Daniel Roldan Photo Journal: New York City Street Art

In this Digital Photo Journal series, Matrix Artistic Director Daniel Roldan shares his personal views and storied photos as he travels across world educating artists on his craft, sharing tips, tools and techniques to creating inspired hairstyles – all while documenting via Instagram. 

The inspiration... New York City Street Art 

One of the benefits of traveling is that you’re always experiencing new sites and sensations, which can be very inspirational. As a photographer, I capture these scenes and moments; but as a hairstylist, I strive to create looks that show my inspirations that can transcend beyond a photograph. For me, hair and photography go hand-in-hand as forms of expression that complement each other, telling stories about my travels. When I’m out and about, I’m always looking for different shapes, colors and infrastructures that serve as inspirations which are then reflected in my work.

The Looks (A-B)... Curly Cool 

When most people think of New York City, glamorous and historical landmarks like the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty come to mind. However, it’s the blend of cultures that really differentiates this city from all others – you will find street art on corners adjacent to luxury buildings; delis and bodegas just steps away from upscale restaurants; skyscrapers towering over brownstones. This mix of high-and-low really inspired me to create looks that convey this point – street style looks that are chic yet rebellious. The street art you can find all over the city is powerful yet playful, and edgy with a hint of pop here and there. So, I decided that curl is the new cool – I kept the curls short and sleek, and messed it up just a bit to make it fun. Lastly, I kept the hair glossy and shiny to keep its glamour element!

To create Look A:

1) On dry hair, apply Style Link Volume Builder Mousse from scalp to ends. Rough dry the hair holding the head upside down, making sure the product is fully absorbed into the dry hair with fullness.

2) Using a 1 inch single barrel wand, create loose, open ended curls. Once the entire head has been completed, apply Style Link Gloss Booster and rake through. Emulsify and apply Style Link Over Achiever to create separation. Using a wide tooth comb, arrange separated curls into shape and silhouette.

3) Spray Style Link Texture Builder for volume and moveable finish. 

About: Criss-crossing the globe on behalf of Matrix for the past 20 years, Matrix Artistic Director Daniel Roldan is hailed as a hair rock star in more than 40 countries.  From India, Italy and Indonesia, to Prague, Spain, China and Dubai, this gifted artist has mastered the international language of beauty.  He prides himself on being able to adapt and communicate with every audience, as he strives to lift the skills and imagination of his fellow hairdressers in every corner of the world. Matrix, the number one American professional hair care company in the world, is at the forefront of salon education and innovation, helping professionals build on and improve their skills while creating cutting edge, first-to-market products. Daniel used the new Matrix Style Link line to create these inspired looks – Style Link allows for total styling freedom and makes it easy for anyone to prep, play and perfect! 

About Matrix: The Matrix philosophy is to inspire all salon professionals to transform a passion for beauty into personal success. By sustaining one of the industry's largest teams of educators including colorists and salon owners – Matrix artists remain dedicated to crafting style and motivating others to express personal creativity. Through innovation, education and inspiration, Matrix encourages hairdressers across the globe to share the American dream and imagine all they can be!