Gray Area by Peter Gray

Hair: Peter Gray, for easihair easiLengths
Photography: Anthony Friend
Make-up: Kaoru Okudo
Fashion styling: Voltaire Gutierrez

“Hair as Lifestyle” was Peter Gray's concept for this photo session. By integrating easihair extensions with existing hair, he proves hair is the ultimate fashion accessory.

The model casting call for this session was unique. “We put a call out looking for women with short, fine or damaged hair,” says Gray, a world-renowned hairdresser with an outstanding reputation for session and editorial work, a “king” backstage at Fashion Week, and regular cover artist. “As a team, including photographer, stylist and make-up artist, we wanted to show dramatic transformation by amplifying the existing features and natural beauty of women through the addition of hair.”

For the finished images, the team was inspired by Irving Penn and Richard Avedon photographs from the '60s and '70s. Although influenced by these images, Gray wanted the hair to breath, to feel alive and to portray the models as strong woman. “We did not want that perfectly coiffed hair which is so often found on the cover of magazines. Instead, we wanted textured hair, hair that was fluffy and soft.”

Ultimately, Gray wanted to show how hair extensions enhance, rather than restrict, styling options.

“From slicked back to big bouncy curls to tight elegant ponytails worn flat and close to the head, everything is possible. We wanted to portray hair extensions as elegant accessories and break some of the negative association or depiction as something worn by bathing suitclad sex symbols.”