Bob Recine. Alchemy of Beauty

The man behind some of the most avant-garde hairdos and head dresses worn by Lady Gaga, Recine has taken hair styling to incredibly creative heights-often literally, as he propels the braids and locks of his subjects into gravity-defying contours, augmenting them with sculptural gestures such as clumps of headphones or sunglasses, tendrils of Play-Doh and complex meshes of wire or cellophane. Starting out as an artist, Recine secured a project creating hairstyles and head ornaments for the windows of Henri Bendel. His designs caught the eye of world-renowned hair stylist Jean Louis David, who offered him the opportunity to travel to Paris and hone his craft; four years later, Recine returned to New York, armed with a portfolio of innovative stylings for top photographers and magazines. Today Recine is a legend among A-list celebrities, having worked with Gwyneth Paltrow, Charlize Theron,