Talking hair with Kiyoko Odo

Stella wears jacket PRADA

The wig wizard talks us through seven of her spectacular ​‘dos inspired by Japanese cartoons, neoclassical chandeliers and 18th Century Pouf hairstyles.

Images tak­en from The Face Vol­ume 4 Issue 005. Order your copy here.

Kiyoko Odo is a self-confessed Marie Antoinette addict. I love the Marie Antoinette era so much,” explains the Shimonoseki-born, London-based hair stylist who’s previously spun barristerial-leaning wigs for Kiko Kostadinov and fashioned tight Little Bo Peep curls for Yuhan Wang. 18th Century hair designs make me so excited. I would have enjoyed it so much if I was a hairdresser during that era!”

Odo was able to play out her wildest fantasy on the pages in Issue 05 of THE FACE via Hair Apparent, a fashion story photographed by Hanna Moon, styled by Danielle Emerson and shot on the streets of London. The wigs I’ve made come from a hypothetical world in which my friends exist in the Marie Antoinette era,” Odo explains. These are the kinds of hair styles I would make for them.” The stylist’s other influences include the dress codes of Japanese orian (high level courtesans) and kawaii culture – the latter an influence that runs through Odo’s work having grown up reading Harajuku street-style bible FRUiTS magazine. Below, Odo talks us through seven of her spectacular​‘dos inspired by Japanese cartoons, chandeliers and 18th Century Pouf hairstyles.

I made this one for my friend Nami Yoshida who did the make up for this shoot. To me, she’s very zen, so I wanted to make this part her style and part Marie Antoinette.”

Stella wears dress and trousers ANDREAS KRONTHALER FOR VIVIENNE WESTWOOD and earrings SLIM BARRETT

I used to love Japanese kawaii style. This hair style is based on a Japanese cartoon character called Candy Candy.”

Stella wears jacket PRADA

This one is inspired by a broken chandelier. This hair would have been worn by a rebel during the French neoclassical era.”

Stella wears cardigan BOTTEGA VENETA, bra Saint Laurent BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO, trousers MUGLER and gloves MARC JACOBS

I would recommend this wig for a person who likes tomboy, masculine style.”

Stella wears dress ANDREAS KRONTHALER or VIVIENNE WESTWOOD and earrings SLIM BARRETT

This one is inspired by Japanese orian style.”

Stella wears dress and shoes BALENCIAGA and tights FABIAN KIS-JUHASZ

I made this wig for Danielle Emerson who styled the story. I see her as an elegant rabbit.”

Stella wears dress, shirt and gloves GUCCI

This one is based on a bear head from a stuffed toy. I made it for fun!”

Make-up: Nami Yoshida

Nails: Chisato Yamamoto

Model: Stella Jones at Kate Moss Agency

Photographer’s assistants: Abi Gualtieri, Joe Reddy

Stylist’s assistant: Borys Korban

Hair assistants: Kyosuke, Anton

Make-up assistant: Yoko

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