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When Errol And STIL Hit Shanghai

When Errol And STIL Hit Shanghai

When Errol And STIL Hit Shanghai

by KELSEY | CREATIVE PROJECTS

The creative sparks flew!

Every year, thousands (around 40,000, to be exact) of hairdressers from China, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea and beyond descend upon Shanghai for the Asian Hairdesigner Festival. This incredible three-day event, a riot of shows, seminars, shopping and feasting, is organised by the Asian Hairdesigner Association (AHA) as a showcase of the new hair trends and techniques from amongst its illustrious members. Alsoring featu in this year’s line-up, as guests of AHA founder Eric Zhao, were Errol Douglas MBE, plus colourist Christel Barron-Hough and her photographer husband Alex, co-owners of Chelsea salon STIL. Both teams delivered a seminar and show that injected a shot of London cool into the mix. Creative HEAD was in the audience…

 

STIL

The Concept

What made you accept an invitation to appear at the AHF in Shanghai?

Alex: This was an opportunity for Christel and me to come together to create something specifically for STIL – a photographic collection and a film that would then feed into a seminar at the AHF. It felt very different to when we both work for other brands, and we have to work to their brief. This was a blank canvas for us to get creative and push our boundaries.

You created an incredible photographic collection and film for your trip, which featured a collaboration with session stylist Nick Irwin. How did you incorporate his ideas into your work?

Christel: I’m inspired by Scandinavian film-making and the interplay between light and dark, which directors such as Ingmar Bergman use for dramatic effect. I wanted the collection to play around with shadow and blurring, so it reflected that landscape. Nick was very excited by the looks we wanted to create and added his spin by making things a bit more editorial, not-so-perfect looking, so the wigs were placed so they obviously looked like wigs, for example.

The Prep

While in Shanghai you had to rely on a team of assistants you’d never met before. How did this impact on your prep?

Christel: Often when you work on shows abroad these days you will inherit a local support team and sometimes the language barrier can be a challenge. But the beauty with hairdressing is that we all speak the same language when it comes to creating looks and styles. The team in Shanghai were absolutely fantastic – talented, lots of attention to detail and incredibly hardworking, which made our experience very pleasant and enjoyable.

STIL models

The Seminar

Talk us through the looks you showcased during your seminar…

Christel: I chose to do one look that was quite creative and inspired by fashion and another that was more commercial but that also had personality through creative colour. We do a lot of Scandi-bobs in the salon because they’re so wearable, but the creative placement of the fuchsia shades brought out a more playful side and hopefully gave inspiration to the audience. My second look, featuring a mesh that I melded onto the head, is something I’ve seen Eugene Souleiman create a version of, but I had watched a documentary about hat-making and I found it interesting because they were talking about silhouette and sculpting. So that’s what inspired me to show something that played around with different textures, with the top super-sleek and the hair a bit more deconstructed at the back and a mesh in different colours sculpted onto the head to keep everything super-tight. But this was also about colour placement because I wanted to continue the theme from our photo-collection of things working but also not working at the same time, so I left the roots, kept the ends really bright and chose the red to contrast with the pink and yellow of the mesh.

The Show

And then came the show… It brought the house down!

Christel: The show was driven by the original creative shoot that was shot in London. We presented a total of five models and the concept was highly focused on personality and colour, which was complemented by the content playing on the screens.

Alex: We knew the film was going to play out on a series of enormous, curved screens on the night of the show, so we decided to showcase each look as if it were a portrait. We filmed each model in really slow motion because we wanted the audience to think that each portrait was a still image before realising that tiny details were moving. We wanted the film really to draw people in and create a more immersive experience. And it was also a feast of colour because we had different models on different screens – there was stuff that was yellow, stuff that was orange, there was colour everywhere. Opening your brand up to new territories and markets is always positive, especially to your peers and the trade press. It’s important for to share our concept and vision for our brand outside of the UK. With our backgrounds in education and production/image making this is a great platform to bring it all together and share what inspires us at STIL.

