Where: CRH Testaccio, Piazza di Santa Maria Liberatrice, 46 – 00154 Rome.
When: December 2020 – February 2021.

This exhibit, in an interdisciplinary approach, attempts to bring different worlds together by involving both literature and the visual arts. Cristina Pennacchi’s works represent, in a visual format, some of the works of authors who have unequivocally linked their narrative style and the traits of their characters to specific geographical locations and identies. By doing so, the visitor, in an imaginary journey from East to West, is led
ithrough territories that the artist percieves as theaters of activity. These theaters of activity, crystallized in images, are thus shaped and defined in order to create a tapestry of connections and meanings.
Starting with the geography, the artist, through the words of the stories, leads us to the pictorial image, to the internal emotions derived from the visual representations of the phrases within a geographical context and ultimately to a completely personal and imagined
representation. The literary journey takes place in the 20th century. Citing authors of the past ranging from Lu Xun to Guimaraes Rosa or from Tolstoy to Faulkner, and thus passing from China to Brazil or from Russia to the United States, the focus is on great literature by photographing it in the world in which it was created. By comparing the literature with the images, it would seem to be an attempt to create an ideal dialogue which overcomes spatial and temporal confines in which art, in all of its various forms, is confirmed as the protagonist.

Simona Santopaolo

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A not correct hair care routine can be the cause of hair knots. There are, however, solutions to untangle them and finally have a bright and great hair style, without stress.

Let’s see how to avoid hair knots:

• Causes of hair knots
• Solutions to prevent hair knots
• How to untangle hair knots

Hair knots: causes 

Hair full of knots? Can happen if they are dry or brittle, especially if long, frizzy and curly. Another cause is rubbing against the pillow at night. Or against clothes, especially in winter, due to the use of scarves, pullovers and hats. Some bad habits can create difficult knots to untangle, like not brushing them often, or with unsuitable combs; as well as the use of aggressive products for washing and styling. If you have split ends, or damaged hair, you could easily end up with knots at the end of the lengths. Achieving a bright, hydrated and knot-free hair is a possible goal: just follow some simple daily beauty rules.

Hair knots: solutions

First of all, use specific and quality hair products that can make the difference. Like the Hydrating Shampoo, ideal for all hair types, it has a protective action and gives softness, shine and vitality. Pair it with an equally moisturizing conditioner: the Hydrating Conditioner is designed to nourish damaged hair and obtain a healthier and shinier effect. After washing, do not rub the skin with the towel; instead, dab them gently with a microfiber cloth. Also avoid using the hair dryer for too long, or getting it too close to the scalp. 

Even hair spray, foams and fixatives can often excessively dry the hair. The advice is to limit its use, then wash and treat the hair with hydrating hair products: the ideal solution if you want to get a perfect result!

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• Brushes and combs for straight hair
• Brushes for curly and wavy hair
• Brushes for wet hair
• Hairbrushes

Brushes and combs for straight hair

For straight, long and thick hair, the most suitable brush is the wide and rectangular one with a handle, with a “disciplining” effect.

You can find it in different materials: ceramic and plastic help reduce frizz, while wooden hair brushes prevent hair from becoming electrified. If you want to dry your hair by transforming it into a cascade of waves and curls with a natural effect, the brush must be round and narrow. The smaller the brush diameter, the smaller the curl will be: particularly small dimensions are dedicated to short or medium length hair. You can also find it made of wood, ceramic, with boar bristles or metal. This version allows you to obtain more defined curls without the hateful frizz effect: use it in combination with ContestaRockHair Shine, for shiny and silky hair!

The round brush with natural bristles is perfect for combing long hair, both straight and wavy when dry. Its conformation allows to distribute the oil produced by the scalp along the entire hair, contributing to make the hair shiny. The most suitable fine hair brushes are those with wild boar bristles, capable of rebalancing the scalp and hair.

With a spherical brush, however, you can dry your hair giving it volume and a wavy shape. But it is not suitable for untying knots.

Brushes for curly and wavy hair

Among the various types of hair brushes, there are some that are suitable for curly or wavy hair, more difficult to treat than smooth hair. An example is the wide-toothed comb, perfect for being able to “open” the curls; by choosing it in wood you can cancel their electrostatic charge. A plastic brush with soft, not dense bristles is the right option to tame them, avoiding creating the “wool” effect. That, if not created specifically for specific reasons, can be somewhat unsightly. In order not to ruin your hair, always try to choose professional hair brushes and to use specific products for curls. As a Curling Shampoo and Curling Conditioner, specific to untangle and give curly hair the hydration and softness they need.

Brushes for wet hair

Which hair brushes to use in the shower?

To untie the knots, without stressing the hair, the “Tangle Teezer” brush is the most popular. The latest ones can be used for any type of hair and are also perfect for extensions, reducing the risk of breaking them. The wide tooth comb and the silicone or plastic brushes, always with wide teeth, represent the optimal solution to put on the mask or conditioner. In fact, the plastic does not absorb the product and allows you to gently massage the hair.

