A couple of weeks ago at the 2016 Schwarzkopf Professional Hair Expo Awards, hair-stylist Danny Pato was awarded the honour of New Zealand Hairdresser Of The Year. He makes up one half of D&M Hair Design, located on Ponsonby’s Redmond Street.
We spoke to Danny about his favourite styles and products, as well as why he loves being a hairdresser so much...
COUP DE MAIN: What inspired you initially to become a hairdresser, and how did you start off in the industry?
DANNY PATO: Growing up in a household with so many women – I had five sisters – I was always surrounded by feminine beauty and attracted to it. Can you believe that (and this was clearly before GHD was invented) I used to iron my sisters’ hair with an actual iron and ironing-board? That’s how I started.
CDM: What do you think is the biggest trend for hair going into next season?
DANNY PATO: The Wob. That’s a wavy bob. A great looking Wob is a hot mess of effortlessly tousled waves, falling elegantly to the chin.
CDM: The rainbow multi-coloured hair in your latest campaign is incredible - can you talk us through the inspiration behind that?
DANNY PATO: The main inspiration came from a Harajuku street sub-culture called Decora Kei.
CDM: What are some of your favourite hair products currently and why?
DANNY PATO: I love Oribe Dry Texturising Spray. Seriously, it’s hot hair in a can – I use it every day on the salon floor, on set and on myself. My other faves at the mo are Olaplex (it stops hair breakage), Davines OI Oil (the best prep oil for everyone) and Oribe Supershine Moisturising Cream.
CDM: What’s your favourite thing about being a hairdresser?
DANNY PATO: How lucky I am to dress up every day how I want to, listen to the music that I want to, and help people to look and feel better than they were before. I love my job.
Check out the rest of D&M’s latest campaign below…
Photography credits - black and white images
Collection name: Intelligentsia
Art & Hair Director: Danny Pato @ D&M using Oribe
Photographer: Mara Sommer
Stylist: Rachel Morton
Original fashion: Morgan Hollis-Ward
Makeup: Aimie Fiebig and Carly Marr
Models: Dani Hayes @ Unique, Liv O’Driscoll and Lydia @ Red11, and Rihanna @ 62.
Photography credits - colour images
Collection name: Decora
Art Director: Danny Pato @ D&M
Hair: D&M team using Oribe
Photographer: Mara Sommer
Styling: Rachel Morton
Makeup: Aimie Fiebig
Fashion: Charlotte Cho, Monique Burgess, Amy Li, Michelle Wright and Badi Yeung, all from their AUT Fashion Design graduate collections.
Models: Amberley @ Red11, Dani Hayes & Libby @ Unique, and Talea @ Clyne.
Interview: one half of D&M Hair Design, Danny Pato.
D&M
