Balmain Hair Art Director Richard Guliker: "Hair Products Should Be Simple

2023 Author: Jessica James | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 04:20

Soon the hair products of the French fashion house Balmain will be presented on the Russian market for the first time. We talked with the art director of Balmain Hair Couture Richard Guliker and found out which brand products will appeal to Russian girls, why we need to change our attitude to hair extensions, and what hairstyle trends will be relevant in the coming season.

The Balmain Hair Couture brand is over 40 years old, and today Balmain Paris is the only fashion house that has its own premium brand of hair products. Why is that?

In general, for the fashion industry, this is quite logical. When a team of makeup artists and stylists need to prepare a huge number of models on backstages, they need to work as quickly and efficiently as possible. And if everything is a little easier with makeup, then hair is a separate world. Make-up can be tweaked at any time, washed off and then reapplied. But to work with hair, you need proven professional products that you can completely trust.

Our goal is to prove that such tools can be equally good in the hands of a professional, and in the hands of any other person, if they are simple, understandable and of the best quality. It is similar to the process of preparing meals: three fresh ingredients will always make a better recipe than ten medium quality products.

It's the same with hair. If the funds are of high quality, it is easy to work with them. They can be combined with each other and not be afraid that the hair will be overloaded. This is exactly what we need on set and backstage, and I think everyone will appreciate it. A whole world of professionals stands behind the spectacular name Balmain Hair.

Balmain Hair has its own patented hair extension systems. What is their feature?

We started 40 years ago. Then Pierre Balmand asked my father, Dick Guliker, to design wigs and hair extensions for shows. All this time on our kitchen table with the whole family we have been creating new techniques, achieving the most natural effect from wigs and hair strands. This experience helped create Balmain Hair's patented hair extension systems.

The word "build-up" itself has a bad reputation. Fashion strives for naturalness, so we move away from the traditional understanding of building. Our patented Systeme Volume System is to add volume to hair without changing length. Length becomes an option - just like color.

By the way, one of the girls who uses Systeme Volume is the Queen of Holland Maxima. Everyone knows about it. Yes, like many women, she also has less than perfect hair!

Extension is like makeup for hair. Strands can be removed at any time. But if you know that your beauty can be emphasized, why not?

Tell us about the brand philosophy. What kind of Balmain Hair girl is she?

This girl always stands out from the crowd. In the modern world, everything is about individuality, and it doesn't matter if you are a woman or a man. Olivier (creative director of Balmain - ed.) Is a genius in this sense, because he demonstrates freedom of expression in his collections, in his choice of models, and in his shows. A wide variety of women and men, of different ages, of different types of appearance, including transgender people, participate in the shows and filming of Balmain.

Balmain girl is strong and sexy. At the same time, there is no vulgarity or arrogance in her. She is far from politics, loves to travel, spend time with friends. She is open and free.

How do you like Russian women?

I love them. And Olivier always has several models from Russia at every show. Russian women love to be noticed, they are confident in themselves. And Balmain is just about that.

What Balmain Hair products, in your opinion, will become bestsellers in Russia?

I think you'll appreciate the Texturizing Volume Spray. It is a multifunctional product that combines dry shampoo, salt spray and hairspray. You spray it on dry hair, especially at the roots, adjust the desired volume with your hands, and the hair will hold its shape before washing. Even if it is raining or snowing outside, you enter the room, lift your hair with your hands, and it will become voluminous again.

For smooth, shiny hair, I recommend a leave-in spray conditioner, a moisturizing elixir with argan oil and a hit of Balmain Hair - Silk Perfume. The products can be combined and not be afraid to overload the hair.

Tell us about the main trends in hairstyles and styling for the coming season

Among men, these are tousled hairstyles and long hair in the style of 80s rock stars. Fashion for barber haircuts and beards is a thing of the past. Mustaches will be in trend soon - it's very cool!

Among girls, simple unisex styling continues to be in fashion - straight hair and side parting. One of the most popular images in advertising campaigns over the past two years. The effect of wet, slicked hair continues to be trendy. You can achieve this texture with a strong hold styling gel.

Interview and text: Olga Kulygina