Collective vision

Alex Keville co-owns Alan Keville For Hair with her husband Alan, which has salons in Dublin, Kildare and Wexford. She began her full-time hairdressing career when she was 16, and is the first stylist to join the R+Co Collective in Ireland

What is your earliest memory?

I think it was when my younger sister was born. I actually don’t remember her coming into the house, but I remember a feeling, and the front room of the home we lived in. I suppose I can say I don’t remember life without her.

Who or what is your biggest inspiration?

My aunt was the head sister of a Belfast hospital and had retired two years ago, but she went back to work from the onset of the pandemic. It was the scariest time possible and she just did it, no questions. So she’s my biggest inspiration. Over the past year I have been continually inspired by people and their resilience. I think we’ve all seen the challenges of Covid- 19, and the strength of people has blown me away.

What was your first job?

It was in a hair salon in northern England where I grew up. I always wanted to be a hairdresser, and my mom’s friend owned a salon, so I begged her to let me work there. I was 12, but I had to pretend to be 14 to clients. I washed those colour bowls so well!

Ideal holiday destination?

Anywhere out of Ireland at this stage! I love our annual family holiday with my husband and daughter to the Canaries, but a good group trip to Ibiza or a girls’ vacation to Vegas is always a good idea.

Favourite food?

I always say my ideal meal is champagne and fries. You can’t beat sitting in the lobby of The Westbury with a portion of fries teamed up wth a nice glass of bubbles.

Favourite drink?

I never say no to a chilled glass of champagne.

How do you relax?

I love to relax on a Sunday; sometimes just chilling at home is the perfect tonic. I don’t work Tuesdays, so I like to treat myself to a spa morning in The Shelbourne whenever I need a little TLC.

‘The pandemic has taught me to be happy with who I am; I think I always thought I had to try to fix things to be valued’

Dream dinner party guest/guests (alive or dead)?

I absolutely love Schitt’s Creek so I’d invite Alexis and Moira Rose from that show. I’d also invite the Queen, as well as Freddie Mercury and Heath Ledger. All of them together would be fun!

Do you cook and, if so, do you have a signature recipe?

I don’t really cook, but over the pandemic I signed up to The Happy Pear gut course. I made some great dishes, such as a fabulous paella.

Best piece of advice you've ever received?

My dad owns an engineering firm in the UK and he told me business is like snakes and ladders – you might fall down, but there will always be a ladder to get back up. This still resonates with me, especially over the last two years.

Best piece of advice you've ever given?

When you have no control over a situation, and you can’t fix it, you just have to let go. The pandemic has taught me to be happy with who I am; I think I always thought I had to try to fix things to be valued.

What's the one hair and/or beauty product you can't live without?

My favourite hair product is a good dry shampoo, such as Death Valley from R+Co. Now that we are wearing masks every day, I can’t be without Skingredients Sally Cleanse from The Skin Nerd. It’s the only product that stops my skin from breaking out.

What, if anything, would you now tell your 16-year-old self?

My 16-year-old self was probably a lot more free-spirited, so these days I’m actually becoming a lot more like her. I have started to get back to being a little less worried about everything I can’t control.

How would you like to be remembered?

I want to be remembered as the best mom to my daughter Addison. She’s my world.