Australian Avant Garde Hairdresser Shaun McGrath is a talent when it comes to designing and creating wigs. His creation consists of sustainable waste such as lipstick, cigarette butts, Nike shoes, kids toys, wooden spoons and much more. With a love for the artistry of hairdressing, the Director at Stevie English Hair in Sydney doesn’t allow any waste to be thrown away – whether its hair, foils, tint tubes, manufactured metals and hair that has been cut or used. For Shaun anything is recycle and reusable. Wondering who and where these wigs are to be used and worn? We spoke to Shaun about his unique approach to hair. But beware! They’re not your everyday wigs.
“I wanted hairdressing to include the use of ‘object wiggery’ where anything has the potential to become ‘hair’.“
*You’ve come a long way in your years, earning the title Creative Ambassador for Sustainable Salons Australia & Director at Stevie English Hair? Give us a summary of how you started with Wiggery and your achievement into the hair industry.
I started in hairdressing when I was 23, and I was very focused on what I wanted to do and how I want to do it. I wanted to make sure that my career looked different to everyone else’s. I had my sights set on avant-garde hairdressing from the very beginning.
The beginning was with the brand Raw Anthony Nader – an editorial driven salon where I developed my eye for hair fashion and beauty. Many years on I still regularly drop in for a hello with my my friend and mentor.
Soon after qualifying with Anthony I moved to London with some very big ideas, starting with the concept that I wanted to change the definition of hairdressing away from the approach of only hair as hair. I wanted hairdressing to include the use of ‘object wiggery’ where anything has the potential to become ‘hair’.
My journey started quietly, with my spending years in a little shed in England, working on bizarre but beautiful conceptual wiggery in-between clients. I aligned myself with super talented people and began releasing photographs based on a single frame to represent months of work. These single frames collected over a couple of years we titled wiggery and the hair industry started calling me the same thing.
*Sustainable Salons, can you define this? Do you think that most of the waste that are used in our salon can be recyclable and used over again?
An amazing company I’m very lucky to be a part of. Did you know that 95% of salon waste can be diverted from landfill? Through Sustainable Salons that’s exactly what we can do. As for how I would define this? It’s a community.
AVANTGARDE COLLECTION
“I love including new techniques in my work, things I’ve never done before, the excitement of doing something different or maybe the challenge or even frustration of failure can drive an artwork towards a little more brilliant.“
*What does using recyclable salon waste mean to you? How would you define it? What image/vision do you express when using recyclable products, colors etc.?
I know it as a very accessible way to source materials for my specific brand of “hair art” and a great way to deliver our message of sustainability to our industries of hair, beauty and even dog groomers!
My vision that I then deliver to our audience is always dependent on the end goal. Do I want people to see beauty in the image? Do I want to shock them. Do I want to cause fracture and argument? Do I want to create awareness of a problem. A creative image has the potential to be journalistic and I like that.
*The construction process of a wig takes many days or months to complete. What is the time frame and what adhesive/fabrics do you use to maintain the heaviness of such products onto the wigs?
It’s so true these wigs can take months to create, but some of them come together a lot faster. It’s really dependent on the material that I am using. Some materials are quite easy to manipulate and some materials are a lot more difficult. I have to bring into account how much they weigh, how they going to be worn and what they going to be worn for. Do I need to model to walk in them? Do I need them to stand still? Are they going to be on display? All variables which can change timings.
It’s very much the same thing when we talking about how we can secure the wigs. It changes depending on the application.
*THE WILDERNESS COLLECTION*
*When creating a new look, what are the key areas of complementing the perfection of design, craft, style and photoshoot at the same time executing the image for Wiggery?
For me it all starts with a single element and just like hair, it’s a large group of single objects that create an overall aesthetic. Generally the shape is halfway between a end goal and organic evolution. I find that too much direction in a wig can make it look forced. I love including new techniques in my work, things I’ve never done before, the excitement of doing something different or maybe the challenge or even frustration of failure can drive an artwork towards a little more brilliant.
