Immerse yourself in Evanie Frausto’s head-turning, hair-raising creations
Never one for minimal hair, the New York based hairstylist gravitates towards the gloriously kitsch

Big characters with even bigger hair – Evanie Frausto’s hairdos pack a punch. With a penchant for exaggerated silhouettes and audacious synthetic wigs, his hairpieces bring to mind that well-coined phrase, immortalised by Dolly Parton: “the higher the hair, the closer to God!”
Americana, French aristocracy, old Hollywood glamour, Frausto wears his references on his sleeve. Elements of characters we know and love: the Southern belle, the teen punk, the prom queen – are reinterpreted with relish, propelled into the here and now with his own unique twist.

Despite his love for the more extreme elements of hair, Frausto is aware of not wanting to be boxed in by a ‘signature’ (“I think for me it’s not so much about having a style, it’s about how I’m feeling in the moment and expressing ideas”). Style or no style, Frausto’s confident aesthetic has ensured he is always in demand, as recent work for Fenty, Garage and Paper Magazine illustrates.


Alongside his session work, Frausto is one half of Genie Kausto, a creative alter ego formed together with his photographer husband George Kan. Here, Frausto has found the perfect outlet to indulge his more eccentric hair impulses. The colour-soaked images, many of which also feature the duo as a host of outlandish characters, can’t fail to make you smile. Like Frausto, they are unconventional, playful, and above all, fun.

Growing up, when did you know you wanted to work with hair? I was broke, so I worked in a salon as a receptionist. It was a JC Penny salon in a shopping mall in Orange County – land of the shopping malls. I wanted to get out of the mall so I went to hair school – I mean I couldn’t afford to go to any other kind of school. As I started out, I realised I had lots of references to draw on – my Mexican family, and being a scene kid. As a scene kid, with Myspace and everything, hair was a massive thing. I would dye it and cut it every week – I did it for my friends too. Extensions were big, I was always gluing in my friends’ extensions – giant tumour sized globs of hair glue. I can see now that hair was a big thing for me even before beauty school.

How would you describe your unique style? It’s hard to answer that question because I feel like I’m always trying to change it – I’m never really happy with what my style is in the moment. I think for me it’s not so much about having a style, it’s about how I’m feeling in the moment and expressing ideas. Recently I’ve been thinking how camp my style is though. I know it’s often big and colourful but recently I was like, “I’m so camp”. I don’t know why this was a surprise.
What is your favourite type of brief for a job? I love getting a more open-ended brief, something I can add to. Rather than something that’s just telling me what to do. I like it when someone picks an artist that fits the shoot and can add to it, when they consider who they are as an artist and what new ideas they can bring. It’s a chance to be more playful and try things out – and its normally where the best stuff comes from.

Were you ever faced with a sudden difficult situation while on a job? Well, it may get difficult on commercial jobs because the client isn’t always happy – but I’m never too stressed about it because at the end of the day we’re just selling something to people that they don’t need. Then there’s celebrities, they can be tricky but its best just to obey their requests. The hardest moments have been trying to prepare wigs for the next day – getting a colour right – and something goes wrong and it’s getting late and all the wigs are supposed to be identical and the stores are closed and you can’t buy new dye. So, you panic and start experimenting with turmeric… to mixed success.
Do you ever get creative block? How do you keep pushing yourself creatively? Instagram has re-programmed our minds to think so fast there’s no time for creative block. Everyone’s so focused on what’s next that they’re barely aware of what’s happening now. Instead of creative block you just lose sight of purpose or why you’re doing any of this in the first place. It’s a different thing, but I find work that inspires me – music, paintings, stories – and remind myself what good work can do.

"Instagram has re-programmed our minds to think so fast there’s no time for creative block. Everyone’s so focused on what’s next that they’re barely aware of what’s happening now"
Evanie Frausto

What are some of your best inspiration sources? The Greek room at the Met. Nature. Old books. (I have a great one on Leigh Bowery). My husband. He has an amazing knowledge of art things. The back shelf at the party store. Orange County housewives. Anything in life really, whatever is around.
What would be your advice to salon hairdressers who want to take the step of becoming session stylists? Don’t look on Instagram for answers. Talk to people who’ve worked in the industry. I’d recommend assisting and learning that way instead of trying to follow the Instagram algorithm. There’s so much of this industry and parts of the job that you don’t see. Working in fashion isn’t BTS videos on your story. That’s a total façade.

