E C I S R U T C O H ELE
ONE NIGHT ONLY. EVENT POSTER INCLUDED FUTURE OF HAIR CHALLENGE [DETAILS INSIDE]
THIS MAGAZINE HAS INTERACTIVE ELEMENTS CLICK + ENJOY AN ENHANCED DIGITAL EXPERIENCE PHOTO CREDITS ISAAC SOLOMON @dreadedphoto JENNA JONES @photobyjennajones DOUGLAS MCCOY @douglas_mccoy72 (+ the R+Co team)
A NOTE FROM DAN My mic did its own “drop” at ELECTRIC HOUSE, so you might not have heard me in the back of the room. What I wanted you to hear then—and now—is that ELECTRIC HOUSE was about cultivating excitement around the future of beauty and challenging us to think about what’s next. And, where does the past, those all-important foundations integral to hairstyling, fit into the larger picture of today and tomorrow? It’s a lot to unpack, but the stylists on the ELECTRIC HOUSE stage accomplished just that with presentations showcasing their wildly different perspectives and histories. Each presented their ideas— diverse, strong, galvanizing—on what’s happening in hair now and what they foresee in the future. Such collaboration and community help our industry thrive, and they’re what R+Co was founded on: the simple premise that a collective approach to products and education is better than a singular one. As part of our collective—because you are a part of it—your success is our success, and vice versa. We want to ensure that we’re constantly learning together—and building community—with experiences like ELECTRIC HOUSE. To continue that promise from stage to page, we’ve created ELECTRIC HOUSE Magazine, an illustration of the intersection of inspiration and technical execution. Every page captures the excitement of this supercharged night, as well as step-by-steps to recreate the looks from the event and a chance to win fun prizes. Enjoy!
The artists that took to the stage at ELECTRIC HOUSE each had a dynamic take on hair; here are some of my favorite moments: DANIELLE brought attendees to their feet during her blockbuster performance with pianist Chloe Flower. It was an incredible start to the evening. GARREN’S “Alien wedding” explored incredible hair—yes —but it also showcased the future of love. GERARD + ANDREAN embraced hyper-charged texture and created incredible looks that could easily fit in 1970 or 2070. ASHLEY proved with her red carpet-to-reality transformation that paying attention to the deconstruction of a glam look is just as important as the reverse. HOWARD continues to put a modern take on past references— this time punk—in truly unique ways. THOM masterfully demonstrated how minor changes in length or a bang can totally transform a person’s look.
Dan Langer @theoriginaldl President, R+Co
R+CO ELECTRIC HOUSE
TABLE OF CONTENTS DANIELLE PRIANO
6
CHLOE FLOWER
7
GARREN
8/9
ANDREAN NOIR
12 GERARD SCARPACI
ASHLEY STREICHER
13
ELECTRIC POSTER
16/17
15
CHRISTOPHER CAMPBELL
21 HOWARD MCLAREN
22/23
THOM PRIANO
26/27
BLU + REX DETIGER
25
FUTURE OF HAIR CHALLENGE
30
BEAUTY IN MOTION DANIELLE PRIANO’S MEMORABLE ELECTRIC HOUSE PERFORMANCE REVEALED MORE THAN ART + COMMERCE —IT’S THE FILLER OF THE FUTURE. “I never blend in,” says guest Collective Member Danielle Priano. And stand out, she did: For Priano’s very first hair presentation at ELECTRIC HOUSE, she gathered composer and pianist Chloe Flower’s flowing hair into her famed “snatched” ponytail— all while Flower pounded the ivories and whipped her head fiercely to the beat. The presentation concept started as an off-hand comment; Flower learned that Priano was participating in ELECTRIC HOUSE and joked, “You should do my hair while I perform!” Priano seized on the idea, and, before she knew it, both Flower and Priano were on the ELECTRIC HOUSE stage bringing the crowd to its feet. “For me, it wasn’t difficult,” she says of creating the flawless ponytail as Flower’s head bobbed and swerved. “I’ve been all over doing people’s hair while they’re upside down, on the phone—even while they’re sleeping. And, this time, I was dancing and dropping it low!” Her signature look came at the request of models. (She regularly collaborates with the Hadid sisters and leading Victoria’s Secret angels). “All of the girls who I work with ask, ‘Can you snatch my face?’” she says, referring to the eye-lift effect that a super-tight ponytail gives. Priano envisions such “snatched” styles as the future of hair. “I think a lot of what’s happening now with people getting Botox and fillers, we’ll be producing the same effects through hair. If you don’t have thousands to go to a dermatologist to get those procedures, you can wear your hair up in a bun and ponytail and pull your face back,” she says, swearing, “You can look 10 years younger!”
