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The New Frontier


The New Frontier


Sep 18, 2024 | CREATIVE PROJECTS, EXPLORE, HOME EXPLORE

From Pharrell Williams at Louis Vuitton Men to Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter, the modern take on all things cowboy is a far cry from the traditional Stetson-toting symbol of the wild west. Think of the Compton Cowboys, astride their steeds in urban Los Angeles. Cowboy Core is diverse, inclusive and rewriting the trad image of what we knew.

by AMANDA | DOCUMENTS

As BaByliss PRO unveils its latest styling innovation STILISTA, it partnered with Creative HEAD to challenge ambassadors Michelle Sultan and Tariq Howes to deliver a uniquely personal take on what ‘modern cowboy’ means to them. With the entire BaByliss PRO tool portfolio at their fingertips, they took a fresh journey through the American West. It’s time to saddle up and explore…

Tariq Howes

The 2024 Most Wanted Men’s Hair Specialist, Tariq is an integral part of Jody Taylor’s session team (alongside Nick Barford, Tariq’s team mate on this shoot), sharing his textured hair expertise for labels such as Vetements. Long-time collaborator with Tariq, Lauraine Bailey, was also on set as a master of intricate braiding. Tariq is also the founder of Avenue Barbers in Cardiff, a popular educator and platform artist and a longtime ambassador for BaByliss PRO – those clippers barely leave his hand!

Michelle Sultan

Celebrity stylist beloved by the likes of Alison Hammond and Alex Scott, Michelle is known for her effervescent aesthetic and exceptional creativity on hair of all textures. When she’s not on set or in the studio, you can find her at Battersea’s legendary Hype Coiffure (along with team mates Deen and Schola, pictured) and working on projects for BaByliss PRO as an ambassador.

Well, hello, Dolly! Michelle couldn’t style up a cowboy-inspired shoot and not invite Ms Parton out to play with one of the largest wigs we’ve ever seen. “We’ve made it Dolly and put texture and movement into it, so it’s not straight blonde,” explains Michelle, “and it’s heavy, almost like it’s been roller set for about 10 years…”.

Toolkit: BaByliss PRO Heated Ceramic Rollers.

Michelle loves to create a character building, so welcome her urban cowgirl. “She’s fearless. She’s carefree,” says Michelle. “She lives in a hot climate in Arizona. The hair is slightly sun-kissed. She’s strong, a warrior. That’s the vibe. She’s my queen!”.

Toolkit: The BaByliss PRO Falco Dryer and the pik attachment, to prep the hair, stretch it out and braid it down. Then, pre-formed faux locks were added, crocheting them for a high pile on top.

“The Billy Ray Cyrus look gives me trailer park vibes, with the mullet, the flat top and the slicked back sides. I wanted to give a textured hair version of that,” explains Tariq. “It’s a square flat top with extensions at the back to make the hair really elongated. It’s super cool.” Shout out to Lauraine Bailey who painstakingly weaved in those lengths over hours…

Toolkit: BaByliss PRO Falco Dryer, BaByliss PRO STILISTA (to smooth out ahead of weaving in the extensions) and the BaByliss PRO FX ONE Lo-Pro Clipper and Skeleton Trimmer, to shape the flat top.

Now, let’s get a little more soulful. Think Rick James along with Coming to America’s Darryl Jenks. “Think Soul Glow, soaking wet curls at the back,” smiles Tariq. “Also, a bit of Lionel Richie. That’s the vibe we’re going to go for…

Toolkit: The BaByliss PRO Falco Dryer and pik, to pull out a little more on top.

With those lengths Michelle delivers a nod to Beyoncé. “This is my Cowboy Carter – who doesn’t love that image of the hair and the cowboy hat?” she asks.

Toolkit: BaByliss PRO STILISTA for wrapping in a little texture.

And with such a canvas, it would be a crime not to get a little playful – Michelle hit up the fashion team to borrow some accessories to embellish those lengths and plaits. “We just wanted to get some texture in there, just as if they live in the desert and they just braid their hair.”

Toolkit: BaByliss PRO STILISTA smoothed and straightened the roots and mid-lengths, leaving the ends with a raw finish, before some braids and accessories were added.

 

We’re hitting the 1950s with this Johnny Cash-meets-Elvis vibe. “I think those comb marks are iconic,” says Tariq. “They stand out. It brings out the hair as more of a feature in the final image.”

