‘Metamorphosis’ by Michael Kent of Blue Tit

Mar 20, 2025 | PORTFOLIOS

‘Metamorphosis’ by Michael Kent of Blue Tit

A captivating collection which explores the transformative nature of Afro and textured hair through six distinctive looks.

This captivating collection explores the transformative nature of Afro and textured hair through six distinctive looks. Embracing the theme of metamorphosis, each style showcases the hair’s natural beauty while illustrating its remarkable adaptability.

By highlighting rather than altering the inherent characteristics of Afro-textured hair, this collection demonstrates the power of working with, rather than against, its unique properties.It is a celebration of diverse hair types and textures, which challenges conventional beauty standards.

Hair: Michael Kent

Photography: Stefan Foster

Make-up: Mary Jane Gotidoc

Hair assistant: Katie Hughes

Photography assistant: Kush

Models: Kentha, Eve, Bria Renee and Adar

'Chimera' by Anne Veck

Anne Veck fuses the artificial with nature

From Anne Veck comes a merging of the human and the machine to create a beautiful chimera, a unique and unexpected form. Inspiration is sourced by combining both natural and artificial elements to create the looks – glue for hair, metal jump rings, a dress made from tubing but shot in a garden landscape.

Hair Anne Veck for Anne Veck Education

Photography Hugh Finnerty

Make-up/model Ace Tran

Styling Chloe Mellen for Dirty French Girl Bijoux

Dress Eloise Lepetre for La Dame de Coeur

Behind The Scenes

Hometown

Michael Young’s homage to his home city of Newcastle was liberating in more ways than one

by CATHERINE | PORTFOLIOS

Over a three-week period in early February 2025, photographer Michael Young took to the streets and bridges of Newcastle, shooting a series of images that captured his love for his home city. This was a personal project of Michael’s, undertaken purely for his own pleasure and without any of the commercial or time pressures he encounters in his usual photographic work. Instead, the shoot was scheduled around the availability of the models (all of them from Newcastle, all of them wearing their own clothes, with hair styled by Michael’s partner Gary Hooker) and, of course, the good old Northern weather.

The resulting images – free of any influence from industry trends or peers – reflect Michael’s authentic connection with what excites him and stirs him creatively. ‘Hometown’ is about what Michael loves and what comes from the heart.

“When you’re immersed in your professional photographic work it’s so hard not to be influenced by what the current buzz is about, how you feel your work ‘should’ look. It’s easy to forget what you personally find interesting when you’re producing work for other people’s consumption. This project allowed me to step away from these influences and develop my own creativity.

“Working without constraints, without any pressure, allows my creativity to flow in a truly organic way. It tends to happen best when I’m working alone. I let my thoughts start in quite a small space and then allow them to expand and unfold as the project evolves. Shooting the looks and seeing the ‘Hometown’ story start to build was exciting – it injected freshness into my art. The process is like an artist painting at an easel, stepping away and then returning time and again with fresh eyes to see what needs adding next.

“A personal project like this enables me to develop my creativity by providing new sources and channels of inspiration and opening up new and exciting approaches to explore. It forces me to think differently about how I approach my subjects and this, in turn, affects my professional work, making me see familiar scenarios through different eyes.”

HAIR Gary Hooker & Michael Young for Hooker & Young

MAKE-UP AND CLOTHES Models’ own

PHOTOGRAPHY Michael Young

Michael Young will be talking about reclaiming confidence and staying creatively relevant as a salon boss at Creative HEAD’s Salon Smart business networking event on Monday 7 April. More information here.

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The Hub For Future Talent

The Collaborators

Hometown

‘LDN Couture’ by Paco Lattore

Jan 17, 2025 | PORTFOLIOS

'LDN Couture' by Paco Lattore

Paco’s latest collection celebrates London’s dynamic and ever-evolving street style. Drawing inspiration from the styles seen on the streets of the city as well as clients at Live True London, it embodies a fusion of textures, colours and cuts from a commercial perspective.

ART DIRECTION AND HAIR: Paco Latorre

PHOTOGRAPHY: Mark Paull

MAKE-UP AND MODEL: Nia

ASSISTANT: Andrea (@drewdoeshair_)

Academy Collection shoot S/S25 by Hair In Motion

Commercial looks inspired by emerging trends for the year ahead.

COMPANY: Hair In Motion
CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Charles Gray
HAIR TEAM: Guy Kleinhaus, Rachel Dee, Alessandro Barca, Steven Buzassy, Adam Cunningham
MAKE-UP: Margareta Farkas
PHOTOGRAPHY: Matt Willcocks