Amy Winehouse’s hairdresser initially created signature beehive ‘as a joke’
‘As we came out the trailer everybody went, “Oh my God! That is it, that is the signature look”’
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Amy Winehouse’s hairdresser has revealed that he only created her trademark beehive “as a joke”.
Alex Foden created the signature look on the video set for her hit record “Back to Black ”to the delight of the singer and crew.
Ahead of the tenth anniversary of her death on 23 July, he recounted the creation of her iconic look.
“As a joke, I backcombed her hair massively and put an extra packet of hair in,” he told the Sunday People.
“It was never meant to be that big so I said, ‘let’s turn you into a caricature’. I’d get two packs of synthetic hair, which is light, put hairnets around it and sew those together. We called them fur balls,” he said.
“I said, ‘There you go, let’s go and show the finished look’, taking the p*ss obviously, and as we came out the trailer everybody went, ‘Oh my God! That is it, that is the signature look’.”
Foden, who knew the “Tears Dry On Their Own” singer for five years, added that her coiffure became something of a black hole.
“She once couldn’t find her mobile for three days,” he said.
“She scratched her head and it was inside her beehive.”
The celebrity hairdresser credits Amy with “saving” him by paying for him to access professional help for drug and alcohol addiction.
“Amy’s my guardian angel,” he said. “I dream about her a lot.”
The news follows recent comments made by Winehouse’s father Mitch, who says he wants her to be remembered for her successes, not her struggles with alcohol.
The singer died at the age of 27 on 23 July 2011 at her home in Camden, north London, from alcohol poisoning.
He told The Sun that he tries to make people remember the “Rehab” singer for “her talent, her generosity and the love she showed us all” and “not just her troubles with addiction.”
He added: “The thing is, though, and I can’t say this clearly enough, I would give back every penny just to have my daughter back,” he said.
“Ten years after her death, she is still looking after her loved ones — her family and many of her friends have been supported by her — and that’s typical of her. She was generous in life and in many ways she still is now.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments