The very start of LFW AW17 - The first half of the first day - Working with Tigi

Okay so, this is going to be a pretty big post, just to let you know ahead of the game. 

There's a lot to talk about in this subject of 'LFW AW17' and right now I'm just going to type away and see how far I get with it. My plan initially was to write stuff up the day or couple of days during the week as it would have been easier to remember. But we'll just try it out and maybe I'll add some oh so exciting photos in too, so it's a little more interesting, words and pictures ;) .. 

Most are from Snapchat, and yes there are some selfies because I had my hair done (again) so basically you'll get to see my face a lot, and I haven't really edited it because frankly I can't be bothered, so you get the whole deal. LUCKY! It's a good way to keep a journal though but since then I've switched to Instagram as that automatically saves your photos and you don't think shit I've lost my whole day because Snapchat doesn't have that automatic option.. Stupid.

Edit.. So I had to have this post as 'the first half of the first day' just because well there's a lot to read. BUT! I have included photos, skills right? ;)

So everything I do I have to put in my calendar on my phone, I live on dates, not days and if you've read any other of my very exciting but no connection posts then you'll know I've already explained that. Right now my head thinks it's Friday, or maybe Friday tomorrow. Luckily I put everything I do into this little calendar on the phone, my computer is really slow and freezes a lot and basically I need  a new one... the whole syncing this to that and so you can see everything together just confuses me.

Monday 13th February, time is flyinggg.. I got up super early and got the coach (National Express) at 7.25am to begin my journey to London for the start of LFW castings as well as having a job confirmed with Tigi. EXCITING!! 

(I was VERY tired) 

I love driving past Big Ben, in the hazy morning light (plus a cute snapchat filter) it reminds me of Hogwarts and there's me imagining muggles everywhere running to work and then wizards squished into all the people going through secrets doors and then that really fast bus. Sometimes my brain thinks strange things when I'm tired... no seriously.. my brain thinks like this all the time, I just have to calm it down sometimes (I try) So you're welcome ;) And I had to change brian to brain a few times, ....

I had this job all the way in Battersea where Tigi Academy and Studio is based, it's okay as the coach gets straight into Victoria and then I have to wait around for that annoying 170 bus which for some reason takes forever. When I wait for buses in Norwich or little countryside villages back at home and the bus is 10 minutes late I'm fuming but in London 10 mins it's okay I just hunt for Pokemon or plan my routes for the day.. like a cool kid. 

Saying that about Pokemon, being on buses quite a lot of the time is pretty good as they go so slowly that you can pass it for 'walking' and it helps you hatch eggs quicker.. plus you can find lots of new pokemon and collect things along the way..

The Tigi job was just a presentation so that's super easy for me, I just had a colour refresh, had some yellow bits put in rather than the usual pink. Overall, it went from a very faded copper/red colour (as seen below) to a nice fresh red, orange, yellow, fire, (order of the) Phoenix colour. I liked it. :)

I sent a photo to my mum of my new hair, she text back saying 

'I love it you look like you're from the Lion King...'

I think we definitely have the same weird brain powers..

I love the team at Tigi they're so great and welcoming. As I've worked with them so much the last year and a bit I feel like family there and very comfortable with them and pretty laid back with hair cuts and colours (both of which seem to be a constant change for me) In the modelling world, well not that I should 'diss' anyone or companies, but you know sometimes you just click with the client and vice versa, it's a mutual acceptance. Some people of course always seem to be shy working with such a big brand but I've always been confident with them. I once went to Italy and had to meet them at the airport and I remember feeling a little lost and strange because I'm working with the actual Tigi team, the creative team and meeting the big boss. (He's lovely though) It always makes me smile that they all know my name, that sounds silly I know but it's a really nice feeling. 

They really are the best team of people I've ever worked with! 

Today, it was myself and a new fellow model from my agency (Oxygen Models in London) called Juliet Thurbin. Previously we had another job with Tigi a few weeks ago when we'd met for the first time and I remember that then it was her first ever job with the agency AND a fresh cut and colour job with Tigi, which is always a little daunting. This time it was the second Tigi job and second time I'd met her, so was nice to have a catch up and work with a familiar face. The first time round I could see she was nervous, but explained to her that they always work with you. Obviously it is our job to be there and basically do anything they want as they are the client.. but I feel with Tigi they do want you to feel happy and comfortable with your hair and feel like it's still you. If that makes sense anyway. 

The outfits we wear are always really really cool. Jiv, who is the stylist for Tigi, sources all the outfits for the year and these are used for various campaigns, shows, shoots and presentations throughout the year. The red/orange leopard print dress I actually wore for the Campaign SHIFT for Tigi which was shot in Summer last year. (I'll try and add a link in, that or plop it into another post because this one is turning out a lot bigger than I had planned. Eeek!) It wasn't put together with the other layers as seen in this photo but it always looks pretty cool. Plus I'm easy breezy with outfits for jobs, 

I'm there to model for them, not to complain about outfits.. 

I kept noticing photos of me from the Shift Collection Campaign around the Academy which was cool! and the book is out too so that was nice to look through. See photos below for a little glimpse. 

