Heavy metal hairdresser's disbelief at nomination

The self-styled "Heavy Metal Hairdresser" who has clipped the hair of rock royalty in a career spanning almost 25 years is up for a prestigious award.

Simon Tuckwell recently returned from Download, where he styled the hair of fans and artists including Architects and Creeper.

Tuckwell, 38, said it was "mind-blowing" to discover he had been nominated for celebrity hairstylist of the year in the Pro Hair Awards.

"I genuinely couldn't believe it when I read it, because I felt what we do, it's a niche," said Tuckwell, who runs an alternative and metal-themed salon in Nottingham.

Tuckwell, of Ilkeston in Derbyshire, has been cutting hair for 24 years and has been operating in Nottingham for 16 years.

He built his business through social media, and it was while scrolling that he learned he had been shortlisted for celebrity hairstylist of the year, which he said was mind-blowing

"I never thought people would recognise that because I've been told for so long that it wasn't the industry standard," he added.

"To now be nominated for this award, for doing something completely different to the other finalists, is incredible. I'm still on cloud nine about it."

During his career, he has looked after the hair of some of rock's biggest stars, including Slipknot singer Corey Taylor and members of Avenged Sevenfold.

He has even been invited to join bands on tour.

Tuckwell is the only nominee outside of London and the south-east in the Pro Hair awards' celebrity hairstylist category.

"We were always told that nobody wanted to listen to the music that I liked, that nobody wanted to have cool, fun hair, nobody wanted shaved bits and space where they can get their heads tattooed," he said.

"We wanted people to still feel like there is somewhere that is premium. They can still come and get a beautiful salon experience but it doesn't fit that regular salon experience."

The Pro Hair Awards 2026 take place in Covent Garden on 7 September.

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