Braid New World: Taiba Akhuetie is turning hair into art

This story is taken from the autumn 2026 issue of Dazed, which is on sale internationally from September 10. Order a copy of the magazine here.

A renowned hair stylist and founder of Keash, Taiba Akhuetie has recently expanded her practice into contemporary art, using hair as her primary medium. Her recent exhibition at London’s Sarabande Foundation, where she is currently artist-in-residence, marked her most ambitious body of work to date. Blurring the boundaries between fashion, art and design, her intricately handcrafted pieces explore hair not only as sculpture but as a visual and cultural language. Here, she presents a new series created exclusively for Dazed.

Photography Kasia Wozniak, artist Taiba Akhuetie, styling Sasha Harris, hair by Kei Takano at Agency 41 using Hair by Sam McKnight, make-up Alice Dodds using Chanel Beauty, nails Nina Nguyen at OPUS Beauty using Essie, models Boma Sunday at Elite Model Management, Nicole Pihamaa at Premier, set design Charlie Fairs, photographic assistants Ioannis Tsiavo, Edie Claydon, styling assistants Joe Lokko, hair assistants Mariana Feliziani, post-production MAY, casting Mischa Notcutt at Drive Represents.