GET THE LOOK
SNATCHED PONYTAIL “Key to this look: the placement on the head. It’s also the type of ponytail elastic (you need one that won’t lose elasticity or snap) and the right brush.” —Danielle Priano Step 1: Spray damp hair with ONE Prep Spray. Brush through. Step 2: Blow-dry straight and then flat iron. Step 3: Using a P.S. x Danielle Square Paddle Brush and spraying VICIOUS Strong Hold Flexible Hairspray, direct hair up and away from the hairline around the perimeter of the head. Gather into a ponytail. Step 4: Grip the hair tight with your hand at the ponytail’s base. Refine and smooth along the hairline, crown, sides and neck using a finishing brush. Step 5: Secure the ponytail using a hair elastic, like P.S. x Danielle Ponytail Elastics, making sure not to lose tension. Step 6: Apply WALL ST Strong Hold Gel along the hairline. Smooth and perfect edges using an edge brush.
SLEEK LOOP Take the look from a snatched ponytail to a sleek loop. Step 1: Grab the ponytail and bend it to the desired shape. Using scissors, cut a hair elastic and use the elastic string to wrap around the hair and secure the shape. Tie the hair elastic. Step 2: Then, carefully comb down and secure the remaining ponytail ends using a brow brush and MOTORCYCLE Flexible Gel so that the hair sits flat against the back of the head. Step 3: Finish the look with VICIOUS Hairspray to control flyaways.
CHLOE FLOWER
THE PIANIST SENDS SHOCKWAVES THROUGH HER MUSIC GENRE. High energy, high fashion, and high talent collide every time Chloe Flower sits behind her piano. Long before she collaborated at the 2019 Grammys with Cardi B, the lifelong musician, performer, composer, and humanitarian (she works with the United Nations as a UNODC Artist Ambassador to combat human trafficking, among other philanthropic missions) asked herself a formative question: “Why can’t classical music be relevant and sexy?” Having played piano since the age of two, Flower went on to study with luminaries at Julliard and The Royal Academy of Music London, where she realized her tastes in music diverged—yet didn’t need to. “I was playing Bach and listening to hip-hop at the same time,” she recalls. “I decided to blend them and realized hip-hop beats and classical music sound really cool together. It felt right to explore the combination further.” This unique approach to composing and playing piano lead her to sign with Island Def Jam in 2010 and later work with talents as diverse as Céline Dion, 2 Chainz, Nas and Questlove. She’s currently spending time in the studio to produce her forthcoming full-length debut. Working alongside producers such as Tommy Brown (Ariana Grande’s “Thank U, Next”), Mike WiLL Made-It, and Babyface, Flower reveals she’ll be bringing you more of the enigmatic energy and music you witnessed at ELECTRIC HOUSE. “It’s not going to be traditional; it’s going to be more like a playlist or a DJ set,” she promises. “There will be traditional classical over drums, and original music as well. It’ll be relaxing and high-energy.” Follow Chloe @misschloeflower
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SHE WAS A DITCHING FORMAL FUSSINESS IN EXCHANGE FOR THE FANTASTICAL FUELS TOMORROW’S BRIDAL HAIR. When Garren’s metaphorical spaceship landed on the ELECTRIC HOUSE stage, he emerged from the fog and stepped into his version of the future—a future where gender is fluid, creativity is galactic and hair’s history is respected in all reaches of the salon universe. “There’s this part of hairdressing—the history of hairdressing— that’s totally gone missing in the last 10 years,” he laments. Believing that the thirst for appreciating and truly understanding the foundations of hairstyling has been waning, Garren went into ELECTRIC HOUSE primed to renew attendees’ interest in the bedrocks of styling—especially when servicing brides.
COSMIC GIRL Instead of presenting a typical wedding party, Garren introduced an “alien wedding,” where he shot for the moon with styling. “I wanted to bring fantasy to a little bit of reality and push beyond the boundaries of what is being done for today’s brides,” says Garren. That translates to exquisitely fingerwaved hair done the traditional way (just a comb and clips, no irons) and a towering waffled updo where every swooping section featured crimps lined up to perfection—two looks that Garren hopes won’t be too alien for today’s stylist to use as launchpads for their bridal hair inspiration.
