Based between the bustling cities of Shanghai and Guangzhou, Eda Lee stands as a multifaceted artist, wielding his talents as a makeup artist, hairdresser, and art director. With an eclectic collection of rebellious wigs, Lee approaches hair as a canvas for self-expression and transformative reinvention. His attention to detail and refined taste elevate the art of wig styling, going beyond what is expected with styles that appear almost supernatural in their execution. In every look, Lee challenges conventional notions of beauty and invites the world to embrace a fresh outlook on the infinite possibilities of hair artistry
What sparked your passion for pursuing a career in hairstyling and what was the beginning of your journey in the industry like?
I hoped to have my own world in the industry. I wanted to create work that could be remembered as classics. All my skills are self-taught and I started by journey by watching online video tutorials.
How has your cultural background or personal experiences influenced the way you approach hair styling, and do you incorporate any traditional techniques or themes into your work?
I like to research and learn more about traditional crafts in China. Anything related to modeling, architecture, design, and even nature may be my creative inspiration. Movies, cartoons, travel, and life are an important part of my inspiration as well.
What unique elements define your hair styling aesthetics, and how do they set you apart from other hairstylists in the industry?
Interesting, lively, and full of vitality. I always hope that my work is interesting and changeable. I never want to be the same. I want them to be savage, beautiful, strong, and colorful.
What is the most unconventional hair styling technique or trend you have experimented with, and how did it inspire your creativity?
Combining AI technology with hairstyle technology is the most interesting technology I have experimented with. It can make you realize any imaginative idea, surrealism, and even change the traditional understanding of hair texture, shape, and color. Any material and shape can be combined with hairstyle to make a brand-new presentation, opening the door to a whole new world.
In your opinion, how do wigs play a significant role in challenging traditional beauty standards and promoting self-expression in the world of hairstyling?
Wigs are not a new product. A lot of wigs were used before the Middle Ages. Baroque and Rococo styles were heavily based around wigs. Wigs are also often used in modern hairstyles when an individual wants to change the amount of hair, the length, and/or the color. As fashion workers, wigs can help us solve all the things that human hair can’t do when creating styles that are different from conventional hairstyles, including texture shaping. Wigs can realize most things that can’t be naturally done.
How do you encourage clients to embrace the idea of wigs as a form of artistic expression rather than a cover-up or disguise?
In our work, we see the needs of customers and then add our own ideas to the mix. But sometimes, we will break through or change the original idea. Customers who often like my work hope that I can bring them new ideas when collaborating, and that includes the use of wigs as artistic expression.
Can you share a memorable experience where a client’s perception of wigs shifted after experiencing your dramatic reinvention through styling?
Fan Bingbing is a very famous artist in China. I once used a wig to create her hair style, but I combined different materials into it. She was surprised because she had never done anything like it or used a wig. For her, almost all hairstyles have been tried, but using a wig brought her a different feeling. It was quite unforgettable. Wigs are infinite, and there are countless ways they can be altered. It just depends on our imaginations.
Could you walk us through the process of conceptualizing and bringing one of your most dramatic wig creations to life?
No matter what hairstyle I do, especially when I have accumulated a variety of things, I need a lot of imagination. Imagination is always the key to making new things and cultivating new aesthetics. I am in the process of making a dragon wig. The Chinese New Year is the year of the dragon, but in China, it’s called the Loong. The Loong one of the zodiac signs in China and a very important mascot. I don’t know if anyone has done it before because I haven’t seen it, but I’m making it with my own imagination.
Can you share a specific moment when a client’s request challenged your artistic vision, and how did you navigate the balance between your style and their preference?
The wishes of our customers are always very important to us. Our work is not only self-expression, but also the result of joint efforts of a whole team. Therefore, we will always present our work to them according to their needs and combine our own ideas and styles in the process. Because my style is unique in China, there are a lot of different opinions among customers who are willing to choose my styles. Because we are all professionals, we can respond according to their needs.
In addition to hair styling, what other passions or interests do you have that contribute to your creative process, and how do they manifest in your professional work?
Movies, art, and exhibitions are all part of my daily life and can bring inspiration to my creations. I also like to travel around the world and learn the customs of different places, which can also help me to understand more about the different styles of other cultures and nationalities.
