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24 | BEAUTY LAUNCHPAD | MAY 2016 S tylists-in-training don't often take lessons from nine-year-old girls—though it's equally rare that the child in question hails from Italian hair royalty. One could argue that Sacha Mascolo-Tarbuck was born with an inherent love for fashioning tresses. Her grandfather, Francesco, was a barber who emigrated from Naples to England with his wife and four sons. The two eldest of these boys—her father, Toni, and her uncle Guy—went on to become industry legends, launching the TONI&GUY; London empire that today boasts world-class products and more than 500 salons around the globe. But all of this was just beginning with two small shops in London when a young Mascolo-Tarbuck stood before a room of students to eagerly demonstrate a technique. "I loved braiding hair, and I learned lots of tips from books," she recalls. "Once during a class at our Davies Street location, I noticed they weren't plaiting properly, so I showed them how to do it!" Such spunk and innate understanding of how to sculpt strands help explain why she now serves as Global Creative Director for both the TONI&GUY; London and label.m brands, though the path to these positions did occasionally curve. "I've always loved fashion, and for a time I wanted to be a clothing designer," says Mascolo- Tarbuck. Mom and Dad encouraged all dreams, so she briefl y studied art and textile creation, until the family business beckoned her back. At age 17, the novice attended a beginner's hairdressing course at the TONI&GUY; Hairdressing Academy in London's St. Christopher's Place. True to childhood form, a few months later she had her own clients. By 18, she was an instructor. Uncle Anthony and session stylist Guido Palau, who soon became her mentors, next asked her to assist on shows in Australia, Japan and the U.S. One year, while in L.A. for Fashion Week, they walked into Calvin Klein to do a hair test. "Sitting in the model's chair was Kate Moss, who hadn't yet hit big," relays Mascolo-Tarbuck. "We were hot on the London grunge look, which is what she got—and Calvin loved it." Collaborations with Prada, Versace and Helmut Lang naturally followed, as teams of ten worked to make the era's top models— Linda, Naomi, Cindy—ever more rad. Through it all, Mascolo- Tarbuck modestly eschewed the stage. "I found my passion executing looks behind the scenes," she says. Nevertheless, she was thrust spectacularly into the spotlight at age 19, becoming the youngest person ever to win "Newcomer of the Year" at the British Hairdressing Awards, and she says winning Hairdresser of the Year from the Fellowship was the ultimate accolade. "Now my focus is on guiding my teams to produce brilliant work." From packaging on haircare ranges to overseeing photo shoots to designing new salons, she is responsible for all creative aspects of both label.m and TONI&GUY; London. Luckily, she has help. Husband James Tarbuck serves as head of media for label.m and TONI&GUY; London. They met when Sacha was 12 years old. "I was at an all-girls convent school, and he was pals with my best friend's brother," she reveals. Twenty years ago they began dating, and now have three kids: Vito, 12; Sophia, 10; and Rico, 4. "Time passes fast, so I try to keep balance between my beloved work and gorgeous family," refl ects Mascolo-Tarbuck. "Success is a journey we all take together." Born into Italian hair royalty, Sacha Mascolo-Tarbuck now oversees her own empire of brands. —FRANCESCA MOISIN Conversations/Profi les Bella Donna SACHA SAYS PLACE YOU CURRENTLY CALL HOME: A 100-acre farm in Surrey [a county southeast of London] near my parents, which we're in the process of building MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF YOUR WORK: Too much to do and not enough time to do it FAVORITE DESTINATION: Thailand. I love the sea, the beaches and the food. I'm also continuously inspired when visiting Japan, and I love our family trips to Italy BEST ADVICE FOR A BUDDING STYLIST: When asked to do something you've never done, always say yes, then fi gure out the solution BEST PART OF YOUR JOB: The enthusiasm of the people I work with and consistent creative energy by which I'm lucky to be surrounded label.m Global Executives Paul Bulman, Eamonn Boreham, Mascolo-Tarbuck and James Tarbuck at the label.m Distributor Awards Father-daughter duo Toni Mascolo and Sacha Mascolo-Tarbuck GETTY IMAGES