Timothy David & the Airstream studio, where dreams come true...
“Oh, do I smell Le Labo Santal 33?” Timothy David’s cool Irish accent greets me with an immediate compliment, reflective of his sharp nose, and exceptionally good taste. I have to admit that it’s a perfume that smells similar but at a quarter of the price. Immediately I am both intimidated and intrigued. This is the man who curates the hair of very well-known actors… (those who do not need to be named, because this is an article about Timothy David). Walking into David’s studio is like hanging out in your best friend’s luxurious bedroom. Intimate, fun, and where the dirt gets spilled. He offers me an expresso with oat milk from his built-in fridge. I feel a case of imposter syndrome while being the focus of David’s attention – why should I, a nobody, with zero connections be sitting here in THE chair with no gossip to impart. I quickly discover that David has the affability to find a common interest with anyone. For me, it is Art with a capital A. Timothy David, an avid painter and creative, treats hair like an artist treats a canvas, or a fashion designer tailors his dress. “I want to tell a story with colour and shape, I want it to be fluid.” David shares with me. Although spending 5 years at drama school, he sees himself primarily as “artist, poet, painter”.
Gazing out of the airstream windows, you will notice the hunky handy-men tending to elegant classic cars in the warehouse next door. David aims to bring “Berlin to Brentford”, with his steel bullet Airstream establishing itself amongst the industrial setting. Shiny and outlandish, just like the artist in residence himself, the airstream brings a unique sense of space and privacy that a salon does not offer.
I point to one of the two pictures hanging on the wall. The first is of a girl in a plaid skirt standing in Tokyo, the other is a photo of another metallic Airstream gleaming in the sun against the bright blue sky in a very Hockney-esque fashion. “I’ve always loved airstreams. Mum and I used to paint them together. This airstream is named Pauline, as a tribute to my mum, who died at a result of domestic violence.” Seeing the inner radiance that shines through him it is difficult to believe something so tragic could have happened to David as a child. We turn to the other photo. “I love Japan and all things Japanese”. Can you speak it? I ask. David answers with a long string of sentences which sound to me like fluent Japanese. He has Chinese relatives as well. I then mention that my mother is Chinese and he continues in Chinese (although I do not speak a word of it). For the next 10 minutes David flows in and out of 8 different languages that I can’t speak a word of until he finally settles with French and pauses. Do you speak French? Oui, I reply. And with that, the rest of our conversation in the studio is carried out in French.
With over 400 clients in London, splitting his time between the UK, Dubai, and Geneva, David has a flair for languages, and draws his inspiration from a range of cultures. The object of his affection is the French “meche” technique, which he has adopted in his approach to highlights creating the most natural colour ever seen. I can testify to this fact. After sitting with hundreds of foils dripping from my head, Timothy David achieves an effortless and beautiful subtle ash brown, and correctly convinces me to cut my hair into a shaggy bob a la Alexa Chung. He tongs a few pieces, gives it a rustle “C’est vraiment chouette!” David coos.
Intrigued and want to make a booking? Fat chance. The studio is fully booked until September this year, (unless of course you have one of those names that we can’t mention, but people love to drop).
