Runway S/S19

SKILLS
Jonathan Soons
“When I started assisting, my ponytail
work was weak. I picked up on it
immediately and practised for a long time”
JONATHAN SOONS
suggests doubling down on the core skills
that are so essential when working
backstage. “Often we will be working a
classic technique into
a modern texture, so
a wide skillset and
understanding of
how things work
will help you be
ready for anything,”
he explains.
Even simple up-dos can be the
downfall of a Fashion Week newbie.
“Ponytail work is sometimes the skill that
needs to be improved,” agrees Jonathan
Soons, artistic ambassador for
Headmasters. “When I started assisting,
my ponytail work was weak. I picked up
on it immediately and practised for a long
time to have the confidence to do a high
show pony.”
Technique isn’t the only element these
fashion week seniors find lacking in their
assistants – having a broad product
knowledge is essential, especially as
extreme looks sent down the catwalk are
rarely created with the usual instructions.
It’s a lesson that Kathryn Dartnell, art
director at Harringtons, learnt very
quickly. “When I first started working
backstage, I remember noticing the
amount of product used,” she recalls.
“Seeing someone use a whole bottle of
TECNI.ART Full Volume Extra mousse
on one head of hair… I’d never seen
anyone do that in the salon before! I found
I had to learn to use and understand
products in a whole new way backstage.”
That understanding of products and
building a base of expertise around what’s
in your kitbag is an key element of the
revamped TECNI.ART range from
L’Oréal Professionnel. Reformulated after
intense workshopping with stylists from
around the globe including Adam Reed,
TECNI.ART’s raison d’etre to is to
provide the tools that will allow a stylist to
achieve what they’ve been briefed to do as
brilliantly as possible.
But for Kathryn, her time backstage
has greatly helped to shape her work back
in the salon. “There are lots of skills that
cross over, but session artists have such
an in-depth knowledge and skill set when
it comes to styling hair. There is so much
to learn in simply styling; there isn’t a
salon hairdresser alive who won’t benefit
from being exposed to the skill set
48 SPRING/SUMMER 2019
RUNWAY