Toolkit: The BaByliss PRO FX ONE Lo-Pro Clipper was used to taper hair at the neck, before the BaByliss PRO Falco Dryer primed it all back into shape, ahead of slicking it back with pomade.

Then with a little more action at the front to fall into the face and a dryer finish, Johnny Cash just got cooler.

Toolkit: BaByliss PRO Falco Dryer in at the roots and to push back on the sides.

Michelle took inspiration from the model’s own Afro and just kept on going. “We wanted to build on that, using lots of textured pieces, making it huge!”

Toolkit: BaByliss PRO Falco Dryer and diffuser (to build in movement with plenty of hairspray), with the pik (to pull it out a little bit in places).

Next up, this is giving Beyonce-meets-Dolly Parton-meets Jolene. It’s blonde with dirty roots, she’s that sexy cowgirl. “It’s kind of old school but making it modern – a little bit trashy, almost,” smiles Michelle.

Toolkit: BaByliss PRO Heated Ceramic Rollers to get that smoothness.

We’re back to Billy Ray Cyrus, whose mullet was cut quite square, quite high on top. Not this time – Tariq wanted more of a true flat top

Toolkit: BaByliss PRO FX ONE Lo-Pro Clipper to cut a guideline for the middle, and then clipper over comb to create a true flat top. The BaByliss PRO Falco Dryer helped to push back the sides and set the gel. 

Now to more of a modern flat top, shaved-in tight at the side to make it more square, more extreme.

Toolkit: BaByliss PRO FX ONE Lo-Pro Clipper.

Discover more about the new BaByliss PRO STILISTA

A Creative HEAD shoot in partnership with BaByliss PRO

HAIR: Tariq Howes, assisted by Lauraine Bailey and Nick Barford; Michelle Sultan, assisted by Deen Fashola and Schola Rose, for BaByliss PRO
PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY: Bob Foster (A&R CREATIVE), assisted by Luke Weller
PRODUCER: Joanna Kidd (Creative HEAD)
FASHION: Twinks Burnett, assisted by Rosie Devine
MAKE-UP: Tricia Woolston using Pat McGrath, assisted by Megan Goram
EDITORIAL: Amanda Nottage (Creative HEAD)
SOCIAL MEDIA: Kelsey Dring and Aofie Connell (Creative HEAD), assisted by Harry Dotters
BTS PHOTOGRAPHY: Harvey Williams-Fairley
VIDEOGRAPHY: Charlie Guy-Wilson and Ben Cooke (Clockwise.Film)
MODELS: Alan Bea; Olivia Belgrave-Ruse (The Milk Collective); Ryan Brown; She-Lan Duane (W MGMT); Robbie Jr; Skye Metrowich (Zone Models)
SHOT AT: Street Studios

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Top Trends Spotted at London Fashion Week S/S25

Top Trends Spotted at London Fashion Week S/S25

Sep 18, 2024 | EXPLORE, HOME EXPLORE, TECHNIQUES, TECHNIQUES HEADER

Top Trends seen at London Fashion Week S/S 2025

Stylists are going back to their roots this season for LFW hair inspiration

by Maddi | TECHNIQUES

CHET LO

Chet Lo by Anna Cofone for Authentic Beauty Concept

THE LEAD Anna Cofone for Authentic Beauty Concept  

THE LOOK Inspired by Chet Lo’s mother’s passionate work ethic, this look fused intricate patterned veils with sleek, textured hair. Blow-dried with Amplify Mousse for heat protection, the hair was parted down the middle, while Glow Spray Serum added radiant shine. Waving irons and knots created a non-uniform movement, completing the polished, statement style. 

MITHRIDATE

Mithridate by Johanna Cree Brown for Indola
Mithridate by Johanna Cree Brown for Indola

THE LEAD Johanna Cree Brown for Indola 

THE LOOK Inspired by Demon Zhang’s collection, rooted in the landscapes of Yuhan, hair was prepped with Indola Volume and Blow-Dry Spray, which was applied to the roots and parting for sleekness and grip. Hair was then parted in the centre and styled into a Dutch braid, tamed by the Smoothing Cream to ensure a flawless finish, while Flexible Hairspray locked in the look for a polished yet powerful effect. 

