After twenty years behind the camera, I dare to make this claim: A well-thought-out hairstyle is more important than the most expensive designer outfit.
Don't get me wrong — I'm not talking about perfect waves (those voluminous, bushy, hanging curls) or a 100-euro salon visit before every shoot. I'm simply talking about seeing the potential that lies in hair.
"I always wear it like this" is the classic response. Followed by "It's growing out" and my personal favorite: "I thought we'd do something with it during the shoot." Spoiler: No, we won't. At least not what a professional cut could have prepared carefully.
Sometimes I dare to suggest the unthinkable and propose radical changes. "Would you be brave enough for a chin-length bob?" You should see their faces. As if I'd suggested walking barefoot on Lego. Yet it's exactly these brave decisions that often create the strongest character types.
In all these years, I've only had one model with a buzz cut in front of my lens. Short-haired models in the German scene are as rare as snow in August. The fixation on long hair as the only beauty ideal runs deep, although breaking this convention often produces the strongest images.
The real transformation happens in the moment when standard lengths become bold statements. That's when applicants become models. Not through makeup or runway training — but through a cut that matches their personality.
The moral of the story? A model's hair isn't an accessory that you can just quickly style.
It's a fundamental part of the visual narrative. Hair length and color offer endless possibilities to present oneself as a modern personality.
You just have to let go of the notion that "beautiful" automatically means "straight and long".