THIS CHARMING MAN
He’s famous for ‘done, undone’ hair and now, Sam McKnight has a line to help you achieve the look at home
We talk to hair legend Sam McKnight
Hair legend Sam McKnight is the man behind many of those effortless cool runway looks you desperately want to try at home. His signature is perfectly tousled, undone hair, a look that he says Kate Moss exemplifies – a close friend who he has worked with many times, including on her wedding day. “She’s the ultimate cool girl. It’s done but undone. Perfectly mussed up.”
The British born hairstylist has tended the locks of everyone from Princess Diana to Lady Gaga, and 90s supermodels to today’s crop of models worth knowing (Cara, Adwoa, Kaia, Bella, Kendall). His work backstage – he creates the looks for Chanel, Dries van Noten, Fendi and more – is hugely influential, and it was here that his haircare collection was born. Now available in New Zealand at Mecca, Hair by Sam McKnight features four products – he promises more are to come – that help translate his effortless signature look at home, including a lightweight dry shampoo, a classic hairspray, a texturising spray for creating easy up-dos and a texturiser called, fittingly, Cool Girl. What ideas did you take from your work backstage, in creating products for everyday? My products have been created at the front line. It’s what my team and I use backstage every day; it’s tested on models, used by hairstylists. It’s the real deal, we use it. I wanted to create products that were quick, did what they say and were super easy to use. The products have notes of water lily and cedar. Why did you make scent a feature? I felt it was really important for the line to include a fine fragrance, not overly feminine or masculine. [British perfumer] Lyn Harris created the fragrance after spending the day with me in my garden. It’s reminiscent of a rainy day in a British summer garden. The Cool Girl texturiser has become a cult product. How is it best used at home? I love misting it through hair in layers to create texture, even a few spritzes in the crown for a soft 60s feel. And because it’s light, it’s buildable. You can spray more throughout the day to accentuate more texture and build light volume. Lazy Girl is a dry shampoo, with a brilliant name – how is it different to others out there? It was important for Lazy Girl to have high performance with minimal residue. A great backstage beauty tip is to spray Lazy Girl onto a soft bristle brush and sweep through your hairline to absorb any excess oil from moisturiser or makeup. It’s a fringe rescuer, a quick brush through will stop fringes from separating and give fullness. If your hair needs a little more saving then spray directly into roots and brush out with a cool blast of your hairdryer.
What’s your favourite look of the moment? I love hair to look like great hair, rather than just a great hairstyle. I’m seeing a more polished feel to the Cool Girl hair trend. More finished with a higher luxe factor.
What’s cool, and modern, in hair right now? The technology that allows us to quickly see a video or a get-the-look instantly, it’s cultivated a need for quick-fix products. It’s creating a woman who can have the power to temporarily transform her hair. That’s why we are seeing bolder and more powerful hairstyles. Hair is making a statement. You famously love flowers and gardening, sharing photos on Instagram. Why? It’s a complete escape. I can come home, whether from a shoot or a work trip overseas, and my garden grounds me. It’s a great way for me to step back and just breathe.
#