HARRIS REED 

Harris Reed by Ali Pirzadeh for Dyson

THE LEAD Ali Pirzadeh for Dyson  

THE LOOK Art Deco meets old Hollywood glamour in this sculpted look, created by the 2024 Most Wanted Session Stylist using Dyson’s Supersonic r Professional hair dryer and Corrale straightener. Hair was sectioned and blow-dried upwards into a high ponytail, with tonging waves shaped by the Corrale and set using the Supersonic’s cold shot for a flawless, long-lasting finish. 

BORA AKSU 

THE LEAD Syd Hayes for BaByliss PRO

THE LOOK The classic ‘60s beehive gets a fresh, modern twist in this look inspired by Aksu’s mother. Using the STILISTA for sleek shine and locked-in volume, Syd pressed the hair straight, backcombed the roots, and added an XXL styling doughnut for bold shape. The result: a playful, redefined retro style.

Bora Aksu by Syd Hayes for BaByliss PRO

EDELINE LEE

Edeline Lee by Philipp Haug for Schwarzkopf Professional

THE LEAD Philipp Haug for Schwarzkopf Professional 

THE LOOK To contrast Edeline’s soft, flowing garments, Philip added strength with a centre part using Session Label The Mousse, while the ends cascaded in different directions using a horizontal tonging technique. The wet-to-dry effect, created with light gel at the roots and oiled ends, ensured the hair remained sleek and refined, allowing the garments to take centre stage. Finished with Fibre Clinx oil for a polished touch, the look exuded understated elegance and control. 

ERDEM 

Erdem by Adam Garland for Authentic Beauty Concept
Erdem by Adam Garland for Authentic Beauty Concept

THE LEAD Adam Garland for Authentic Beauty Concept

THE LOOK Inspired by the controversial 1928 novel The Well of Loneliness, Erdem’s collection masterfully balances masculinity and femininity. Adam crafted a sharp side part using Amplify Mousse and Working Hairspray to achieve a bold, masculine silhouette. He then softened the look with a delicate braid down the back, adding a feminine finish. 

VIN + OMI 

VIN + OMI by Gina Conway for Philip Martins

THE LEAD Gina Conway for Philip Martins

THE LOOK Gina crafted this gravity-defying hairstyle using Philip Martin’s all-natural range, blending a natural finish with a sculptural design. Sections of hair were fastened and pinched to form bold, spherical baubles, creating a whimsical effect. This avant-garde look also reflects Vin + Omi’s dedication to sustainability, aligning with Philip Martin’s eco-conscious ethos. 

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Feel the NOISE

Feel the NOISE

Sep 10, 2024 | EXPLORE, HOME EXPLORE, PORTFOLIOS

Feel the NOISE

Enjoy the latest looks from the guerrilla hairdressing event NOISE, shot at HairCon and showcasing work from SACO and X-Presion. It’s a little bit ad hoc… and that’s exactly the point!

by AMANDA | DOCUMENTS

Richard backstage at HairCon

Creative HEAD: Talk us through the planning of SACO’s collaboration with X-Presion…

Richard: “At NOISE, nobody knows what anybody else is doing. You do whatever you want! And all the teams are excited to see what the other teams are going to be doing – me more than anybody! For this show, Jorge and I collaborated on long braids. We had a couple of phone calls and Zoom meetings, threw some mood boards backwards and forwards. But it’s not overly processed. There’s always a strong starting point, but you’re always willing to adapt. With a haircut for me anyway, I’ll start off with a ballpark idea, and see how it evolves.”

Creative HEAD: Where would we find the roots of this collaboration?

Richard: “Jorge and I – X-Presion and SACO – go back quite a long way. They were in London when the original NOISE show was on in 2012, and I thought we could potentially do something. That’s one of the reasons why the first show happened, right? Because they were in town! NOISE always tries to harness that spirit, that raw feeling. There’s the sort of low production values and just the communal vibe that goes with it. My good friend Peter Gray was in London, and Tim Hartley was also up for it. So, it kind of facilitated the first show…”

Creative HEAD: What is it about yourself and Jorge that clicks?

Richard: “We’re good friends, Jorge and I, so that helps, doesn’t it? We appreciate one another’s aesthetic. We do very different things. We’re more focused on cuts; they do a lot of colour, and we both do some dressing. He’s a great originator. It’s a mutual fan club… a bromance, whatever you want to call it!

 

I really appreciate what he does and how he does it. He’s very innovative. There’s a very strong sense of suitability. We always try to do that with cuts, so I appreciate that.”