I love the products from Tigi, they smell amazing I just want to eat them all. They work amazing with your hair, any hair type. I get given products which is super great and this does not usually happen on model jobs. I don't really get it to be honest. If someone is colouring your hair (and it's for a model job) then surely you should be given at least something, shampoo or conditioner to keep your hair looking good, just the way they made it for you at that time. Partly because I am totally clueless and why is it that in the salon they make it look amazing and then you leave and go home and try to re create it the next day and IT NEVER WORKS.. Plus normal shampoos/conditioners are so so bad for your hair, especially if it's coloured and I NEVER knew this before (because I don't really understand hair and make up and beauty things) So really it's good I get given products! and super nice products! :)

These two are my favourites at the moment (below), as they are mini and I took them with me for my LFW adventure - Joyride and Masterpiece Hairspray. It's great they are so small, so you can take them anywhere with you, but also I find other hair sprays I've used in the past, make your hair either so hard the wind does not move it at all, like really stupid hard and everyone can see you have A LOT in.. or super sticky.. and this one I feel is good because it's neither of those. Joyride is a new product and you just put a small amount on your palm and scrunch it into your hair, you hardly need much at all, it's kind of like a serum/wax but not wax consistency. The names of the products are always interesting ;) and the colours are cool. I feel like a proper Bedhead fan, I now know the products by their name and not just colour! I know how to use them because I've worked with Tigi a lot and ask them questions so I can go home and test them out. I personally like volumising products the best because my hair is very very very straight. 

I've been on a few jobs (not with Tigi) where the client has just sat you down and said right this is what we're going to do (and there was no mention prior to my arrival that they were going to cut my hair at all, it was just a colour job) So you can gather, if you know me anyway, I'm not the kind of person you can lie to and make stuff up and say 'Oh no we did discuss this before and you said that's fine' No I didn't, if you told me you wanted to cut my hair (and you're not Tigi or my hairdresser friends in Norwich who I trust) I will not let you touch my hair. That sounds petty I know, but why would I do a job where I'm not getting paid, even expenses and if there are expenses it's not a lot and you want to use me for your work.. but then you have a hissy fit because I'm asking you to pay me like £20 or occasionally more if I get the train. I'm working with you all day, this is your job as well as mine, plus you work for quite a big and well know company.. and you're not even going to feed me either. 

That's just not cool. 

You think that's okay? I've been in this (modelling) world a while now and I can see from a mile off that you think I'm new to it and especially new to 'hair modelling'. 'Oh we're only going to give you a trim... looking at your hair it needs it...' 'WELL, actually I had it cut literally the other day so why are you B***S***ing me?! Idiots. 

It annoys me so so much. Then they dye my hair, do all that, dry it etc then are combing through it and get the scissors (which they are secretly hiding behind me) and start doing that 'TRIM' ... So I say, 'Excuse me what are you doing? We've just had a conversation about this' (at this point I'm thinking they must really be that unintelligent/ a general idiot to think this is okay..) 'Oh I just thought I'd sort the length out, neaten it for you..' I shuffle. When I say shuffle, I move so much they spend time re-adjusting their sections.. They ask 'Are you ok?' I wish I could just say 'F OFF' ... but I don't.. (because that would be deemed as unprofessional) I sit there and just think I am never going to work with you again and I will inform everyone I know about you and your stupid ways. It's sad because he found me through someone he used to work for and that person is really lovely and doing so well he even has his own salon in London now. I am pleased for him, he's nice. He apologised on behalf of this other idiot. I was angry all day. But that's just one day, I'm fine now. I'm over it. But I'll never work with him again. 

There's no trust there, and trust is very important, to me.

That's the thing with (SOME) hairdressers in this world (some who I've worked with), I didn't realise before but in some companies they teach you about all the normal techniques, and then they teach you about the 'trends'. So you go in and say what you want but in the end they just choose you a hair cut that is in line with 'current trends'. 

You'll hate it, because it's not what you asked for, you won't kick off because it'll get you no where, your hair has been changed, you're still not sure if you like it the next day, the next week, then you'll love it and forget all about it being not what you originally asked for. But you're on trend. Right? Who wouldn't want that. I guess it's about fashion too, if you work in retail you understand (and I used to, so I get it) 

People want whats on trend, what everyone is talking about, what's cool right now.

Me, I'm not that fussed. It's nice to have a hair cut before the actual trend hits everyone else, that's kind of cool. I don't have to find somewhere and someone else who I trust to sort my hair for me. So that's good and easy, and I get paid for it. I know that if you always colour your hair it ruins it or something, makes it go grey (eventually) quicker.. but right now, I'm earning from it, it looks good, I like it and YOLO. But clothes wise, I like what I like and I don't like what I don't so I don't just buy it because it's cool for like a month. 

That's just silly.

I think for 'the first half of the first day' for LFW should really round itself up a bit now. I'm getting tired writing and I'm hungry. I'll write the second half of the first day tomorrow and then the days after will probably be one post per day or squished together if not much happened, we'll see.

Thanks for reading, even if you did some scrolling.

Amy xx