He’s now landed a new job working on Season 8 of Love Island USA<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n\n10:22, 29 May 2026<\/span>Updated 10:22, 29 May 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/div>\n
\n![\"Carl](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.bristolpost.co.uk\/article10989336.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/1_A-hairdresser-has-revealed-how-he-landed-top-jobs-after-working-with-the-likes-of-Ariana-Grande-the.jpg\")
<\/div>\nCarl Bembridge with Ariana Grande at a Beyonc\u00e9 concert(Image: Carl Bembridge \/ SWNS)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
A Bristol man who was bullied at school fought back to become a hairstylist to stars like Ariana Grande and Nicole Scherzinger.<\/p>\n
Carl Bembridge was a “shy” schoolboy and underwent eleven operations for bone condition rickets.<\/p>\n
He then began an apprenticeship to become a hairdresser and started posting his work on social media.<\/p>\n
It then caught the attention of his first celebrity client – Katie Price.<\/p>\n
A decade later, he had his big break after being offered the job of Ariana Grande’s personal hairstylist while she was filming in London for the movie Wicked.<\/p>\n
He also completed a press tour in New York with The Pussycat Dolls and his work has appeared on the front cover of Vogue.<\/p>\n
\n\n![\"Carl](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.bristolpost.co.uk\/article10989347.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_A-hairdresser-has-revealed-how-he-landed-top-jobs-after-working-with-the-likes-of-Ariana-Grande-the.jpg\")
<\/div>\nCarl with Nicole Scherzinger, filming the Netflix series building the band(Image: Carl Bembridge \/ SWNS)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Carl has now landed a new job working on Season 8 of Love Island USA, which is based in Fiji, and has an agent in America.<\/p>\n
The 35-year-old who now lives in Essex, said: “The thing for me is doing hair for people that I grew up listening to, which is, the most fulfilling and amazing feeling, like Kelly Rowland from Destiny’s Child or Nicole Scherzinger.<\/p>\n
“The other week I was in New York with The Pussycat Dolls, and I grew up dancing to their songs. I also did Melanie C’s hair from the Spice Girls, Ariana Grande and all these people that I literally would never even dream of being with.<\/p>\n
“These names are something that I always dreamt of, and now I’m living my dream. I worked really hard and people always say, ‘oh, you’re so lucky’ but it definitely wasn’t luck.<\/p>\n
“I’m definitely blessed to be given these opportunities and I’ve also worked hard for them.”<\/p>\n
Carl grew up on a council estate in Speedwell and always loved playing with his Pocahontas doll, leading to his obsession with long hair.<\/p>\n
He loved playing with his sister’s hair until his mum bought him a practice doll’s head.<\/p>\n
\n\n![\"Carl](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.bristolpost.co.uk\/article10989352.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_A-hairdresser-has-revealed-how-he-landed-top-jobs-after-working-with-the-likes-of-Ariana-Grande-the.jpg\")
<\/div>\nCarl holding a Pocahontas doll(Image: Carl Bembridge \/ SWNS)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Carl said he was concerned having rickets and multiple operations to realign his leg bones would affect his career.<\/p>\n
He was also worried that the bullying would get worse once people found out he was training to be a hairdresser.<\/p>\n
Carl explained: “I ended up doing my work experience from school and I can always remember I was given a hard time in school as all my friends were girls, and I’m gay, so I was teased for that.<\/p>\n
“So then when it came to work experience, I knew I wanted to go to a hairdresser’s, but I can always remember being super scared for anyone to find out but I still did it anyway because it was just meant to be.<\/p>\n
“Everyone did find out, and I did get teased for it, but it was the best decision I ever made, going with my gut and my heart, and I ended up going to a salon called Cohesion in St. George, Redfield.<\/p>\n
“That’s where the magical first door opened because, the team of Cohesion are now my second family and I worked there since I was 15.<\/p>\n
“They taught me all my foundations of cutting and colouring and just helped building my confidence.”<\/p>\n
At the start of his career, he used tips to pay for transport to London, where he volunteered on shoots for small magazines.<\/p>\n
Using Instagram to showcase his work, he got contacted by Katie Price’s friends to do her hair 10 years ago.<\/p>\n
He said: “I got recommended to from one of her friends, and then they said, ‘can you do her hair?’ and I drove five hours to Lincoln to do her hair and then I came back and though ‘oh my god I’m a celebrity hairstylist’ and little did I know that it was just the beginning.”<\/p>\n
