Hairdressing world has a star, Laetitia Guénaou

According to the laypersons, hairdressing can be learned and be lived in a hairdressing salon, your career is totally different, why ? When I started this profession in the eighties, the trend was about Business US-style, profitability, turnover and turnover. I was soon very frustrated because I hadn’t chosen that profession for that, but out of passion, for the desire of creation. My luck to style producers singers enabled me to discover the cinema world. My specialty was indeed the period movies under the influence of Rosa de Rossi. Later, the music world opened me doors to create looks of different artists and then the fashion world. It is by the way, what I liked less for its ephemeral and directive side and with the lack of loyalty observed from season to season.   But why coming back to hairdressing ? It was during a press shooting that my work was noticed by a certain Michel Gardais. I went with him to Brazil for a show, I didn’t even know that a hairdresser could perform on stage. I loved it! Being free to create, to express myself. Some important person of l’Oréal Professionnel fast contacted me in Paris, signed contract… and for twenty years I’ve been travelling through the whole world to do shows, animate seminaries, sign collections.   What did it bring you ? Being hairstylist is the only job which enables me to develop ma creativity without being directed like on a film set or by clients in salons. In short, I am paid to do what I like most ! I make a living out of ma passion, that’s great.   And this material that you work, the hair, which approach do you have ? First, I like to remind that among all the existing profession, hairdressing is the only one which works with a living matter. It reacts when you touch it, when you push it at the extreme. You then have to approach it with softness to establish « contact » in order to obtain the best results. My way of living the hair is in fusion. Like a plant, you have to make it feel you love it, you have to talk to it… furthermore, I like exploring others universes to create matters, textures etc... For a few seasons I’ve been thinking the hair as a fabric. It can be crimped, creased, blistered, mat or shiny. My way of proceeding keeps evolving. But what do think the hairdressers of your creations which are very far from a hairdressing salon? Regarding fashion, you have the ready to wear and the haute couture. The first one is accessible, wearable, the other one not at all. The hairdresser who attends to an artistic show comes for the dream, a feeling, and a vibration. And then he/she is in charge of transposing the « unwearable » at business work level. He/she reduces the volumes, hets an idea to make it evolve in his/her daily work with clients. This is the enrichment of these moments of sharing.   When you go on stage, which message do you to transmit? I want to show to which point you can go with this matter, the hair. You can create incredible volumes, shapes, textures and accessories. I share also my passion who animates me, I am a master craftsman because I work with the best tool, my hands. And that, is magic!