What’s your favourite thing about working in this industry? And what is something about this industry you wish would change? I love being able to create things with people I admire and respect. I love making the fantasy and telling the story, I love the spontaneity. I love how inclusive the industry can be now too. However, I wish that Instagram followers didn’t equate to talent. I wish Instagram didn’t dictate the industry. It puts barriers up. Instagram restricts and waters down both what people want to create and what people want to look at. They literally censor things, and less obviously, the algorithms shape and influence what we see. It’s really hard for artists because art becomes numbers, it becomes followers and it becomes likes. It causes so much anxiety. And I wish that it wasn’t like that – I wish the industry hadn’t become so dependent on a platform that reduces our work down to numbers. Sure, the industry was always about money. But this is a constant line of notifications of approval or disapproval. And yet we’re forced to engage in it for our careers.
Where would you like to see your work take you in the next few years? I’d like it to take me away to an island where I can roam free and be happy. Joking – I’m lucky that I get paid to do something I enjoy doing. So more of the same is fine by me.

Credits
Photos Genie Kausto, Andres Burgos
Hair Evanie Frausto
Interview Katharina Lina
Words Emma de Clercq
Dancing As A Ghost
Tess Savina crafts a tale inspired by the theatrics of Japanese Butoh dance
The Vlada Project
Jean Baptiste Santens draws on hair influences old and new to visualise the stylistic expression of today’s gender-free youth
Maverick maker Lydia Chan on her otherworldly headpieces
“Most of the hairpieces I make are based around monsters and aliens.”
Curiouser and Curiouser
Alice in Wonderland’s fantasy hair is reimagined in this collaboration between Erika Astrid and Evanie Frausto
RGB / Latex Future
Anthony & Pat Mascolo collaborate on a series of bold sculptural looks with London designer Jivomir Domoustchiev
INFRINGE captures superheroes and villains at Tokyo’s first ever Comic Con
Thousands of Japanese comic fans get into character at Tokyo’s cosplay convention
More from People

