Modern Salon
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Luis Alvarez Goes Against the Grain: New Aquage Collection

In the Against the Grain collection, Aquage co-founder and creative director Luis Alvarez uses a combination of texturizing products and tools, hair wefts and imagination to create low-commitment/high-impact transformations.

Alison Alhamed
Alison AlhamedEditor in Chief, MODERN SALON
Read Alison's Posts
August 30, 2013
2 min to read


Hair and photography: Luis Alvarez

Assisted by: Lauren Reminick

Ad Loading...

Make-up: Wanda Alvarez

Fashion styling: Patric Chauvez

In the Against the Grain collection, Aquage co-founder and creative director Luis Alvarez uses a combination of texturizing products and tools, hair wefts and imagination to create low-commitment/high-impact transformations.

“In today’s world, we tend to think of cut and color as the way to transform a look,” says Alvarez, who was encouraged by the “evermorphing” world of fashion, where session and runways stylists don’t have the luxury of dramatically changing a model’s cut and color. “Texture is the easiest way to transform your clients—it’s low commitment, but the change is major.” The random, organically diffused texture of wood served as inspiration for Alvarez to bend the rules in this story of textural transformation. Alvarez used Aquage Sea Salt Texturizing Spray to achieve the deconstructed, organic waves and Biomega Behave to tousle the curls and tame the braid. A smooth finish is created with Aquage Silkening Oil Treatment.

“Some of the most extraordinary creative ideas come when we take our inspiration from ordinary things others pass by without a thought—the artist in us begs us to ask, ‘What if?’” Alvarez says. Like this chaotically cool style, created from piles of trimmed shards of hair that were formed and constructed using Aquage Finishing Spray.

Ad Loading...

Wrap your head around an asymmetrical whirl of spiral coils, created with a mini-curling iron and Aquage’s firm-holding, nonaerosol Working Spray.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

More Galleries

Ad Loading...
In The Know|News|Nov 5, 2025

Golden Threads: Oribe’s Gilded Gift Sets

Each year, Oribe turns its holiday gift sets into works of art and 2025’s “Golden Threads” collaboration with Finnish artist Kustaa Saksi is no exception. Inspired by mythology and master craftsmanship, the limited-edition collection blends luxury with meaning, transforming salon retail into an elevated client experience. See how Flaunt Hair Salon brings the collection to life with immersive displays, team engagement, and record-breaking holiday sales.

Sponsored by Oribe

Style|Articles|Oct 27, 2025

Celebrating an Icon: Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray

Fifteen years after its debut, Oribe’s Dry Texturizing Spray remains a true styling icon. From backstage at fashion week to behind the chair, this cult favorite continues to define volume, texture, and effortless glam for a new generation.

Sponsored by Oribe

Ad Loading...
Ad Loading...