- By
- Irene Ojo-Felix
- Hair by
- AKKI
- Photography by
- Jiro Konami
A DIFFERENT KIND OF BEAUTY: AKKI
Inspiration reaches new lengths in the latest installment of A Different Kind of Beauty, a colorful offering of psychedelic braids from hairstylist AKKI with uncannily bold results. Inspired by the juxtaposition of Angolan tribal adornment and the Tokyo club scene, AKKI teamed up with photographer Jiro Konami with the intention of celebrating individual style while putting a creative spin on the ever-present braid trend.
Made with a combination of human and synthetic hair, the kaleidoscopic final look took days to prepare but only a single plane ride to conceive. “The idea came about during a recent trip to Tokyo,” AKKI explains. “I started sketching my ideas on the flight back to New York and, within a few weeks, the piece was finished.” Using a custom blend of colors, the hairstylist took an unexpected approach by crafting the hair to take over the character’s face as well, forming eyes and lips like a rag doll’s. “I played around with different shapes and arrangements based on my sketches,” he recalls. “The final design was sewn together to maintain the shape.”
Describing the moment captured by Konami, AKKI is adamant that, most times, the best results are unplanned. “It just happened, like a spontaneous night out at the club,” he explains. “What makes the image for me is how it captures the bold and tacky attitude of the character with a naïve disposition.” With a hazy, hallucinatory quality as the end result, the risk pays off with a daring look that’s as playful as it is progressive.
- By
- Irene Ojo-Felix
- Hair by
- AKKI
- Photography by
- Jiro Konami