More from People
INFRINGE ISSUE #3 OUT NOW!
Filled with brand new and exclusive content, INFRINGE Issue #3 is a visual feast of art, design, beauty and fashion, all based around the theme of hair. Choose from 5 different covers, each created exclusively for Issue #3
Inside Katsuya Kamo’s Tokyo studio
INFRINGE meets the Japanese designer and artist, renowned for crafting his unique headpieces for Chanel and Junya Watanabe
Watch the Popovy Sisters create their intricate dolls by hand
Go behind the scenes at the studio of Russian dollmakers Lena and Katya Popovy
Until The Day I Die
How barbering helped Walied leave the violence of gang life
Bree ‘Shag Queen’ Ritter
A hair stylist with a mission: to make the world a shaggier place
Tunga: The legacy of one of Brazil’s most prized contemporary artists
INFRINGE meets the late artist’s son and visits his former studio in Rio de Janeiro
In conversation with Sally Brooks
INFRINGE meets the reigning British Hairdresser of the Year Sally Brooks and talks daring career moves, and reworking the industry’s reputation
Multimedia artist Luisa Popovic on how art, craft and hair co-exist in her world
“One thing hair has taught me about making art is to finish what I start. You can’t walk away from a haircut halfway through because you’re over it.”
Jawara on working with Solange and the changing face of the beauty industry
"I think the beauty world has become a lot more inclusive and versatile."
From US marine to one of LA’s most sought-after celebrity hairstylists
Daniel Moon on trusting his intuition and doing unnatural hair colours before they were en vogue
This hairdresser is documenting every client they see over the course of a year
Ross Cosgrove's Instagram serves as a revealing visual diary into the tiny, often beautiful details that occur during a haircut
The Colour of Hair
Fabio Hendry and Martijn Rigters are the innovative duo behind this new printmaking process involving hair
Toni & Guy’s Artistic Director Indira Schauwecker on her love of Avant Garde hairdressing
“I try to take my inspiration from things that have been created in another art form, like stitching and sculptures.”
In conversation with Luís Llongueras
INFRINGE meets the iconic Spanish hairdresser-turned-artist, renowned for his collaborations with Salvador Dalí
Moonage Daydream: Robert Lobetta shares his latest collages
"The power of collage relies on a strong idea and focus on the content, much like hairdressing."
My Hair: Ryon Wu
Meet our new favourite part-time noodle house server and full-time A.I. entity
In conversation with Paul Hanlon
“It doesn’t matter if people like what I do or if they don’t, as long as they feel something.”
Pablo Kümin, Hairstylist and Wigmaker Extraordinaire
On juggling work and staying inspired in times of scarcity
LA hairstylist Dylan Chavles on rejecting ‘Hollywood’ hair
“I try my best to stay away from stereotypical West Hollywood hair. I feel like I’m doing myself and Los Angeles a disservice by entertaining that aesthetic at all.”
In conversation with Robert Cromeans
The prolific platform artist talks showmanship, controlled chaos and on-stage swagger
Meet the twin doll-makers bewitching the world with their hyperreal creations
Russian twin sisters Lena and Katya Popovy, aka the Popovy Sisters, create highly bespoke dolls from their St Petersburg studio
Behind the scenes with New York Wigmaker Raffaele Mollica
INFRINGE meets trailblazing wigmaker Raffaele Mollica, who has been in the industry for over 40 years
X-presion merges hair with technology in search of new hairdressing techniques
A hair studio like no other, X-presion discusses the creation of their pixel hair trend and why it's vital for hairdressers to embrace modern technology
London based session stylist Ryuta Saiga on how his Tokyo roots influence his work
“In Shibuya and Harajuku, where I grew up, people are very individual and not scared of being different.”
How swapping hair for sculpture reignited this hairdresser’s passion for his craft
“I got some old hairdressing scissors and literally started trying to do haircuts into the clay.”
A rare glimpse inside the studio of a Tokyo wig maker
81-year-old Kanehisa Osawa has been styling traditional Japanese wigs for over 60 years
‘Hair Magician’ Ryoji Imaizumi reveals his inspirations
Using everyday objects to craft his quirky headpieces, the Japanese hairstylist transforms the mundane into the extraordinary
Photographer Alex Black on the satisfaction of shooting hair
“I love working with hair. For me it feels like the last space in fashion photography that is still innovative.”
The London hairdresser providing free haircuts to the homeless
Josh Coombes is the founder of the movement #DoSomethingForNothing which encourages people to reach out to a person in need through simple acts of kindness
Session stylist Anthony Turner shares his inspirations
“I love it when risks are taken in order to stand out from the crowd.”
Maria Kovacs, TIGI’s European Session Director, on mentoring the next generation of session stylists
“It is such a great feeling when you are able to really tap into the story the designer wants to tell.”
In conversation with Trevor Sorbie
“The most important thing in life is to be inspired, that’s what makes you want to get up in the morning and do something important.”
ASOS unveils campaign showcasing a myriad of colourful hairstyles
