mindu. Styling: Raki Fernandez. Set Design: Bridget Hao. Makeup: Ana Buvinic. Assistant : Wiktoria Rychlewski. Search for: Search. He gained recognition for his elaborate and often unconventional hairstyles, as well as his contributions to the fashion industry. French-born Charlie Le Mindu is a celebrated designer, costume designer, hair designer, and creative director based in New York City.

He has collaborated with leading figures in fashion and art, including Vivienne Westwood, Mugler, and Chanel, with his work featured in publications like Dazed, Document Journal, and Vogue. He has collaborated with various high-profile designers, musicians, and artists, making a name for himself with his bold and eccentric aesthetic. His creations have been showcased in fashion shows, exhibitions, and events around the world.

Can you share some of the special moments that defined you as an artist or person? I worked like crazy for three years when we were doing all the costumes for The Monster Ball. Then in when I was in Paris I was discovering the art world. I mean, I love fashion, but there are not as many fashion designers and photographers who inspire me the way that music inspires me.

My mother used to listen to really interesting music for a mom. I think she put me in a kind of musical mindset that was really inspiring because it was always very visual. You know, she would listen to Peaches too. Very visual stuff. You are now at the top. You are doing your own thing in the industry. Maybe everyone should start this way.

You know, your daily life lessons? One day, I do a photoshoot with you, the other day I do something with my band. Another day I will be doing interviews, or doing a movie or TV show, you know. And this is what I like. What are you learning right now? Could you share some of your memories with us? You think it started in Berlin? I mean, we all learn every day.

And still now, while being on tour, I still learn. But Berlin taught me a lot. I was not an innocent boy. I was a crazy boy. I moved to Berlin and not to London because I had no money at the time. And Berlin was really cheap. I remember I used to pay euros for charlie le mindu backstage salon bedrooms in Schlesisches Tor. So living in Berlin shaped your future.

Do you implement the things you did in the past in the projects you are doing right now? New York has amazing clubs and parties. But then I still like the way they did it in Berlin. Or Germany in general, because Germany has amazing taste in music. It was just different. I was not in the punk scene, but I was with the new wave and dark wave community.

I think it gave me some of my qualities. Do I look like such a drug addict? But I think they mean it as a compliment, haha. How did it start? Peaches taught me so much. Everything she does is very political. It taught me that bringing your message into the world is much more valuable to me than working with Chanel, you know what I mean? Peaches taught me how to be political.

She taught me so much and is like a sister or a mom to me. I love this person so much. You suddenly moved to London. Nicola Formichetti was the stylist of Lady Gaga at that time. He came to my show and directly after the first show told me that she wanted to work with me. And I was like, oh my God, amazing. Just after the first show! Then things went crazy.

I was with Gaga, I did The Bs. I was working with so many people. But yes, it was very big. In a commercial way. You know, Harrods in London? They contacted me because I was working with Gaga. They asked me if I wanted to have a salon. So they opened a salon for me in Harrods. I was 23 or something, it was crazy. They paid for everything.

I hated working there, it was horrible. I wanted to work with Club Kids. It was too much for me. I remember the last day before moving out of Berlin. I told myself, I am never listening to techno or minimal techno again. I want to listen to Kylie Minogue. I need commercial, give me commercial! Everything is so clever and thought out in Berlin.

Just give me something easy. I just want to watch a Hollywood movie, you know. Also, when I moved to London I was completely sober for I think, five years. No drugs. I learned a lot in London. Not about balancing work, but about where I want to be. I just started a big turnaround in my work, recently. I think that right now I know exactly what I want to do.

But maybe in five years, there might be another turnaround. After you moved from Berlin you got sober. Was it the amount of work or did you think, enough is enough, I want to focus right now? It kills my creativity. It kills all creativity.

Charlie le mindu backstage salon

Hair is a fashion accessory and our partnership with On Off helps our stylists explore this. We both want to support emerging talent. Many of our stylists who begin their catwalk careers at On Off go on to become head stylists for leading designers. After working at On Off stylists return to their salons inspired. The designer took on the role of butcher behind the scenes at his AW11 show.