Exclusive interview of Loïc Masurel, elected Best hairdresser of the year 2014 at the Hairdressing Awards !

Loïc Masurel, from Wattrelos, is barely 30 and already received many awards ! Winning the title of best hairdresser of the year 2013-2014 for the 10 years of the Hairdressing Awards organized by Schwarzkopf Professional, this young man is a hairdresser, photographer and model. Meeting with that fashion lover.

Sara Svati

Hairdressing Awards
Didier Adam Photo

Livecoiffure: Could you tell us about your the beginning of your career ?
Loïc Masurel :I always wanted to become a hairdresser but I didn't dare to take the step straightaway. I didn't have a classical curriculum. Before, I was a soldier during 2 years and a half in the Army and from one day to the next, I decided to be a hairdresser, when I was about 21 years old.
I was very attracted to fashion and all the things relating to that universe. I then obtained my CAP and my hairdressing BP (professional diploma) in Lille and I worked during 3 years in salons.
I then went abroad for one year, particularly in Asia and in the United States to be a model. I posed for Cps Chaps, Biff&Bill, Sony, Samsung, Zenithorial in Thailand, Mos, Supreme, Benetton in New York, I also participated to the Fashion Week of 2010. I made myself a list of contacts and at the same time I had hairdressing classes.
I came back to France and in Belgium to keep being a model for Kokpar, Decathlon, Domyos, Newfeel, La Redoute, Nike, Adidas, etc... I then opened the salon M Innovation 5 years ago.

Livecoiffure: You won different awards - The prize Région Nord, the prize Coupe Afro - for the 10 years of Hairdressing Awards and especially the title of Meilleur coiffeur of the year 2013-2014, tell us more about that night, about your victory ?
Loïc Masurel : I was stresses but at the same time glad to see again former candidates who are now my friends at the professional level. The soirée went well, there were many awards and I wasn't expecting to win a trophy. I thought that tastes and colors are various and from an outside point of view, my photos seemed maybe too" fashion".
Hairdressing wasn't my aim but I worked especially the image, I wanted it to be strong. I would like people recognize my work at first sight through my collections. Then, I was happy to see that for the consecutive year we won, my team and myself, the title of Région Nord. I was happy to maintain out status of winner in that category.
For the African category, I wanted something very different, with a very American plan; I wanted people to see the whole silhouette so the woman can appear as an African goddess. Volume was important, I played with geometry. On a picture you can see a sort of rectangle, on another one a triangle and volumes on the sides, the last one is a small angled square. At the visual level, the hairstyles are very different but respect the same idea.
The choice of the black and white color is very important to show the editorial. I was moved o win the title of Meilleur Coiffeur of the year, I wasn't expecting that, It is really an honor to receive that prize.

Livecoiffure: Where did your inspiration come from to make your hairstyles ?
Loïc Masurel : Difficult to say...I imagine the series in my head, I knew that I wanted to make a very contrasted black and white series.
Then, I had to find the models and adapt the hairstyles according to them.
The hairstyles must be made with their hair and must stick to their image, o obtain a beautiful visual harmony. I adapt the position, the angle so everything is perfect. The most important for me is that global harmony, my visuals are not commercial contrary to my salon collections. For the competitions, I try hard to make something creative, innovative.

Livecoiffure: You have your own salon M innovation in Wattrelos, could you explain us your concept ?
Loïc Masurel :I am passionate about fashion, creation and I had some model experience, everything came from Art.
I wanted to kill two birds with one stone and open my salon. I've been running it for 5 years with my team.
We try to propose something innovative at the level of the hairstyles, to make a personalized diagnostic to each client, to create tailor-made highlights, etc...
Each client has a haircut and a personalized hair color, two persons will never have the same thing. When I created the brand M innovation, my first aim was to innovate of course, to create very strong visuals reflecting the salon. This is really fun to style the clients from a natural element.
I like working this base trying to keep the same texture, we test some concepts according to the demand of the clients. We do very classical hairstyles with touch of modernity. I make the most of that to do photo shootings at the back of my salon, in my studio. Creation of collections for competitions or new spring-summer, autumn-winter collections, this is always fun !

Livecoiffure: You are also a model and a photographer, do you have any project in these fields ?
Loïc Masurel : When I went abroad, I was really young. I dedicated myself a lot to modeling, I put that aside today and dedicate more myself to hairdressing to competitions and to creation.
I will keep being a model at the same time but this will not be my priority. I will stop very soon... Anyway, I will not have the choice when I get old ! [laughter].
That was a very beautiful experience ! Regarding photography, I started to get better two years ago. My photo shootings enable me to create something "fashion" for the competitions. I participated 3 years in a row to the Hairdressing Awards and I don't think I will stop there !

Livecoiffure: What are your project for 2015 ?
Loïc Masurel : I had many demands with beautiful opportunities. I don't know yet what I'm going to do but I have the choice ! [laughter]
I am very happy to receive many requests, that means people like my work. I will not stop what I'm doing in my salon and right now I am going to take care of its image.
I will also continue my studio hairstyles and I will make new visuals. The artistic creation is what I like !

Livecoiffure: A last word ?
Loïc Masurel : I am still myself; I'm a very humble person. It is important to be trained, to participate to competitions, you can learn from everybody, the young persons, the elder persons. It is essential to be interested in everything, especially to art, I love museums... I love surrealism, I am a real fan of Magritte ! I am seduce by everything, stylism, colors, volumes... Don't forget to look around you and have an opened spirit !