\n\n![\"Carl](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.bristolpost.co.uk\/article10989362.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_A-hairdresser-has-revealed-how-he-landed-top-jobs-after-working-with-the-likes-of-Ariana-Grande-the.jpg\")
<\/div>\nCarl with Maura Higgins on the set of a magazine cover shoot(Image: Carl Bembridge \/ SWNS)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Since then he has had the pleasure to do Ariana Grande’s hair, saying that the experience was “surreal”.<\/p>\n
He explained: “Ariana was coming here to film the movie Wicked and she just needed a hairstylist for while she was in London.<\/p>\n
“Her team said that they loved my work and my energy, and I got chosen, which was super surreal, obviously, because she could have anyone in the world she wanted.<\/p>\n
“I mean, who’s not a fan of her? She’s an icon and a super talented woman – another person I grew up listening to.<\/p>\n
“I was so proud of myself that I knew that I’d been working hard and to get such a talented, well-known person, ended up being a client of mine was such an amazing feeling.”<\/p>\n
Working with all these A-list celebrities has been a “blessing” for Carl who says that all the people he has worked with have been “just lovely”.<\/p>\n
He said: “It’s nice to be around super talented people, super creative.<\/p>\n
“They say don’t meet your idols and all the people that I’ve met have just been beautiful people – I’ve loved it.”<\/p>\n
\n\n![\"Carl](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.bristolpost.co.uk\/article10989365.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_A-hairdresser-has-revealed-how-he-landed-top-jobs-after-working-with-the-likes-of-Ariana-Grande-the.jpg\")
<\/div>\nCarl Bembridge(Image: Carl Bembridge \/ SWNS)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Carl also styled Nicole Scherzinger’s hair for the front cover of Vogue Greece.<\/p>\n
He added: “When I first got to do Nicole’s hair I was over the moon, but then to do my first Vogue cover – I think the imposter syndrome in me kept thinking that something’s going to happen.<\/p>\n
“Your first Vogue Cover is always just your Vogue Cover, so I’ve made sure that I’ve got a few on standby.”<\/p>\n
He has now landed a new job working on Season 8 of Love Island USA, which is based in Fiji, and has an agent in America.<\/p>\n
But despite his life surrounded by big celebrities, Carl says he often misses home and after a long trip he always returns to Bristol.<\/p>\n
“I do miss the little things about home, but it’s just so exciting to be able to go travelling,” he said.<\/p>\n
“This year I’ve been to LA, I’ve been to New York, Cannes Film Festival and I just love the idea of dotting around different places, and then when I need a little bit of a break I’ll come back to Bristol.<\/p>\n
“I will stay with my family, have a little reset and just ground myself with the Bristol home.”<\/p>\n
To check Carl’s Instagram visit the link here: https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/carlbembridgehair\/<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
10:22, 29 May 2026<\/span>Updated 10:22, 29 May 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/span><\/div>\n Carl Bembridge with Ariana Grande at a Beyonc\u00e9 concert(Image: Carl Bembridge \/ SWNS)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n A Bristol man who was bullied at school fought back to become a hairstylist to stars like Ariana Grande and Nicole Scherzinger.<\/p>\n Carl Bembridge was a “shy” schoolboy and underwent eleven operations for bone condition rickets.<\/p>\n He then began an apprenticeship to become a hairdresser and started posting his work on social media.<\/p>\n It then caught the attention of his first celebrity client – Katie Price.<\/p>\n A decade later, he had his big break after being offered the job of Ariana Grande’s personal hairstylist while she was filming in London for the movie Wicked.<\/p>\n He also completed a press tour in New York with The Pussycat Dolls and his work has appeared on the front cover of Vogue.<\/p>\n Carl with Nicole Scherzinger, filming the Netflix series building the band(Image: Carl Bembridge \/ SWNS)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Carl has now landed a new job working on Season 8 of Love Island USA, which is based in Fiji, and has an agent in America.<\/p>\n The 35-year-old who now lives in Essex, said: “The thing for me is doing hair for people that I grew up listening to, which is, the most fulfilling and amazing feeling, like Kelly Rowland from Destiny’s Child or Nicole Scherzinger.<\/p>\n “The other week I was in New York with The Pussycat Dolls, and I grew up dancing to their songs. I also did Melanie C’s hair from the Spice Girls, Ariana Grande and all these people that I literally would never even dream of being with.