Errol

Shanghai is a long way from London! Why did you make the trip?

 When I got the invitation from Eric Zhao, I didn’t hesitate. The AHF is one of the most successful gatherings of hairdressers in this region, it’s been going since 2006 so it has a really successful heritage. Even though I have lots of clients who come from China, and I know a lot of hairdressers in the country, I’d never been before. When the chance came up, it was a ‘Hell yes!’

How did you go about deciding on the theme and content for your seminar and show? What ideas did you want to share with the audience?

 My show was called Motions and is loosely based on my most recent photographic collection – Frame. We pushed the ideas that were born in Frame to the extreme, so they had maximum impact on the stage, translating the hair looks I’d created and reinventing them for a live show.

 

Errol Douglas
Errol Douglas

You used some incredible outfits on your models. How did this come about and how important is it that every detail reflects your brand?

It’s impossible to separate hair from fashion when you’re creating a show. Every detail reflects an overall look and it’s so important to make sure every element is totally cohesive. I wouldn’t necessarily say the Errol Douglas brand has a definitive ‘look’ because for us, it’s about always evolving and adapting, reacting to trends and interpreting them in our own unique vision. For this show, I worked with Christina Davies, a highly acclaimed designer from Central St Martins who I’ve been collaborating with recently. She’s really going places. Her instinct for fabric, fluidity and texture brought to life with body-sculpting clothes and knitwear has a real contemporary feel.

Talk us through the looks you showcased during your seminar…

During the seminar, I wanted to demonstrate two of the looks I’d be presenting in my show and how I bring those very futuristic, avant-garde concepts to life. It’s important for me as an educator to make sure people can see and understand my vision. Step one is the foundations of the looks, so before anything, I talk through the structure needed to hold the hair. The starting point for the seminar was right back to basics, demonstrating how you create a corn roll that forms the base to sew in the hair. I worked intricately with hair pieces, which were made specially for the show and included hours of pre-show work. The main way I make the hair maintain a realistic edge is I don’t use too many pins, choosing instead to mainly weave or sew the pieces together. Also in the seminar, I taught how visually to create a shape, plus the importance of pre-planning and always stepping away from your model to check the shape is coming together how you want it. You should never create a hairstyle that just gets placed on without thinking how it suits the model and you also have to make sure you’re using appropriate products for the prep.

… And the looks for the show…

During the seminar, I’d already demonstrated the techniques of two of the looks, which we then recreated in a bolder, stronger way and stepped things up a notch to create drama and a spectacular vision for the evening gala show. Overall, I was really pleased with how it all came together. The looks were super dramatic, incorporating extreme flowing lengths and bold, eye-catching colours in crushed pink and a striking azure blue. You have to be super careful with placements when you’re doing colour fades. It’s not easy to do and all the hair pieces were sewn in by hand.

Which part of the show/seminar gave you personally the most creative satisfaction? Was it a particular moment, or did you find the whole process creatively satisfying?

There’s definitely something satisfying about the whole process of designing and staging a show. Bringing a small, creative vision to life on a huge stage to a global audience is hard to beat. There’s not really a moment to sit back and enjoy the show yourself as it’s so busy backstage getting the models prepped and out on the runway, but it is a great feeling when you take to the stage yourself at the end, seeing the happy faces and soaking up the applause. For me too, it’s a great buzz when you know your models feel amazing – you can see it in their faces and how they walk. That satisfaction of ‘it’s done’ and knowing that we’d executed the show beautifully  without a foot wrong, was my highlight.

How do appearances like this help build the Errol Douglas brand?

They help massively. Errol Douglas is an international brand and I’ve always been dedicated to sharing the amazing reputation of UK hairdressing around the world. This year alone I’ve taken part in major shows in Australia, Portugal and Korea. Each country I’ve ever visited has its own take on their homegrown industry and I love learning and taking elements away with each new experience, in turn sharing my experiences and knowledge too. Being curious and interested is the secret to staying power, it’s a big world out there and there’s so much to learn from it.

