Sophia Hilton reveals all at NOISE

This year Sophia Hilton presented at Richard Ashforth’s underground hair show, NOISE. If you thought you knew everything there was to know about Sophia, you hadn’t seen anything yet.

“I stopped setting annual goals a few years ago in place of themes. This year my themes were creativity, family, and community. For my creativity theme I wanted to make sure that I did creative things that didn’t result in me getting paid. I wanted to find new ways to express myself where there wasn’t an end client, be that a person in my salon chair, or a brand with strict guidelines. I set off by making my first dress since high school, then some painting and poetry. It was genuinely liberating to be creative outside of hair again. When the NOISE show asked me if I wanted a slot, I was so excited! I first saw NOISE about 12 years ago, and it was one of the most creative show with ‘no rules’ I’ve ever seen; it changed my career. I had a new spark for hairdressing again” says Sophia.

NOISE has an underground show, no brand affiliations, no one gets paid, but you’re able to try out new ideas and focus on art not just hair – the brainchild of Richard Ashforth from Saco.

“Since I was 21 years old I have been performing in London’s West End nightclubs and cabaret clubs. It was a great way to hustle through my first few years of being in London on low money. From fetish themed burlesque performances, to fire and costumed interactive theatre, there was always something new for me to be creative with. Not only that, but instead of spending money every Saturday night I came home with some! It was always advised, and probably rightly so for this time, to keep this a secret from the hair industry. I was trying to build a name and it was only ever going to tarnish that as, let’s be honest, it was pretty provocative! But overtime I realised that this creative side of me was part of me.

NOISE was the first opportunity where I got to mix my creative secret life as a performer with a hair show. It was so liberating and it made me realise that creativity isn’t to be hidden, even if it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. I urge everyone to show every part of themselves. It’s a different world now, and being yourself is celebrated. Even if you’re in an environment where it’s not, be brave enough to break that mold.”

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