We are thrilled to partner once again with the Professional Beauty Association (PBA) to promote all of the talented artists who are finalists for the 2018 NAHAs (North American Hairstyling Awards), the most prestigious hair and beauty award in the country. In this feature, get to know more about this year's Men's Hairstylist Of The Year and Styling & Finishing – Dana Hodges Caschetta.
We absolutely love how these collections were shot in black and white. They give light to the form of her silhouettes and show off Dana's beautiful designs. Her finished looks are absolutely stunning and give us all a little inspiration to look forward to. Keep reading to get to know more about Dana and her fabulous work...
How does it feel to be nominated in two categories?
Surreal. Honored. Jumping up-and-down excited!
I’ve always worked really hard not to be pigeon-holed in just doing men’s or women’ hair. I think today stylists CAN do both and this is a testimony to my fighting to prove so.
What was the inspiration behind each collection?
For my Styling and Finishing NAHA collection, I was inspired by a fashion trend called Interfusion. The concept is based on misplaced detail and hybrid styling. It mixes patterns, design elements, and unconventional fabrics together. I am always inspired by fashion - I think many fashion trends have such a unique story behind them and truly push boundaries and limits on creativity. I wanted my collection to have movement with structure, strong texture with softness, and geometric shapes with flow; along with an element of misplaced detail. Interfusion was also heavily influenced from the 90’s era and I wanted to incorporate some of that in the makeup and wardrobe as well.
For my Men’s Hairstylist of the Year NAHA collection, my inspiration came from classic men’s shapes and traditional 60’s and 70’s inspired looks. This era was one of the first times men’s hair had so much variety; from short military looks, to polished pompadours, all the way to lived-in shags. I loved how expressive this time was and I wanted to combine the overall feel of tradition with some distribution and modern flare.
Did you have a favorite image/collection?
That’s like asking a mom who their favorite child is (ha ha)! Each collection, as well as image, means something special to me. It’s too hard to choose just one!
What is your favorite technique to use this season?
My favorite men’s haircutting technique is Scultpure Cutting with my razor for sure. It gives the hair a different finish, without removing length. It allows each hair to lay almost intertwined with one another giving the haircut longevity and manageability against unruliness.
How has the popularity of men’s styling influenced your choices for this collection?
I knew I wanted to display timeless men’s hair so I drew inspiration more from classic looks and put my own modern twist on each. I do, however, think longer men’s hair is becoming much more popular and we will see a lot more of it so I did want to incorporate one longer look.
Do you have a favorite styling technique?
Definitely Denman brush styling for men to create movement and texture. Right now I like to get creative with different curl sets, sometimes I mix a few techniques together. It’s all about creating soft and touchable hair with a strong silhouette.
How did social media influence your work?
There’s always some kind of inspiration on social media, I love following hair pages but also different artists and fashion designers. Social media has become a great platform for all kinds of art!
If you were to describe your collections in one word, what would it be?
Perseverance (if you know, then you know!) :)
Tell us a little more about you as an artist.
I’ve been in the industry for over 10 years and love being a hairdresser more and more each day. I started cutting men’s hair a few years into my career and really focused on growing my male clientele and improving my skills, it was never something I was taught in beauty school - which is still mind-boggling to me! A few years ago I began this editorial styling journey. It’s one of my favorite things to do now and I am so grateful to work with amazing artists who inspire me each day! I am also a National Trainer for Eufora which has given me an incredible platform to share my passion with like-minded stylists all over the US and Canada.
How do you Vegas?
With enough room in my suitcase to bring home more shoes :)
If you won the lotto (or slot machine) tomorrow, what would you do?
Hop on a plane with all of my friends and family and venture off to somewhere with warm sun, good people, and great food. Afterward I’d probably do something smart like invest, and then donate the rest to abused children and animals.
Looking for inspiration? Be sure check out all the NAHA finalists here.