Tom Smith Shares The Styles That Are Set To Define Autumn 2024

Tom Smith Shares The Styles That Are Set To Define Autumn 2024

Tom Smith Shares The Styles That Are Set To Define Autumn 2024 

Internationally renowned stylist highlights practicality and warmth at the forefront of the season

by Caitlyn | Documents

As we transition into autumn 2024, hair trends are focusing on blending cosiness, elegance, and practicality. According to Tom Smith, a renowned hair expert, this season’s haircuts are all about maintaining health and authenticity while embracing styles that transition seamlessly into cooler months. According to Tom, this season emphasises “health and wealth signalling,” with longer styles taking centre stage. Whether your clients are seeking a subtle update or a more defined, structured look, this season’s trends offer versatility and personalisation.

“There’s a cosiness in the shapes we’re seeing this autumn,” says Tom, who explains that this season’s looks will favour longer, healthier hair and more manageable styles.

Autumn brings a shift towards longer hairstyles and more practical, yet fashion-forward looks. According to Tom, there’s a “real lack of very short hair” in the current trends. Instead, we’re seeing an emphasis on maintaining healthy hair at various lengths, whether chin-length bobs or waist-length locks. He notes, thanks to innovations in haircare products, many have welcomed the choice to wear their hair longer to signal “health and wealth.”

Sabrina Carpenter styled by Laurie Heaps (@_hairbylaurie)

One style making a significant return is curtain bangs, offering a voluminous, face-framing look that brings softness and warmth. Although we won’t be leaving it behind, Tom highlights the appeal of this style in the cooler months, noting that it “brings cosiness in” and pairs beautifully with layered outerwear. “There’s a practicality element here,” he says, pointing out that curtain bangs can be refreshed without washing the entire head of hair, making it a low-maintenance yet stylish choice.

Sanaa Lathan styled by Kim Kimble (@kimblehaircare)

The tiara bun, a high bun placed at the crown of the head is making its way forward this season. Tom tells us that this strikes a balance between “practical sportiness” and a “regal element,” providing both elegance and lift for someone seeking a polished look. “A high bun like this does wonderful things to the cheekbone, lifts the face, and makes people feel taller and hold their posture higher,” he adds. This style’s versatility allows it to be worn sleek or with texture, depending on the client’s preference. 

Serena Williams styled by Angela Meadows (@angelameadowssalon)

For clients who want to embrace their natural texture, cloud curls offer a soft, ethereal look. These airy waves or curls create a youthful and carefree energy that transitions well from summer into the cooler months. “Cloud curls is very much that kind of theme,” Tom explains, emphasising that the relaxed, textured waves bring a touch of summer’s warmth into autumn. This style works especially well when combined with deeper, richer autumn tones. 

Alexa Demie styled by Igor Rosales- Jackson (@hairbyiggy)

Shorter cuts are also having a moment with styles like the tucked bob and laser cut bob. The tucked bob is a sleek and minimalist style that is both practical and stylish. By tucking the hair neatly behind the ears, this bob creates a polished look that works for all hair types and face shapes. Tom mentions that this style is perfect for the cooler months, as it offers a “more serious, groomed sharpness” after the casual looks of summer. The tucked bob is ideal for clients who want a clean, sophisticated look that requires minimal effort while still maintaining a refined edge. 

Lily Collins styled by Jacob Schwartz (@jacobschwartzhair) and Gregory Russell (@gregoryrussellhair)

For clients seeking precision and structure, the laser-cut bob is the perfect choice. This sharp, one-length bob provides a bold and modern aesthetic, ideal for those who appreciate clean lines and attention to detail. As Tom describes it, this is the “tailoring of the haircuts” for autumn 2024, offering a sharp, defined look that pairs well with more tailored, structured fashion. The laser-cut bob works best for clients with fine hair, as the precise cut adds thickness and density to the hair, making it appear fuller and more structured. 