<\/p>\n “These names are something that I always dreamt of, and now I’m living my dream. I worked really hard and people always say, ‘oh, you’re so lucky’ but it definitely wasn’t luck.<\/p>\n “I’m definitely blessed to be given these opportunities and I’ve also worked hard for them.”<\/p>\n Carl grew up on a council estate in Speedwell and always loved playing with his Pocahontas doll, leading to his obsession with long hair.<\/p>\n He loved playing with his sister’s hair until his mum bought him a practice doll’s head.<\/p>\n Carl holding a Pocahontas doll(Image: Carl Bembridge \/ SWNS)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Carl said he was concerned having rickets and multiple operations to realign his leg bones would affect his career.<\/p>\n He was also worried that the bullying would get worse once people found out he was training to be a hairdresser.<\/p>\n Carl explained: “I ended up doing my work experience from school and I can always remember I was given a hard time in school as all my friends were girls, and I’m gay, so I was teased for that.<\/p>\n “So then when it came to work experience, I knew I wanted to go to a hairdresser’s, but I can always remember being super scared for anyone to find out but I still did it anyway because it was just meant to be.<\/p>\n “Everyone did find out, and I did get teased for it, but it was the best decision I ever made, going with my gut and my heart, and I ended up going to a salon called Cohesion in St. George, Redfield.<\/p>\n “That’s where the magical first door opened because, the team of Cohesion are now my second family and I worked there since I was 15.<\/p>\n “They taught me all my foundations of cutting and colouring and just helped building my confidence.”<\/p>\n At the start of his career, he used tips to pay for transport to London, where he volunteered on shoots for small magazines.<\/p>\n Using Instagram to showcase his work, he got contacted by Katie Price’s friends to do her hair 10 years ago.<\/p>\n He said: “I got recommended to from one of her friends, and then they said, ‘can you do her hair?’ and I drove five hours to Lincoln to do her hair and then I came back and though ‘oh my god I’m a celebrity hairstylist’ and little did I know that it was just the beginning.”<\/p>\n Carl with Maura Higgins on the set of a magazine cover shoot(Image: Carl Bembridge \/ SWNS)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Since then he has had the pleasure to do Ariana Grande’s hair, saying that the experience was “surreal”.<\/p>\n He explained: “Ariana was coming here to film the movie Wicked and she just needed a hairstylist for while she was in London.<\/p>\n “Her team said that they loved my work and my energy, and I got chosen, which was super surreal, obviously, because she could have anyone in the world she wanted.<\/p>\n “I mean, who’s not a fan of her? She’s an icon and a super talented woman – another person I grew up listening to.<\/p>\n “I was so proud of myself that I knew that I’d been working hard and to get such a talented, well-known person, ended up being a client of mine was such an amazing feeling.”<\/p>\n Working with all these A-list celebrities has been a “blessing” for Carl who says that all the people he has worked with have been “just lovely”.<\/p>\n He said: “It’s nice to be around super talented people, super creative.<\/p>\n “They say don’t meet your idols and all the people that I’ve met have just been beautiful people – I’ve loved it.”<\/p>\n Carl Bembridge(Image: Carl Bembridge \/ SWNS)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Carl also styled Nicole Scherzinger’s hair for the front cover of Vogue Greece.<\/p>\n He added: “When I first got to do Nicole’s hair I was over the moon, but then to do my first Vogue cover – I think the imposter syndrome in me kept thinking that something’s going to happen.<\/p>\n “Your first Vogue Cover is always just your Vogue Cover, so I’ve made sure that I’ve got a few on standby.”<\/p>\n He has now landed a new job working on Season 8 of Love Island USA, which is based in Fiji, and has an agent in America.<\/p>\n But despite his life surrounded by big celebrities, Carl says he often misses home and after a long trip he always returns to Bristol.<\/p>\n “I do miss the little things about home, but it’s just so exciting to be able to go travelling,” he said.<\/p>\n “This year I’ve been to LA, I’ve been to New York, Cannes Film Festival and I just love the idea of dotting around different places, and then when I need a little bit of a break I’ll come back to Bristol.<\/p>\n “I will stay with my family, have a little reset and just ground myself with the Bristol home.”<\/p>\n To check Carl’s Instagram visit the link here: https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/carlbembridgehair\/<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n