Sam Mcknight wants you to wear a beehive

The famed hair stylist, whose eponymous styling products are finally available on our shores, tells us which looks we’re going to be loving next

WHERE DOES YOUR AESTHETIC COME FROM? I’ve never been afraid to style hair with my hands; even without my kit, I would be okay. On a very basic level, I would say it’s down to not being afraid to touch and shape hair. HOW ABOUT YOUR INSPIRATION? Life, my garden, flowers, the London streets, travel. I don’t purposely seek inspiration; it comes from my interests and where I’m spending my time. YOUR COLLECTION INCLUDES FOUR PRODUCTS. WHICH CAME FIRST? All four. Each one is a product that I felt I needed in my kit. Quick-fix sprays that gave me versatility and do the job. AND IF YOU FOUND YOURSELF STYLING HAIR ON A DESERTED ISLAND… I’d have Cool Girl with me. It can transform all hair types and is so versatile. As it’s buildable, you can spray it through the hair and it remains soft and touchable; but keep layering it up for more grip. It can make braiding or styling long hair easier. It can also create larger-than-life curls or give fine hair the strength it needs to keep its shape without weighing it down. YOU SPEND A LOT OF TIME BACKSTAGE. HOW DO THE PRODUCTS WORK IRL THERE? During fashion week, the models are running from show to show and going through several different hairstyles; I’m conscious of how we treat their hair. Coming up with innovative ways of using products that can be easily brushed out was really important. Modern Hairspray, when sprayed closer to the head, can create a super sleek polished finish. It’s perfect for when we need to do smooth chignons and ponytails. Rather than using a product that needs washing out, you can layer up hairspray, style and then brush it straight out. WHICH HAIR TREND HAS YOU EXCITED? I loved the strong beehive shapes from Fendi and the Chanel Parisienne rockabilly rolls during Couture in Paris. Both are inspired by the past but with a modern take, whether it was the cool-girl ponytails at Chanel or the smaller sleeker silhouettes of the Fendi beehives.