5 Minutes With: Laura Polko

5 Minutes With: Laura Polko

5 MINUTES WITH: LAURA POLKO

5 Minutes With: Laura Polko

5 MINUTES WITH: LAURA POLKO

Interviewed By: Nateisha Scott

5 Minutes With: Laura Polko

Interviewed By: Nateisha Scott

Hollywood’s go-to hairstylist, Laura Polko, is the face behind some of the most iconic looks you’ve seen grace the red carpets and star in campaigns. Styling the tresses of Gigi & Bella Hadid, Priyanka Chopra, Rosie Huntington Whitely and many more, Laura is the knowledgeable hair connoisseur that will keep your looks modern, exciting and edgy.

NS: What products are you currently obsessed with?

Laura Polko: Sunbum, their whole hair line is incredible! I also love the NatureLab Tokyo’s Repair Mask.

NS: Your trustee in-flight essentials?

LP: 111SKIN sheet masks, even if I look crazy it’s an essential to keep my skin from drying out on the plane.

NS: Any essential skincare for the road?

LP: 111SKIN’s Rose Gold Radiance Booster and Hyaluronic Acid – my classic duo.

NS: What inspires the looks you create?

LP: What sparks my creativity is either the person’s overall vibe or the vibe they are going for.

ROSE GOLD RADIANCE BOOSTER

SUB-ZERO DE-PUFFING EYE MASK

HYALURONIC ACID AQUA BOOSTER

ROSE GOLD BRIGHTENING FACIAL TREATMENT MASK

NS: Tips for different hair types?

LP: Evenly distribute the RIGHT products throughout the hair for effective results. The more hair you have the more you have to go section by section – take your time.

NS: A product you would take on a desert island?

LP: Maybelline Great Lash Mascara - it’s a classic!

NS: Your backstage hair secrets?

LP: Watch everyone’s way of doing hair. Backstage is the best place to learn!

NS: Favourite styles to create?

LP: Sexy cool wavy hair

NS: Number 1 rule for hair styling?

LP: Don’t try and talk anyone into something they won’t feel comfortable in.

NS: Number 1 rule for looking after your hair?

LP: What you put in your body comes out in your hair, skin and nails!!! So, implement Omega 3s and green juices!!

NS: Now without too much thought, do you prefer minimal & natural or polished?

LP: Minimal

NS: Up do’s or down?

LP: Down

NS: Straight or wavy?

LP: Depends

NS: Favourite hairstyle to re-create?

LP: Gigi Hadid’s 2018 Met Gala look.

NS: An iconic style to have its ‘moment’ again?

LP: Anything Bardot

NS: Working with Luxury or affordable product?

LP: A mix of both!! Don’t discredit affordable products, sometimes they’re the best ones.

Shop mask

SUB-ZERO DE-PUFFING ENERGY FACIAL MASK

SUB-ZERO DE-PUFFING ENERGY FACIAL MASK

SUB-ZERO DE-PUFFING EYE MASK

SUB-ZERO DE-PUFFING EYE MASK

SUB-ZERO DE-PUFFING EYE MASK

CELESTIAL BLACK DIAMOND LIFTING AND FIRMING TREATMENT MASK

ROSE GOLD BRIGHTENING FACIAL TREATMENT MASK

ROSE GOLD BRIGHTENING FACIAL TREATMENT MASK

ROSE GOLD ILLUMINATING EYE MASK

ROSE GOLD ILLUMINATING EYE MASK

Y THEOREM BIO CELLULOSE FACIAL MASK

Y THEOREM BIO CELLULOSE FACIAL MASK

ANTI BLEMISH BIO CELLULOSE FACIAL MASK

ANTI BLEMISH BIO CELLULOSE FACIAL MASK

SEASONAL MASTER-MASKING

SEASONAL MASTER-MASKING

Hollywood’s go-to hairstylist, Laura Polko, is the face behind some of the most iconic looks you’ve seen grace the red carpets and star in campaigns. Styling the tresses of Gigi & Bella Hadid, Priyanka Chopra, Rosie Huntington Whitely and many more, Laura is the knowledgeable hair connoisseur that will keep your looks modern, exciting and edgy.

NS: What products are you currently obsessed with?

Laura Polko: Sunbum, their whole hair line is incredible! I also love the NatureLab Tokyo’s Repair Mask.

NS: Your trustee in-flight essentials?

LP: 111SKIN sheet masks, even if I look crazy it’s an essential to keep my skin from drying out on the plane.

NS: Any essential skincare for the road?

LP: 111SKIN’s Rose Gold Radiance Booster and Hyaluronic Acid – my classic duo.

NS: What inspires the looks you create?

LP: What sparks my creativity is either the person’s overall vibe or the vibe they are going for.