GET THE LOOK
ALIEN BRIDE “I wanted to show that a fingerwave could look really modern in the future—because it is futuristic when done with intention. Then I combed out the back with a large-tooth comb to give it the modernity of what’s happening in today’s world.” —Garren Step 1: Start by washing hair with CASSETTE Curl Shampoo + Conditioner + Superseed Oil Complex. Step 2: In a bowl, mix 2/3 of MOTORCYCLE Flexible Gel and 1/3 of WALL ST Strong Hold Gel and apply to hair for hold and definition.
“
SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO LOOK TO THE PAST TO CREATE THE FUTURE.”
GARREN, R+CO CO-FOUNDER
Step 3: Using a medium-size comb, begin creating fingerwaves. Use duckbill clips to hold the zigzag pattern in place. Step 4: Pin curl the bottom edges and loop at the nape. Step 5: Leave waves looking shiny or run a wide-tooth comb through for softness. Step 6: For the final bridal look, place a veil at the crown.
GET THE LOOK
CELESTIAL WEDDING CRASHER Step 1: Wash hair with DALLAS Shampoo + Conditioner for added vitality. Step 2: Apply a dollop of RODEO STAR Thickening Style Foam and a mist of SAIL Soft Wave Spray for maximum volume. Step 3: Flip hair upside down and loosely blow-dry using fingers to lift the roots. Step 4: Flip hair back and separate into one-inch sections. Start from the back of the head and spray each section with VICIOUS Hairspray from root to end. Step 5: While hair is still damp with VICIOUS, crimp each section and line up each crimp. Step 6: Repeat the previous step until the entire head of hair is crimped. Do not brush or comb through hair. “It was important to me to have every crimp line up. I didn’t brush through the crimps—I didn’t want them all to blend together; instead, I left it all stiffly crimped so that you could really see the pattern when the hair was all up and finished.” —Garren
Step 7: Create a French twist by looping hair at the crown. Step 8: Loop any loose side pieces of hair behind the French twist you’ve created and secure with pins. Step 9: Take the final front crimped sections of hair and roll inward to the top of the head, creating a rockabilly effect to complete the look. Step 10: Pull a few strands loose around the face and separate using your fingers. Step 11: Spray the entire head with OUTER SPACE Flexible Hairspray. Step 12: Add a pink bow or any accessory fit for the occasion.
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Make R+Co Radio the soundtrack to your salon! Featuring new playlists monthly, curated by our co-founders, collective members + special guests. Tune in at randco.com/radio
@randco #randco #allyouneedisgoodhair
IMMERSE YOURSELF INTO THE
ELECTRIC HOUSE VIBE
WITH THIS PLAYLIST SPECIALLY CURATED FOR THE EVENT BY
DJ PS1
CHILDISH GAMBINO - THIS IS AMERICA YELLA BEEZY (FEAT. QUAVO AND GUCCI MANE) - BACC AT IT AGAIN OZZY OSBOURNE - CRAZY TRAIN WILEY (FEAT. STEFFLON DON, SEAN PAUL AND IDRIS ELBA) - BOASTY FLEETWOOD MAC - THE CHAIN POST MALONE (FEAT. RODDY RICCH AND TYGA) - WOW (REMIX) KISS - LOVE GUN KANYE WEST - JESUS IS KING YG (FEAT. TYGA AND JON Z) - GO LOKO
REVISIT GARREN, HOWARD + THOM’S ELECTRIC HOUSE PLAYLISTS AT RANDCO.COM/RADIO FOR AN EXTRA DOSE OF INSPIRATION.
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“I want to change how beauty schools and the industry teach hairdressers about textured hair because, sadly, they don’t teach hairdressers to work on textured hair,” says R+Co Director of Content Andrean Noir. And with more and more people embracing their natural texture, an ever-widening section of consumers will undoubtedly seek out hairstylists who have a fundamental understanding of curl texture and how to cut, style and care for it. “There’s such potential,” Noir says. “With a proper education in texture, you’ll see your clientele grow just based off of your knowledge— the growth will be exponential.”
ALL ABOUT
TEXTURE
Noir’s hopeful the current zeitgeist of wearing one’s curls, coils or kinks fearlessly will live on. “It’s my dream that embracing natural texture will move forward and not backward,” she says. “Texture is beautiful. Nobody should repress her natural texture, especially if it’s such a gorgeous texture.” She hesitates. “But learning how to manage it and make it look good, and taking time to care for it and know it—that doesn’t happen in two seconds. You need to learn about texture—really learn.” And that education starts now.
