I love men's hairstyling and fashion. For this collection I was inspired by men's hairstyling from the past: 1950's and 1990's and the energy of big city life. With every photoshoot comes an amazing story but they are not without their own set of challenges that is always a learning curve.

For this collection I booked photographer, Steve Squall. I hired Steve last year to photograph another collection and worked on several published editorial spreads in the past. Steve does a fantastic job doing fashion photography and was a perfect fit for shooting a men's collection. I had on board make up artist, Isidro Valencia and Genna Yussman Greene on styling. I met Steve to discuss my ideas for the shoot and he loved the concept.

This is one of several collections I did for NAHA although it was not nominated, I was honored to have it was released exclusively by Bangstyle.

As I had mentioned earlier, photoshoots have challenges. I had all models booked and all was a go however I had an issue with a model that overbooked himself with his agency so I could not use him and on the day of model prep one of my models no showed. Fortunately I had lucked out and I was able to rebook both. I swear I have a photoshoot "Guardian Angel". Through it all you persevere and make it work with the team.

I practiced some of the looks on mannequins. I did some highlighting and tapered cuts along with various styling techniques. This would all help for the prep day with the models. I would be more inspired on prep day where I did both color and cut on the models and could work with their bone structures and skin tones.

The prep day was set a day before the shoot and lasted for seven hours. Ellis arrived and I decided to do an all over lightening process. I used Redken Flashlight with pH bonder. After getting him to a pale yellow I glaze his hair with Shades EQ glosses 07P, 09P and 09T.

I did a shear over comb cut on his sides and back and left the top length longer for styling.

On the day of the photoshoot I styled his hair with Hardware Gel 16 to create the finger wave.

On model, Justin I did a soft highlight using Redken Blonde Icing combined with pH Bonder. After processing I glaze the hair with 09T in Shades EQ gloss.

For his cut I did shear over comb on his sides and back and left a visible weigh line to build the silhouette.

Styling on the day of the shoot consisted of flat wrapping his hair with Thickening Lotion 06 with the Sam Villa Paddle brush. Hand styled with Move Ability 05 and finished with Control Addict 28.

On Micah's hair I did a heavy highlight with Blonde Icing and pH Bonder followed with a Shades EQ gloss in 07P.

For his cut I decided to do a faded mohawk using my Andis Clippers "Envy" and layered the top with my Sam Villa 7" shears.

The styling for the shoot day included paddle brush combined with hair dryer and Hardware Gel 16. Once hair was dry it was hear styled with Iron Shape 11 and 2" curling iron. For handstyling I used Mess Around 10 finished with Control Addict 28.

We shot early morning at Steve's studio. Lots of coffees and bagels kept us busy and content for a six hour shoot. I staggered models arrival times to give everyone enough time to prepare. We did wardrobe tests with each model to find the right look.

For make up Isidro did a fantastic job keeping the make up real clean with soft contour cheeks, lip balm and lots of highlighter to enhance model's cheeks and brow bones.

I submitted the collection to Lori Balsamian with Bangstyle. She loved the collection and requested to feature it as an exclusive collection.

Credits

Hair | Matthew Tyldesley @hairbymatt

Photography | Steve Squall @stevesquall

Make up | Isidro Valencia @valencia0612

Styling | Genna Yussman Greene @gennayussman

Models | Justin Sinkler @sinkler_115

Micah Severo Ruelas @micahsevero

Ellis Mitchell @ellismitch008

BTS making of video for Urbane

I am so grateful to this team, everyone did a stellar job.

I am so grateful to this team!!

I was really excited when Redken released it's vivid hair color line, "City Beats" and I wanted to create a bold hair color collection for competition.

This collection was 1 of 5 shoots executed in the winter of 2016 for NAHA 2017. Although it was not nominated, I submitted the collection for publication and was honored to have it grace the pages of Beauty Launchpad Magazine.

