We chatted to a-list session stylist Alain Pichon, who’s one of the three expert judges on BBC Lifestyle’s show, ‘Hair’ – a search to find Britain’s best amateur hair stylist about the 2015 hair trends. Alain has worked on shows for Prada, Calvin Klein, Dior, YSL and many more, and some of his celebrity clients include Claudia Schiffer, Kylie Minogue, Sienna Miller, Britney Spears and Scarlett Johansson – oh and David Beckham.
What can readers expect from the show?
Each week, contestants are presented with new creative and technical challenges and, as the weeks go by, the challenges become more and more difficult.
What are the some of the biggest hairstyle and colour trends for 2015?
A new trend in hairstyling is to wear your hair very flat on the hairline, using spray to fix and hold the roots down. The rest of your hair can fall straight or you can add a wave or some movement to the lengths.
We have to ask, what’s it like to cut David Beckham’s hair and who has been your most demanding celebrity to date?
David is a good looking man with great style and his haircut is fundamental to this. His hair has just enough movement, the perfect thickness and brilliant colour – the ultimate combination – which makes my work a lot easier.
My most demanding job to date was a few years ago with Britney Spears. As we know she was very volatile at that stage and her hair was badly affected by bleach and extensions – there was a lot of fixing to be done. We went on a promotional tour in Asia and I eventually finished in LA doing her hair in the music video for ‘Toxic’.
What is the one product women should splurge on for their hair?
All women should use a leave-in conditioner, as it makes more sense to nourish your hair by leaving the product in, than rinsing it out. It’s ideal in the morning to rebuild texture and create a natural-looking hairstyle.
If you’re making a dramatic change to your look, what steps should you take?
- Don’t rush – Spontaneity may end in a negative experience
- Bring photos of hairstyles that you like with you to the salon, but only show them after the stylist has presented a few similar ideas first
- Book at least three consultations. Let the stylist talk first, ask to see photos, and find which hairstylist understands you best
What questions should you ask your stylist, to make sure they’re doing the right thing?
- Why do you think this haircut will suit me? The Response should be based on your face shape, style and hair texture
- Where would you start the haircut? The Response should be in the middle of the head somewhere from the front or the back in the line of symmetry.
- How do I maintain this hairstyle? The Response should always be the minimum maintenance explained with one technique and a single product.
What is your top tip/ product for getting thicker hair?
Blow-dry hair with a mixture of 40% gel and 60 % grooming cream. Once dry, finish by spraying some dry shampoo on the roots.
What can you do to prevent your hair from going flat throughout the day?
Hair will only go flat if it’s very oily, but washing it does not always help as the massage can release natural sebum.
I recommend using hairspray or dry shampoo on the roots and loosely putting the hair up straight away to set the volume again.
What’s the best way to tackle frizzy hair at the beach?
In the morning after showering, towel dry hair and apply a mixture of oil and conditioner on two thirds of the length, to help redefine a clean curl and rehydrate your hair. If you’ve been swimming at the beach, try not to shampoo. Instead rinse with hot/warm water.
