The term ‘fashion icon’ falls short of those who truly are. A fashion icon is not ‘fashionable’ at all. They do not follow but find joy in the expression of self. Timeless. Impossible to replace. And so, their influence thrives on forever. They are living, evolving pieces of art illustrated by the very fabrication of their soul.

In celebration of Dyson’s truly iconic 2022 THE JOURNAL MAGAZINE cover shoot, here Dyson New Zealand Styling Ambassador Michael Beel takes us through his inspiration behind the looks created, and how to recreate them with Dyson’s powerhouse of ground-breaking Professional hair care tools.

Presenting GRACE, DOLLY, BILLY. Fashion icons as interpreted through truly iconic hair, powered by Dyson.

TJM: What was the inspiration behind your TJM cover shoot?

MB: The inspiration was creating a blend of the models personality and the iconic persona they were trying to portray. I’m a big hair lover so if there is any chance to go big or go home – I’m in.

TJ: How did you achieve the Grace Coddington-inspired look today?

MB: Firstly I prepped the hair by blow drying using the Dyson Supersonic™ hair dryer Professional with the concentrator nozzle, creating lots of volume. Then, using large U shaped pins, I created a rick rack set and then sealed it in using the Dyson Corrale™ straightener professional edition and allowed to cool. Finally, I took out all of the pins and used an array of my Dyson brushes to create lots of texture.

TJ: What do you love most about Dyson?

MB: What I love about Dyson is the dedication to technology and engineering. They are really invested in hair health and I think that, as a professional stylists, we all need to be thinking about the hair at the end of the day.

TJ: Can you break down this Billy Porter-inspired look today?

MB: Working with his natural texture we manipulated his hair using the Dyson Supersonic™ hair dryer Professional and the diffuser attachment and worked it into place! For his second look we added a pre-set wig and using the Dyson Supersonic™ hair dryer Professional wide tooth comb attachment, we pulled the curls out to create a more whimsical loose curl while still keeping it true to Billy.

TJ: What drew you to the icons represented within this collection?

MB: Grace Coddington has hair that is instantly recognizable and I believe is the unsung hero that has made American Vogue the fashion bible it is. Billy Porter isn’t afraid to live his true individual self and is a massive champion for LGBTQI+ rights, and then Dolly Parton – like Hello! She isn’t even in the room when her hair gets done. Her use of wigs, big hair, her iconic community spirit and the longevity of her career makes her a true icon.

TJ: What is Dyson’s most iconic tool? 

MB: For me, it is the Dyson Supersonic™ hair dryer Professional. I love it because I use it 10-12 times a day, and I don’t get sore wrists because of the way the weight balances. Plus, it’s got hair attachments for every single type of clientele!

TJ: How did you create the Dolly-Parton look today?

MB: To create Dolly, I styled with a directional blow-dry using the Dyson Supersonic™ hair dryer Professional with the concentrator attachment for maximum volume. I also added hair extensions to create even more volume that felt true to Dolly. Then, by doing a classic brick on-base set, I used the Dyson Corrale™ straightener professional edition and a spray of  hairspray, pinning as I went and then allowing to cool. The next step was to back comb. I did this through the whole head to get maximum root lift and I also used the Dyson Supersonic™ hair dryer Professional wide tooth comb attachment at the ends to keep some defined movement.

For more information, click here.