Led by renowned session stylist Joanna Cree Brown (@joannacreebrownhair), the backstage hair team crafted a series of bold, textured, and sculptural looks that brought designer Foday Dumbuya’s vision of cultural exchange and transformation to life.
“Osmosis was all about flow, migration and blending identities. We wanted the hair to feel organic yet modern – structured, but with space for softness and individuality. The products from Design Essentials gave us the freedom and performance we needed to make that vision a reality.” Joanna Cree Brown, Hair Lead for Labrum London SS26.
The hair looks
Joanna and her team created four main styles, each reflecting the show’s central theme of osmosis:
- Drop Braids: Neat, free-falling braids with an organic edge, finished with rose gold dip-dyed tips and accents woven through the partings.
- Sand Hair: Sculptural styles inspired by the show’s makeup, incorporating teal pigment to create ethereal, textured structures, particularly on 4C hair.
- Flower Braids: Intricate braids shaped into floral motifs, woven from the back of the head upwards to symbolise growth and natural expansion.
- Natural Texture: Celebrating unaltered beauty, several models wore their own natural hair to let the collection breathe with balance and simplicity.
The team also worked with Ruka Hair extensions, using the brand’s Synths®2 extensions to add volume and sculptural shape.
The products
Across every look, Design Essentials products played a central role in delivering hold, shine and manageability:
Almond & Avocado Curl Stretching Crème – used to stretch and slick back 4C hair while maintaining softness.
Diamond Oil Sheen Spray – applied as a finishing touch on almost every model, from braids to natural hair, to create a soft sheen that caught the runway lights.
Agave & Lavender Blow Dry & Heat Protectant – essential when sculpting 4C hair into sand-inspired shapes, protecting the hair during heat styling and helping to diffuse structure.
Sleek Max Edge Control – smoothed the front of drop braids for a clean, polished finish.
Contours Clear Protein Styling Gel – applied to zig-zag partings for intense shine and hold.
Loc & Braid Gel – the standout hero product of the show, locking in braids, taming flyaways, and adding brilliant shine across all braided looks.
“The Loc & Braid Gel really was the star backstage,” Joanna explained. “It gave us the control we needed for intricate braiding, and the shine meant every detail lit up under the runway lights.”
Looks from the show
Scroll down to browse the looks from the Labrum London SS26 show.
Imagery by Rob Jones and Khroma Collective.
