Charlotte Mensah's 'Community Matters' Exhibition Opens at Ladbroke Hall
The exhibition 'Charlotte Mensah: Community Matters' will take place at Ladbroke Hall in London from 8 to 13 September 2026, showcasing the groundbreaking work of hairstylist Charlotte Mensah, who specializes in Afro, mixed, and curly hair. This mixed-media display narrates her path from Ghana to her salon, Hairlounge, located on Portobello Road. Curated alongside Madeleine Haddon of V&A East and designer Jacqueline Douglas, the exhibition features photographs, artifacts, discussions, and workshops such as 'Beauty, Business & Belonging.' Mensah highlights the importance of community, recalling her son's bedroom as her initial salon and sharing a 2002 image of her daughter at the salon counter. The event aims to promote Afro hair visibility and advocate for improved education in textured hair care over the past 40 years.
Key facts
- Exhibition 'Charlotte Mensah: Community Matters' runs 8-13 September 2026 at Ladbroke Hall, London.
- The exhibition is a mixed-media retrospective of Charlotte Mensah's life and career.
- It traces her journey from childhood in Ghana to opening Hairlounge salon on Portobello Road.
- Curated with Madeleine Haddon (senior curator at V&A East) and interior designer Jacqueline Douglas.
- Includes talks and workshops such as 'Beauty, Business & Belonging' and 'The Modern-Day Salon: A Cultural Institution.'
- Mensah's son's bedroom was her first salon in the mid-1990s.
- A 2002 photograph shows her daughter hiding inside a counter made for the salon, which is still in use.
- The salon was designed by architect Robert Grace, Mensah's neighbor.
- Mensah advocates for clearer standards and qualifications in hairdressing for textured hair.
- She runs Curl Workshops for families and professional masterclasses for salons.
Entities
Artists
- Charlotte Mensah
Institutions
- Ladbroke Hall
- Hairlounge
- V&A East
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- Ghana
- Portobello Road