BEHIND THE LENS
Apocalypse
Nicholas James Tucker takes us behind the lens of his award-winning collection, which earned him HJ's Wales & South West Hairdresser accolade
HAIR: NICHOLAS JAMES TUCKER
MAKE-UP: ROSEANNA VELIN
STYLING: MAGDALENA JACOBS
PHOTOGRAPHY: RICHARD MILES
What do you love about this collection?
I love how this collection takes you on a journey from sharp precision through to soft, worn-in texture. It’s all about balance. Built across eight images, it’s an earthy, neutral-led collection where structure meets effortlessness, with each look evolving into the next. It feels refined but lived-in, and I love the effortless feeling it evokes.
What was the inspiration for the hair?
The inspiration for my Apocalypse collection came from my personal vision of beauty and how I see shape, movement and presentation. For me, hair is an art form, and this collection was about capturing it at its most expressive and refined through beautifully considered imagery.
How did you go about setting up the shoot?
The shoot was built on the education and mentorship I received from Nick Malenko, and my years working with Nick and Royston Blythe at Royston Blythe salons, where I learned the discipline of creating hair for camera. I worked with a PR from Scotland to connect with leading London agencies, hosting a casting at Pineapple Dance Studios where we saw more than 300 models. We selected eight models and shot at Iris Studios in Chelsea with Richard Miles. The day was seamless, working with two models at a time and using clear visual references to refine each look. For my first British Hairdressing Awards, sponsored by Schwarzkopf Professional, collection, it was a focused and creatively driven shoot, and it paid off.
Do you have a significant memory from the collection?
This collection will always be incredibly special to me as it was my first British Hairdressing Awards, sponsored by Schwarzkopf Professional, entry. To win first time is something I’m exceptionally proud of. It was a real investment but worth it. The images are now framed in gold around my home, have been published around the world and continue to inspire others in our industry. It’s a collection I’ll carry with me for the rest of my career.