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How to Offer Blondes The Best Of Both Worlds

How to Offer Blondes The Best Of Both Worlds

How to Offer Blondes The Best Of Both Worlds

Siobhan Jones shares her freehand balayage technique for the perfect pairing of softness with high coverage

L’Oréal Professionnel Paris global ambassador Siobhan Jones shares the perfect technique for delivering high-coverage blonde, using freehand balayage free weaving. “This technique is perfect for anyone who loves the softness of balayage, but is looking for the coverage of foils,” says Siobhan

Dia Light Formula
Contour: 10.18 with 9vol
Roots: 8.21 with 9 vol
Mid-lengths: 9.21 + 9.82 with 9 vol
Ends: 10.18 with 9 vol  

Siobhan Jones freehand balayage

Get the look  

Step 1: The model’s hair is a natural base seven. Start by parting hair in a classic sectioning pattern. 

Step 2: Starting at the hairline, take a diagonal section and weave, then use the edge of the tint brush and paint L’Oréal Professionnel Paris Blond Studio Purple Lightening Balm from root to tip. Use your hands to push it down the hair shaft.

Step 3: Join the hair let out from underneath and saturate to the ends, using your hands to push in the balm which will guarantee a nice, bright lift.

Step 4: Repeat this throughout the sides, weaving, painting and saturating the hair.

Step 5: Move diagonally off the parting, starting on the hairline to create a beautiful contour.

Step 6: Moving through the parting on a diagonal angle, use the free weaving technique, which will give a graduated, yet full coverage effect.

Step 7: Repeat this technique throughout the back diamond section on a diagonal. Once you reach the desired lift, gloss over with a Milky Tea toner using L’Oréal Professionnel Paris Dia Light for a beautiful, high-shine blonde.

Step 8: To finish, apply L’Oréal Professionnel Paris Pli to the hair and blow dry smooth and dress with a wide barrel tong for a soft wavy finish.

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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 

How can you capture hair transformations in a way which feels fresh? James Parr has the solution

How can you capture hair transformations in a way which feels fresh? James Parr has the solution

How can you capture hair transformations in a way which feels fresh? James Parr has the solution

Nashwhite’s James Parr is capturing hair makeovers through a fresh lens.

“The whole concept of ‘The Switch Up’ grew from a personal need to scratch a creative itch – not just from a hair perspective but on a visual level as well. I grew tired of seeing the same stuff on social media and felt like I wanted to bring a fresh approach to the table.
 
Working with my friend and fellow creative and videographer, Paddy Walker, we came up with a concept that ripped up the rule book with how we shot it. This allowed me to get hands on with the direction of the filming and the project.
 
Working with the Wahl styling range was great for this as the tools were perfect for creating more movement and texture in the hair, while ensuring I could still deliver my signature hairdressing style. 
 
This is the first in a new concept where we will be having free reign and bringing a whole new meaning to the term ‘makeover’.” 
 
 
 
Hair: James Parr, using Wahl
Visuals: Paddy walker
Colour technician: Siobhan Fagan
Make-up: Sacha Jones
Model: Ana Maria
 

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MIX AND MATCH BRAIDS AT V&A’S FASHION IN MOTION: MINJU KIM

MIX AND MATCH BRAIDS AT V&A’S FASHION IN MOTION: MINJU KIM

MIX AND MATCH BRAIDS AT V&A’S FASHION IN MOTION: MINJU KIM

Hair lead Andrea Daley shares how she created the polished but not perfected look.

The V&A’s Fashion in Motion shows make catwalk couture accessible to a wider audience. Elegantly set against the backdrop of the museum, the ongoing series of catwalk have spotlighted work from some of the greatest designers of our time. In the most recent event, the inaugural winner of Netflix’s Next In Fashion, Korea based designer Minju Kim, shared a glimpse into her joyful, bold style. In a cohesive symphony of youthful playfulness and avant-garde haute couture, Minju’s signature style delivered bold shapes complimented by feminine characteristics.  

In partnership with L’Oréal Professionnel Paris, the hair team was led by Andrea Daley, who created bespoke styles for each model. Inspired by macramé and Korean knots, the core look featured micro-braiding, knots and twisted detailing combined to give a little edge to girly styles.  

“The styles are adaptable for most hair lengths and textures,” says Andrea. “The ‘mix and match’ braids allow for multiple styles from one look and work as a perfect hair up for festivals too.” 

Get the look 

Step one: Prep the hair using L’Oréal Professionnel Paris TECNI.ART Pli to give a mailable texture without compromising on shine. 

Step two: Part the hair in the centre, from hairline to nape.  

Step three: Subdivide the back into four sections (top right finishing just above the ear, top left just to the middle of the ear). Ensure the partings are obviously asymmetric to recreate the look. 

Step four: Split the right-hand side into two ponytails. The top should be high, with the lower one secured at the nape to exaggerate the difference in balance.  

Step five: Now, twist the top ponytail into a short rope braid with the majority of the length left out.  

Step six: Plait the below ponytail and intertwine the length of the rope twist. 

Step seven: On the left-hand side, scalp braid from the hairline to the middle of the ear and then plait.  

Step eight: Then, braid the below section into a skinny plait. 

Step nine: In front of the ear and on the hairline, loosely release the baby hair using the palm of your hand for a softer edge.  

Step 10: Finally, smooth the tails of each braid and the loose hairlines using the L’Oréal Professionnel Paris Steampod for a glass-like finish. 

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GET THE LOOK – HAIR BARCODING FOR KWK BY KAY KWOK S/S24

GET THE LOOK – HAIR BARCODING FOR KWK BY KAY KWOK S/S24

GET THE LOOK – HAIR BARCODING FOR KWK BY KAY KWOK S/S24

The inside spin on session stylist Nick Irwin’s otherworldly look for the futuristic designer.

Kay Kwok is a Hong Kong fashion designer known for his futuristic and contemporary designs. He combines avant-garde fashion with digital influences to create an unconventional aesthetic, perfectly exampled by a 3D-printed custom-made art piece designed for Beyoncé’s Renaissance tour.

His first time working with Kay Kwok, this season Nick Irwin transported us to another planet with a futuristic hair look centred around the concept of hair barcoding. The idea behind the show was to tap into Kay’s references towards futurism, while also maintaining the individuality of each model. With this in mind, Nick and his team were able to craft an almost barcode-like effect using a gelled strip placed in certain areas of each model’s hair. 

The Session Label hero products

The Jelly
“We’ve set the hair with a great product called The Jelly, which gives you a glossy, almost plastic, futuristic feel with the finish. It’s a lightweight gel that you can comb and manipulate the hair with.”

The Coat
“The Coat is a super, super light shine spray. If you use lots of it and spray close to the head, it makes the hair super glossy. We’ve used that with a wide-tooth comb over the surface to a give an almost barcode-like feel to the hair.”

The Strong
“To make the hair hold in the area we’ve added the gel strip, we use The Strong – a super strong hold hairspray.” 

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