What was your experience working with Yuhan Wang? Yuhan was a dream to work with. She knew what she wanted but she was also open to suggestions. When I saw the clothes at fitting, I thought this is gonna be a good one. 

She has amazing ideas that always translate into the most incredible outfits. For SS25, she took inspiration from female fighters of the past such as Laila Ali, Jane Couch, and Bridgett Reilly. She repurposed boxing gloves with silk, paired them with lace stockings. 

The hair had a slight retro feeling, with structured updos and a few loose curls to complement the garments. On some models, I embraced the natural texture of the model’s hair. Overall, I worked to create styles that empowered the models to portray a strong female character (who had perhaps come from an intense workout) to be strong, glamorous, and feminine, all in one. 

How does your approach shift when working as a session stylist? Well, it’s a different world compared to salon work. You have to be fast-paced and quick at problem solving, but also need to be very precise at what you do. The models need to be ready to be filmed and photographed, and man! Those cameras can pick on any defects! I love the collaborations, what it truly means to interpret a designer, art director, or photographer brief; it can be challenging but also very rewarding.

What led you to begin your educational course, Salon to Editorial? It all happened quite organically to be honest. I didn’t wake up one day and think: what the world really needs is another hair course. But I was working on a big shoot, and as I was explaining the brief to the team, someone said “you should really turn this into education.” I played with the idea until it became reality. It’s a fun day, jam packed with loads of tips and tricks on how to achieve stunning looks without overcomplicating things. I believe that hair should not be complicated: when I work, I like to simplify things.

You’ve mentioned that your work is inspired by your Italian heritage. How so? When I was training, we still used those big hood dryers in the salon, so I grew up doing full sets of rollers, pin curls, big bouncy blow-dries, the classic updos—classic styles à la stars of the cinema, like Sofia Loren. I still carry with me all those classic foundations of hairdressing. I love texture in the hair, and I love taking classic shapes and give them a modern spin! I think you can see that in all of my collections.

What is your journey with your own hair? I’m blessed with a thick, full head of curly hair. As a youngster I was obsessed with big quiffs, the likess of James Dean or Elvis, so I used to chemically relax my hair and then blow-dry my quiff. I spent hours—I wouldn’t go out if my hair wasn’t perfect. Today I embrace my curls and I tend to style my hair very naturally. I have a mullet that I’m really loving!

Where did your interest in hair develop? My interest began many years ago, growing up in my father’s salon in Puglia, southern Italy. I loved to watch people’s social interactions and the amazing hair transformations. I used to look at the hairdressers in that salon and think Wow! It’s amazing what you can do with someone’s hair! The possibilities are endless, and it really sparked my passion for creativity.

And to think that at school, the teachers always said: “he’s very good at maths, but doesn’t have a creative streak…”

Photography: Sasha List
Hair: Danilo Giangreco
Makeup: Amalie Russell
Styling: Dena Neustadter Giannini at A Creative Partner
Casting: Nicola Kast
Production: 24 Productions
Interview: Hasadri Freeman
Special Thanks: Yuhan Wang + Revlon Professional UK