How to Find Inspiration Outside of HairdressingStop Looking at Hair: How to Find Inspiration EverywhereYou don't need to look at another hairstyle to be inspired to create a hairstyle.In fact, constantly looking at other hairstyles can sometimes make creativity feel smaller, because you can end up comparing your work to what someone else has already created.Instead, start looking at the world around you as a design library.So, what could inspire you to create your next big look? FashionFashion is an obvious starting point, but there is so much more to fashion than hairstyles.Look at:SilhouettesFabricPleatingDrapingSleevesCorsetsFringingLayeringColour combinationsRepetitionShapesFor example, you could see an exaggerated sleeve and think:“Could I recreate that volume through hair?”Or see pleated fabric and think:“Could I create that repetitive texture through crimping or folding?”You aren't necessarily looking at the clothing and thinking, “I want to make that exact thing out of hair.”Instead, you're looking at what makes it interesting.Perhaps it's the shape. Maybe it's the movement, texture, proportion or repetition.That's where the inspiration begins. ArchitectureI LOVE this one!Architecture is basically shape, structure, balance and proportion — all things that translate beautifully into hair design.Look at:ArchesSpiralsStaircasesDomesGeometric buildingsBridgesWindowsRepeating patternsNegative spaceYou could even look at the silhouette of a building and imagine how that shape could inspire the silhouette of a hairstyle.Architecture can also make you think about how something is built.What is supporting it?Where is the weight?Where is the negative space?How do the different elements work together?This connects beautifully to what we talked about in my previous blog, “Online Hair Course: From Breaking Down a Hairstyle to Designing Your Own.”Your inspiration doesn't have to come from hair. Sometimes, looking at how something completely different has been designed can open your mind to new possibilities. NatureThis could be one of the biggest sources of inspiration for any creative.Nature gives you:Texture • Movement • Colour • Structure • ShapeThink about:Tree barkLeavesFlowersShellsFeathersRocksWaterWavesCoralInsectsBirdsCloudsAnd I wouldn't just say, “Look at a flower and make a flower hairstyle.”I encourage you to look deeper.Don't simply try to recreate the object. Look at the language, journey and artistry within it.A flower might inspire:The way sections radiate outwardA colour paletteLayeringPetal-like textureA circular structureSoftness versus structureYou aren't copying the flower.You're borrowing its design language.That is where things can start to become really exciting. Art & PaintingArt can be an incredible source of inspiration because it allows you to explore feeling and emotion.Look at a painting and ask yourself:What is it saying to me?What is it calling me towards?What is the purpose behind each part of the artwork?Look at:ColourBrush strokesContrastLightShadowMovementCompositionMoodA painting doesn't have to give you an actual hairstyle idea.It might simply give you a feeling.And that feeling can become the starting point for a design.Something to build onto.Something that can reach so deep that your creative mind opens and suddenly floods with ideas.That is exactly what we're leaning towards — finding a beautiful starting point. SculptureSculpture is another fantastic way to challenge yourself to think in three dimensions.Sculpture can inspire:VolumeStructureBalanceNegative spaceHeightWeightCurvesAngular formsThis is particularly relevant to avant-garde and editorial hairstyling.Look at a sculpture and ask yourself:“If this sculpture were made from hair, what would I need to change?”How could you transform its shape, movement or structure into a hairstyle or hairpiece?This can be an especially fun exercise when you're creating editorial headdresses or avant-garde pieces.You don't have to literally recreate the sculpture.Instead, think about what you could take from it and translate into your own creative languageYou can also open your creative mind and think of textures and items that can be used within the hairstyle or headdress to “look” like hair – but is lighter in weight to help the model wear it during a photography shoot. Everyday ObjectsJust remember, you don't have to visit an art gallery to become inspired.Look around your house.A handbag.A chair.A piece of jewellery.A lampshade.A vase.A wine glass.A staircase.A curtain.Even packaging can have an interesting shape or colour combination.You can train yourself to start noticing design everywhere.I like to think of this as training your artistic eye while still allowing your creative mind to open and explore.Forget the limitations.Don't worry about what people might say about your piece.Art comes from within.And the moment you allow yourself to shine, create, build and hold the confidence to simply do it and explore, you're giving your creative eye permission to open and express itself. MusicSo, this one may sound like a weird one because music doesn't give you a visual reference — but it can give you emotion and movement.Ask yourself:What would this song look like if it were a hairstyle?A slow, soft song might inspire:Flowing movementSoft textureGentle curvesWhereas something energetic might inspire:Sharp directionStrong textureHeightContrastMovementInspiration doesn't always have to be visual.This can be particularly powerful if you're designing hairstyles for a music video, fashion collection or creative project involving music.The creation that happens behind the scenes can help structure the final piece, and having the opportunity to contribute to that creative process can be such an amazing experience.Sometimes the music, styling, fashion, hair and overall concept can all work together to tell one story. People & StoriesThis topic can be quite powerful because it allows you to enter different parts of someone's world or society and find inspiration through techniques, fashion, culture, history and beliefs.Sometimes inspiration comes from:A personTheir personalityTheir cultureTheir clothingTheir storyA characterA historical periodA particular emotionYou can use these topics as a starting point and ask yourself:“What story do I want my hairstyle to tell?”That question moves the conversation from simply making pretty hair into creating something with intention.And I think that's where creativity can become really powerful.Your World Is Full of IdeasYou can see how all these elements can help create something incredible.We can start off feeling lost, wondering where our next idea is going to come from, and then begin looking at the world around us differently.We start asking ourselves:What do I want?What do I like?What do I need?What do I feel?What message am I trying to portray?All of these questions can give us, as creatives, the power to just be free and allow ourselves to shine.Creativity doesn't always arrive as one big “WOW!” moment.Sometimes it starts with something small.A colour.A shape.A texture.A feeling.A sound.A memory.And then you build from there.The 10-Minute Inspiration ChallengeNow it's your turn.Choose one thing that has absolutely nothing to do with hair.It could be:A leafA buildingA dressA paintingA piece of jewelleryA songA rockA chairThen ask yourself:What do I notice?What shape do I see?What texture do I see?What colours are present?What movement can I see or feel?What feeling does it create?What could I translate into hair?Don't create the hairstyle yet.Just collect the ideas.Create a mood board and start working through the different elements until you begin to see your desired design come together.If you need a little help getting started, you can head back to my previous blog:Online Hair Course: From Breaking Down a Hairstyle to Designing Your OwnThere you'll find my step-by-step guide to creating a mood board, along with the free downloadable design template you can use to start planning your next hair design, hairpiece or creative project.Look Around You. Your Next Idea Could Be Anywhere.Creativity isn't about waiting for a great idea to appear. It's about training yourself to notice things differently.You already have creativity.You just need to start looking at the world differently.So the next time you feel stuck, stop looking at hair.Look around you.Look closer.Notice the shapes.Notice the textures.Notice the colours.Notice the movement.Notice how things make you feel.And then ask yourself...“How could I turn this into hair?”Open your eyes. Open your mind. Create.Katie x