Shannon Romano
Shannon Romano, the creator behind popular hair art Instagram account ‘Pigment’, spoke with us about her work as a wig colourist and designer. After working as a hairstylist for almost 20 years, Shannon turned to the world of wigs and has spent the last couple of years committing herself to this art form. Stylistically speaking Shannon’s work incorporates a neon colour palette with trippy patterns and designs. Probably Shannon’s most well-known creation was the ‘puzzle wig’ made for rapper, Cardi B, which consisted of patterned monstera leaves. Read on to hear more about Shannon’s eccentric wig designs and the future of ‘Pigment’.
Tell us how you got into your niche practice of painting wigs?
I have been a licensed hairstylist for 20 years now but it wasn’t until a of couple years ago that I decided to fully dedicate myself to specialising in creative colour work and wig design. There were a lot of factors that ultimately lead me to the work I am doing now but the number one thing I would say was my passion for art, hair, storytelling and the ability to create content by merging all three through my social media presence.
Describe your aesthetic in three words?
Mixed media, creative, hair-colour.
Where do your ideas stem from?
Most of ideas stem from everyday thoughts and feelings about life. When you look at the world through the eyes of an artist, there is opportunity for inspiration and ideas everywhere.
What responses do you usually get about your work?
A common response I get from my work is “wow you are a true artist”, I find this interesting. How do we decide what is or isn’t art? I think a lot of people in the art community don’t necessarily consider hair to be an art medium. I like to challenge this misconception and bridge the gap between the two. Creating art on hair, in this way, is incredibly difficult. Hair is my canvas and it is a 3-dimensional object that moves. I like the challenge of creating art on hair in a way that most would assume would be impossible.
What is your technical process in terms of creating your wigs?
Technically there is a lot involved as far as my process. The short version is, I use direct dyes and permanent hair-colour in multiple steps to achieve my desired looks. I also occasionally incorporate body paint when working on set. This “mixed media” approach on hair adds more texture and layers to my “colour story” and gives me even more options as far as pushing the envelope with my art on hair.
You have started using TikTok to show your work - what do you enjoy about this platform in terms of expression and storytelling?
It really is all about storytelling. This is the part that keeps me most interested and consistently motivated within my craft. In my opinion, telling a story through my art adds more value and meaning to my work. This ultimately leaves a long lasting impression because it allows me to connect even more with the viewer.
You created the ‘Puzzle Wig’ for Cardi B - how did this come about?
I created a wig for Cardi B that was covered in monstera leaves. There was a photo of a similar look I had created on my Instagram that she had liked. When you are a creator or an artist that specialises in anything online, your social media is your portfolio of work and if you work hard at perfecting your craft, eventually, the right people will start to take notice. I found it interesting that this wig was noted as the “puzzle wig” by allure and teen vogue because my intention behind it all along was to look abstract when seen up close but once you step back you realise what it actually is.
Where do you see yourself in the future in regards to developing your practice?
I want to continue to perfect my skills and see how far I can go with it. It’s important to me to enjoy what I do and to stay inspired and interested in it. With that type of mindset it’s almost impossible to not evolve. I want to continue to merge fashion through art, on hair. I want to continue to create custom design wigs for fashion designers, brands, and celebrities. And I would also love to continue to inspire other hairstylists to find their own creative expression through art on hair.
interview GABY MAWSON
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