Behind the Image is an ongoing MODELS.com series taking a more personal look at both established and emerging creative talent.
Karim Belghiran | Image courtesy of Total Management
Karim Belghiran, Hairstylist
Hometown/country: Morocco/Spain
Based: Paris, France
Representation: Total Management
How would you describe your work?
I don’t have one point of view. I have many. That’s part of what I love about my job. Every day can be different from the next. I always try to be adventurous when I have the freedom to be. I’m not interested in doing the same, safe thing over and over.
What’s your trademark?
I have the most fun when I’m exploring shapes. Even if the shape is extreme or traditional, I always strive to create modern yet natural looks. My background in hair started in the film industry, so I think there is always a character I am trying to explore and create.
How did you first discover your passion for hair, and what led you specifically into the world of hair?
My passion for hair styling started when I was six years old. I come from a big Moroccan family, and I remember playing with a hair straightener on my mum’s and sister’s hair. This was when I realized my passion for hair.
What other jobs have you had?
I started cutting hair at 18 years old, but in the beginning, I wasn’t doing it full-time. I had it combined with other jobs. I was living in Barcelona and working at different techno clubs and clothing stores in the city. Sometimes, I would work all day in the hair salon and then work all night at the techno club.
What inspires your creative process and influences your artistic vision?
I go to my studio and try to focus on one idea at a time so I can really explore it. I start by sketching on top of existing pictures so I can create new shapes and ideas. The process is like creating a collage, and it’s so I can get a better picture of what I want to do. Then I work on how to actually build those shapes. This is more the engineering part. During this part I almost always end up with something I did by mistake or I was not intending to do. It’s the happy accident of working on something which is always the result I’m most excited by. During this stage, I always step away and come back to see if anything feels like it needs to be refined. This part happens over and over until I have something that feels new or unique to the project I’m working on.
What have you watched/heard/read lately that has inspired you?
I feel really inspired by the culinary world and the job of chefs in particular. I love watching how relentless they are and how dedicated they are to doing recipes over and over until it’s absolutely perfect. I feel inspired by their commitment to never giving up.
What do you love about what you do?
It’s a constant challenge, and you’re always learning. I enjoy feeling like a student, and that keeps my curiosity awake. Finishing something with your hands is an enormous reward, and you love what you’ve created.
What have been the biggest challenges you have faced professionally?
It’s an industry centered on change, so one of the biggest challenges is always persevering through the ups and downs. I’ve learned not to take things personally and rather to focus my attention on moving forward.
What’s one thing outside of your work that you would like people to know about you?
I make an incredible tortilla.
Who do you think is one to watch?
I recently shot with Nana Yaw Oduro. Definitely one to watch.
Selected Work
Loli Bahia by Sebastian Faena | Image courtesy of Total
032C Summer 2024 Covers
I shot this with Sebastian Faena and Ras Bartram. I find Loli to be so beautiful, and I love her sense of nonchalance. Sebastian said he wanted to explore different characters for Loli, so it was many days of preparing wigs for this shoot. I love how different all the looks were, and I particularly love this look that ran as the cover.
By Nana Yaw Oduro | Image courtesy of Total
Turn up the light by Nana Yaw Oduro
I traveled to Ghana for this T Magazine shoot. It was shot by Nana Yaw Oduro and styled by Jay Massacret. I remember when I first saw the photographer’s images, I was blown away by how graphic the images were and how bold the colors were. I knew we had to do something with the hair equally as strong. It was an incredible couple of days shooting there.
Pamela Anderson by Davit Giorgadze | Image courtesy of Total
Proenza Schouler S/S 24 Campaign
This shoot was for a Proenza Schouler campaign shot by Davit Giorgadze and styled by Thistle Brown. We shot in NY one morning with the iconic Pamela Anderson. I think her statements about beauty standards and expectations of women are really powerful. So, to be part of a global campaign that embodies that message so boldly felt like an honor. I think the images are strikingly beautiful.
By Thibaut Grevet | Image courtesy of Total
Dior Tears
This was from one of my favorite editorials of the last couple of years. I was really happy to work with i-D because there was so much creative freedom. Dan Sablon styled the story, and Thibaut Grevet photographed it. We had a really fun day on set, and I think you can see it throughout the story.
Image courtesy of Total
Louis Vuitton S/S 24 Men’s Show
This picture is from Pharrell Williams’ debut show at Louis Vuitton. There was so much expectation for his first collection, so I felt beyond honored to be a part of it. This was from one of the hair tests we did a couple of days before the show. The model had to wear a hat in Paris, so nothing was revealed prior to the show.
