Happy Birthday Bob!

The Bob is 100 years old but it is still in fashion. It was invented in 1909 by Antoine de Paris who took his inspiration from images of Joan of Arc, the national French heroin and catholic saint. The bob represented a style revolution at that time giving visual expression to the emergence of the modern, urban women. Throughout the last century the bob was revisited several times.

This iconic hair cut remerged strongly in the 20s’ particularly in the United States where the so called flapper girls adopted it as a sign of freedom. Armed with their Bob and a long stemmed cigarette these women used this new style to break with the past and redefine femininity.

In London during the 60’s, Vidal Sassoon reinvented the Bob for a new generation of women who were finally in a position to take their place at the board room table. The Bob became an essential cut for the stylish confident business woman.

Ever since women were first projected on to the silver screen the bob has loomed large in cinematic style.  Louise Brooks, the silent film actress became famous for pioneering the bob.  In more recent times Uma Thurman’s character in Pulp Fiction wore a very distinct bob. Pop star Natalie Imbruglia, actress Katie Holmes and style icon Victoria Beckam are all among the lovers of the bob.

“Today the bob haircut is all about disconnection, Victoria Beckam’s bob was cut short in the back, keeping the length on the top”, says Elaine Crofton, stylist at Marbles in Cruises Street, Limerick.
 

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Everyday the bob is requested in Salons all over the world. In Limerick, since the early 80’s, the Hugh Campbell Hair Group has been developing variations of the Bob in order to create easy wearing cuts with long lasting effect. “We love the bob, today the variations are infinite. It’s a very versatile and timeless cut which suit everybody”, says Tony Bromwell stylist at Melo Yelo and Artist team member.

The 80's are back! Time for a Geo-drama.  It’s the middle of 2009 but much of the fashion world has gone back to the best of the 80’s for their inspiration. The Hugh Campbell Hair Group in Limerick has taken an iconic eighties object as the inspiration for their latest hairstyle collection called ‘Geo-Drama’. The Hair Styles in the Geo-Drama Collection are inspired by the Rubik’s cube, the 3 dimensional puzzle invented by architect Erno Rubik in 1974.

Geometry and mixing colours is the essence of the Rubik’s cube. The hair styles contain strong geometric lines mixed with bold vivid colours. As colourist James O’Dwyer (Melo Yelo) explained: “The ‘Geo’ represents the solid geometry and lines which run throughout the cuts but the drama comes from the use of bold colours: purple, orange, blue and copper".

When drawing on these classic 80’s elements the goal is always to reinterpret them for our own time, for our present drama. According to Cyril Morgan, director of the Hugh Campbell Artistic Team, the 80’s are back, but with some innovation:

“From that time we want to recapture the daring willingness to experiment and have fun with hair colour. At the same time the cut has to represent a modern and innovative woman”. The results are strong defined commercial cuts with a lot of spice given by the colour.  The collection contains all the spectacle and theatrics of any good Drama. Amanda Whittome (Melo Yelo), Irish Hairdresser of the year created one of the more dramatic styles in which synthetic hair was reshape to striking effect.

View Geodrama collection

“It’s very important to have fun with hair I’m always searching to find new ways to shape hair instilling it with new life and energy”.

But can the drama leave the stage? Anita O’Donnell (River Hair Studio), Artistic team member noted that “Many elements of the Geo-Drama styles can be refined to suit not only Hollywood superstar but also ordinary people who wish to give new excitement to their hair.”  

Cyril Morgan has been selected as a finalist for the Alternative Hair Ireland Visionary Awards. Cyril entered the competition with the above image which is part of the Hugh Campbell Hair Group’s latest hair collection entitled Dangerous.

For more details about the competition visit http://www.alternativehair.org/

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Cyril’s inspiration for this look was taken from the Sagrada Família Church in Barcelona. As he explains “the Sagrada is founded on a strong structure and the contrast between strong angles leaves space for elements of softness creating a sensual figure in evolution. The Sagrada mixes element of Egyptian pyramids, Greek temples and gothic cathedrals. All these elements are captured in this picture: the result is a mystic and sensual modern Cleopatra.” The judges, based in London, were impressed with this dramatic look and Cyril has won his place in the competition final which will be held at The Sugar Club in Dublin on the 6th of July. Having secured his place in the final Cyril is now working hard to create a new hair creation for the final where his look will be based on the theme of CONTEMPORARY COUTURE.  The Alternative Hair Awards are not just an opportunity for Ireland’s top hairdressers to demonstrate their skills it also raises vital funds for Leukaemia Research.

Alternative Hair was founded by leading British hairdresser Tony Rizzo following the death of his son Valentino who tragically died of Leukaemia. Tony was eager to do something to help Leukaemia Research in their quest to find better treatments and a cure for leukaemia and related blood cancers. He decided to launch the Alternative Hair Show to raise money for this worthy cause. The show has grown into the world's most prestigious annual hairdressing event, hosting leading teams and inspirational hair artists from all over the globe. During the 27 years since its inception Alternative Hair has raised in the region of £7 Million for Leukaemia Research.