Hailing from the North, Emma Tierney is an award-winning hairstylist, session-stylist, wig-worker, mother and true artist. She is recognised for working with the world’s most prestigious, respected leading fashion houses, photographers and creatives.

Emma began her career working at her parents’ salon in the 90s. Craving creative independence and her own artistic outlet, she then trained at TONI&GUY with the most pioneering and technical hair cutters of our time.

Developing a penchant for the avant-garde won her a leading position, at just 18 years old, on the session team at London Fashion Week with the British Fashion Council.

Spanning two decades, her first season began with Roksanda Ilincic at the V&A and she has gone on to work with teams at LFW every season since. 

Emma’s experience takes her from working with up-and-coming designers at Fashion East to major fashion houses. These include Chanel, Paul Smith, Giles Deacon, Gareth Pugh, Pam Hogg, Paul Costello and Preen to name a few. This experience propelled her teaching the avant-garde and session styling for ‘The Breakthrough Team’ with TONI&GUY, L’Oréal and Wella. She then led shows, workshops and seminars.

In 2005, Emma was promoted to Artistic Director at TONI&GUY after directing and producing her own film/live performance, ‘Dilettantes’ including pioneering hair and wig work.  

She drew on inspiration from her friends in fashion, art and music. As a young single mother, she often took her children in tow for collaboration on photoshoots, film and music videos.

The love of being backstage, performance, storytelling, dress up and play also led her to theatre work, and in particular, working backstage on wigs. “I loved the fresh, uplifting, lively energy of theatre and actors in the evening after being in the salon during the day.” Her love of the Arts made her determined to juggle theatre work, babies, a growing salon client base and teaching at the TONY&GUY ACADEMY. She thrives in creative and busy environments.

Joining the fashion agency CATWALK, Emma gained further knowledge and experience in television, media and advertising. To date, her portfolio includes hair for the British Fashion Awards, working backstage at the L’Oréal colour trophy awards and work at Salon International. 

After 23 years, and coinciding with the sad passing of TONI MASCOLO, Emma made the transition to leave TONY&GUY and become a Freelance Session Stylist. This pivotal change led to Emma achieving one of her dreams: to assist her hair idol Eugene Souleiman in London, Paris and Milan on back-to-back shows for Wales Bonner, Preen, Thom Browne, Maison Margiela and Jill Sander.

Her most recent years working between London Paris and Milan assisting Luke Hersheson regularly on Vogue shoots. Campaigns for Victoria Beckham, All Saints, Zara, Paul Smith and Molly Goddard. Also events, music videos and film for Dua Lipa.

Currently, Emma has directed and created three front cover hair looks for magazines based in New York and London. She headed her own shoot with Stella McCartney for Stella McCartney Kids and headed editorial contributions for Dazed, i-D, FOXES, Twin, Impression- New York, ‘Hello’ & i-D Japan.

A collaboration with Pretty Green for Liam Gallagher saw Emma heading the hair. She is also known for her work on music videos for Yard Act, Warmduscher, Working Men’s Club, Nuha Ruby Ra, Fat White Family, Amyl and the Sniffers, The Horrors and numerous global musicians.

Emma is an advocate of well-being and loves yoga, swimming, philosophy, the outdoors and all things mystical. A lover of travel and culture, Emma has spent time in many different countries across the world. Highlights have been India, Marrakesh, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Joshua Tree, San Francisco, Seattle, Austin TX, Istanbul and Rome. When home, Emma resides with her family in Leeds and London, working from her studio.