Menu
Get to know: Pulp Riot
We caught up with David and Alexis Thurston, from LA Salon Butterfly Loft and the founders of Pulp Riot to get an insight into how the brand started and their future plans!
How did Pulp Riot come about, how did it all start?
Alexis: We were gaining notoriety from our salon Butterfly Loft and we were becoming very well known for creative colours and then we started an education program called Butterfly Circus, going around the country educating and inspiring artists around the world. And then we decided that we weren't satisfied with what was available and we felt like we could do it better. And so we set out to create the Pulp Riot semi-permanent colours
What was your inspiration for creating Pulp Riot?
David: So for years people have been creating products for stylists who have never stood a day behind the chair. And we thought that the magic would happen if we created something where there is zero degrees of separation between those creative products and those who use the products every day. So our products are created inside a hair salon by actual hairstylists. The range has this authenticity that we're connecting with the whole beauty community. You feel closer to our products because of that.
Tell us about the colours and what's on offer in the range.
Alexis: So we started with our 16 semi-permanent colours and then we expanded to our Neon Electric colours. They're all inter-mixable and our neon electric colours actually glow in UV lighting. So it doesn't mean they glow in the dark but if you were to go to a club or somewhere that has black lighting then your hair would glow which is a really cool thing.
David: Our products last longer, they're easier to apply and they fade better and since releasing these products we've launched blonding products, permanent colours, toners; products designed to hit a much broader market.
Tell us about the packaging design. What was the idea behind it?
David: So the packaging is pretty revolutionary with Pulp Riot. It features street art on the packaging. Artists take many different forms and different shapes in street art. Artists think of the brick wall as their canvas and they paint it. Similarly tattoo artist think of skin as their canvas and they paint that, hairdressers are the same. They're artists and hair is their canvas and Pulp Riot, is their paint.
Alexis: It was innovative for us to think that if you have a green hair colour, the packaging should be green. And we wanted it to look like street art. We wanted it to have a craftsmanship and something really cool to look at and not hide away in your colour cabinetry but have it out on display for everybody to see.
David: I think there is a certain level of taste and craftsmanship to the products and the way they look. I think it's important when you purchase a product that you feel something that you feel good about yourself and through our packaging we celebrate the different art forms.
What are your signature go to looks when creating.
Alexis: I think a few signature go to looks are shadow rooting and colour melting. That's something that you can do with creative colour. And it's also something you can translate into permanent or demi permanent colour. So really it's using the same techniques but using a different medium. So with our semi-permanent you can create a colour meld with you know pink into yellow or you can also create that with our permanent colour or even with our toners. And it's really just kind of using different products and using the same techniques.
David: For me what I love is hair colour is totally seasonal. So in the spring the go to products are the pastels and the muted neon colours, and the fall and you get these coppers coming out and of course in the summer everyone's going blonde.
What's your advice for someone trying out semi-permanent colour for the first time?
David: My advice for anybody trying semi-permanent colour for the first time is to know the canvas that you're putting it on and that's what separates good artists from great artists. First identify what canvas you’re working with and then determine whether you need to lighten the hair or what you need to do to get the look you're going for.
Are there any colour trends coming up that you're really excited about?
Alexis: I love seeing rainbow looks or even soft pastel rainbow lights. It's a really creative way to get little pops of colour and experiment with different colours without doing your whole head.
David: I think what's really exciting right now is people are creating wearable looks with creative colour and when I say wearable, I mean something that’s not so shocking that you can wear every day to work. One way we're seeing this is artists taking the neon colours and they're diluting them with clear to create a pastel look but with a punch and I think that's a pretty exciting movement.
Why did you choose to partner with Capital Hair and Beauty?
David: We decided to partner with Capital Hair and Beauty because they're innovators, because they're forward thinking, and because they wanted something more than a business transaction. And that's how we like to operate. We form relationships and sitting down with them for just a short period of time and hearing their vision and their beliefs about the hair industry truly is a no brainer that that's a company we wanted to partner with.