For salon owners and stylists, autumn 2024 is the perfect time to refresh your service menu with these cosy yet chic styles. Clients are looking for cuts and styles that blend ease and sophistication, making it essential to focus on not only being fashionable but practical for the season. As Tom emphasises, this season is less about dramatic transformations and more about helping clients evolve their look naturally, promoting hair health and confidence. By staying on top of these trends and aligning with client preferences, salons can position themselves as ahead-of-the-curve in creating chic autumn styles that are both trendy and practical for the cooler months ahead. 

“I Truly Believe That The Trevor Sorbie Brand Is In The Best Hands” – Trevor Sorbie Talks Lasting Legacies And Stand-out Looks With Giuseppe Stelitano

“I Truly Believe That The Trevor Sorbie Brand Is In The Best Hands” – Trevor Sorbie Talks Lasting Legacies And Stand-out Looks With Giuseppe Stelitano

“I Truly Believe That The Trevor Sorbie Brand Is In The Best Hands” – Trevor Sorbie Talks Lasting Legacies And Stand-out Looks With Giuseppe Stelitano

Industry tastemakers Trevor Sorbie and Giuseppe Stelitano reflect on each other’s greatest work as they celebrate 45 years of the Covent Garden location.

Laura Chadwick
Trevor with Giuseppe at the LCT Grand Final

An industry icon and a visionary rising through the ranks – together Trevor Sorbie and Giuseppe Stelitano make quite the powerhouse pairing, sending the success of the Trevor Sorbie brand stratospheric in recent years. Most recently, Giuseppe was the creative genius behind one of the epic hair shows at the L’Oréal Colour Trophy UK Grand Final, and as the brand celebrates its 45th anniversary, it’s never been more apparent that the future is very bright.  

Talking exclusively to Creative HEAD, Trevor and Giuseppe discuss what keeps their creative fires alight…

What is your favourite image that each other has created and why?

work from the Trevor Sorbie archive
Giuseppe’s favourite look created by Trevor. The image has never been published!
Giuseppe: There are countless looks that Trevor has created that are amazing but if I had to choose, I’d say that my favourite look is the one from back in the ’80s. It’s a striking black-and-white image that combines intricate curls with electronic elements, creating a contrast between organic and mechanical. It’s futuristic yet timeless, and it perfectly showcases Trevor’s genius, forward-thinking vision. This look continues to inspire me and reminds me why Trevor is such an icon in our industry.  
work by Giuseppe
Trevor’s favourite look created by Giuseppe.
Trevor: I think this look from Giuseppe is brilliant. It’s a unique way of photographing hair. It’s mystique, it’s got drama, and the angle of the photograph is unlike any photo I’ve seen. Of course, I’m also very proud of Giuseppe’s latest campaign, 1979. 

Trevor: I think this look from Giuseppe is brilliant. It’s a unique way of photographing hair. It’s mystique, it’s got drama, and the angle of the photograph is unlike any photo I’ve seen. Of course, I’m also very proud of Giuseppe’s latest campaign, 1979.

What do you believe makes a great image? 

G: To me, a great image tells a story and evokes an emotional response. It’s not just about the technical perfection but about capturing a moment. Lighting, set, make-up, styling and the subject all play crucial roles, but the magic happens when these elements come together to create something that feels truly authentic and fresh. 

T: I think the same as Giuseppe, it’s a combination of all elements, as well including the model, hair, photography and make-up also coming together in perfect harmony, which is very rare to get all those elements exactly right. When a picture comes together like that, that’s when you can say you’ve got the wow factor. 

Images from the 1979 collection

When selecting the shots from your collection or creative work, what extra ‘wow factor’ helps you decide what makes the cut?

