What Does It Take To Be Justin Bieber’s Hairstylist?

From movie sets to tour buses, stylist Vanessa Price creates megastar signature looks–including Justin Bieber’s signature swooping bangs.

“It feels like silk,” stylist Vanessa Price says of the hair that makes millions of girls weak in their American Eagle–clad knees. Two years ago, the music industry vet (clients include the Foo Fighters, Morrissey, Zooey Deschanel, and Jenny Lewis) took her scissors to the mullety hair of a certain then 15-year-old YouTube phenom, snipping it into the side-swept glory known worldwide as Bieber Bangs (may they R.I.P.). Today, Price and Justin Bieber are inseparable: “You’re the only one who’s allowed to cut my hair,” Bieber told Price. A week before his seventeenth birthday, Bieber was ready for a change, so Price pulled out her shears. “Teenage angst,” explains Price, who chopped the bangs “to death,” revealing not just a new look “suitable for a young man instead of a teenage boy,” but also unveiling his forehead. “The world had never seen it before!” The pop princeling also relies upon Price’s makeup skills to cover the occasional zit. (“He’s a teenager, he works hard—of course he gets breakouts,” she says.)

MORE: Click here for a slideshow of Justin Bieber’s best style moments »

Justin’s coif never seems out of place. What’s your trick?

It’s all about the cut. Don’t fight the direction your hair grows. For side bangs, you need a cut that gradually goes from longer to shorter, but not drastically. Then it’s about the blow-dry. Justin’s hair is fine, so I don’t use a brush, just my hands. Thicker hair needs a brush to guide it into place.

On his days off from performing, does Justin style his own hair?

Yes. He loves his hair; he’s very proud of it. He pays insanely close attention to detail, so he knows how to make it look good. It’s not that he’s vain—he just gets it.

You’ve done Zooey’s makeup on movie sets, for live performances, and for red-carpet events. How do you change up her look?

When she’s on the red carpet or performing live, I get to use a more creative palette. We experiment with false lashes, use liquid eyeliner to create a stronger cat eye, and play up a red lip. I also like adding glitter and gloss to the eyelid; it catches the light and makes eyes look really bright. Movie set makeup is more technical. For long shoots, primer is really important. It helps makeup melt into the skin. I’m a fan of the “no-makeup” makeup look—I don’t like seeing foundation on the skin. I mix concealer with a little bit of highlighter, such as Benefit Eye Bright, and apply it to the inside corner of the eyes and down the bridge of the nose. It looks fresh and glowy but not shiny.

You seem to have mastered the no-makeup makeup look with Justin.

I just use a little concealer and powder. Justin naturally has beautiful, long lashes, so we don’t need to use any mascara—he’s genetically blessed with great hair.

Late-night shows and early-morning after-parties make for little sleep. What’s your advice for keeping skin looking its best?

The number-one thing I promote is hydration, inside and out. I recommend my clients drink coconut water; it’s filled with electrolytes but not sugar. I also love face oils. They are ultramoisturizing and, although scary to some people, won’t clog your pores. Use oil at night and a light moisturizer in the morning. When your skin looks great, you’ll need less makeup.

Want more Bieber?

Click here for our slideshow of Justin Bieber’s best style moments .

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Source: Elle.com