Tom spotted Georgia Moot on the runway at Helmut Lang, hair four feet long and teased all the way out. Even after he got back to the ITG offices, he couldn’t stop talking about it. “I think she has the most beautiful hair in the industry right now,” he gushed, miming poorly the impressive volume it took up around her face. Is it the length? The curls? The fact that it’s red? Whatever it is, it works—Georgia stands out. We emailed the British model to find out everything she uses to keep her hair so healthy in between shows and stylings. Turns out she’s a haircare expert in more ways than one.

“I studied sociology at university, and wrote my dissertation on diversity in the fashion industry. Because I work in fashion, it felt like a natural choice of topic. I focused specifically on black hair, and interviewed a bunch of hairstylists about it. Afro hair is often quite fragile, and mistreatment can be devastating. I've heard countless stories from other models who've had their hair messed up, who've been the last one in the styling seat because no one wanted to do their hair, and who have been branded as ‘difficult’ because they’ve tried to advise stylists. And it’s happened to me too—I had someone trying to cornrow my hair tell me how much easier it is to do on caucasian hair, and I’ve had my hair sworn at because there was ‘too much of it.’ I think the issue comes when someone who’s inexperienced with black hair goes ahead with confidence, assuming they know what they’re doing. Not all curly or afro hair is the same, and what works for one set of curls won't work for all.

The general consensus among the hairstylists I spoke to was that if you can’t do black hair, you can’t call yourself a hairstylist—you’re a ‘caucasian hairstylist.’ Of course, everyone has to start somewhere—the best hair happens when experienced hairstylists ask me what works for my hair or how I would achieve a certain look if I were doing it on my own. When you combine that with professional training, it always results in a great job.

Many brands have taken steps to encourage diversity, and I think that there has generally been progress. The majority of my experiences with my hair in the fashion industry have been very positive, and those negative experiences do a major disservice to the majority of hairstylists who are unbelievably great at their job. Mostly, my hair is celebrated—the texture and volume can be used to create so many amazing hairstyles.

People always assume my hair care routine is a million hours long—nope! I’ve actually managed to whittle it down to 15 minutes in the shower. I use a sulfate-free shampoo once a week to clarify my hair and remove buildup. My favorites are from Cantu and Briogeo. Then, I use a silicone-free conditioner to detangle. The ones from The Mane Choice and Cantu are thick and have a lot of slip. If I’ve shampooed it that day I’ll use a Tangle Teezer, but usually I just section it and detangle with my fingers. I find that detangling helps with giving my curls definition.

I apply styling products when my hair is soaking wet. I always use a curl cream or a leave-in conditioner to moisturize. I love Boots brand curl cream if you’re reading from the UK, or Curl Junkie Smoothing Lotion in the US. Then I put on a gel, the one from Eco Styler or the Kinky Curly Curling Custard, to define. I squeeze out the excess water and put it in a microfiber towel to dry—I don’t use any heat on my hair. I also use Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair once every two weeks. It’s a protein deep treatment, and it really helps my hair stay healthy!”

—as told to ITG

Look 1: Top and sandals from Altuzarra. Pants from Sea NY. Jewelry from Prounis.
Look 2: Tank and skirt from Altuzarra. Jacket from Sandy Liang. Jewelry from Sapir Bachar. Sandals from Phillip Lim.
Look 3: Knits from Live the Process. Jewelry from Ursa Major. Hair clips from Finerrings.
Look 4: Dress from Marina Moscone. Jewelry from J Hannah.
Look 5: Jacket and jewelry from Chanel. Tank from Redone. Pants from Ralph Lauren.
Look 6: Top from Ulla Johnson. Jeans from Bsides. Hat from Ganni.

Photographed by Tom Newton. Styled by Brie Welch. Hair by Adlena Dignam. Makeup by Mimi Quiquine.