ROSE GOLD RADIANCE BOOSTER

SUB-ZERO DE-PUFFING EYE MASK

HYALURONIC ACID AQUA BOOSTER

ROSE GOLD BRIGHTENING FACIAL TREATMENT MASK

NS: Tips for different hair types?

LP: Evenly distribute the RIGHT products throughout the hair for effective results. The more hair you have the more you have to go section by section – take your time.

NS: A product you would take on a desert island?

LP: Maybelline Great Lash Mascara - it’s a classic!

NS: Your backstage hair secrets?

LP: Watch everyone’s way of doing hair. Backstage is the best place to learn!

NS: Favourite styles to create?

LP: Sexy cool wavy hair

NS: Number 1 rule for hair styling?

LP: Don’t try and talk anyone into something they won’t feel comfortable in.

NS: Number 1 rule for looking after your hair?

LP: What you put in your body comes out in your hair, skin and nails!!! So, implement Omega 3s and green juices!!

NS: Now without too much thought, do you prefer minimal & natural or polished?

LP: Minimal

NS: Up do’s or down?

LP: Down

NS: Straight or wavy?

LP: Depends

NS: Favourite hairstyle to re-create?

LP: Gigi Hadid’s 2018 Met Gala look.

NS: An iconic style to have its ‘moment’ again?

LP: Anything Bardot

NS: Working with Luxury or affordable product?

LP: A mix of both!! Don’t discredit affordable products, sometimes they’re the best ones.

SHOP MAsKs

SUB-ZERO DE-PUFFING ENERGY FACIAL MASK

SUB-ZERO DE-PUFFING ENERGY FACIAL MASK

SUB-ZERO DE-PUFFING EYE MAS

SUB-ZERO DE-PUFFING EYE MASK

CELESTIAL BLACK DIAMOND LIFTING AND FIRMING TREATMENT MASK

CELESTIAL BLACK DIAMOND LIFTING AND FIRMING TREATMENT MASK

ROSE GOLD BRIGHTENING FACIAL TREATMENT MASK

ROSE GOLD BRIGHTENING FACIAL TREATMENT MASK

ROSE GOLD ILLUMINATING EYE MASK

ROSE GOLD ILLUMINATING EYE MASK

Y THEOREM BIO CELLULOSE FACIAL MASK

Y THEOREM BIO CELLULOSE FACIAL MASK

ANTI BLEMISH BIO CELLULOSE FACIAL MASK

ANTI BLEMISH BIO CELLULOSE FACIAL MASK

SEASONAL MASTER-MASKING

SEASONAL MASTER-MASKING

If you were to advise a London guide, what would be on your list?

Well, As I grew up in Notting Hill, it will always have my heart and if I was recommending spots in London, a wander around Notting Hill would be high up on my list. From there it would be all the best shopping destinations, the iconic private members club, Annabels, Harrods and Liberty’s for any cute and unique gifts. I would always pop into 111CRYO at Harrods for the Cryo Facial and treatment for the ultimate recharge. Sometimes the city is great, but the beautiful secrets of the English countryside is something that should be experienced.

Your In-Flight Essentials?

I don’t have a routine per say and I am certainly not as thorough as Naomi Campbell but I would apply the Meso Infusion Lip Duo and I would always wipe my phone down with anti-bacterial wipes, in fact I do this every day, the bacteria build up is no good for the skin.

In terms of Industry, where do you see the hair industry going?

Well Instagram has changed so much and has impacted the way we consume and learn within the industry, especially with so many creatives, but I still find that a massive amount of people come to the professionals to share the knowledge on how to carry out or complete a desired look, more than ever there is power behind ‘how-to’ videos.

A very valid point and in terms of 2020?

In terms of what we are to see in 2020, things are going to be super creative and we will see a wider awareness for people doing their own thing and it will be expressive and artistic. People will move away from the overtly glamorous looks and will create looks they can tailor to their everyday. As it’s currently Award Season which is the busiest time of the year leading up to the Met Ball, hairstyles are certainly more elaborate, and everyone loves an up do. I would say the most timeless look has to be the blunt bob, it comes around year on year, but it is effortless and timeless.

Outside of hair, what other industries are you into?

I am hugely into Interiors and I would describe my style as 60s/70s glamour, think elaborate and dramatic but I often fantasise about 80s Dallas and Joan Collins and I have to reign myself in. I also love Baking; it is the ultimate way to relax and I find that it is my meditation and therapy. If I’m in the USA I would bake a lot of cookies as everyone is obsessed with then over here and in the UK, I would bake more traditional styles like a lemon tart or an apple tart – it allows for me to be creative outside of my job.

Finally, the best advice you have ever received?

It would have to be from my grandfather, he would often say to me “it’s not how well you’re doing but how well people think you’re doing”. I haven’t successfully implemented it however you can look to Instagram today and people see our work and are blown away by it, but we can be so hard on ourselves and not appreciate our own work ourselves.