HAIRSTYLISTS VERSED IN TEXTURE WILL GUARANTEE THEMSELVES A BRIGHTER FUTURE.
SQUARED AWAY GET THE LOOK
NOIR’S JERRY HALL “There’s this whole stigma for women around square shapes because anything that’s square is thought of as masculine— but I like the idea of a Grace Jones-inspired shape.” —Andrean Noir
Step 1: Start with natural, textured hair. Step 2: Apply NEON LIGHTS Dry Oil Spray to hair for added nourishment and shine. Step 3: Scissor-cut hair to create desired style and shape.
“Garren actually worked on model Jerry Hall’s hair for years … but I did my interpretation of her iconic style.” —Andrean Noir
Step 1: Section hair and set it with sponge rollers. Step 2: After setting, use a comb to brush out curls. Step 3: Spray a liberal amount of BALLOON Dry Volume Spray from roots to ends for added volume. Step 4: Finish with VICIOUS Hairspray.
ALL ABOUT
CONNECTION AS SOCIAL MEDIA EXPLODES HAIRDRESSER-TO-HAIRDRESSER CONNECTIONS, THE RESULTING PEER COLLABORATIONS WILL SPARK TOMORROW’S IDEATION.
In 2005, Gerard Scarpaci and Randy Taylor took an interest in what was then called “social networking.” The two thought, “Who likes to network more than hairdressers?” Events like ELECTRIC HOUSE provided in-person peer-to-peer connections to spawn creativity, but not every stylist could attend. Knowing that hairdressers are inherently social creatures, Scarpaci and Taylor recognized the thirst for connection. “We love what we do every weekend in the classroom, at hair shows and events, so we thought: Can we use social networking and digital to keep that feeling going so that a hairdresser in Fargo, North Dakota, at 2 a.m. on a Thursday can be connected with her fellow hairdressers and peers?” asks Scarpaci.
From that question, came the answer: Hairbrained. me, a global online community for stylists. The two hit on a movement before it became today’s social media revolution; they foresaw the future of hair— and that future to Scarpaci is “hairdresser-tohairdresser connections.” Such connections brought him to ELECTRIC HOUSE, where he was invited to create two textured looks inspired by a photo of musician Bob Dylan. The original idea was to work on two male models, but Scarpaci thought a contrasting female Bob Dylan, based loosely on actress Cate Blanchett’s turn as Dylan in the movie I’m Not There, would be more interesting.
GET THE LOOK
BOB DYLAN REDUX
I’M NOT THERE “The challenge was that the model had pin-straight hair, so it was all about the setting technique. After I set sections on a curling iron, I transferred the curls to pipe cleaners and let it cool down to really achieve a softer shape and natural curl.” —Gerard Scarpaci Step 1: Spray DALLAS Thickening Spray at the roots to create volume. Rough-dry hair. Step 2: Separate hair into small sections and curl with a curling iron, misting each piece with OUTER SPACE Flexible Hairspray. Step 3: Transfer each curl to a pipe cleaner to set the hair. Step 4: Finish with VICIOUS Strong Hold Flexible Hairspray for added hold.
“I created a ‘paddle’ for both styles, made of pantyhose and a wire hanger, sprayed VICIOUS through the pantyhose onto the hair, and used a diffuser through the paddle to reinforce the shape.” —Gerard Scarpaci Step 1: Dampen hair using PINSTRIPE Intense Detangling Spray. Step 2: Spray FREEWAY Defining Spray Gel from roots to ends. Step 3: Use creaseless clips to flatten the sides and back of hair. Step 4: Use single-prong clips to lift roots in the crown. Step 5: Remove most clips and finish by spraying VICIOUS Strong Hold Flexible Hairspray for added hold.
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AT THE SPEED OF Social media: It can have a complicated relationship with hairstylists—but nobody doubts that its rise has changed the landscape of the hair industry. Where that leads, nobody quite knows, but R+Co Collective Member Ashley Streicher feels that if you learn to embrace the platforms, you’re setting your business up for a better tomorrow. “The truth is, with Instagram and social media, we’re all changing so insanely quickly that the future is right now, and you have to jump right on board,” she says. “Someone can show up with a new haircut on IG and it will spread like wildfire. That’s the new inspiration. Our job as hairdressers is to stay on top of what people are doing on IG and inform our peers and clients.”
