artist statement:

In salons like the one I work at, each day, hairstylists are tasked with improving their client’s self-image, aesthetics, and self-confidence for the sake of beauty, pride, and vanity. They spend hours meticulously mixing precise formulas and solutions, painting on chemicals and colors, getting their hands wet in the hair washing station, sweating under the heat of hot tools, waiting for clients to process, and leave each day with tiny hair clippings or splotches of color on their skin and clothes. Each service is a ritual, a sacred rite, and for senior stylists, second nature. There is something truly magical and mystifying about watching them work.

For this photo series, I have chosen to document a highlight service conducted by Robbie Zarate, the Lindsey Salon’s blonde and balayage specialist. Originating from the French word meaning “to sweep,” balayage is a highlighting technique commonly referred to as hair painting. For this service, a stylist carefully sections small pieces of hair, lays it atop foils, then paints upwards with bleach in a sweeping motion from the bottom to the top of the hair strand to create a dark to light ombre highlight effect. First popularized in the 90s and enjoying a resurgence that started in 2021, balayage is a favored option for those who want their hair to have a “lived-in, effortless look,” for which they may pay exorbitant amounts to achieve. A pain-staking process, it takes stylists high effort and years of practice to make their client's hair look truly "effortless."

Working in the beauty industry has shown me a microcosm of American society and our obsession with beauty, vanity, and youth. I've witnessed countless older women come in to get their roots and eyebrows dyed to "cover their grays." Sometimes they'll tell me over the phone that they need to come in as soon as possible because they "look like an old lady." They are so consumed by the pursuit of youth and beauty that they are willing to pay high prices to maintain a youthful appearance.

However, it's not just superficial surface-level intentions behind hair coloring: hair is an art form and science as well as a simple beauty service. Hair is a wearable art that lives on with a person until it grows out or the color fades. It can be transformative for one’s overall image and self-esteem. Likewise, stylists need to understand the science behind hair bleaching and use exact measurements and formulas to retain the integrity of the hair's texture.

Having dyed my hair dozens of colors over the years, I have an intimate understanding and reverence for the transformative experience that is a hair coloring service. A good haircut and color can make you feel like a new person, and I've become almost addicted to the transformational possibilities. I want these photos to serve as a love letter to the process and pain-staking efforts stylists take to make their clients look and feel their best.