Kenna Kennor: “I began doing hair in London in 1999, proper in the course of an unbelievable period for trend and print. From day one, I discovered myself on set, studying the rhythm of working with photographers, stylists, and associates who have been all constructing their portfolios alongside me. These early days—late nights, shared concepts, and the thrill of Trend Week—taught me how highly effective it’s to inform tales by hair.
By 2009, main reveals and dealing on promoting campaigns had develop into my on a regular basis life, and with the assistance of a beautiful agent, I used to be in a position to flip my ardour right into a profession. However I missed having an area the place purchasers felt like a part of the journey—so Kennaland by Kenna Kennor was born. From the start, our purchasers understood the inventive chaos of trend life and supported it wholeheartedly.
In 2014, I opened Kennaland Brooklyn, which shortly grew to become our residence base within the US. Our purchasers and group helped form it into a spot the place trend, craft, and neighborhood all stay collectively. When the pandemic hit in 2020, as an alternative of closing, we expanded to maintain everybody protected. Then in 2024, we added Kennaland Studio for training and pictures, and in 2025 we totally renovated the salon—one thing I’m extremely happy with”.
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What would you time period as your specialty inside your commerce?
Listening.
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What’s probably the most pleasing a part of your job?
Consultations, attending to know a purchasers habits, routines and talents with their hair is so thrilling, understanding their life-style is so enjoyable and important for me to do my job.
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Why did you select the trail of hairdressing and was it simple to fall into this work?
I really stumbled into hairdressing by an ex-partner who labored as a hair and make-up artist for a drag act. I used to go to her at work, and backstage the queens would come flying in, tossing wigs at us and telling us to reset them. It was chaotic, inventive, and truthfully one of the vital distinctive environments l’d ever been in-and it clicked for me. I noticed that this was precisely the type of power and artistry l’d been in search of.
Getting my first job as an assistant was surprisingly easy, however from there the actual work started. Hairdressing is extremely technical, and I threw myself into studying all the basics. It took numerous observe to grasp the foundations of cutting-and then much more to discover ways to break them with confidence.
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In case you had not made the choice to be a hairdresser what would you may have been?
If I hadn’t develop into a hairdresser, I feel I might have opened a small thrift retailer, and even organized a automobile boot sale each Sunday morning, travelling across the nation. I like the concept one particular person’s castoff will be one other particular person’s treasure. I’ve all the time cherished treasure looking and discover a lot inspiration within the craftsmanship and workmanship of occasions previous.
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What’s your best power?
Being open minded.
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Your favourite hairdressing instruments?
I like my Dyson supersonic r, and I cant stay with out my ghd platinum flat iron.
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Inform us about your relationship with Iles Formulation. The way you found us and which formulation is your favourite?
Wendy used to prep for her London hair campaigns at my salon, and she or he all the time introduced alongside this mysterious product-her personal secret blend-that she would apply to the fashions’ hair earlier than a blow-dry and set. She had this unbelievable strategy of prepping the fashions the day earlier than so their hair appeared contemporary, however with that excellent, barely lived-in end on the day of the shoot. I might by no means seen something prefer it, and I used to be determined to know what was on this magic product she casually known as Wendy’s Formulation.
Just a few years later, she began growing it commercially, and my London salon grew to become one of many very first salons to inventory her lles Formulation merchandise. We completely could not wait to strive it out. Later, we have been additionally so proud to develop into the primary salon in Brooklyn to hold lles Formulation.
As for my favourite formulation – Ending Serum for all times.
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What was probably the most difficult job you ever made?
Throughout the pandemic, we did a distant shoot, as a group we guided fashions to do their very own hair, make up, styling, lighting. It was an enormous problem, but in addition wonderful, you’ll be able to see the sting of the mousse waves we created.
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What was your worst hair second and why, privately or on set/stage or within the salon?
I used to be as soon as slicing a fringe piece with clippers alone brow for a shoot as a result of I did not have a model head with me and was attempting to be respectful to the make-up artist’s work. The problem was that the mannequin’s brow was greater than my pea head, so my “template” was fully off. I walked away with completely symmetrical tram traces on each side of my hairline.
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In case you may model anybody’s hair, who wouldn’t it be and why?
Patti smith, her iconic bangs have endlessly impressed me.
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The place do you pull hair inspiration from?
I nonetheless have and proceed to gather magazines, however Pinterest is so good in case you will be particular with a search.
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Your recommendation to younger hairdressers beginning out?
Always remember you might be an artist.
