Adler Salon owner Hailey Ann Bruno styles models in New York and Paris
Peru hairstylist Hailey Ann Bruno worked backstage at both fashion capitals this fall, facing strict time limits and high-stress touchups.
By John Wilson ·
Hailey Ann Bruno, owner of Adler Salon in Peru, recently returned from working backstage at New York and Paris fashion weeks. Her first morning began at 5:30 a.m. when models filed in. Two arrived late and were turned away immediately. Bruno realized the stakes were high. “Oh, we’re in it,” she thought. “We are in it now.”
Bruno has worked in the hair industry since she was a child. Her grandmother, Jeanette Tomsha, has styled hair since the 1980s, and Bruno grew up around the salon. She enrolled in beauty school after her grandfather George passed away. She fell in love with the work while wrapping perms. In 2022, she was invited to work in New York and Paris but turned it down. She lacked confidence. A social media contact changed her mind, and she accepted the invitation for this year’s events.
Backstage operations were tightly controlled. Bruno’s kit was sponsored by Ref Stockholm. Stylists had about 20 minutes per model. Supplies like pins and hairspray were rationed because models moved between shows quickly. In Paris, call times started at 8 a.m. and days lasted 14 hours. In New York, two shows allowed for a break back at the hotel. Bruno served on the touchup team stationed near the runway.
One model in a skin-tight wedding dress turned around with a broken bun. The model was taller than Bruno. Bruno told her to sit, but the dress prevented it. Bruno had 20 seconds to repin the bun and secure the veil while walking the model to the runway. “You learn how to problem-solve really, really quickly,” she said.
The two cities offered different styles. New York looks could be wild. Paris styles were chic and elevated. Bruno worked with different agencies in each location. She saw more shows in Paris. Some projects were difficult. Designers occasionally had hair visions that did not match the clothing. One job required anchoring 10-pound crowns into intricate braids. “It’ll be fine,” she said. “It’s only for a few seconds.”
Bruno views hair as art. She believes it affects how people see themselves and their confidence. “You can completely change everything that you feel about yourself just by changing your hair,” she said. Her Instagram account grew after the trips. Jason Derulo reshared one of her styles.
Back at Adler Salon on 4110 Progress Blvd., Bruno deals with some imposter syndrome. The attention from the fashion weeks has pushed her to find new ways to make standard styles hold better. She says the runways taught her that anyone can do the work. “You just have to take the jump and do it scared and jump in with both feet and figure it out,” she said. “There is no failure.”
Bruno plans to apply for Milan next, partly because she wants to see Italy. London and Dubai are also possibilities. Her long-term dream is to work backstage at the Victoria’s Secret fashion show. “I’m definitely hooked on Fashion Week,” she said. “The adrenaline rush is crazy.”