G: For me it is when I see a shot that makes me stop in my tracks. It’s that instant connection, where everything comes together perfectly…the hair, the model’s expression, the lighting. I look for an image that not only showcases technical skills but is also unique and offers something interesting. It’s that one shot that you know will leave a lasting impression 

T: Like the last answer really. You know it when you see it. It must give you an emotion that triggers something in your head. I think to create a good collection, the photographer (and especially the photographer!) must be on the same page as you. It’s got to excite them. When you get that from the photographer, that’s when you know they’ll give it 100 per cent because they are excited.

What are your hopes for the Trevor Sorbie brand in the next 25 years?

G: Looking ahead, I hope to see the Trevor Sorbie brand continue to lead the industry. I picture us expanding our global presence, pioneering trends, and setting new standards in hairstyling. My dream is for us to keep inspiring both our guests and the next generation of hairdressers. I want us to continue breaking boundaries and thinking outside the box, but always keeping in mind our core brand values. 

T:  The team I’ve grown are the best placed to take the brand forward, continue the legacy that I built, and I truly believe that the Trevor Sorbie brand is in the best hands.  I know we will see the brand continue to thrive and grow. I’ve set up my team to carry forward our vision and values, ensuring the brand remains at the forefront of the industry. I am confident that the Trevor Sorbie name will endure and inspire future generations. 

The making of the 1979 campaign

What is your favourite aspect of working together, and what makes your working dynamic so special?

G: My favourite aspect of working together is the combination of trust and respect that we have for each other. Although I might have Trevor’s blessing to lead the brand creatively, I’m always asking him for his advice or opinion.  

T: As Giuseppe said, it’s the connection we have. When you get the right connection, you can bounce ideas back and forth – one person can excite the other and vice versa. When I chose Giuseppe as our creative director, I saw a lot of myself in him. At first, I had to hold his hand to show him the ropes but within a few months, I let him fly. He had it perfectly in line with my mind. It’s that old fashion saying that ‘great minds think alike’, and that’s me and Giuseppe.

45 years is a fantastic anniversary for the Covent Garden salon! What do you consider to be the secret to your long-term success? 

T: I can sum up the answer in two words: discipline and consistency. Anyone who has worked for me will know that when people come to work for me, it’s like joining the army. I break down the way they think and build them back up, and they become one of us. They love my philosophy because it is very simple: I truly care about my staff. I believe our product is our staff.

How has the Trevor Sorbie brand evolved during your time with the company, and what excites you most about working for Trevor Sorbie right now? 

G: During my time at Trevor Sorbie, I’ve seen the brand grow in ways that I couldn’t have imagined. We’ve embraced change and adapted ourselves to a much more current world while staying true to the quality and creativity that Trevor Sorbie is known for. What excites me most about working for Trevor Sorbie right now is our ongoing commitment to innovation and excellence. This dedication to staying ahead of the game and constantly evolving makes every day engaging and keeps my enthusiasm for the work alive. 


Creative Direction: Giuseppe Stelitano @giuseppebstelitano
Photography and lighting: Barney Arthur @barneyarthurphoto
Videographer: Giovanni Musumeci @giovannimusumecixx
Styling: Douglas Miller @douglaswamiller
Make-up: Lauren Webster @laurenwebstr
Photography assistant: Alex Wilson @alexwilsonstudio
Styling assistant: Ella McKiernan @ellamckiernan
Videographer BTS: Luke Erwood @luke_erwood
Hair team: Tiziana Di Marcelli, Ryan Forsythe, Nathan Walker, Bree Davie, Ben Bradley, Esti Carton, Giuseppe Di Rosa, Edoardo Colasanti, Ila Capi 
1979 track: ‘Tubedigga’ @tubedigga
Location: Wayne McGregor @studiowaynemcgregor

