Maverick. Master. Visionary. Richard Kavanagh is one of a kind. The self-described ‘sage punk’ is “deeply versed in the technical, but also questions the status quo.” A hair director at Fashion Week in New York, Sydney and New Zealand, Richard has worked on hundreds of shows over the years for brands such as Armani, Prada, Versace, Marc Jacobs, and McQueen. “I love it when all the elements come together to create a moment of magic” says Richard. “A wow moment that takes your breath away. Not because it’s crazy or outrageous or never been seen, but because it embodies the magic of beauty.”

With more than 30 years in the business, his client list reads like a who’s who of A-list celebrities and magazines, and he is known for creating effortlessly undone looks for covers, editorial, red carpet and campaigns. Richard is a go-to commentator for emerging trends and has a knack for making hair styling understandable and accessible.

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My signature aesthetic is… effortless cool, easy hair. 

My favourite kind of editorial to work on is… I love collaborative projects, working together with a team to make visual magic (I especially love beaty editorial).

My favourite piece of work to date is… I’ll never forget the first time I shot for Italian Vogue. It was a dream for me to have the opportunity, and it was such a mission to get to New York through snowstorms and floods, and cancelled flights. And then to create on set for my dream editorial client.

My greatest source of creative inspiration is… I’m inspired by people. By characters, archetypes and in particular, historical portraiture. I love to look at people and wonder – who are you? What makes you tick? What makes you feel like the best version of you?

My favourite location to shoot is… the beach at sunrise. The light is magical, and when it’s warm everyone is happy and full of joy.

My muse is… I’ve had muses over the years, but I find ‘the muse’ as the innate or inherent creativity that permeates all life – that’s what I try to tap into now. The idea of being in flow, and in connection with ‘The Muse’.

The item in my kit that consistently saves the day on a shoot is… I keep a couple of rolls of bondage tape in my kit – you never know when it’s going to come in handy.

My career highlight to date has been… seeing one of my assistants win Hairdresser of the Year after working so hard and learning all he could.

My favourite part of the job is… definitely the people.

If I wasn’t a hair stylist, I’d be… a retired professional fighter running a combat sports gym.