Backstage BEAUTY

This March, we shine the spotlight on three individuals hair and makeup artists Guido Palau, Pat McGrath and Hiromi Ueda who are responsible for some of fashion’s most iconic glamour

- MELISSA MAE

GUIDO PALAU

For British hairstylist Guido Palau, hair was always on the cards. "My history [with hairstyling] goes back a long way," says the artist. "I started my career in London in the early '80s, and have been doing hair for about 40 years. I did my apprenticeship at Vidal Sassoon, but I decided early on in my career that I wanted to work in fashion, so I left the prestigious salon and went on this journey in the industry. That was years ago and I am still here now."

Fresh off fashion week, Palau has worked his magic on models walking for Prada's Fall/Winter 2024 show and Dior's Spring/Summer 2024 Haute Couture show; in the latter, the artist weaved delicate braids and bows to complement the overall look of the collection. "Maria Grazia Chiuri, the designer at Dior, has such a strong vision for beauty," says Palau of the inspiration behind his work for the show. "I have worked with her for many years now, so we have a great and trusting relationship when we talk about her ideas; she has a very feminine approach to beauty and this hairstyle was quintessentially Chiuri."

When it comes to steering his craft towards the fashion industry, Palau says it boils down to a combination of several important things-time, effort, luck and hard work. "You never know what is going to happen with your craft," says the stylist. "You just work at it and work at it. I have been lucky, but I have also worked hard. It's a combination of the two, and I think it's important to always be pushing yourself and your aesthetics."