‘Manifesto’ by Felicitas Hair

‘Manifesto’ by Felicitas Hair

'Manifesto' by Felicitas Hair

Hair:  Felicitas Hair
Photography and Retouching: Esteban Roca
Make-up: Kuki Giménez Agency
Styling: Visori FashionArt
Models: Shock Models
Products: Revlon Professional

 

 

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“Hair Is Such A Powerful Medium For Self-expression” – Laura Chadwick and Elisabeth Hoff Discuss Their First Creative Collaboration

“Hair Is Such A Powerful Medium For Self-expression” – Laura Chadwick and Elisabeth Hoff Discuss Their First Creative Collaboration

“Hair Is Such A Powerful Medium For Self-expression” – Laura Chadwick and Elisabeth Hoff Discuss Their First Creative Collaboration 

From Instagram DMs to creative collaboration IRL, hairstylist Laura Chadwick and photographer Elisabeth Hoff shall all about their first shoot together.

Laura Chadwick
Laura Chadwick
Elisabeth Hoff
Elisabeth Hoff

How did the shoot collaboration come about – have you both worked together previously? 

Laura: I’ve admired Elisabeth’s work for a long time, so when I decided to reach out to her on Instagram, I was thrilled she was interested in collaborating. We started discussing ideas, and I was immediately drawn to her creativity and vision. We had plans initially, but Covid interrupted them. Fortunately, we reconnected earlier this year and decided to finally bring our ideas to life. This was our first time working together, but Elisabeth’s dedication and attention to detail made the process seamless and inspiring. 

Elisabeth: I have followed Laura’s work for several years. I love her style and her creativity. I can see she is a creative grafter, and I was not wrong. Her dedication to what she does on the day was impressive. 

What was the inspiration behind the theme of ‘emotive hair’, and what made you decide to capture the connection between hair and human emotion? 

L: Elisabeth’s concept of linking hair with emotions really resonated with me. Hair is such a powerful medium for self-expression. The idea of using hairstyles to represent joy, sorrow, anger, and fear felt like a natural way to visually communicate these universal emotions. Our hair can significantly impact our confidence and how we feel about ourselves, so capturing that connection was both a challenge and a delight. Each style aimed to embody an emotion, highlighting how our outward appearance can reflect our inner states. 

E: Like it or not, we humans are ruled by our emotions. The inspiration behind the series ‘emotive hair’ comes from the profound impact emotions have on our daily lives and how they are expressed through our hair. We chose to focus on the four core emotions of joy, sorrow, anger, and fear because they are universal experiences that everyone can relate to.  

Each hairstyle in this series was crafted to represent an emotion. We have tried to capture the essence of what it feels like to experience joy, sorrow, anger, or fear through the hair. By doing so, I wanted to highlight the close connection between our inner emotional states and our outward appearance. Through the series, I hope to encourage the viewer to reflect on their own emotional experiences and the subtle ways they express them through their style. It also shows how changing our look can change our mood.  

Joy

Why did you choose those particular hair looks captured? 

L: When I came across Paul Ekman’s work on the four core emotions, it clicked that these could form the foundation for our shoot. The universality of joy, sorrow, anger, and fear made them the perfect choices to explore through hair. Given our limited time, focusing on four distinct looks was both realistic and impactful, allowing us to delve deeply into each emotion and create a cohesive narrative. 

E: When Laura discovered the work of psychologist Paul Ekman, who identified these four universal emotions, it reinforced the idea that building a shoot around them could be impactful. We also only had one day for the shoot, and we knew we could realistically achieve four distinct looks in one day. This approach allowed us to create a strong, cohesive series with what is hopefully a compelling story behind each emotion. 

 

Sorrow
Fear

What did prep for each of the looks entail? Talk us through any key techniques and products 

L: Creating each look required meticulous planning and a selection of techniques and products to embody the emotions we wanted to convey. Here’s a breakdown of each look: 

 Sorrow: 

Inspiration: We aimed to capture a melancholic and delicate aesthetic. The look needed to evoke a sense of softness and vulnerability. 

