HJ INSPIRATION
Highland Fling
BEHIND THE LENS
Scottish Hairdresser of the Year David Corbett takes us behind his first winning 2023 collection, Highland Fling
What do you love about this collection?
This was shot in 2023 and won me my first Scottish Hairdresser of the Year award. I started creating collections for awards in 2012 and have been lucky enough to be a finalist each year. Then for two years before I shot Highland Fling, I wasn’t a finalist and I thought I had to change my creative thinking. So, this collection quite literally represents my awakening moment. I studied my hair heroes, I read their interviews, poured over their incredible images and I learned that unless you are completely connected to your brief, unless it embodies what you truly feel and believe in, then it will only ever be just hair. I knew then that I would not only try my best to create beautiful hair, but there would always need to be a deeper emotional connection from me.
What was the inspiration for the hair?
It had to represent me, my work and Scotland. My first collection was Rule Britannia, which was shot during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012. So, I felt the time was right to honour my patriotism, the landscapes, the textiles, our national flower, the highlands and the rugged terrains. Inspired by Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen’s love of tartan, the styling and art direction for the shoot was locked in. I wanted a punk edge, lots of tartan and beautiful hair.
How did you set up the shoot?
I like to sit with my shoot team before we start, review the mood boards, the ideas, and discuss any potential hurdles for the day. Photographer Michael Young is great at getting the best from the model, while make-up artist Maddie Austin is professional and calm. I watched in awe as stylist Clare Frith worked her magic on pieces of fabric that complemented the hair beautifully. We all worked in harmony, and it is a day I will never forget.
HAIR: DAVID CORBETT PHOTOGRAPHY: MICHAEL YOUNG MAKE-UP: MADDIE AUSTIN STYLING: CLARE FRITH
Did anything go wrong on the day?
Nothing went wrong, it was a day filled with love, joy and appreciation of our craft, each person weaving their part in my tapestry.
Do you have a significant memory?
Watching the purple tartan image being shot, seeing my model pull the necklace from her neck and scream out loud – I knew in that moment I had a winner! I had worked for weeks practising how to colour hair to look like tartan and that image has brought me more publicity than most of my work collectively put together. Worldwide recognition, award nominations and ultimately an image that reflects a positive change in my life, it is one that I will be forever grateful for.