Runway S/S18

THE DIRECTORS
YESMIN O’BRIEN from Seanhanna, London and JASON HALL from Jason Hall Hairdressing, Edinburgh
Runway: How did you get the gig?
Yesmin O’Brien: I was very fortunate to be asked to head the White
Show the previous year and had great feedback so was asked if I could
work on it again.
Jason Hall: I work closely with L’Oréal Professionnel on lots of projects
and when they approached me about this I rescheduled my diary to
make sure I was available. The chance to work with the next generation of
designers is fantastic.
R: What was the experience like?
YO’B: As all shows, it’s with the planning and pre-show brief meeting with
the organisers and doing some hair looks to cement and preparation for
the job. I did this about five weeks before.
JH: We spent the first hour setting up our space, briefing the assistant’s
and doing the hair demo. I always find if you take the time to do these
things well then everyone has a nice day. The assistants where then split
into two teams with me or Yesmin. The whole day was actually very calm,
relaxed and really good fun.
R: Any interesting moments?
YO’B: All seemed to go well on the day but I was catching a plane in from
Hamburg that morning and praying there were no delays. I had some of
my team bring my equipment and set up for me just in case there were
any issues with my luggage not turning up!
JH: We had lots of hats that we had to sew to the model’s hair, balaclavas
that were too small for the model’s heads that we had to alter; we even
had one model that had decided to bleach her own hair a few days before
the show and her hair was breaking every time anyone touched it! But
because everyone was so positive the whole thing went amazingly well.
R: Have you worked together before?
JH: We’ve travelled all over Europe and worked on lots of big shows
together, we even have our favourite restaurants in each of the fashion
capitals that we meet in for dinner!
R: What was it like working with fashion students – very different
from the big designers you work with at the global shows?
JH: I find most designers, no matter what stage of their career, have
the same goal and that’s to see the vision in their head recreated on the
catwalk. As long as you spend the time to listen and understand that
vision then it’s always a pleasure to be involved with.
YO’B: Every client is equally important. These are our future stars.
R: What kept you going?
YO’B: Cups of Earl Grey!
JH: I’m a Diet Coke addict and L’Oréal Professionnel made sure I had a
never-ending supply. I also think fun and laughter keeps everyone going
so we made sure there was lots of that.
46 RUNWAY Spring/Summer 2018