Artist

French Fashion Meets Indian Innovation

Caroline Lannuzel, Artistic Consultant at L’Oréal Professionnel India, is excited to be a part of the big evolution of Indian Hairdressing. Speaking to Isha Gakhar, the French artist who has made India her home, tells Beauty Launchpad all about her creative endeavours and more.

How has been your artistic journey with L’Oréal Professionnel?

My journey with L’Oréal Professionnel began at their hair academy. As an artist, it is my dream team. Time simply flies and I have done a lot with L’Oréal. Now, I can’t wait for what’s next.

What do you think of the evolution of hairdressing as a profession in India?

It has been great. Earlier, it was complicated as we hardly had any face in the country. But now, because of L’Oréal, hairdressing has opened up with more and more people keen to take it up as a profession. With new academies being opened, there are more training opportunities available in the country. But I still feel that we can push it a little further because I do come across young people who are still struggling to become a hairdresser as their families aren’t completely supportive.

You have been a great support at the L’Oréal Colour Trophy as well as the academy, and in helping salons create their collections. What is your inspiration behind it?

I love to help hairdressers dream. It is essential to push them to try something different and not just the kind of work we do in the salons for clients. There

is a lot of scope for experimentation in hairdressing and you can do as much as your passion for this art.

Styling is my thing, but then I want to push myself to do more. I really want to create more collections for salons; very few do it. We should encourage and support more salons to create their own collections as it gives clarity on their identity and image. It also helps clients choose the right salon for themselves.

Any tips to salons on why it is important to have Now, we would like to know a bit about you — their own collection? what brought you to the hairdressing space?

It is important to have your own collection because it For me, it was essential that I meet people on the gives your salon a clear identity based on the kind of job; I needed to have that connection. Through work you do. For example, when you go to a Toni&Guy hairdressing, I wanted to express fashion and that is salon, you know exactly what you are going for because what really brought me to this field. I was about 17 their collection automatically gives you an idea. The years old when I started hairdressing, in France. It same thing applies to other salons — they can build is very different than India — I have gone through their own image and identity through a collection. years of training that helped me observe a lot. I think

Could you take us through the process of creating a collection? How has been your journey in India — from

First, we need inspiration. It could be nature, art, working to settling here? architecture or anything really. Once you find the I am lucky to be in India at this time, as it is growing right inspiration, you need to apply your through a big change. I came here in 2003 interpretation and work on a moodboard. — having been here for a long time now, I Then, you select the model — which am glad to be a part of this journey. I have is the key, be it for a collection or a competition. If you have a great model, your work would be better presented as Any life lessons learnt through the job? always loved the country; it is a magical place and I have adjusted myself well here. It’s crazy and it’s amazing; there’s a little bit it is not only about the hair, it is about “Less is More” - that is of everything. the entire picture. Attention to detail is important — from close-ups of the one. I have learnt so much Do you have a non-cosmetic trick — models to the background for the shoot, from the industry as we something like meditation to keep the make-up, props, etc. You have to think about everything and that’s why meet so many amazing you balanced and take care of your inner self? you need a strong moodboard, which people all the time - either I try to meditate as much as I can, but it is makes the whole process easier from start to finish. as clients or colleagues. I not an easy thing to do. I read a lot and try to be in the present moment, as much as I have been really blessed can, which is also tough sometimes. Many Do you think Indian Hairdressing is lacking somewhere — is there anything with that. So, gratitude people think too much about their past or their future, that they rarely are present. missing in terms of education? would be another life I have realised that you have to be at the In India, we have to observe a little more; lesson learnt. right time, which is NOW. hairdressing is not only about training at an academy, getting a diploma, and starting How long have you been meditating? work straight away. You need to see what’s I am a beginner and try to meditate every going on around the world —not only in day, but it is tough to control your thoughts. hair but in fashion. Do not forget that clients are well-informed So, I have been having phases; I start meditating, stop in between, when it comes to fashion. So, we need to know as much as them and then, start again. It is imbalanced but I know it is essential. because hairdressing is all about making sure the client looks their I go with my feelings — if I am happy, then it is great and if I am best. And for that, we have to look beyond cutting and colouring not happy, that means I need to change something. It is all about to skin tone, make-up, face shapes, clothing preferences, lifestyle understanding yourself and that is what I have learnt here in India. and more. At the end of the day, the most important thing is to be happy and

What are your suggestions to improve the education standards in the India hairdressing space? You mentioned reading. What kind of books do you read? We should not forget that hairdressing is an art and you need to Do you have any other hobbies?

have a certain feel for it. In India, we make it more technical and I read everything, especially books by French authors, but I love sometimes forget the artistic part. The visual is more important. philosophy. Michel Foucault, a french philosopher, is my favourite. Techniques are needed to get you to do what you want to do but at Music is also important and I can meditate while listening to the end of the day, you have to have a good visual sense also. music. It inspires me a lot and I feel a lot of joy while listening to

What are your thoughts on trends — cut, colour, styling?

observation is the key in this industry. not to have everything or be something. music. I like jazz, though I listen to all genres.

For a very long time, Indian women thought that they could never Professional lessons with respect to people or money... go blond. And now suddenly, everybody wants to go blond and that With respect to people, you need to be humble. With respect to money is nice. — yes, it is very important but money should not be the only focus.