What's the plans for expansion in the U.K.?
In the UK we’re starting with our semi-permanent colours and our toners and then going full range with our permanent colour line which we'll be launching later this fall.
Freelance Focus
Freelance Focus, is a one stop resource for anyone working as a freelancer or thinking of going freelance in the hair & beauty industry, which includes a FREE downloadable guide filled with advice, useful insights, experiences and tips (from experienced freelancers) to help you understand the steps needed to make the right choices for you.
Top trending
VEGAN
Delivery
Collection
Please login to your account to check stock in your local store.
Delivery
Collection
Please login to your account to check stock in your local store.
VEGAN
Delivery
Collection
Please login to your account to check stock in your local store.
OFFER
Delivery
Collection
Please login to your account to check stock in your local store.
7 FOR 6
MORE OPTIONS
OFFER
Delivery
Collection
Please login to your account to check stock in your local store.
BUY 3 FOR THE PRICE OF 2
OFFER
Delivery
Collection
Please login to your account to check stock in your local store.
6 FOR 5
MORE OPTIONS
Delivery
Collection
Please login to your account to check stock in your local store.
Delivery
Collection
Please login to your account to check stock in your local store.
Delivery
Collection
Please login to your account to check stock in your local store.
OFFER
VEGAN
Delivery
Collection
Please login to your account to check stock in your local store.
MULTI BUY
Back to Posts
Tags
- acne
- advice
- allergy
- apps
- autumn
- awards
- balayage
- barbering
- beauty industry
- blonde
- braids
- bridal
- brows
- business
- capital & i
- career
- christmas
- client loyalty
- color wow
- covid-19
- curls
- eyelash
- facial
- fanola
- festive
- finance
- freelance
- gellux
- hair
- hair care
- hair colour
- hair salon
- hair styles
- hair styling
- hair trends
- hairdressing
- hairstyle
- hairstyles
- halloween
- healthy
- how to
- hygiene
- ideas
- indola
- industry
- inspiration
- interview
- k18
- lashes
- lockdown
- loreal
- macadamia
- make up
- makeup
- manicure
- marketing
- mens
- mental health
- microblading
- nail art
- nail industry
- nail inspiration
- nail technician
- nail trends
- nails
- new years
- nioxin
- nxt
- olaplex
- opi
- party
- pedicure
- ponytail
- products
- professional
- professionals
- pulp riot
- redken
- reopening
- retail
- reviews
- revlon
- salon
- salon finance
- salon furniture
- salon management
- salon owner
- salon refit
- salon services
- salon system
- salons
- schwarzkopf
- self care
- self-care
- self-employed
- skills
- skincare
- skincare regime
- skincare steps
- social
- social media
- spa
- spring
- step by step
- style
- styling
- stylist
- summer
- sun damage
- suncream
- sustainable
- tanning
- technique
- the manicure company
- tigi
- tiktok
- time to improve
- tips
- toner
- toning
- top knot
- training
- treatment
- trending products
- trends
- tutorial
- updo
- upskills
- valentines
- vegan
- vegan beauty
- veganuary
- wahl
- waxing
- wedding
- wella
- wellbeing
- wellness
- winter
- winter nails
- yovanka loria extensions
Latest Posts
- Beautiful Hair Moments From The MET Gala
- The K18 ingredients you need for your cleanest hair yet!
- A Week In My Shoes - Yovanka Loria
- Is K18 a Protein?
- Chantelle: Capital & Me, my self-employed journey & the importance of networking
- Meet Sophie, owner of ‘Sophie’s Lashes & Beauty’ which she has been running now for over 7 years!
- K18 Biomimetic Hair Science vs. Bond Builders
- K18 & Your Salon Services - How to incorporate K18 Services for Ultimate Hair Restoration
- What is K18 and how does it work?
- From Money Worries to Family Drama: What's Stressing Your Skin & Hair the Most?
