An interview and feature as top talent in the world
It was a dream beyond the dream!
I am proud to share this career highlight that has manifested into my life.
The pages of Italian Vogue chose to feature one of the images from the Documentary Beauty exclusive launch cover story starring Joan Smalls alongside my interview. I was thrilled to learn this because this image is very personal to me, as this photoshoot was my debut shoot as a creative director and it also birthed Documentary Beauty.
I did a google translation of the article and learned that I need to have a professional translator help me out with a few of the sentences as they all do not make perfect sense. But here it is.
THE TALENT / 1
For KAYLA MICHELE the hair styling is a way of doing art: “She has the magic of transforming people”
“My source of inspiration is nature, it is street style, all hybrids and architecture. When I have full creative freedom I am not afraid of using a balloon to create static electricity in the hair. The creative process is very important. The creativity it repeats itself, returns like a mantra are the words of Kayla MiChele, highly acclaimed international hairstylist talent. She is 32 and lives in New York: “I love to laugh and feel good. I’m a tomboy, incredibly passionate and grateful to life”. Her career started immediately under a good star, Guido Palau: “One of my dearest friends, Erin Parsons, was Pat McGrath’s assistant. It was she who introduced me to Guido to accompany him in work around the world. With him I refined my aesthetic. I think he really deserves to be defined an icon! ” Hair for Kayla are “A means of making art. They have the magical power to transform people. They give you the chance to have an alter ego”. Dialogue fascinates her professional peers: Sometimes they are a little bored with all this beauty minimalism. Even if, after all, it is the essence of the modern woman. Except some exception: the look created by Alexander McQueen for spring-summer 18 is the example of all we hope to see, on an artistic level. A true inspiration. 2018 promises to be full of commitments, including the launching of a line of natural luxury hair & skin care and a magazine online: “Documentary Beauty”.
Thank you so much to Vittoria Filippi Gabardi for the feature!!!!!
The Q&A that Vittoria and I shared is quite raw and more in depth…
What do you like the most in your work? What do you love about hair in general?
I love to be creative… to create art. Hair as a medium is the best way I know how to create art. I love the magic of transformation with hair… it’s amazing how a different hairstyle can make you feel like a different person. Wigs are fun for exploring an alter ego.
Can you talk about yourself a little, present yourself. What do you read, which kind of movies, books.
People that know me well see me as a goofy tomboy who likes to play dress up. I live to laugh. I’m an incredibly passionate, lucky and grateful human. For entertainment, I just want a good laugh or to learn something meaningful. I love documentaries of course, but I am totally obsessed with the tv shows Shark Tank and Impractical Jokers. I am currently reading The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine as I am studying ingredients for the launch of my hair & skin care line.
Can you tell us something about the link between beauty and fashion?
It always starts with the garments in fashion … then the beauty is designed to compliment the clothing. Honestly, I find that my peers in the fashion industry are a bit bored with beauty right now … it’s so minimalistic.. but yet, that is our modern day woman. We get excited to see beauty that creates a character and is statement worthy. Alexander McQueen backstage beauty is a great example of what we crave to see and be inspired by as artists…. truly walking pieces of art.
How did your career start?
I started cosmetology school in year 2000 during 10th grade in high school … I basically grew up as a hairdresser. I worked my way up for years in salons, but always knew my heart was in fashion and completely manifested moving to NYC one day to make my dreams come true.
How did you meet Guido, and what has changed in your life?
One of my best friends, Erin Parsons, used to be Pat McGrath’s first assistant for several years. She was very supportive of me and believed in me, so she recommended me to Guido and his team as an assistant for shows. I was on the team immediately… I traveled to Milan, Paris and of course worked in my hometown NYC with his team. I traveled to new places and I learned a lot of refinement with my hair esthetic working with him. He truly deserves to be called an icon! It’s a different world working backstage on the most prestigious fashion shows of the world… eye opening and jaw dropping experiences in countless ways for the good, the bad, and the ugly. Overall, the experience was truly invaluable!
What do you remember about your first years of work?
I started my freelance career, before moving to NYC, working with legendary rock stars for VH1 Decades Rock Live… I had the pleasure to work with Heart, Alice and Chains, Cyndi Lauper, Dave Navarro, the list goes on.
Where does your inspiration come from? Why is your work different from the others?
I am inspired by nature, street style, vintage beauty, hybrids and architecture. When I am given the opportunity to have creative freedom, I am not afraid to use a balloon to create static electricity in the hair, fearless to sculpt hair around a model’s eye to form the shape of eyeliner, open minded to sculpt spikes that are reminiscent of a dinosaur. I find that moments collaborating with open minded peers and fearless attitudes open the door to my most creative moments in my work.
Which editorials, campaign or moments in general do you remember as the most important in your career?
The launch editorial starring Joan Smalls for my new digital beauty magazine called DOCUMENTARYBEAUTY.com, is hands down the most important moment of my career. I have full creative control as Editor-in-Chief and Beauty Director for the magazine. Which is the most powerful feeling I have ever felt! Creative directing is such a rebirth, a reinvention of myself… I’m so proud!
To read more about how I manifested this beauty artist dream to come true check out. How to Manifest Your Dreams to Come True Inspired by a Beauty Artist Manifestation Story
Do you have any questions for our founder beauty expert Kayla MiChele? Leave a comment below.