We speak to the hairstylist behind ‘Go Play’, the new beauty line from ASOS
Tom Connell discusses the new stripped-back aesthetic of the Trevor Sorbie Art Team
"Shooting this way hopefully made these experimental ideas look as real and natural as possible."
French hairstylist Jean Baptiste Santens shares his inspirations
“I know that if a wig is very well prepared it could be magical on set.”
Bad Apple Hair unveil their latest collection ‘PLAY’
“You get one chance to catch someone’s eye.”
Hairstylist and head prop extraordinaire Tomihiro Kono reveals the inspirations behind his new book
“Head props are pieces of transformative and wearable art. I don’t see them as headpieces used to decorate hair but as a way of creating one-off characters.” - Tomihiro Kono
INFRINGE meets the punk rock sisters behind iconic hair dye brand Manic Panic
Tish and Snooky Bellomo, founders of Manic Panic, look back on their rock ‘n’ roll roots
Transformative hair: Robert Masciave’s unique outfit created entirely out of human hair
The French hairdresser merges fashion and hair with his handcrafted pieces, which push the limits of hair artistry
In conversation with Eugene Souleiman
“I’ll be very truthful; I’ve never wanted a job. I’m probably not particularly employable, I just want to enjoy what I do.”
INFRINGE meets the World’s Oldest Barber
INFRINGE meets 105-year-old Anthony Mancinelli, who has been barbering for 90 years… with no plans to retire
Californian colourist Alaina Manibog documents her work in these weirdly wonderful photographs
These images will make you want to dye your hair
Mark Francome Painter: The London session stylist on his favourite hair trends
"The best hair in the world belongs to those who love their own"
Matthew Kazarian: The LA-based Sassoon instructor on why he documents all his haircuts
With a candid, snapshot aesthetic, his images examine hair from every angle
Eugene Souleiman: In pursuit of the extraordinary
Student for life!! - Eugene Souleiman
Errol Douglas on his East End childhood, favourite hair era and unusual sources of inspiration
INFRINGE meets the iconic London hairdresser
Hairstylist Philippe Tholimet on the role of beauty in his work
The Parisian session stylist discusses his inspirations
Alex Barron-Hough on icons, pioneers and shooting for the hair industry
The photographer and producer discusses his inspirations
Robert Lobetta on his early years as a hairdresser
Robert Lobetta on manipulating hair to create art, and being punched in the face by the punk movement
Vidal: Anthony Mascolo on photographing his icon Vidal Sassoon
"He completely changed the world of hair" - Anthony Mascolo
Tamas Tuzes on his unlikely introduction into the world of hair
New York hairstylist Tamas Tuzes on his 60s inspirations and working with Bjork
In honour of Michael Baker
We pay tribute to the editorial hairstylist and self-confessed ‘Fiber-Sculptor’, who has passed away aged 59
Immerse yourself in Evanie Frausto’s head-turning, hair-raising creations
Never one for minimal hair, the New York based hairstylist gravitates towards the gloriously kitsch
Meet the man behind Lady Gaga’s favourite hairy headpieces
Japanese hairstylist Shinji Konishi’s animal props are a work of art
Lyle XOX Reimer
The Canadian mixed media artist using trash to create otherworldly beauty looks
How to construct sophisticated femininity with a splash of eccentrism
Hair stylist Mai Ha has unexpected ideas, albeit a consistent vision
Session stylist Erol Karadag on the inspirations behind his unique hair aesthetic
“During some periods of time, my vision of structure for hair was the only kind of structure I had in my life”
Dennis Lanni – a sincerely playful hair visionary
On growing up in a barber shop and collecting yard sale items
Roxie Jane Hunt is the holistic hairdresser wanting to redefine the beauty industry
"Beauty is a birthright to everything born under the sun."
Antoine Mancini is a theatre turned film hair stylist and wig specialist
Mancini takes us through establishing his career and what to do when hair colours don’t match
Session stylist Keith Harris on facing up to mortality and creative rebirth
“When you stare at a white wall you end up over-thinking everything until your thoughts morph into creative ideas.”
Glitch Hair – the hair trend taking Moscow by storm
Kseniya Sukhova on what inspired her to create this explosive rainbow look
In conversation with Akin Konizi
“Some people think that hair is like an organ or a limb – it isn’t. It’s cloth.”
Joy Matashi on how her two loves, architecture and hair, inform one another
"The exciting thing about working on a smaller scale is that there’s more room to experiment, change, adapt - the versatility of Black hair is incredible.”
Why Angelo Seminara’s exhibition hairpieces are like miniature artworks in themselves
Seminara’s collaborations with fashion curator Judith Clark illustrate the synergy between fashion and hair
Drawing hair inspo from classical paintings
Canadian hairstylist Letizia Slaayer Sprio on nurturing your inner artist, and achieving sustainability in hair salons
Meet the Japanese hair artist with a taste for the unconventional
Masayoshi Okudaira’s quirky headprops are crafted from a variety of unexpected materials
The radical theatre group turning the act of styling hair on its head
