Behind the Brush: In conversation with BA Hair and Make up for Fashion student, Jasmine

We recently caught up with BA (Hons) Hair and Makeup for Fashion student, Jasmine Ula, who spoke to us about her move to London College of Fashion, her inspirations and plans for life after the course.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and why you chose the Hair and Make-up for Fashion course?

A few years ago, I moved to London from Essex to study Film at another university. The course was more focused on the theoretical aspect of film, which I enjoyed; however, I was looking for more of a practical course that would allow me to explore my creative side.

As  I had an interest in photography, makeup and image making, I applied to a few courses at London College of Fashion, as I wanted to study somewhere that had good industry connections and a high level of mentoring and collaboration. When I found BA (Hons) Hair and Make-up for Fashion, I knew it was perfect the blend of all of my interests and would allow me to expand my skills.

Can you tell us about the project you have most enjoyed working on so far?

The project that I am enjoying the most is the Personal and Professional Project, where I am continuing my response to thematic hysteria. I’m experimenting with prosthetic design which has allowed me to develop a non-traditional approach to fashion hair and makeup.

Having access to the performance make-up facilities has massively helped this. Research is a part of the process that I also enjoy a lot. Putting together concepts from my research and generating design ideas, both in a visual and written manner, is exciting for me.

What advice would you give to someone who is thinking of applying to BA (Hons) Hair and Make-up for Fashion?

You can come from any educational background which is great, but it's important that you honestly have a keen interest in aesthetics, hair and makeup and image making. I think it's interesting to see a hair and makeup student source their references from a wide range of mediums - you can really surprise yourself when you are open-minded.

Seeing yourself as a storyteller with the creative briefs and raising questions within the Cultural & Historical Studies modules are invaluable assets which are celebrated within the course.

I would also say be prepared to invest in your kit, not saying everything should be a high-end brand, but there are certain products you will want, that fit into your style of makeup, that may cost you a bit more. Collecting discarded materials and objects can also give room for more experimentalism. Ultimately, I would say have fun with the practice!

What inspires you?

I’m super obsessed with strong aesthetics and a lot of that I find within film, video games, artworks, and nature. My mother and experiences are also recurring sources of inspiration for me. People can be fascinating to watch, like little characters that you can take elements from to place in your own worlds.

What skills have you learned on BA (Hons) Hair and Make-up for Fashion that you have been able to practice outside of London College of Fashion?

The tutors on the course encourage us to creatively direct our shoots. Research and testing are core focuses of this process, which I believe has elevated my approach to projects outside of LCF.

Being active in collaboration has given me the essential skills of creative teamwork. Presenting ideas to others and audiences can be daunting at first but routinely practicing this has helped refine my approach to collaborative work.

What are your plans for the next few years, and where do you want to see yourself professionally?

At the moment I am still understanding my creative process and where I fit into the industry. I would like to translate my ideas into different mediums so I will be building my portfolio and applying for an MA in Creative Design for Art Direction to hopefully start next year.

Being a working-class creative can be stressful at times, so building on my skill set is an important part of my plan so that I can be suitable for the roles I will apply for in the industry.

Have you had interactions with fashion industry links, if so, how? 

We have had an industry expert talk with renowned photographer Tim Walker, which was a joy to be engaged in. He spoke of the dreaming nature of surrealism and questioned the consciousness which influences his approach to photography. His images are often created amongst ‘chaos’, which he embraces. I think that's something we can all take in our stride as emerging creatives.

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