SOCIAL
SOCIAL MEDIA IS CHURNING OUT HAIR TRENDS AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT, MAKING THE FUTURE OF HAIR QUITE LITERALLY NOW. “This was all about deconstructing an overly done look and making it IRL attainable. I used OUTER SPACE Flexible Hairspray to get the big, giant hair because I can set, spray, brush and then reset, spray and brush, and the flexible hold not only holds, but is moveable, brushable and has tons of memory. Plus, I used a few of my forthcoming R+Co products; stay tuned in 2020!” —Ashley Streicher
For the social-media-averse stylist, Streicher understands the resistance, but stresses one major positive of the fast-moving medium: increased salon traffic. “Social media brings people into the salon more often. Trends are changing so quickly that people want new looks— even small nuanced changes— faster,” she says. As someone who has a firm command of Instagram (75K followers and rising), she felt replicating one of the red carpet moments she shared on the platform (Mandy Moore at the 2019 Emmys, which garnered 11,000-plus “likes”) at ELECTRIC HOUSE, and then showing how to deconstruct it for the street, represents where hair is heading. “I want you to see the fantasy— because it’s like becoming a character for the red carpet sometimes—and then the reality; something you can actually take home and use in a consultation,” she says of her presentation.
Step 1: Apply extensions to the hair and cut them into a clavicle-length bob. Step 2: Starting at the nape of the neck, curl 1½-inch sections. Step 3: Spray each section with OUTER SPACE Flexible Hairspray for added hold. Step 4: Once the entire head is curled, section out the very top and brush into a big pin curl to cool on top of the head. Step 5: Once cooled, brush out curls while also backcombing the hair gently and spraying each section from roots to ends with BALLOON Dry Volume Spray. Step 6: Brush hair back and spray VICIOUS Hairspray around the hairline. Step 7: Pin hairline into place while carefully brushing through the rest of the silhouette.
GET THE LOOK
RED CARPET DECONSTRUCTED
Step 8: Remove all clips and apply one last mist of BALLOON around the hairline.
15
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CHRISTOPHER CAMPBELL NO DETAIL IS LEFT UNCOVERED WHEN DRESSING THE WORLD OF TOMORROW.
Ballerinas meet aliens meet bridal. Seventies Vivienne Westwood crossed with tomorrow’s punk. A real-time red carpet quick-change. Juggling the creative visions of several hairdressers is a daunting task, but wardrobe stylist Christopher Campbell took it in stride, suiting performers and models in wares that helped build the world of ELECTRIC HOUSE. “R+Co doesn’t come to the plate with just a vague idea of what they want. They’re visionaries,” Campbell says of the collaboration. But, this joint venture went above and beyond a typical shoot; with various artists to please and an in-person audience to engross, Campbell rose to the challenge. “When you’re styling for a performance, you have to keep in mind the technical details; the performers have to be able to move freely and everything has to fit perfectly—you can’t use pins!” he explains. “And, you have to create drama. Whenever we’re putting together these shows, it’s really important to wow the audience. There’s no subtlety when it comes to doing a big theatrical performance.”
“R+CO DOESN’T COME TO THE PLATE WITH JUST A VAGUE IDEA OF WHAT THEY WANT. THEY’RE VISIONARIES.” Campbell mulled over every detail: Do the dancers have enough stretch in their fabric? How do you rig the ball skirt to allow the model to step out of it onstage without ensnaring herself in the fabric? (A tailor helped solve this conundrum.) How would he up the ante for performer Rex Detiger’s all-white attire? (Add a pair of angel wings that shiver and shake as Detiger drums.) Such forethought, as well as the ability to insightfully interpret collaborators’ concepts, is part of Campbell’s talent—and it’s a talent he’s honed over his 20-year career. Follow Chris @mrchriscampbell
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CURIOSITY
KILLS
“We need a revolution in hairdressing right now,” says R+Co Co-Founder Howard McLaren. In his view, the curious mind—one that seeks education, thrives on research and questions the establishment (if necessary)—is what will propel the hair industry into a better tomorrow. But McLaren fears that a natural curiosity for the past—the why, how, where and when—has been traded in for the immediacy of the Digital Age. Things don’t exist “just because;” they have a history worth researching. Looking forward, McLaren envisions a re-education of the hair industry. “It’s a future that has properly educated hairdressers who can do anything they want as long as they’ve got a foundation that’s solid enough,” he explains. That foundation includes attending education events like ELECTRIC HOUSE, but also having a true understanding of hair fundamentals and hair’s significance
A RETURN TO CURIOSITY IS THE PUNK MOVEMENT WE NEED. through history—often not taught in the industry. McLaren, a wealth of knowledge due to his insatiable need to learn every facet of whatever movement or era he alludes to in his work, constantly combs through documentaries, films, music videos, art—it’s not just about the “now” for him. “You have to look to the past to inform the future because you need a reference on why certain things happened,” McLaren reasons. “Look: The standards are never going to go away— a braid, a marcel wave or a fucked-up haircut … they stay. But what makes it fucked up? Is it the products? Is it the haircut? Is it the client sitting in front of you? These are the questions we should ask and the judgments we need to make as artists.”
