The Makeup Mole

Tagged last month by British Vogue as one of the rising stars of the international creative firmament, New York based hairdresser James Pecis is going from strength to strength, booking editorials with photographers like Mario Testino, Liz Collins, Tim Walker, Miles Aldridge and Mariano Vivanco. His work regularly graces Harper’s Bazaar, British Vogue, Numero and V magazine, and aside from being a wonderful hairdresser he’s one of the nicest people I have ever worked with. Last time I worked with James we shot a TopMan Campaign together in London (with the rather gorgeous Louis Simonon, son of iconic Clash guitarist, Paul Simonon), and James is just such a wonderful person to be around. Plus he has the best tattoos I’ve ever seen – his hands alone are a work of art!

What are you working on at the moment?

Last week was Teen Vogue, French Vogue, Numero and now we are starting the campaigns for the season. It’s a fun and busy time.

Favourite hair job ever?

I don’t think there could be a favorite. I’m fortunate to get to do, see, and travel to amazing places for my job. I couldn’t have a favorite…  just lots of amazing memories and more to come.

Top 5 products?

1. Surf Spray by Bumble & Bumble
2. -Elnett hairspray by L’Oreal
3. -Tecni.Art Pli by L’Oreal
4. -Light Elements Texturising Cream by Aveda
5. -Water – by mother nature

Best hair tip ever?

Hair grows

How did you get started in the business?

Years of assisting and hard work.

How is it different to when you started?

A lot has changed in a short time. The obvious would be the switch from analog to digital and the use of new electronic medias and moving images. Most photo assistants today could not load a 5X4 back and most hairdressers could not do a full head of marcel waves properly with tongs. But the competition is stronger than ever before which increases the demand to not only be creative, talented, and professional, but you also need to be fast, nice, and have impeccable taste.

Favourite looks for the next coming season?

Girls being creative and styling their own hair. Twisting, braiding, back-combing, pinning…. Just developing their own styles. Mixes of vintage with modern. Having fun and enjoying playing with their hair.

What do you love doing in your spare time?

Hmmmm….spare time….not a lot of that…..I may get this new operation so I don’t have to sleep anymore. I can stay awake 24/7.  Then I’ll have more spare time. I like to keep my hands and mind busy. I sew, make books, make felt hats, stickers, write letters, spend time with friends, yoga, exhibitions, etc.

James is represented in New York and London by D+V Management.  You can view his portfolio at www.dandvmanagement.com

We’re very lucky here at MM HQ – look what I have received from one of my favourite hairdressers ever, James Pecis. James is not only one of the loveliest people in the business, he’s also a seriously amazing hairdresser who books Italian Vogue like you and I go to the supermarket. (Just this month he’s done the cover of Dazed and Confused with the unbelievably hot model, Arizona Muse).

This Fashion Week was one of his busiest ever (in London alone he did Roksanda Ilincic, Peter Pilotto and Meadham Kirchoff, amongst others), and we have an incredible video he put together of what it’s REALLY like doing the show circuits of NY, London and Paris. Lots of hard work and an awful lot of hair – but James makes it fun. Check it out.

Here at Makeup Mole it’s usually all about the makeup – makeup, makeup and more makeup, and when we’re done, for dessert? A healthy slathering of makeup!

But I have to confess today it’s not about the makeup, it’s about the hair – to be exact, an interview with the extraordinary, and very lovely hairdresser, Neil Moodie.

Neil has worked for a who’s who of the fashion industry, recently wrapping campaigns for Gap and Hugo Boss and tending the tresses of Harry Potter star Emma Watson. And as if that’s not enough, he’s also created a line of Pro styling tools called WAM that utilize his background from fashion shoots to create professional tools that deliver top of the line session hairstyling performance, at home.

I am by no means a top hairdresser, but I do love the innovative shape of the WAM hairdryer that gives you options on how to hold it, and it really is one of the slickest hair machines around. The curling tongs and straightening irons are equally high-performance and are regularly tested on the world’s supermodels! You can learn more about WAM Tools at www.wamhair.com.

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Aside from WAM what are you doing at the moment?

Working on putting some beauty shoots together for a couple of big publications and working on some new Iconic head hats with Flora Mclean.

Favourite hair job ever?

Very tough question to answer but I think working on the Kate Moss Pictures with Corinne Day for the National Portrait gallery, because they will be part of the permanent exhibition there, so it makes them very special to me.

Worst hair job ever?

An advertising job in Paris about 8 years ago. it was my birthday and we worked until 4 in the morning, then a certain person who shall remain nameless but made the shoot so difficult for everyone, asked if I would cut their hair at 4am when the shoot ended – I had to do the haircut, and I’ve never forgiven them for being so mean and have always turned down working with them ever since, because I don’t court meanness!

Top 5 products?

Mason and Pearson Brush, Bumble and Bumble Prep Spray, WAM Hairdryer, WAM curling Irons and Japanese Serrated Pins.

If you could tell women to do one thing differently with their hair, what would it be?

Stop straightening their hair with straightening irons so it looks like a wig.  It never looks good and never will. It looks like they are trying to prove that they have a set of straightening irons, rather than proving they have great hair. It also ruins their hair too, so not a good idea all round! Please stop ladies!!!!!!

How did you get started in the business?

I’ve been hairdressing for 25 years this year and after working in salons for 10 years I met legendary photographer Corinne Day who asked me to do the hair for a shoot for The Face magazine after I colored the models hair pre- shoot as a favour. The original hairdresser who was to work on the shoot dropped out at the last minute due to other commitments, so Corinne called me and asked if I could step in. The rest is history!

How is it different to when you started?

Very!  The media coverage on the fashion industry has meant a lot more people are now wanting to work in fashion because they think it brings fame, but the people who really do well are actually successful because they are just really passionate about their work and don’t care about the fame.

Which work are you most proud of?

My first Vogue cover with Gisele. It feels like such an achievement to have a Vogue cover as there are only 12 a year. It was so exciting to see it on the shelf in newsagents.

I’m also proud of my hat collections, Iconic Heads, which I collaborated on with Flora McLean, because it took me out of my hair comfort zone, yet they’ve been very popular, which is a great feeling when you step outside of your work parameters.

What do you love doing in your spare time?

Running, yoga, watching tennis (and playing badly occasionally), watching movies and going to art galleries. I love listening to music with my headphones on too as it can change your mood immensely.