Your Backstage Pass to New York Fashion Week SS27 with Oribe
At New York Fashion Week SS27, Oribe is taking Cult Beauty back where it belongs: backstage. Across this season’s shows, individuality takes centre stage — hair is sculptural, exaggerated, polished and undone. At AREA, disco goes downtown; at The Blonds, excess reaches fever pitch; at Heirlome, natural texture takes the lead. In each, the hair was not only an extension of the designer’s world — but a reminder that the most coveted hair moments are often born in the controlled chaos behind the curtain.
And this is territory Oribe knows well. Born backstage, covering countless glossies, shaping the language of fashion, photography and session styling, the brand has always belonged in the hands of artists. And today, Oribe’s collective of leading Stylists and Educators carries that legacy forward — bringing the same obsessive dedication to the craft of hairstyling as its founder, the inimitable Oribe Canales.
At SS27, we joined the team backstage for an exclusive look at that artistry in action, uncovering the products, techniques and references behind each look — and how to make them your own.
The Cult Beauty x Oribe Edit
Your shortcut to runway-ready hair starts here. Curated exclusively for Fashion Week, the Cult Beauty x Oribe Edit brings six backstage essentials into your everyday ritual — from Gold Lust Heat Protection Spray and Dry Texturizing Spray to the Gold Lust Repair & Restore Shampoo, Conditioner and Nourishing Hair Oil, finished with Oribe’s cult Creaseless Clips. Worth over £100, yours for £60.
Oribe at The Blonds – The Full-Scale Fantasy
The Blonds marked 20 years the only way The Blonds know how: with volume, decadence and unapologetic excess at full throttle. For SS27, Phillipe and David Blond raided two decades of their own history, reimagining more than 50 archival looks alongside new designs — think cascades of crystals, feathered shoulders, waist-nipping silhouettes and skin-tight catsuits, worn by a cast of glamazons that closed with the ever-iconic Paris Hilton. It was a celebration of the community that raised them, the city that made them — and for Kien Hoang, Oribe Principal Artist of Global Design, the hair was given equal licence to go all out.
“We were pulling from different seasons, so the challenge was to edit all of those references into one cohesive story. One of the major looks was inspired by Jerry Hall: hair swept dramatically to one side with no part, beautiful texture through the shape and face-framing movement.”
“It’s sexy, sculptural and highly polished. The back has this fitted, high-shine finish that almost feels shell-like, while the front is brushed out and softer. That’s what Oribe can do so well — it’s not just about big, bouncy volume. It can be incredibly sleek and sculptural, too.”
“It’s all in the setting — sectioning, pinning, rolling, blending and sculpting. We started with Maximista Thickening Spray, blow-drying it into the hair to build body and structure, then added a second layer to help sweep the hair to the side. That double application builds strength progressively, giving you the structure to really sculpt the shape.”
“From there, we worked with Imperméable Anti-Humidity Spray section by section, adding sleekness to the back. Superfine Strong Hair Spray was the final layer — locking in the shape while giving the hair polished hold and shine.”
To make the look your own, Kien recommends blow-drying Maximista Thickening Spray into the hair to build body and structure. Create cascading, bombshell waves with a large-barrelled curling iron, pinning each section as it cools to set. Once released, brush through the waves to soften and elongate the shape, then accentuate with a deep side part. Finish with Imperméable Anti-Humidity Spray to refine and hold the silhouette, then mist Superfine Strong Hair Spray through the lengths for lasting hold with zero crunch.
47
44.85€
4
51.75€
1
45.50€
Oribe at Heirlome – Rooted in Ritual
Tassels swung, prints took on a sculptural quality and huipil-inspired silhouettes moved fluidly down the runway as Heirlome made its first foray onto the New York schedule. Mining Mexico’s folkloric mythology for inspiration, founder and creative director Stephanie Suberville looked to the fantastical work of Oaxacan alebrije craftsman Angélico Jiménez, creating this collection in partnership with his daughter, Maricarmen. Joey George, Oribe Session Stylist, echoed that sense of ease in the hair: long, tactile and effortlessly undone, spliced with a few polished, slicked-back styles.
“For inspiration, I kept coming back to Manuel Álvarez Bravo, the Mexican photographer whose work in the 1930s and 1940s captured life across Oaxaca. His images featured women with this incredibly long, raw, natural hair. That felt like the right starting point: something authentic that would support the clothes rather than compete with them.”
“We wanted the hair to feel airy and full of texture, so we worked carefully with each model’s individual hair. We started with Foundation Mist, spraying it directly into the roots, or working it between our hands and raking it through the lengths to create a natural bend and texture. We then paired Bond Building Elixir and Hair Alchemy Fortifying Treatment Serum to strengthen, prime and protect the hair before blow-drying. Gold Lust Dry Shampoo also gave some girls extra lift and fullness at the roots.”
“You don’t need to overwork the hair to recreate these looks at home. It’s really about taking the fuss out of hair and prioritising its health — working with the natural texture, letting the hair breathe and allowing it to retain its own identity. There’s a real shift towards that kind of minimalism now: stepping away from hair that feels overly done and returning to its most beautiful, natural state.”
1
86.25€
13
73.60€
13
52.90€
Oribe at AREA – Texture Takes Shape
Shredded metallics, layers of pearls and oversized denim tempered AREA’s fantasy as the label returned to the runway with a more lo-fi take on its party-girl vocabulary. For SS27, designer Nicholas Aburn looked to the freedom of childhood, reframing innocence through AREA’s magpie eye for spectacle and irreverence.
Led by Joey George, the hair followed suit — crimped texture was sharpened into graphic, architectural forms, slick-backs were lacquered to a high gloss, and half-up styles took on a sculptural quality.
For a more wearable take, keep the silhouette but soften the finish. Crimp a few face-framing sections, then brush through with your fingers to break up the texture, or pull the hair into a polished half-up style with Supershine Moisturising Cream.
45
49.45€
46
26.45€
9
49.45€
The Session Stylist’s Playbook
Every stylist has their non-negotiables: the products that survive every call time, earn a permanent place in the kit and still make the cut at home. Backstage, we asked Oribe’s Artists and Educators to reveal theirs, from styling signatures to unsung heroes and everyday essentials. Consider this your insider access to their personal playbook — the products they reach for, layer and think you should love, too.
3
51.75€
34
25.30€
“Dry Texturizing Spray is one of those backstage staples that never leaves my kit. The fragrance, texture and versatility make it indispensable — it works across every hair type, whether you’re building volume, adding effortless texture or creating that perfectly undone finish. It’s the kind of product you reach for once, and then wonder how you ever worked without it.”
14
66.60€
“Royal Blowout is my underrated hero. Use a little, and it feels beautifully lightweight; use more and it becomes richer and more conditioning. I like to work it into my hands and then through the hair. It protects against heat, smooths the strands and creates the perfect foundation for a gorgeous blowout.”
13
73.60€
“Hair Alchemy Fortifying Treatment Serum is one of my go-tos because it’s so versatile. I use it before blow-drying, to refresh in the morning or whenever frizz creeps in. It strengthens the hair while locking in moisture, with a hyaluronic acid complex that keeps hydration going throughout the day. We think about antioxidants and environmental protection for our skin — hair deserves the same level of care.”
45
49.45€
“Gold Lust Dry Heat Protection Spray really embodies Oribe’s innovative, skin-first approach to haircare, with caffeine and niacinamide helping to nourish, strengthen and fortify each strand. It’s more than heat protection — it’s an innovative approach to styling that treats the hair as you work.”