“YOU HAVE TO LOOK TO THE PAST TO INFORM THE FUTURE BECAUSE YOU NEED A REFERENCE ON WHY CERTAIN THINGS HAPPENED.” McLaren grew up learning to question. He lived and breathed punk as a young hairdresser in London in the late ’70s during its emergence. It’s a time in hair that he often revisits, as he did for ELECTRIC HOUSE, but not without throwing himself into the research, this time poring over what he likens to punk’s central anti-establishmentarianism—those who raged against the machine, like social revolutionaries and radical intellects in the Situationist International and the Letterist International, the artists of the Dada movement who rejected conventional aesthetics and logic, and Sex Pistols manager and punk provocateur Malcolm McLaren. “For me, it’s about understanding politically what was going on and the variations of punk—there’s hundreds of variations. It’s never just: You think of punk and it’s just somebody with a Mohawk. Punk’s about disruption. It’s an attitude,” he says. And he’s hoping for a punk disruption when it comes to the education of today’s stylists, especially when they’re educating themselves.
GET THE LOOK
PUNK REVOLUTION “For this versatile cut, I needed total control. OUTER SPACE Flexible Hairspray sealed in the crimps and gave them shine, but allowed me to brush or put my hands through and easily create as many looks as I want to.” —Howard McLaren
Step 1: Dampen hair using an R+Co Spray Mister. Step 2: Mist ONE Prep Spray all over hair. Step 3: Cut hair using a razor. Step 4: Spray GRID Structural Hold Setting Spray from mid-shafts to the ends of hair before crimping for added hold. Step 5: Add OUTER SPACE Flexible Hairspray while crimping hair to create structure. Step 6: Apply CONTINENTAL Glossing Wax to create texture and add shine.
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Brother and sister duo Rex and Blu Detiger were born and raised in New York City. In fact, the two grew up with frequent haircuts at Garren’s salon, their artist parents both being longtime clients of his. “I watched their journey from when they were babies onward,” Garren says of the duo, which included witnessing them play music together throughout the years—a collaboration that soon garnered them tours all over the globe. Both cut their teeth as DJs, spinning everything from funk to disco to house (Vogue magazine named Blu “the coolest DJ around”), but also create their own singular sound, with Blu on the bass and vocals and Rex on the drums. For Garren’s portion of ELECTRIC HOUSE, he wanted to infuse youth into his futuristic “alien wedding,” and invited the duo to bring their past-appreciative yet futureforward music on stage. “Why not invite the next generation into this whole thing? Because they’re where it’s at,” Garren says.
THE DUO TURN OUT TUNES THAT RESPECT THE PAST WHILE FORGING A COMPLETELY NEW SOUND FOR THE FUTURE.
Blu opened Garren’s presentation with her latest single “Tangerine,” which MTV called “your walk-into-the-room anthem as much as it’s your self-love bathroom mirror solo,” while Rex brought the crowd to its feet with beats from his hang drum, percussion and sample pad for a live experiment ambient set. When not immersed in music, Rex created the app “Silence: Be Alone Together,” a celebration of sound that allows you to connect with other listeners anonymously, and designs audio-visual art pieces that have been featured and projected on the Manhattan Bridge in NYC.
