This beauty story captures the carefree feeling of summer in NYC

Hanging out on fire escapes, running around with your friends, hopping the turnstile – summers in the city when you are young are full of carefree days and aimless wandering in the sun. It’s this state of mind that’s perfectly captured in a new shoot from photographer Ramona Jingru Wang and hair artist Julia Elena.

Set amidst the backdrop of New York’s ever-evolving urban landscape, the photographs celebrate the vibrant and unique style of the city’s underground scene and explore how young New Yorkers express themselves through hair. Here, Elena’s whimsical braided hair pieces cover the faces of the models, allowing them to both hide away from the world and manifest their alter-egos. “I want you to see me, but don’t talk to me. Remember me and forget me at the same time,” Elena says of the idea behind her masks, which draw attention while creating the feeling that you are protected at the same time. “I think we’ve all felt this way too often living in New York.”

Capturing youth in all its glory, the shoot offers a romanticised view of growing up in NYC, with quintessential shots of bike rides and basketball courts. “We wanted to create this utopian feeling, where people turn into these playful little creatures that are just having fun in the city.” explains Wang. Also collaborating on the shoot was make-up artist Shiori Sato, sylist Tashie Jane and producer Tiana Randall.

Speaking to Dazed below, the creative team talk us through their influences, shooting in New York and using hair as a form of self-expression.

What was the concept of the shoot?

Tiana Randall [producer]: We channelled a youthful look at the NYC underground scene. We really tried to tap into how today’s youth of New York, and how our own individual experiences, were shaped in New York. When speaking to Julia, the creator of these pieces, she shared that she wanted to express an inner contrast by creating a more light, soft and otherworldly kind of world. This creation was born from a desire to manifest what she hopes to soon experience in her real life. Through the use of light colours and almost whimsical masks, she aimed to evoke a sense of awakening and transformation for everyone enduring and evolving in this strange post-2020 world.

How did New York play a part in and inspired the photographs? 

Ramona Wang [photographer]: I am always very touched by the unapologetic energy on the streets in the Lower East Side, where Julia and I both thought would be a perfect incubator for this photo project and her hair pieces that embody this complexity of expressiveness and escapism. When I am walking on the streets here in downtown New York, I feel the vibrant liveliness from people around me, which could also sometimes be overwhelming and makes you wonder what’s underneath the facade, hence the masks.

How do the face-hiding hair masks relate to mental health and your personal journey?

Julia Elena [hair artist]: Making braided hair pieces in my apartment somehow gave me sanity simply repeating the same pattern over and over of intertwining hair one over the other and then creating something from each braid. I would dye the hair first and then let it air dry. The next day I would sit on my couch and start braiding. There were days when I was flowing and hours passed and I was still braiding. 

During this time, my life situation didn’t feel safe so I think subconsciously repeating something over again felt safe. I isolated myself and dissociated. This personal experience made me see the ugly side of human nature very up close including my own differently. We often hide these parts of ourselves until we can no longer hide it any longer. Making these masks symbolised that moment in my life.

What is it about wigs that are able to transform people so much? 

Julia Elena: Wigs truly feel like an alter ego. There’s just something about hiding how you normally see yourself into a different version of yourself. You feel safer to be louder, walk taller, and be yourself, but more.

Were you inspired by any other references or influences?

Tiana Randall: We wanted to take style notes from the youth of Japan and pay homage to FRUiTs Magazine. We specifically admired their use of styling, environment and posing, which we wanted to dive into because it’s such a good reference for how today’s Japanese youth express themselves.

Why do you think hair is such a great form of self-expression? 

Julia Elena: Hair will always symbolise change and nostalgia. It’s one of the ways in which we can choose how we want to be perceived or not. Hair holds so much memory and so when we look for change we tend to do something with our hair.

Photographer Ramon Wang, hair stylist Julia Elena, producer Tiana Randall, make-up artist Shiori Sato, stylist Tashie Jane, photo assistant Wenhao Hu, DP Leo Hsu, composer Keith Charles, talent Jazz Chang, Jazmine, Jada Jarvis, Nick Drain