Photography of my work is always a collaboration with people I believe in and people who believe in me, I believe relationships create the best work.
*They say you need to have an inspiration or a passion in order to do what you love. Where do you get your inspiration from, and what has been your most challenging wig to make and why?
Inspiration is everywhere and you need to be ready to receive that inspiration at anytime. I certainly have my key areas, my go to inspirations – architecture, nature, and if I know who is going to wear the piece they can very much inspire the work, keep your eyes open, look for inspiration always.
The most difficult wig to build is always the next one I have in mind. Watch this space!
*What is the hardest part of what you do? What is your favorite part of the job?
The hardest part of what I do is finding the time to do as much as I want to do (as you can tell by how quick I completed this interview 🤪). About six of me would be great. Really there isn’t a hardest part. Everyday I do something I love and I am rewarded in many different ways.
As for my favourite part of the job is simply challenging myself to become a better artist.
”I want to create hair for the people who want to challenge normality with whilst projecting beauty and confidence that makes everyone else look twice and wish they had to confidence to do something half as bold”
*What are your thoughts on aspiring hairdressers considering a career in hairdressing? What is the demand and challenges in hairdressing today compared to when you started?
I love my job. Actually I don’t have a job. I have something super fun to do everyday that I conveniently get paid for. So for those of you considering it, first of all that’s great because we need more young hairdressers, It’s a craft and a craft I love and if you work hard and take opportunity you will love it too. As for demands and challenges… you don’t have any demands from a career you love because it’s something you want to do ,and as for challenges, a challenge is a tool to make you excel. A challenge should make your eyes light up!
*NSW HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR COLLECTION*
* POLY POP *
*What piece of advice would you like to share to the hairdressers/salon owners about salon waste and whom would like to follow your footsteps?
When it comes to how to deal with your salon waste, it starts with you. Sustainability is a lifestyle choice, at home, salon, on a day out – it’s all the same. Think sustainable. Think about your personal impact on planet and do something about it. Salon owners are in a wonderful position to encourage their staff to “think sustainable”. Make it part of your salon policy, and hopefully your staff and salon guests take that concept home with them into their families. Make it infectious and make it fun. ❤
*Who would be your ideal person to style or give a complete hair makeover and why?
I’m not one to dream of creating a style for someone of celebrity or fame. I want to create hair for the people who want to challenge normality with whilst projecting beauty and confidence that makes everyone else look twice and wish they had to confidence to do something half as bold… Why do I want to do that? Well beats doing a half head of foils and a long layer 🤪.
*VIROLOGY COLLECTION*
*If you had a photoshoot on the Sydney Harbour Bridge and were to create a wig within one day, what would you style it with and who would you want to be your model?
I love the idea of making the wig from Asphalt and concrete creating a texture to match the roads surface. So when the model wears the wig, they almost disappear into their surroundings. Making the people viewing it have to really work to see the image, and who would wear it? I’d love to see it on a member of a road maintenance crew.
*Who are your mentors and how do they inspire you?
I am very lucky to have worked along side some amazing hairdressers and hair artists and I think nowadays with where I’m at, I believe the concept of mentorship in hairdressing is and should be circular, with everyone fuelling each other, making the industry of hairdressing better and better. My mentors are all of you ❤.
*What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you wake up?
Maybe I should sleep for another 15 minutes.
*Fav Hair color…..❤
A flattish natural 8 level. You can do anything with that !
*Your best editorial hair collection ….❤
My latest collection “Mumuration” is art for arts sake. I love everything about it. Five months work and totally worth it!
*Thank you for taking part in this interview. Is there anything you would like to add or share with our readers that we haven’t covered?
Did you know that all my Avant Garde collections in the last 3 years were created only using hair from salon floors?
Recycling can be so much fun!
❤
Shaun’s website and social media platforms:
- Website: www.wiggery.com.au
- Instagram: @shaunmmcgrath
- Facebook: Shaun McGrath
