Hairstylist James Pecis is Nothing Short of a Hair Visionary

Courtesy of The Journal Magazine

In the fashion world, hair can be just as important as the clothing through photos and for fashion shows. A model's hair must match the vision a designer has for a particular collection and the particular style or mood of it. James Pecis is a hairstylist that can do just that. Brands such as Chanel and Thom Browne have entrusted him as a hairstylist for campaigns and shows. It is clear through his work that he has a passion for hair and what he does.

He has also collaborated with several hair brands to create new hair collections and become their ambassador. For instance, in 2013, he collaborated with L’Oreal Professional to create a color collection to enhance the wearer's natural hair color that he used for his fashion week gigs that year. In addition to being a hairstylist, he is a surfer who is an advocate for the ocean and marine conservation and is continuously speaking out against ocean pollution and waste. In an industry that is one of the biggest waste producers and polluters in the world, he calls out his industry to do better for the planet.

Peris’ Work for i-D Courtesy of Bryant Artists 

Pecis was a musician before he was a hairstylist. He played multiple instruments and even attempted to sing. While at a gig in San Francisco, he began his interest in hairstyling when he went with a friend to get their hair done at a salon there and felt like the atmosphere and job was perfect for him. In an interview with Couveteur, he said, “I got into hair through music. I played in these kind of funny, punk indie bands. I tried singing, and I was really, really bad. I stopped doing that. So I played bass, I played trumpet and baritone. We were playing in San Francisco, and I met a friend of mine getting her hair done. This was the end of the ’90s, and the salon setting was all brushed concrete, black and gray, and everyone in there was wearing all black and had tattoos and black hair. It just seemed like such a cool place to be. You can be creative, you get to hang out with people all day, and you get paid for it. I thought, ‘Woah, that’s a perfect job.’”

Pecis’ Work for a Vogue Italia Courtesy of Bryant Artists 

Pecis is able to style different hair textures and lengths, something that is rare in the fashion industry. Many models of color, particularly black ones, have expressed the problems with fashion show hair stylists not being able to style their natural hair like their white peers. This is why many black models cut their hair short because it is easier when it comes to their job. It is great to see a white hairstylist know how to style black hair especially in an industry that constantly fails to do so. Fashion show hairstylists have to have some sort of knowledge on how to do different hair textures and how to take care of each of them so models are comfortable and do not have to worry about changing their hair for their job. From looking at his work, Pecis works with models with various hair textures and experiments with various hairstyle trends that match the show or brand's aesthetic.   

Pecis’ Work for a Thom Browne Fashion Show Courtesy of The Journal Magazine

He is not afraid to add color, body or texture in his work. With wavy updos and punk rock mohawks, Pecis is a hairstylist that can adapt to any aesthetic for a brand. His hairstyles also pull from hair trends of the past and he modernizes them to fit with today’s trends. To Coveteur, he said, “Everything’s regurgitated. I’ve totally clocked some major players doing stuff, and I’m like, ‘Wait a minute, that’s from ’73 in French Vogue.’ The interesting thing is people today are researching, but it only goes as far as Google. [My team does] a good amount of research. We have our libraries we go to, FIT has a really good one, but you have to be creative, too, with what you’re searching for.”  

Pecis’ Work for a Vogue Mexico Shoot Courtesy of Bryant Artists 

Hairstylists like Pecis are very important to the fashion industry. They shape the shows as much as the makeup looks and garments do. In general, a hairstyle can make or break someone's confidence.

Pecis’ passion about hair is apparent in his work. The attention to detail and the various shapes or textures of his work make them look like works of art on models and have an avant garde look to them. It is clear that him and his team do their research when creating looks for shows so they can match the brand and the garments well.

Highlighting people behind the scenes of fashion shows is always important. When looking at fashion shows, look at the whole picture. Look at the makeup, hair, outfits, accessories because they all are heavily planned and considered for each model and the people who plan them work hard behind the scenes.