THICKCUTS is the buzzcut artist making ‘sharp and loud’ looks

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“Sharp, experimental, loud” – these are the words London-based hair artist Ami Fall uses to describe the buzzcut art empire she’s created. What started on the living room floor with a couple of friends quickly spiralled into DMs, bookings, a cult following, and eventually THICKCUTS, a page dedicated to documenting the vibrant colour designs she paints across heads.

Born and raised in London, Fall’s early world was analogue, filled with drawing, painting, writing and reading. “Ladbroke Grove has always had amazing places for kids who are creative,” she says. “I think those were some of the earliest places my creative mind began to evolve.” It kept evolving as she began her hair career, and she soon felt the need to push the boundaries of traditional hair colouring, moving beyond single colour buzzes to create more complex, experimental designs.

It’s this creativity and experimentation which means you never quite know what’s going to land next on the THICKCUTS page. There are primary colour animal prints, dizzying kaleidoscopic patterns and bouquets of wildflowers on bleached buzzes. Pokémon, aliens and insects all feature, as well as more abstract designs in bold and vibrant colours. It’s unsurprising, then, that THICKCUTS sees beauty as the truest form of self-liberation and expression. “It’s an amazing thing to be bold and able to outwardly express yourself in vibrant and creative ways. Why not use hair as a way to do that?” she says. “My main message with what I do is to encourage people to stand out, have fun with what you look like. We’re not here for long, so you might as well have fun – especially as adults.”

Below, we talk to the hair artist about her beauty icons and the evolution of THICKCUTS.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and where you grew up?

Ami Fall: My name is Aminata Fall. I go by ‘Ami’ for short. I'm a multidisciplinary artist, but as of now, most people know me as a hair artist. I grew up in Ladbroke Grove, with a very analogue childhood, where I mostly expressed myself through drawing, painting, writing and reading. Ladbroke Grove has always had amazing places for creative kids – places like The Tabernacle, Portobello Road, Meanwhile Gardens etc. I think those were some of the earliest places my creative mind began to evolve.

What is it you do and why do you do it?

Ami Fall: I create freehand art on people’s heads. I paint, I draw, I make custom designs for whoever wants to feel unique and vibrantly express themselves. I cut and dye hair, which fills me with joy because I love doing stuff with my hands. I do this because I love to create. I love to improvise, blend colours, and stretch my imagination.

How did you get into it?

Ami Fall: Two of my friends who would spend a lot of time at my apartment, let me cut and dye their hair whenever they came around. I decided to switch things up and play around a bit more, so I started arranging the colours that I was applying to their hair in more adventurous ways instead of just doing single colours. Two friends turned into a bunch. That turned into mutual friends, which then turned into strangers who had found my photos on Instagram, which I had initially made as a visual archive. The rest is history, I guess.

What’s your earliest beauty-related memory?

Ami Fall: My earliest beauty-related memory was when I was about 11, and I remember I had a magazine which included a free mascara and eyeliner. So I put it on in secret. Then I carried on as if nothing had happened. My cousin, my aunt and my mum were all like, ‘are you wearing make-up?’ And I was so embarrassed I took it off straightaway. I’ve loved make-up ever since, though – it’s one of my biggest joys.

What’s been your career highlight so far?

Ami Fall: There’ve been so many career highlights, but if I had to choose, I’d say my London pop-ups have been my highlight. Being recognised for what I do and being given space by amazing people to host my work has filled me with a lot of gratitude and self-belief. It makes me feel like I’m on the right path.

Who is your beauty icon?

Ami Fall: Grace Jones. So iconic. There are so many looks that I can think of. So sharp, so fierce. The attitude and the poise are so satisfying to me. The outfits, the hair, the way she carries herself are super powerful.

When do you feel most beautiful?

Ami Fall: I feel the most beautiful when I feel balanced. For example, when I have my perfect balance of masculinity and femininity. Like when I have a really pretty make-up look on, with a comfy outfit that gives off slightly masculine energy but not too much. I think my eyes tell a lot about how confident I feel. I usually feel beautiful when that comes through in my eyes, too.

What is your current obsession?

Ami Fall: ChatGPT. Maybe that’s controversial, but I find it so fascinating. 

You encounter a hostile alien race and sound is their only mechanism for communication. What song would you play to them to inspire them to spare you and the rest of the human race?

Ami Fall: Anything by Ceechynaa.

Are you optimistic about the future?

Ami Fall: I am actually! I’m optimistic about the future. I think there’s a lot more coming for me. There are so many places that I want to go and quests that I need to complete. Opportunities are opening up a lot, and I can see myself expanding my craft even more. I’m excited to see where this all goes.

What is the future of beauty?

Ami Fall: The future of beauty is (hopefully) one where people want to look as much as themselves as possible, instead of us collectively merging into the same people gradually over time through trends. Nothing wrong with trends, but it would be nice if we all celebrated our features more.