I really had to think about a good concept but nothing had come to mind until I took a vacation to Key West with my husband, Eric. I figured I could take lots of photos for inspiration. I practically took photos of everything. Once I returned home I sorted through the images and found 3 sources of inspiration. The view of the Southernmost point beach front, two colorful shot guns homes on a residential street and a the beautiful Queen Angelfish from the Key West Aquarium.

Before attempting the looks on the models it was imperative to create the looks on mannequins first. I order several mannequins for practice from Pivot Point and created pattern on the mannequins and place different shades on different areas of the head. Afterwards I could analyze the looks and make changes when adapting the looks on the models.

Next it was time to book the photographer. I had recently done a couple photoshoots with Jenni Harper Young of Harper Young Photography. I asked her if she would be interested in shooting this collection and she gladly said yes.

I booked make up artist master, Isidro Valencia and designer/stylist Genna Yussman Greene to work on this collection. The date was set, the team and now for the models. I booked both models and clients for this one with models that had to be completely open to a drastic but amazing change. I had them come in for a 7 hour hair prep that involved multiple treatments, pre lightening, toning, coloring and cutting.

For Vickie, she had some grown out blonde ends with quite a bit of regrowth. I pre lightened her hair twice with Flashlift lightener and pH Bonder. After processing, shampooing and drying the hair the final colors of Broadway Blue and Taxi Cab Yellow were applied to her hair.

Vicki hair was previously lightened by me so I had to focus on her regrowth and do a decolorizing on her ends. Afterwards the final colors of Coral and Teal were strategically placed on her hair.

For Chris, I pre lightened his hair twice with Redken Flashlift lightener and ph Bonder. Lightening his ends first and then his root area. Pre tone with Shades EQ gloss 09P then I was able to apply Brooklyn Blue, High Line Green and Broadway blue to his hair.

I created this shag layered cut on Vicki with a soft side fringe and face framing layers. For Styling I round brushed the hair with Guts 10 for volume and set the curls with a 2" marcel ceramic Hot Tools curling Iron and Hot Sets 22. Hair was cooled and brushed brushed out and finished with Fashion Works 12 and Control Addict 28.

For Perri's haircut I lightly layered her hair and tightened up her fringe. Hair was styled with Guts 10 and Set with a curling iron with Iron Shape 11, Cooled, brushed out and set with Triple Take 32 and Shine Flash 03.

I did this undercut with my And is "Envy" clippers directly on scalp and layered the top length with my 7" Sam Villa shears. Hair was styled with Pillow Proof Primer, Argan 6 oil and Iron Shape 11. Finished with Mess Around 10 and Control Addict 28.

tearsheet from Beauty Launchpad Magazine

Credits

Hair | Matthew Tyldesley @hairbymatt

Photography | Harper Young Photography @jharrrper www.harperyoungphoto.com

Make Up | Isidro Valencia @valencia0612

Styling | Genna Yussman Greene @gennayussman

Models | Vickie Tang @lunarlurker

| Perri Fields @perrierleigh

| Chris Diaz (Heyman Talent Agency) @chrisryandiaz

The day of the shoot was a lot of fun, we started early at Jenni's Studio. We made sure to have plenty of food for everyone. It took two hours for each model. It is always a pleasure to have Genna and Isidro on set. Isidro created a soft smoky eye, nude lip and make up to enhance the facial features of each model. Genna did these "Net" dresses and tops for the the models for an aquatic feel and Jenni did an excellent job of capturing the looks.

I submitted the collection Beauty Launchpad Magazine editor, Alyson Osterman-Kerr. She loved the collection and wanted it exclusively for the August 2017 issue. The team and I were thrilled to see the spread when it upon it's release.

BTS making of video for Tropical Vibrancy

I am so grateful to this team. Everyone worked os hard. After the photoshoot I spend a final day changing the models hair to wearable colors. This shoot took over 24 hours and was worth every minute.