Osadia's show-stopping performances merge hair with theatre
In conversation with Annie Humphreys
The celebrated colourist and ‘mother of colour’ reflects back on her extraordinary career
Malorie Shmyr’s macro shots reveal the intricacies of catwalk hair
The photographer’s backstage shots reveal the craft behind Fashion Week hairstyles
Maverick maker Lydia Chan on her otherworldly headpieces
“Most of the hairpieces I make are based around monsters and aliens.”
Photographer Chloe Orefice on the perfect backstage hair shot
“For me, it’s about making hair look interesting even to people who know nothing about it.”
Australia’s leading hair creative Frank Apostolopoulos shares his inspirations
“The most important thing is to have an open mind and accept that there might be better ways of doing something than what you already know”
Parisian hairstylist Olivier Schawalder reveals his many creative outlets
“I love to draw, because unlike hair, it can be completely controlled and I can really go into detail.”
New York hair artist Bob Recine on the role of magic in his life and art
“The whole area of the head is my realm and domain, it’s been my fascination for a very long time.”
New York hairstylist Joey George shares his visual diary of hair
The session stylist fills scrapbooks with doodles, paintings and collages – all dedicated to hair
Asami Nemoto’s immersive art installation combines hair with light and sound
Created for Tokyo arts hub Pavilion, the Japanese session stylist’s atmospheric piece features hair-covered lanterns
Janine Ker’s hair carvings transform heads into technicolour artworks
The Californian hairstylist sculpts intricate carvings and stencils inspired by the 80s
LA hair guru Candice Birns on styling for the music industry
The hairstylist to Calvin Harris, Haim and Bastille talks trends, inspiration, and what it takes to style for the music world
In conversation with Christel Lundqvist
The award-winning colourist talks trends, colour predictions and the experience of opening her first salon
Explore genre-defying hair pieces by Nicolas Jurnjack
“I enjoy creating all kinds of hairstyles, from the simple ponytail to the most intricate and elaborate of styles.”
Meet Brick Lane’s dancing barber
Armed with nothing but a chair, boombox and willing client, his unique barbering style never fails to draw a crowd of curious onlookers
The artist sculpting her own hair into animated artworks
Ivorian artist Laetitia Ky shapes her hair into elaborate shapes, scenes and characters
In conversation with John Rawson
The former hairdresser-turned-photographer speaks to Anthony Mascolo about trading in his scissors for a camera
Session stylist Tina Outen on her colour-filled world
“My hair has started an obsession that has overtaken my life. I have become my own colour palette of expression.”
Gianni Scumaci
“A hairdresser’s job is not only to make people look good, but feel good. They fulfill a really high social function all over the world.”
Akos Bodi, European Creative Director for TIGI, reflects on his 25 years in the world of hair
"I got pretty lucky, because I fell into a world where I loved being from day one."
In conversation with Angelo Seminara
“My style is very eclectic. I like to go where people don’t usually go.”
Takayuki Shibata
Exploring the exquisite, dreamlike creations of the Tokyo hairstylist and headpiece designer Takayuki Shibata
In conversation with Sam McKnight
“Collaboration is key, I think that is the most important advice I could offer.”
The Provocateur: Inside Charlie Le Mindu’s iconoclastic world
Much has been said about the transformative power of hair, an idea truly embodied by the anarchic creations of Charlie Le Mindu
Glasgow born hairstylist Howard McLaren on culture, heritage and Antoine de Paris
The Creative Director of R+Co discusses his hair icons
Cos Sakkas: We meet TONI & GUY’s Artistic Director and Head of Education
Born in London with Cypriot roots, Cos Sakkas’s first brush with the world of hair was through trips to the local barber with his dad.
Cyndia Harvey’s love affair with hair
The London hairstylist on buzz cut love and growing up in her mum’s salon
Iggy Rosales: Talking creativity with the Hair Editor of Laud Magazine
“At primary school I used to choose my friends on the grounds of their hair!”
Holli Smith: The radical New York hairstylist talks Prince, Tumblr and favourite hair trends
Her bold, edgy style has made her a key player in the world of hair
Jake Gallagher’s world of iconic characters, bad taste and ‘ugly pretty’
The London hairstylist discusses pop-culture inspirations, hair icons and what his own hair means to him
Hairdresser Allan Hogg on why music will always be his biggest inspiration
“Hair is such an important part of expressing your identity in music"
Stockholm session stylist Rudi Lewis on why he is inspired by imperfection
Rudi Lewis on musical icons, his love of photography and the importance of collaboration
Dolled up with Dejan Cekanovic
The Stockholm based hairstylist discusses his 'Doll' Series
Jiv D on creating wearable sculptures, styling for the hair industry and why he loves latex
The stylist on trends, inspirations and what it is like to style for the hairdressing industry
The mask maker transforming faces into enigmatic artworks
We visit the studio of Muriel Nisse, who uses hair to create experimental masks and headpieces