Why do we reach for the scissors when we feel distressed? Is it really time for bangs? Why do people tell hair stylists their secrets? Are hair stylists low-paid and untrained therapists? Why is this millennia-old trade not respected?
These are the questions that inspired the project The Cycle of a Strand & Stylist by former hair stylist turned design student, Emily Johnston. Merging academic research with personal experience, The Cycle of a Strand & Stylist takes an autoethnographic approach to the study of hair, psychology, community, and labor.
(Zine version)
The Cycle of a Strand & Stylist essay was transformed into an artists book. The cover is made of synthetic hair and bobby pins set in resin, bound by metal rings, and has a synthetic braid bookmark. The essay juxtaposes text with personal photos, scanned ephemera, and historical artworks.
