Master hairstylist Eugene Souleiman creating his Buddhist-monk bowl cut.

I was a little anxious about heading backstage for Haider Ackermann’s show. It’s not like I was even going to interview him—but he’s one of my few fashion crushes. So much so that ELLE Canada’s beauty director, Vanessa Craft, jokingly describes him as my “fashion husband.” Turns out I’m not the only one who gets a little jittery around Ackermann. Wella Professionals global director, Eugene Souleiman, confided to me that he’d had no sleep and that he was feeling a little antsy before the show. “It’s going to be one of those moments when people say ‘Hey do you remember Haider Ackermann’s spring 2015 show?’ It’s a bit like when we did the McQueen show with the Kate Moss hologram. Like—whoa—holy shit. Do you know what I mean? I’m feeling a lot of pressure—more than any other show this season. I was colouring hair until 4 a.m. and then came here at 5. I’m on zero sleep. I haven’t even had time for a bloody coffee!” he said, laughing. While Souleiman was chatting, he was slashing away at the wig carefully taped in place on the model’s head. “Haider’s collection marks a real shift for him, and we needed to make a strong statement with the hair,” he explained. “I love it; it’s almost pure and otherworldly. I based it on the hairstyle of a Buddhist monk where it’s shaved at the neck and shaped into a bowl. I’m calling it the monk buzz cut. It’s ugly hair for beautiful clothes—I think that’s very stylish. This is when having a bad hair day works.”The wigs were dyed anthracite, a teal-grey colour. After the models’ hair was flattened onto their heads, the wigs were taped on and the stylists created their own version of the Buddhist-monk bowl cut.

And how did M.A.C Cosmetics artist Yadim handle the pressure? 
(more…)