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… San Francisco
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-C)… Hipster Chic
People say that San Francisco is the laid-back version of New York City, and I definitely saw the resemblances when I traveled there recently. Instead of multiple blocks of skyscrapers towering over the streets, San Francisco has its own subtler (and sunnier) metropolitan vibes compared to its concrete jungle counterpart. Inspired by this concept, I created looks that incorporates elements of both cities. The sleek, edgy lines on the sides resemble the structure of blocks and buildings while the soft, blonde waves on top resemble the movement of the rolling clouds and work to contrast the overall look to create a dynamic feel – just like New York and San Francisco.
To create Look A (my personal favorite) – apply Matrix Style Link Smooth Setter on both sides and comb through for sleekness, and use Style Link Height Riser on top to elevate hair and volume. Pick a couple strands of hair and pinch with Style Link Shape Switcher molding paste to create that slightly messy, tousled feel. Finish with Style Link Style Fixer.
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!