“I change color, shape or crease and it also changes the way I feel.” Interview with Ciocchette, the Y2K wizard of colored extensions
Often, in Under The Beauty Radar and more generally on nss G-Club, we carry out a critical vision of beauty on social media. Let's analyze some of its dynamics, some mechanisms and some easy enthusiasm. The one for Beatrice Pavan, aka Ciocchette, however, is more than a passing love. His aesthetic, made up of colored extensions, Y2K references and free experimentation, tells a personal way of experiencing hair as a tool of identity and creativity. We interviewed the queen of Y2K colored extensions, who presented herself as follows: “I studied to become a make-up artist and hair stylist and three years ago I moved to Milan to pursue that dream. But at the same time, I always wanted to create something of my own. Hair, in particular, has always been my language: it is a passion that has accompanied me since I was a child and that, over time, has become the center of my work. One day I painted an old lock of extensions for myself, without imagining that that small personal project would later become something to share with everyone.” And where, if not on social media? This is what he told us.
Interview with Ciocchette, Y2K hair extension wizard
How would you define your visual style in three words?
A mix between chaotic, cunty, chameleon.
Where does your passion for hair come from?
I think I've always had it. As a child, I was crazy about the colored extensions that were in fashion between 2010 and 2013, and I always wanted to have one applied by the hairdresser. For me, hair has always been the most immediate way to express who I am. I change color, shape or crease and the way I feel also changes: it's as if I build a new version of myself every time, my little avatar. In the meantime, I have also always been the friend who used to make hair all the time: dyes, cuts, bleaches...
What inspires you when you create Chocolettes?
I let myself be guided a lot by the moment and by what I feel. Every time, almost without realizing it, I repeat the same small ritual: I sit on the floor, prepare the table with the colors, put on some music and start. From there I don't think too much: I let my instinct do the rest.
Tell us the names of stars and pop stars you'd like to have on your roster.
Christina Aguilera, Kesha and Avril Lavigne. I would say that they are my mothers in this world: they were among the icons that made me discover and love the way in which hair accessories and colored locks could become a true form of personal expression.
Do you feel more like a content creator or a hair stylist?
First of all, I feel like a hair stylist. In reality, I believe that this is precisely the starting point: the Chocolettes were born from my work and my passion for hair, and only as a consequence did the content part arrive. I have always been behind the scenes of this world and perhaps precisely for this reason, experiencing this most exposed part for the first time is giving me great satisfaction. What has happened so far, even if it may seem like little, for me has been something very big and unexpected. Obviously I hope for growth, because I believe that the world of content can be a great springboard for my work. The best thing was to receive so many private messages from girls* who were passionate about my project. So far I have received only so much positive support and this pushes me to continue.
How does it work when a brand commissions you a job? How does the creative process take place?
Being a project born of my creativity, I always try to keep a very personal part of my work: my shades, my colors and my style. Obviously I listen to the customer's needs and ideas and then we try to work them out together, so as to create a product that is in line with what they want, that feels comfortable to wear, but that at the same time always has the identity of the Chocolette. The customer does not always need to create a chocolate from scratch: through the renting service they can choose ready-made products. One of the best things for me is to see how the Ciocchetta itself can change completely depending on who wears it and the context in which it is used. Each person brings their own vision, and I really like to see how an idea born by me can turn into something personal for someone else.
When you create for yourself and not for a customer, how does your approach change?
When I paint for myself, I maintain the same approach that I have always had: it must be a moment of freedom and fun. I decided to never miss that carefree part, because that's where my creativity comes from. Obviously when I work for a client there are needs to be respected and an idea to develop together, but even then I always try to leave a part of myself in the project. For me it is important that painting remains a pleasure and does not become just an execution.
Two hair trends that you like and two that you hate?
I don't like trends in general. I have the impression that, at times, they make us forget our individuality: they start to tell us what is good, what is ugly and how we should be. I believe that style should be born from the freedom to express oneself, not from the desire to look alike and follow a fashion.
What does it mean to be creative today?
For me, being creative today means being in love with what you are doing, without too many rules. The most important thing is the space we give ourselves to experiment, to make mistakes and to follow our instincts. Creativity is an adventure: you have to have the courage to face it, but it's also one of the best things there is.