Techniques: To achieve this, I started by creating smooth, sleek hair that framed the face, using a straightening iron to eliminate any frizz and create a polished finish. The ends were kept slightly damp to add a touch of natural, undone texture, symbolising the weight of sorrow. 

Products: I used a smoothing serum to ensure the hair remained sleek and frizz-free. A light-hold gel was applied to the damp ends to maintain the soft, wet look without making the hair too stiff. 

Fear: 

Inspiration: We wanted a look that felt chaotic and intense, reflecting the inner turmoil associated with this emotion. 

Techniques: Lots of volume was added to create a wild, frizzy texture. I backcombed sections and used a diffuser while blow-drying to enhance the natural curl and frizz. The aim was to make the hair appear as though it was standing on end, mirroring the feeling of fear. 

Products: I used a volumising mousse at the roots to create lift, followed by a texturising spray to add grit and hold. A strong-hold hairspray was essential to keep the volume and frizz intact throughout the shoot. 

Anger: 

Inspiration: It needed to be depicted with a fierce and striking hairstyle that showed intensity and aggression. 

Techniques: I chose to work with sharp, angular shapes and tight braids to create a look that was structured and powerful. The hair was sectioned into small parts and braided tightly then wrapped with elastic, before styling into an upward, spiky formation to add a sense of dynamism and tension. 

Products: A strong-hold gel was used to keep the braids neat and in place. I also used edge control to smooth down any fly-aways and ensure the look remained sharp and defined. For the spikes, I employed a hair wax to mould and shape the braids, followed by a generous amount of hairspray for maximum hold. 

Joy: 

Inspiration: The goal was to convey a sense of lightness, playfulness, and exuberance. Joyful hair needed to radiate positivity and energy, which bouncy waves with volume naturally provide. 

Techniques: I started by washing the hair and applying a volumising mousse to the roots while it was still damp. After blow-drying with a round brush to lift the roots and add volume, I used a large-barrel curling iron to create loose, bouncy waves. Each section of hair was wrapped around the curling iron for a few seconds, and then released to form soft curls. Once the entire head was curled, I gently brushed through the curls with a wide-tooth comb to create a more relaxed, wavy texture and enhance the volume. 

Products: For the lift and fullness, a volumising mousse was key, along with a texturizing spray to add grip and enhance the texture of the waves. A shine serum was also Applied sparingly to add a touch of shine and keep the hair looking healthy and vibrant. 

Anger

As two fellow creatives, how imperative is it to collaborate with other creatives? For any hair pros who might be on the fence about reaching out to photographers, make-up artists, and so on to collaborate, what is your advice? 

L: Collaboration is vital in our field. Working with other creatives brings fresh perspectives and skills that can elevate your work. My advice to hair professionals hesitant about reaching out is to take the leap. Find collaborators who respect and understand your vision and be clear about your goals and expectations. Embrace the creative process (including the possibility of failure) as it’s an essential part of growth. Every successful creative journey involves risks and mistakes, but those experiences can lead to extraordinary outcomes and innovations. 

E: I believe in following your creative gut—if you have an idea, it’s there for a reason, and you should follow it with determination. Often, the universe provides the answers or brings the right people into your path to collaborate with, as it did during this shoot. 

Although it is a collaboration, it’s important to stay true to your original vision. Allow others to contribute without diluting the core concept, as too many voices can often muddy the original idea. Finding collaborators who understand and align with your vision is key, as is communicating that vision. 

 


Photography: Elisabeth Hoff
Hair: Laura Chadwick
Make-up: Czar Joshua Ventura
Production: Holly Charlton at Hoff Productions Ltd.
Models: Joy – Kelly Brennan @ Mrs Robinson Management, Sorrow – Gemma Seymour @ The Milk collective,  Anger – Kwan Jo @ Wilhelmina, Fear – Alexandra Beaton