Courtesy of Guido PalauBeautyBeauty FeatureLegendary hairstylist Guido Palau breaks down 5 hair-raising looksThe hairstylist has worked with Naomi Campbell, Lady Gaga, Prada, and Raf Simons to create pioneering hair looks – from hyperreal blunt cuts to neon yellow horns, his new book #HAIRTESTS is a future-facing highlight reelShareLink copied ✔️November 26, 2021BeautyBeauty FeatureTextHannah Bertolino Whether backstage at runway shows, for magazine covers, music videos, or campaign shoots, Guido Palau has spent his career championing avant-garde beauty. “I’ve always been interested in an unconventional kind of beauty,” he tells us. “From the very beginning of my work, my eye’s been attracted to the quirky parts of somebody’s beauty and the way this represents who they are.” Assisting in hair salons across London in the 80s, Palau would look at the photos on the walls, fantasising about the people behind the looks. Since then, the prolific stylist has worked with names including Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, Adwoa Aboah, Kaia Gerber, Lady Gaga, and Adele. With 35+ years spent working backstage at some of the biggest runway shows of all time, the stylist has created some of the most influential hairstyles in modern fashion – from chignon fins at Alexander McQueen’s final show in 2010, titled Plato’s Atlantis, to supersized bouffants at Valentino’s Fall 2018 couture show. Courtesy of Guido Palau The hairstylist’s newest project comes in the form of a 132-page collection of his work, titled #HAIRTESTS. Born out of Palau’s own daring Instagram feed, the book brings together ideas and test shots spanning Palau’s career – from neon yellow hair horns to hyperreal blunt cuts and action-packed dreads. “The images present an artist’s rendering, a visual journal of characters. It’s not about the photograph per se,” says Palau. “I simply recorded the results on my phone. I am not a photographer, but just like everyone else in the world, I have this device, like an extension of my hand, which records what is in front of me.” In #HAIRTESTS, Palau hopes to represent beauty as it’s seen today, re-interpreting styles he’s spotted on the street and seeking inspiration from his models’ unique features. “This is a really exciting time because the boundaries of beauty have really broken down,” he says. “Everyone is beautiful in their own way. I hope this book captures that.” Swipe through below to hear about five looks inside #HAIRTESTS. #HAIRTESTS by Guido Palau #HAIRTESTS by Guido Palau is out via IDEA and available to buy at Dover Street Market on December 3. Expand your creative community and connect with 15,000 creatives from around the world.READ MOREMy year of divesting from beauty cultureCan psychedelics enhance your workout?So you want to smell like an ancient god?Inside India’s blossoming drag sceneDina, the Siberian make-up artist transforming into works of artThe sinister rise of the ‘skinny BBL’Starface wants us to have a Charlie Brown ChristmasWhat it’s like to be called ‘old’ as a 20-something onlineNicola Formichetti on MAC Cosmetics’ new ‘indie’ era These photos capture the messy reality of post-club make-upThe risky business of bringing back archive beauty productsSo you want to smell like a cyborg?