Related Posts
Beautiful Hair Moments From The MET Gala
The Met Gala is the Oscars of fashion, but you can’t make a fashion statement without the glam team. Check out the key hair trends we saw on the red carpet, and why they’re going to be perfect for clients who are looking for bridal glam or festival inspiration.
The K18 ingredients you need for your cleanest hair yet!
Has your client ever asked you abour ingredients in the products that you use on them?
Have you found yourself scanning the back of the packaging and googling the names and feeling a little lost?
You're not alone. Ingredient labels are complex when it comes to haircare and contain an array of unfamilar natural chemical and biological ingredients with confusing names. We are here to give you the tools you need to translate and explain to your clients what is in the products that you use on them in the salon and which K18 products can help you achieve the cleanest hair yet!
A Week In My Shoes - Yovanka Loria
Spend the week with Yovanka Loria, a salon owner and founder of a multifaceted global business, Yovanka Loria Extensions.
Is K18 a Protein?
K18 is built differently...
As hair stylists, we all know about protein overload. That dreaded dry, brittle feeling in the hair is not only an undesirable result, but any treatments you apply won't be able to penetrate deep into the hair fibre and work their magic. But don’t worry! K18 has got your back.
Chantelle: Capital & Me, my self-employed journey & the importance of networking
Introducing Chantelle, a talented beautician, hair extension specialist and proud owner of ‘Chantelle’s Beautique’. We sit down with Chantelle as she tells us how she started out in the industry, her top tips for becoming self-employed, struggles she faced and overcame along the way and her favourite products that she can’t live without!
My treatment room is based in my garden at home and I offer a full range of Hair and Beauty treatments specialising in skin care, brows & hair extensions. My clients love my set up and really appreciate the little touches like being able to park with ease and having more of a cosy experience away from the hustle and bustle of a busy salon. As well as running my own business at home, I also enjoy teaching others on their journey starting out in the trade with my own accredited courses at home as another branch of my business called ‘The Hair and Beauty Training Beautique’. You may also see me in your local Capital Hair & Beauty as I also tutor for one of their training providers ‘Face Forward’ offering brow lamination and lash lift and tint courses.
Meet Sophie, owner of ‘Sophie’s Lashes & Beauty’ which she has been running now for over 7 years!
Sophie gained a wealth of experience working in the industry from her background working in prestigious 5 hotel & spa and salon settings which lead her up to starting a business of her own. We talk about all things beauty and the curved tweezers that she can’t live without!
Hi Sophie, tell us a little bit about your journey and how you go into the industry and what lead up to starting out on your own?
I gained a lot of knowledge from working in different settings from working with a big teams in a 5 star hotels and spas to smaller beauty salon environments. I gained so much knowledge from working in both settings and although it was hard work and long hours.
I started out by working in a few different 5 star hotels with spas and a salons where I gained all my knowledges and experiences from each one to put together for my own business! It was hard work and long hours all the practice paid off. It was actually one of my clients I saw regularly in the salon I worked at that said I should set up on my own and gave me the confidence to go self-employed and I’ve not looked back since!
K18 Biomimetic Hair Science vs. Bond Builders
As professionals in the hairdressing industry, we're well aware of the constant innovation occurring in our field. Our clients love to dramatically alter their look with the ever-changing trends and we do everything we can to prioritise the health of their hair. Bond-building treatments have long been a staple in salons to address this need. However, allow us to present the latest advancement: biomimetic hair science and K18!
Understanding the Future of Haircare: From Bond Builders to Biomimetic Hair Science
For centuries, the haircare industry relied on cosmetic chemistry to conceal damage. Historical solutions like oils and conditioners were designed to sit on the surface of the hair, providing a temporary fix by improving its appearance and manageability. However, these solutions fell short of addressing hair's health at its core.
K18 & Your Salon Services - How to incorporate K18 Services for Ultimate Hair Restoration
Learn how to leverage K18 products in your salon services to reverse damage, fortify hair and enhance salon results all whilst boosting your salon profits. Discover our step-by-step instructions for every treatment, from lightening to styling in our handy salon go-to guide!