HJ INSPIRATION
LIFE THROUGH A LENS
Renowned Session Stylist Nick Irwin is also Global Styling Ambassador at Schwarzkopf Professional, Creative Consultant to WAHL and HUNGER magazine’s Hair Editor
Nick Irwin
PHOTOGRAPHY: RANKIN
1 Emoji Head
We were doing a hair story for an early issue of HUNGER magazine. In desperation to find the final idea, it hit me to do the smiling face emoji. It was Rankin’s idea for me to add the tongue!
PHOTOGRAPHY: EMMANUEL ROBERT
2 Crown Glory
This was inspired by the South African artist Zanele Muholi. The model Hakima became my muse for the whole story which went on to open the 2021 British Hairdressing Awards.
PHOTOGRAPHY: RANKIN
3 Caroline
Anthony Mascolo had commissioned Rankin to do a cover and an eight page hair story for Dazed in the late 90s. This was the beginning of our long-term relationship – and the rest is history.
PHOTOGRAPHY: ARVED COLVIN SMITH
4 Rainbow Hair, Don’t Care
Inspired by the DIY culture on Instagram during lockdown, this image of Sui Hei is very powerful and taps right into the gender fluidity that heavily sits across my work as a hairstylist.
PHOTOGRAPHY: RANKIN
5 Maisie
Maisie Williams turned up with a short fringe and dark coloured panels underneath so I pulled everything back off the face, and used some basic hair clips to give it a 90s feel.
PHOTOGRAPHY: BEN COOK
6 Blended
I creatively directed the Blended Campaign with Wahl. We wanted to convey that hair has no gender and blur the lines between Barbering & Hairdressing.
PHOTOGRAPHY: RANKIN
7 Tim Burgess
Tim is a musical icon and such a big part of my youth. We persuaded him to change up his look by sending him images of Bowie and Elvis, where the hair is back rather than forward.