Follow Blu + Rex @bludetiger @rexdetiger
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INDIVIDUALITY IS KING
R+Co Co-Founder Thom Priano isn’t in the predictions game. “I don’t have a crystal ball to tell you what the future of men’s hair holds,” he admits. “But I can tell you the direction of men’s hair now: Every man is individual in the way he wants to look.” This focus on the individual is a recent development; when Priano started his career back in the ’70s, grooming as it’s known today didn’t exist, barbers dictated the men’s landscape, and men’s cutting and styling had a homogeneity to it. But times have changed; “now men’s grooming is pulling away from barbering and going into another direction where longer hair is acceptable and the individuality of each person is what we’re respecting,” Priano explains. He associates this movement away from conformity to the fashion and music industries where true originality is championed—and men have taken notice.
BESPOKE MEN’S GROOMING HAS COME INTO ITS OWN —CEMENTING ITS PLACE IN THE FUTURE.
Though fashion and music serve as catalysts for the men’s market, when Priano is conceptualizing for a shoot or presentation, he often finds his inspiration in both art and the everyday. “Usually I visit museums and take the subway to see what people look like. I wander around the city and feel the vibe,” he says. He collects photos of these moments, and reflects on them until his subject is in the chair in front of him. Then, it’s all about that singular person. “I work with the person himself, the way he dresses and his outlook on how he wants to look,” he says—and from there, the cut and style come to life. For his ELECTRIC HOUSE stage presentation, Priano chose to spotlight men’s fringe. “I was inspired by the music industry during the 1970s and adapted that time in music to the model,” he says of the razor cut he executed on stage. What makes revisiting this fringe forward-thinking to Priano is its bespoke nature—personalizing every detail to frame the model’s face to perfection.
GET THE LOOK
’70S FRINGE “Men’s fringe is very big right now on the runways of Paris and New York and in the music industry. I used R+Co MANNEQUIN Styling Paste to encourage his natural hair texture and give the style a more piece-y look.” —Thom Priano Step 1: Start by washing hair with CASSETTE Curl Shampoo + Conditioner + Superseed Oil Complex. Step 2: Using a razor, cut hair to create a textured look that frames the face. Step 3: Finish by applying a quarter-size amount of MANNEQUIN Styling Paste all over hair for a messy, matte finish.
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RECREATE YOUR FAVORITE LOOK FROM THE NIGHT TO WIN.
THE PRIZES
THE ELECTRIC HOUSE FUTURE OF HAIR CHALLENGE
($3,500 retail value)
JAN 24, 2020 FEB 21, 2020
1st Prize—R+CO + BIO IONIC FUTURE OF STYLING A full R+Co brushes collection for your kit, 3 Bio Ionic hot styling tools, R+Co swag + $2,250 worth of R+Co products of your choice (based on retail price)
2nd Prize —ON THE GO WITH R+CO ($1,000 retail value) A travel-ready R+Co haul + $700 worth of R+Co products of your choice (based on retail price)
3rd Prize —R+CO BATHROOM REDUX ($500 retail value) A slew of R+Co swag to turn your bathroom into an R+Co sanctuary
HOW TO ENTER Step 1 —Pick the Electric House look that inspired you most. S tep 2 —Re-create that look—feel free to put your personal spin on it. Step 3—Snap some photos and post them on Instagram using the hashtag #electrichousehair and tag @randco. Step 4 —Enter as many looks as you like. he top 10 looks will be chosen by a panel of judges T and featured on our Instagram for our followers to choose the 3 final winners on February 24, 2020!
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. The R+Co Electric House Future of Hair Challenge will run from January 24, 2020, 10:00AM PST to February 21, 2020, 11:59PM PST. Contest is open only to residents of the fifty (50) United States (excluding Puerto Rico) and the District of Columbia, 18 years of age or older at time of entry. Void where prohibited. Employees (and their immediate families (parent, child, spouse or sibling and their respective spouses, regardless of where they reside) and those living in their same households, whether or not related) of any of R+Co, and their respective parents, affiliates, subsidiaries and advertising and promotion agencies are not eligible to enter or win. By participating entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of the judges and/or Sponsors, which are binding and final on matters relating to this sweepstakes. Sweepstakes is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws. All entries must fulfill all contest requirements, as specified, to be eligible to win a prize. Entries that are not complete or do not adhere to the rules or specifications may be disqualified at the sole discretion of Sponsor. All entries become the property of R+Co and can be used on our social media channels. B y participating, you agree to be fully unconditionally bound by these Official Rules. For full terms and conditions, visit randco.com/ futureofhaircontest.
SHOUT OUT TO OUR SPONSORS
ALL YOU NEED IS GOOD HAIR.
randco.com @randco