Hair: SACO – Richard Ashforth, Simon Campbell, Anthony Keast and YuriPatriarca

X-Presion – Jorge Cancer and Rocky Villa

Photography: Chris Bulezuik at HairCon

Stylist – Victor Goh (SACO); Visory Studio _ Aflame Concept (X-Presion); Tania Zekkout

Make-up: Michelle Strain

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“You’re Going To Love It 10X More” – James Earnshaw Talks Color Touch In Our Bistro Booth

“You’re Going To Love It 10X More” – James Earnshaw Talks Color Touch In Our Bistro Booth

Sep 4, 2024 | CONVERSATIONS, CONVERSATIONS HEADER, EXPLORE, HOME EXPLORE

Grab your beverage of choice and press play on an unmissable conversation between Wella Professionals global ambassador, James Earnshaw, and Creative HEAD editorial director, Amanda Nottage

Forget your local coffee hangout, the Creative HEAD bistro booth is THE place to be. Over iced matcha, James and Amanda take a deep dive into our September cover shoot, in partnership with Wella Professionals. Discussing the new and improved Color Touch, James’ mouth-watering menu of melts and much, much more, we’re serving up some piping hot tea… trust us, you don’t want to miss it! 

 

See more from our September cover shoot >

A Quiet Man

A Quiet Man

Sep 3, 2024 | CONVERSATIONS, EXPLORE, HOME EXPLORE

A Quiet Man

Niall Colgan doesn’t do razzamattazz. All he asks for is 60 minutes of your time, and he will quietly, patiently give you the perfect haircut​

by CATHERINE | EXPLORE

Given the breakneck speed at which the world is moving nowadays, it’s somehow reassuring that so many people choose to sit in haircutter Niall Colgan’s chair. Niall takes his time, you see. At least one hour per appointment. And those 60 minutes not only give the client a rare opportunity to relax and take stock, they also give Niall the chance to submit himself fully to the task of creating the perfect haircut. 

“For a long time in this industry we’ve been taught to go through as many clients as we could in a day,” says Niall. “But there’s no precision in that. I’ve come to realise that haircutting is like architecture – you’ve got to lay your foundations, you’ve got to build your walls, you’ve got to get the roof right before you bring in the interior designers to make that house a home. The true mastery of haircutting is the basics – you’ve got to build a structure around what you do.”

This absolute dedication to the haircut not only flies in the face of current trends – where colour is so dominant that clients are not required to integrate a haircut into their colour appointment – it’s actually (and paradoxically) resulted in a massive boost to Niall’s business. “I’ve gone from €70 when I first opened my salon 15 years ago to €120 now and I’ll need to charge a premium for new clients because I’ve got such a long waiting list,” says Niall.

“But I never take anything for granted. I’m always checking in with myself because I don’t want to go back to being the hairdresser I was before I opened my salon, where I was stuck in a rut and full of fear and frustration. I’ve gone from being someone who measured success in terms of how many clients I could do in a day, to someone who takes pride in the fact I deliver incredible hair and that my 20 staff also deliver that too.”

​

While the luxurious interior, buzzy environment and – yes – high-end price tags make it clear to all that Niall runs a successful business in an exclusive area of Limerick, the haircuts that give him the most satisfaction are neither the most expensive, nor the most glamorous. “Our post-chemotherapy haircuts are the most important and an area where we can demonstrate the highest level of skill,” says Niall. “This requires total vision and precision. I’m not talking about cutting wigs here. This is about going on a journey with your client that could last a year or 18 months, but that will take them to a place where they start to feel themselves again – feminine, safe and in control. You have to follow a process. You have to be consistent. They have to trust you when you tell them, ‘It’s going to be okay’.”

@niallcolganhairdressing

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‘Shift’ By VAINHomme

‘Shift’ By VAINHomme

Aug 31, 2024 | EXPLORE, HOME EXPLORE, PORTFOLIOS

Shift

By VAINHomme

by AMANDA | PORTFOLIOS

This collection from VAINHomme explores the shifting patterns of what it is to be masculine in today’s society, using real people taken straight from their work shifts and shooting them in all of their glory. Shift shows the movement to remove layers of toxic masculinity and replace it with what really matters.

Hair: Vincent Quinn and Elliot James, VAINHomme

Photography: Brian O’Hanlon

Styling: Vincent Quinn

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