Hairstylist Janine Ker says she was conscious from a young age of hair’s powerful connection to identity and self-expression. “In my last year of high school, we had to complete a Senior Project – I chose haircutting for mine,” she recalled in an interview with Infringe. “I taught myself the basics of cutting hair from a book, then proceeded to cut my friends’ hair, as well as my own, for the next 13 years. As an artist, cutting hair and treating it as a fibre came very naturally to me. I didn’t actually go to Cosmetology school until I was 30!”
With haircutting coming almost naturally to her, it makes sense that she made a career out of it. Nowadays, she’s mostly known for her rainbow-colored buzzcuts, with her designs taking over Instagram slowly but surely. “I tend to gravitate toward floral patterns (no matter how hard I try not to),” she admits.
“I am also very, very nostalgic. I grew up in the 80s (hence my love for geometric fashion) and the 90s, surrounded by residual 70s references,” she added. “So I have found myself inspired by era color schemes I remember from when I was 10: a vintage blouse I bought at a Thrift Store, down to my best friend’s grandmother’s armchair.”
Indeed, there’s an air of nostalgia about her haircuts – a sort of ’80s dream come to life in the form of a buzzcut. But if you want to join in on the hype, beware! With tens and thousands of fans you’ll want to book a haircut well in advance. In the meanwhile, enjoy her hairstyles from afar.
