And just like that, the curtain closes on yet another Afterpay Australian Fashion week – filled once again with all the couture, creativity, chaos and catwalks that one would expect from the biggest week in Aussie fashion.

The definition of going out in serious style, AAFW23’s hotly anticipated #WeWearAustralian Closing Group Runway (presented by Afterpay) boasted 80 models sporting one of two key hair looks created by Redken Hair Director Richard Kavanagh and the Redken team.

We spoke with Richard backstage ahead of the #WeWearAustralian x Afterpay Closing Show, chatting through the key looks created, the process of collaborating creatively when it comes to large scale group shows and Redken’s role in supporting both Australian fashion and their clever team of stylists backstage.

80 models walking in a group show staged at the scale that the 2023 closing runway was poses a major creative challenge to the Hair Director. How do you create a look that not only works for each of the individual models and their hair types, and also works to compliment the 86 different designers collaborating on the show? Through intertwining two looks across the cast that work together to celebrate the individual and also allow the designs to shine.

“We’ve got 86 different designers and almost 80 models for this particular show, so naturally have two kind of themes for the hair in terms of direction,” elaborates Richard on this particular dilemma. “Firstly, we really wanted to celebrate the individual. So if people have got amazing curls, or cool haircuts, or they’ve got like, some interesting character trait about their hair, then we’re working with that to enhance it and make them the coolest version of themselves.”

And as for the second look? “The second look we’ve done on approximately half the models is a 50’s inspired wet look,” says Richard. “Think 50’s biker, but make it fashion. He’s caught his reflection in the shop window, does a double take, pulls his comb out and combs each side back. He pops his comb away, and walks off feeling cool and dangerous.

“The thing about wet looks right? Is that they look cool. They look fashion. But you can’t just have wet hair. So we’re working with our Redken Strong Hold hair spray and Root Lifter, which our stylists used to create volume. What they’ve done which is interesting, however, is spray the product all the way roots to ends. It really gives the hair guts. Our stylists have sprayed that on, combed through and then let the hair dry naturally so it looks wet but is actually dry.”