SHARE THIS
THE VIOLET FILES
FILED UNDER
VIOLET LOOKS

VIOLET LOOK:

bombshell  
waves

Editorial hairstylist David von Cannon creates touchable, unapologetically sexy hair for Sara Sampaio’s Screen Test.

Written ByYING CHU

Photography ByBEN HASSETT

Makeup BySAM VISSER

Hair ByDAVID VON CANNON

Styled ByVANESSA CHOW

Nails ByMAKI SAKAMOTO

THE ARTIST

David von Cannon | @davidvoncannon

THE FACE

Sara Sampaio | Model | @sarasampaio

THE INSPIRATION

With a flair for the dramatic, bigger-is-better Hollywood hair makes its revival, shown here on model Sara Sampaio.

bombshell
waves

BY david von cannon

STARRING by Ted Gibson - Shooting Star Texture Meringue
Shop Now

1

/

4

THE PREP

Von Cannon applied mousse, about a golf ball size dose at a time, and ran it through Sampaio’s damp hair from root to tip. Then, he rough-dried it with a blowdryer, using his fingers—no brush.

STARRING by Ted Gibson
Shooting Star Texture Meringue
Shop Now
T3 - SinglePass Curl 1.25” Curling Iron White & Rose Gold
Shop Now

2

/

4

THE SET

Next, it was all about an old-school set: He wrapped ½-inch sections of hair around a 1-inch curling iron, then pinned the warm curls to her head and let them cool. That, he explains, is key for achieving unapologetically voluptuous waves that last.

T3
SinglePass Curl 1.25” Curling Iron
White & Rose Gold
Shop Now
- Missing/Discontinued ORI-AS-IMP-68Z-BLK
Shop Now

3

/

4

THE VOLUME

Once the hair cooled, von Cannon removed the pin curls and brushed out the curls—a lot. (Keep brushing if the curls have too much spring in them. Those with fine texture will need a few extra passes to get hair to the right bounce level.) Once he was satisfied with the waves, he parted Sampaio’s hair and misted all over with Oribe Imperméable Anti-Humidity Hairspray. To control flyaways in spots—around the part or hairline—he sprayed the brush with hairspray then ran it through her waves.

Missing/Discontinued ORI-AS-IMP-68Z-BLK
Shop Now
Shu Uemura Art of Hair - Essence Absolue Nourishing Protective Oil
Shop Now

4

/

4

THE GLOSS

As a final touch, von Cannon added a nourishing oil to the ends of Sampaio’s hair to calm down frizz and boost shine. He warmed a bit in the palms of his hands then glided it over her hair. “The next day the texture will loosen, it will change, it will feel more natural,” says von Cannon. To revive it, he recommends applying Oribe Gold Lust Dry Shampoo at the roots then brushing it through. “I love letting textures evolve.”

Shu Uemura Art of Hair
Essence Absolue Nourishing Protective Oil
Shop Now
ARTIST STATS

Name: David von Cannon
Known For: An effortless tousle
Where to Find Him: New York

Clients: Gisele Bündchen, Saoirse Ronan, Scarlett Johansson
Years in the Industry: 17
Instagram: @davidvoncannon 

Beauty Essential: Playa Ritual Hair Oil
Agent: Nicole Keshishian @ SWA

There are countless reasons you book editorial hairstylist David von Cannon for a job, but at the top of the list: Gisele waves. Indeed, von Cannon regularly tends to the Brazilian supermodel’s hair, but more than that, he has a gift for bringing out the best in anyone’s natural texture, transforming it into lived-in, rumpled just-so, perfect imperfection. Hence: Gisele waves. 


A North Carolina native, von Cannon moved to Los Angeles at 19 to train at the Vidal Sassoon Hair Academy in Santa Monica then landed as an assistant at Chris McMillan’s Salon shortly thereafter. He honed his hairdressing skills apprenticing McMillan and Andy LeCompte in LA, as well as fashion world hair legends Didier Malige and Luigi Murenu in New York, learning to navigate celebrity red carpet work, Milanese runways, and Vogue shoots through the years. 

In many ways, von Cannon’s styling aesthetic matches his presence on set: easy, unpretentious and always showcasing good taste. It’s no wonder he remains a longtime favorite for cover shoots (recent highlights include Elle, InStyle and The Face), fashion campaigns and a steady roster of It Girls and Hollywood icons—all coveting his signature tousle.