How to Make Your Clients Look Like Supermodels, by the Guys Who Really Style Supermodels

Androgyny collided with fashion when R+Co co-founders and iconic stylists Garren, Thom Priano and Howard McLaren brought their keen eyes for style and take-no-prisoners approach to education to the 2016 COLOR, Cut & Style stage. After a demo in which the guys created bespoke haircuts for three very different types of models, they pulled out all the stops with a breathtaking display of straight-from-the-runway fashion. (Pssst! Early bird hotel deals are AVAILABLE NOW for COLOR, Cut & Style 2017 in AUSTIN, TEXAS!)  

The R+Co Collective: Howard McLaren, Garren and Thom Priano.

Calling upon their contacts from years of working with the top fashion editors at the top fashion magazines in the world, they presented looks from the likes of Marc Jacobs, Bottega Veneta, Burberry, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Comme de Garcons and Dolce & Gabbana—many of which have not yet been seen! “Whether we’re working with clients or models for photo shoots, it’s our role to create and define characters,” Garren explained. “The hairstyles we created for the fashions you see today show you what we do every day.”

Burberry

Comme de Garcon

Marc Jacobs

For the cutting segment, Garren presented a stunning transformation, lopping off his model’s long, fine hair into a swingy, stylish, “Alexa Chung” lob. “I cut 14 inches off of Kendall Jenner for Vogue,” Garren said. “So I was able to convince this model to cut her fine hair, which was doing nothing for her.” Garren’s cutting tip? “When cutting a blunt bob,” he said, “turn the client’s head when cutting the sides to be sure the hair skims the shoulder.”

Before Garren’s cutting transformation…

…and after.

Howard’s haircut was downtown and dirty—a bowl bob cut with a razor and then disrupted with aggressive point-cutting. By creating so much interior texture, the styling possibilities are vast, he explained—just select the right product for the desired end result. 

Howard records his fiercely textured, razored bob.

Thom, known as the world’s top men’s groomer, and an equally talented women’s stylist, took his model into a new decade, with a ‘70s-inspired, shaggy shape. “I do men 90 percent of the time,” Thom said, “and I use scissors, clippers, razors—whatever I need to get the job done. The lesson is that you have to know how to work with every type of tool.”

Thom perfects that ‘70s guy.

As they worked, Garren tossed out gems of wisdom, gleaned over decades at the pinnacle of beauty and fashion. Such as:

“Always invest in the best tools. You want your doctor to use the best scalpel, don’t you? People are paying you for a service. They don’t deserve half of a shear or a broken comb. I hear people say they don’t want to spend the money on a good dryer, but then they’ll go out and buy seven drinks for the price of that dryer.”

“I’m a slow builder with product. I add a little at first and then keep adding slowly because on the set, I have to keep that hair going sometimes for 14 hours. I see kids just glob product on. You have to think ahead.”

“I’m a slow builder,” said Garren. 

“I start with a little product and then apply a little more.”

“Right now I’m spraying my model with Evian water. I can because I charge more than $800 for a haircut.”

“I used to smuggle Elnett Hairspray in from Europe. I would sneak it through customs because it was the best hairspray there was. I gave it up for R+Co Outer Space Flexible Hairspray and Vicious Strong Hold Flexible HairSpray. I don’t need Elnett anymore.”

Check out all the photos from R+Co!