North London Food & Culture

One-handed hairdresser Ashley: what happened next

A few months ago, Tufnell Park-based coiffeur Ashley Thomson delighted readers with his inspiring story. Here he tells us how it went global

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Ashley Thomson: ‘I received so many emails, mostly from America’

The response from my Kentishtowner article back in the summer has been incredible. In it, I explained how I was born with one hand but never let it get to me; and that while no one can actually teach me how to be a hairdresser, they can show me how it’s meant to be done. I watch carefully and then figure out a way to do the style myself.

The morning my feature went live I received so many emails, mostly from America. I was a little confused at first until a message popped up from celebrity hairdresser Sam Villa, who had been mailed the article by a friend of his in the UK. And I couldn’t believe it: he had shared it with his 52,000 fans.

Ashley Thomson: "No one can actually teach me how to be a hairdresser because they don’t have one hand, No one can actually teach me how to be a hairdresser because they don’t have one hand."
Ashley Thomson: “No one can actually teach me how to be a hairdresser because they don’t have one hand.”

I started to receive some really touching stories: one from a lady with a little girl, who was worried about her future because she also was born with one hand. After seeing my article, she was amazed at what I had achieved – and realised her daughter will be capable of anything and there was no need to worry.

Another girl had been in a car accident and had lost all feeling in her right arm: she had been training to be a hairdresser and was struggling to regain her confidence to go back and start again. She went on to say how much of an inspiration I was; and that she will now be enrolling back into college.


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What else? Since the piece I’ve been approached by a clothing brand to style the hair for their new website, and have also worked on a new brochure for an embroidery company.

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Lydia Mayvol’s wedding

And finally, I’ve been honoured to do a couple of local weddings, most recently for Kentishtowner Lydia Mayvol (left), creating 60s hairstyles for her and the bridesmaids.

Stunning, right? And the exposure led to a job offer from a salon, but unfortunately it was too far for me to travel.

So, I just wanted to say thanks to you all: my north London clientele is growing nicely, and I’ve some lovely customers.

Even better, I’m so happy other people are finding my story inspiring. Anything really is possible.

Ashley is offering a 10% discount for readers during December. Contact him on Twitter @ashleyleehair or email Ashlee_hm@hotmail.co.uk

5 thoughts on “One-handed hairdresser Ashley: what happened next”

  1. I had my Easilocks extensions done by the very talented Ashley Thomson (AshleyLee Hair)and it was the best thing I ever did. I love them! Wouldn’t look back. You won’t be disappointed! xx

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5 thoughts on “One-handed hairdresser Ashley: what happened next”

  1. I had my Easilocks extensions done by the very talented Ashley Thomson (AshleyLee Hair)and it was the best thing I ever did. I love them! Wouldn’t look back. You won’t be disappointed! xx

Leave a Reply to Shay Cancel Reply

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The award-winning print and online title Kentishtowner was founded in 2010 and is part of London Belongs To Me, a citywide network of travel guides for locals. For more info on what we write about and why, see our About section.