The countdown has begun and Anke Köhler is slowly starting to get stage fright. The Zweibrücken master hairdresser and make-up artist will be styling the models who bring the latest fashion onto the catwalk at Fashion Week in New York in mid-February. A great honor and an equally great challenge.
The 44-year-old knows that this is on completely different levels than perhaps assumed native of Saarland from Niederwürzbach find out about the weekend in Hanover. A boot camp took place there for the 30 German hairdressers, where they not only practiced possible hairstyles and extravagant styling. “We had a great atmosphere, even in the car on the way there. “Everything just harmonized perfectly,” outlines Anke Köhler. She covered the 500-kilometer journey to the capital of Lower Saxony together with her friend, Ayhan Saglan from Blieskastel, and the more distantly known Giuseppe Genovese from Saarbrücken.
Closer groupings quickly emerged on site, including Anke Köhler’s previously unknown roommate, the Turkish Elis Güney from Iserlohn. “We are a good team,” the two women confirmed on the second day of training after they had created a hairstyle together. “I picked up a lot of new things,” says the woman from Zweibrücken happily. In addition to technology and tips, also new friendships and networks.
Hairdressers work together in teams at Fashion Week
Above all, the hair designers were sworn to unconditional teamwork. “If you want to shoot a single number, you lose,” everyone would probably have realized. Anke Köhler knows: “It’s only the result and perfection that counts, not who contributed which move. Maximum precision under the most difficult conditions.”
For the fashion shows, the hairdressers work together in teams of two or even three: one assists, one does the hair and one fetches items that may be needed spontaneously. Because the different teams have to achieve exactly the same result on the different models, exactly the hairstyle that is specified on the order forms along with the clothing and make-up.
In the middle of preparing for Fashion Week: Suddenly the power goes out
The trainer duo Gary Baker, creative director of sponsor UNITE Hair, and his fellow British colleague Narad Cutawaroo were strict and meticulous, describes Anke Köhler using the example of the pony tail, a ponytail set low on the neck. The challenge of this rather simple-looking hairstyle lies in the middle parting, which has to fit precisely in order to create a perfect overall picture with all models. And the amount of blow-dried hairspray, which makes updos, for example, look loose and easy to move without a single hair being able to move.
And then it happened: “Suddenly the power went out. No more blow-drying,” the master hairdresser remembers a moment of shock. It just said: “Be creative, help yourself, that can happen to you in the USA too.” Anke Köhler laughs: “We blew to dry the hairspray.”
Hairdressers in New York have to buy new electrical equipment
In the case of curly hairstyles and a power outage, it can happen that the hairstyle default is suddenly changed in the middle of styling. She exhales audibly. Because despite everything, the technical aspects give the stress-tested woman from Zweibrücken the slightest thrill. She admits: “It’s all the stuff surrounding it.” This includes the fact that everyone first has to buy electrical appliances such as curling irons and hair dryers on site, as the low voltage in America does not correspond to German appliances.
New York Fashion Week: Many of the fashion shows in industrial ruins
There are also 70 settings that are spread across New York. “We may find out at short notice which show we are assigned to which team and it is our responsibility to reach the venue on time.” This could be derelict buildings or industrial ruins, especially for the newcomers this year. It can be a challenge to find the entrance in time. She heard from Giuseppe Genovese, who had already been to New York, that many new fashion designers presented themselves there and chose a low-budget location instead of the seven-star gala location of the established labels.
Another handicap is technical English, for which the accompanying interpreter still wants to provide them with vocabulary lists. Anke Köhler is absolutely sure of one thing: “There is always someone there to help you.” In addition, each of the participants is free to decide how much they are confident about and whether they even want to spontaneously take on additional tasks as a “joker”. The entire German team, which includes experienced hairdressers and even some trainees who have already attended Fashion Week, will meet at Frankfurt Airport on February 8th for a direct flight to New York and will be staying in the same hotel there.
What the woman from Zweibrücken is also happy about: “It means we’ll even be able to look at something and have a bit of free time for ourselves.” She hopes, with a bit of luck, to be able to sneak into a fashion show. But be that as it may, “absolute further training and personal development” await her. Anke Köhler says: “I am very grateful for this opportunity and respect this challenge.”
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2024-01-14 15:52:00
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