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Christiaan (Christiaan Houtenbos), 1985 May 21

 File — Box: Mixed pav_9, cassette: 3.10 A-B

Scope and Contents

In the first of two segments, hair stylist Christiaan Houtonbos discusses the process through which new looks emerge, change, and become dated over time. He offers professional advice on styling and speculates on future hairstyles. He then presents a slideshow of his work for fashion shows and converses with workshop participants about the images they are viewing together. In the second segment, Christiaan continues to discuss trends in hairstyles. Most of the recording is at a very low volume.

Inscription: Christiaan May 21, 1984 New School

Dates

  • 1985 May 21

Extent

1 1/4 inch Audio Cassette (01:21:09 duration)

Biographical / Historical

Christiaan Houtenbos (born 1945) is a New York-based hairdresser of Dutch origin, popularly regarded as the master of short hair. He began as a barber in his father's shop in a rural village in the Netherlands, and later studied in a beauty school in Amsterdam; while on a tour of duty for the Dutch Marines, he met a woman in Aruba who facilitated an introduction to the editor of Glamour magazine. He arrived to New York in the 1960s. After a short employment at Bergdorf Goodman, he became one of the first freelance hairstylists. Soon his work appeared in every major fashion magazine, and he created the cover look of nearly twenty Vouge magazine issues. Houtenbos went on to craft a number of iconic haircuts, including Grace Jones's flat top and Debbie Harry's choppy bob. He invented the most essential haircuts of punk.

http://officemagazine.net/interview/devil%E2%80%99s-haircut-christiaan