Black Label, the show of Label Guenaou and Christophe Gaillet

The Haute Coiffure française presented at the Carroussel du Louvre its Autumn Winter collection 2015 on 13th September. A collection gained Livecoiffure attention.
BLACK LABEL interpreted by both magicians Laetitia Guenaou and Christophe Gaillet. We wanted to know more about the inspiration and the creation of that show. Interview of both protagonists.

Christine Margossian

Laetitia, Christophe, why Black Laetitia ?

Laetitia Guenaou : This year, the creation team of the HCF recognized that fashion and hairdressing have always maintained close relations with photography. For that, each duo of the team chose to be inspired by five photographers : Annie Leibowitz, Gilbert and Georges, Mario Testino, Solve Sundsbo and to finish the one that we chose with Christophe : Jean-Paul Goude.

Christophe Gaillet : Of course, we know Jean-Paul Goude’s muse, Grace Jones and his highlight on the African woman. We have that sensibility to work with black muses with that idea to obtain trendy pictures with a zest of tribal.

Your texture, material, volume are amazing. What is the technical backstage ?

LG : Personally, I wanted to work the hair like an effect of Bogdan fabric. I wanted to obtain color gradients - brown, green, purple, steel blue - like the feathers of birds. Indeed, I prepared my hair extensions like a multicolored milfeuille.
My volumes and structures are a wink of the very geometrical work of Goude.
I needed twelve hair extensions meters to do it and a few new experiences to solidify my supports made only with hair…putting it in the oven for example !

Laetitia GUENAOU

CG : Personally, I studied Jean-Paul Goude’s work but without being too much influenced. I got on his creative boat, I watched his universe and I let myself go with simple things : smooth material, a small head effect especially with the bob cut. I really like for a show finding the small trick, THE magical gesture. And I wanted that the hair of my model change color on contact with the heat of my irons for example ! And here, like Laetitia…I had special experiences in my workshop to obtain this stripped effect on stage with a hair straightener. I also tried to extend the vertebral column in the neck of our models for animal, ethnic effect…

Christophe Gaillet

And regarding your boubou hat Laetitia, how did you do ?
Indeed, for that creation I first worked an outsized skull shape made of hair. What I put in the oven (LAUGHTER)...I tell you everything : A lot of fixing gel + design fixing spray and 15 minutes 180 degrees. I then prepared on tulle, three meters of hair extensions which are placed on the hair skull. And for the final touch, I added the structure of Christophe for the “vertebrate” side and continuity of the column in 3D. But beyond that, as we know that Africa is the cradle of humanity, between archeological excavations and skeleton, you know what I mean ?

Of course I do ! And the second creation ?
LG : For that one, I wanted a volume at the front of the face and to express a mixture of material with an opposition of woolen and smooth hair. Here, the extensions are sewn on a hat.

And you Christophe ?
CG : I used my accessory, the vertebral column, totally covered by golden leaves to evoke luxury. Then, I worked also in 3D with my pink, grey fringe effect on a material lightly crimped. The challenge : developing the volume in six minutes, finding the balance of the whole hairstyle with the right gesture. My objective : more and more emotions for the audience…

By the way, regarding the emotion, we felt something special in the audience since you arrived on stage.
LG & CG : Indeed, the warm welcome of the audience since our appearance on stage, touched us. As if the audience was really happy to see our duo. It is true that there is something magic between us even if we have are in completely different universes. As soon as we start working together, we are in total osmosis. This is alchemy.

An alchemy very well highlighted on stage, with a style, a makeup and a unusual muse ?
LG & CG : Yes indeed, regarding the staging we would like to thank very much Joël Guillermain, Anne Arnold and all the makeup artists of the team, Tania Zekkout for all her creations and Marie our common muse and model, all in black. This show was a real team work and mutual trust. Working like that was a great pleasure for us.

We would like to thank the artists to have shared their backstage secrets and to have told us many other things in life