Q and A Karla and Brianne
K: Give us a bit of your background, how you started, your business and what you specialize in?
B: I have been a Cosmetologist for ten years. I have been a freelance stylist for nearly four years. In 2009, I became a trained color educator for an Italian color line, Artego. As a freelance stylist, my work's been published in national publications such as Diabetic Living and Better Homes & Gardens. I am a contributor for DSM Magazine and I‘m happy to say that my work was published in six of their top ten magazines they announced for their ten year anniversary. Over the years, I have worked with many national and local photographers. I’ve owned my studio for two years, which has allowed me to tackle freelance and salon work while I finish my third college degree.
K: This was the first year the Big Hair Ball showcased Independent Hair Stylists. Being an independent stylist, how did this affect you, and what are your thoughts on this new form of entry?
B: I loved it! This was the third time that I have participated in the event. The first time was with a salon and the second time another stylist and myself did it together. It is time consuming, doing a large production with only two stylists. We had a lot of models, a runway show to choreograph, costumes and of course hair. Most of the other salons involved have a number of stylists and a budget to do this. This year, with the new Independent Showcase, it allowed me to focus on one model. All of my time, energy and money went into one person and it allowed my creativity to explode.
K: Stylists get to choose their theme for their showcase. Your theme played on darkness, how were you inspired and guided by the theme?
B: I collaborated with the other independent stylists and it reminded us of good and evil. So as a team, we did evil. I came up with the whole idea for my model. I am obsessed with trees and my model was perfect due to her height, 6'4. I wanted her hair to represent tree branches. There was more hair to add but I can only put my model through so much torture! I looked at countless ideas for makeup and my good friend, Lindsey Ritland, to do the work. I combined four different inspirations to get the final look. The roots across the chest made my idea come to life. I got that idea from a t-shirt design that I saw and fell in love with! I am blown away by how my idea came to life and I love how my whole team put their 'signature' on the final piece.
K: Will you enter the next BHB?
B: Hell yes! I wish I could do this everyday!
K: Is there anything you think Des Moines Art Center and/or stylists could do next year to add more success to The Big Hair Ball?
B: I am naturally a restless person; I can never just sit down. It would be nice to have monitors in the studios so we can watch the show. We all work so hard for months at a time and it goes by within minutes then its over. Another idea would be to have the runway earlier. The show should be the kick off to the party so then all of the guests can meet the stylists and the models. This will allow us time to network and enjoy the party!
For more information on Brianne go to
Hair by Brianne
All images taken by Karla Conrad
Makeup: Lindsey Ritland
Model: Ali Johnson
Assist: Becky Smith
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