Hairbrushes

Choosing the right brush, in addition to protecting your style, is also the first step to creating perfect hairstyles. If you need to get a straight line, or to straighten straight hair, then you need to use a fine tooth comb. The round brush with metal roller serves instead to give volume to the fold, or to create waves, if you have straight or slightly wavy hair. Same goes for the round brush with ceramic roller: used in combination with the hair dryer, it allows you to create hairstyles in a short time. The ceramic, by overheating, is able to give support more quickly. The comb with two or more tails is the ideal ally to create more complex looks, even on curly hair, and original zigzag lines.

Hairbrushes are not all the same. Only by using the ones best suited to the characteristics of your hair, you can be sure to take care of it in the most correct way. Do not forget to clean and sanitize them regularly, to prevent the accumulation of sebum or residues of styling products from dirtying your beloved hair.

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December 1st is WORLD AIDS DAY, created in 1987 by UNAIDS, the United Nations Programme that every year produces and publishes an in-depth snapshot of the reality of the spread of the HIV virus on a global scale.Also in Italy the new diagnoses show a decrease. In 2018, for the first time, under 3000 were dropped: 2,847 reports, equal to 4.7 new cases per 100,000 residents (data from the AIDS Operations Centre). These are important advances but too slow if we really want to reach the goal of defeating AIDS by 2030, as prescribed by the UN. The youth groups (25-29 years old) remain, moreover, the most affected, with a less evident decrease in diagnosis and, even, an upward trend, from 2015, in the age group between 15 and 24 years old. Continuing to focus on prevention is, therefore, essential to really reverse the trend.

In this scenario ContestaRockHair and RUFA – Rome University of Fine Arts join forces to launch “AIDS IS NOT DEAD”: the annual campaign to raise awareness of the use of condoms that the international brand of hairstyle has been promoting since 2003 in collaboration with LILA – Lega Italiana per la lotta contro l’AIDS, a reality active for over thirty years in the field of prevention.

Now in its 16th edition, this year’s campaign finds in RUFA an exceptional partner, the Academy of Fine Arts legally recognized by MIUR that offers training in the field of art, design and communication. An unprecedented synergy that has generated the involvement of over 100 young who have given form and substance to the production of a photographic campaign aimed at spreading a message as simple as it is important: the invitation to prevention through the use of condoms as an effective means against HIV and sexually transmitted infections. “The AIDS IS NOT DEAD campaign is important because it reaffirms how much protecting sex and love makes you free,” says LILA President Massimo Oldrini, stressing the importance of using condoms as “a gesture that in its simplicity can and must be part of the intimacy of everyone, especially the youngest”.

Conceived by Alessandro Santopaolo and Massimo Bianco, artistic directors of ContestaRockHair, the campaign was carried out by the young hairstylists of the group together with the students of the third year of RUFA School of Photography, with the collaboration of Simone Belli Make Up Academy and Yellow Square. “AIDS IS NOT DEAD” is an invitation to prevention and participation, launched by young people and aimed at young people, which for the World AIDS Day will be extended to anyone who wants to lend their face.

Join us on Sunday 1st December in Rome, at RUFA Pastificio Cerere – via degli Ausoni 7. From 5.30 pm to 11 pm will take place a special happening where  you can join the photo call “Mettici La Faccia”. All the portraits produced will be published on social networks, accompanied by the hashtag #AIDSISNOTDEAD, with the intention of spreading the invitation to prevention on the web.The event will start by the speech of the President of LILA and will be animated with live performances by Flowing Chords, Jammit ft. Tahnee Rodriguez & ILovePizza and dj sets by Ricardo Baez (Tropical Animals), Pablo Lértora (Yellow Bar) and Andrea (Tonika), and Zia Rosetta cooking show. During the evening there will be a fundraiser in favour of LILA.

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Flat, fine and with little volume. Straight hair can be a real problem, especially in the winter, when they tend to get electrified because of the cold. To get perfect straight hair, many women use hair straighteners too much: but you know very well what the damages and contraindications are.

Here are all the tips by Antonella from Rome:

• do not wash your hair too often
• when it’s necessary, apply the conditioner
• how to dry straight hair
• which brushes to use
• after styling: which hair products to use
• the best cuts
• tips homemade: natural solutions

Do not wash your hair too often

It should seem trivial, but if the hair is properly washed, you have done the half work! Reducing washing is almost essential. Many people, because of sport, work and busy life, wash their hair basically every day. Not only does this increase the oily hair, but in case of fine hair, this just increases the electric effect. In case of frequent shampoos, needless to say that the product must be of excellent quality. With a quality shampoo you can have a good styling at home too. It is important to distribute the shampoo mainly on the front of the head and massage the skin vigorously, but not aggressively. The perfect shampoo for fine hair is a volumizing shampoo. Suitable for everyday use, gently cleans the hair leaving it soft and full of volume. Plant extracts revitalize and reinvigorate the hair from the roots up, strengthening it and giving it volume. Apply to wet hair massaging into the scalp, then rinse thoroughly.

When it’s necessary to apply the conditioner

It is essential only if the hair is medium or long because that is when the tangles are more frequent. Spread the product from the length to the ends with a large wide tooth comb. Leave it for a few minutes and rinse. It’s good to comb the hair gently. If the hair is not treated, it is not always necessary to use the conditioner. In any case, for each type of hair, it is always recommended to use few product and only on the lengths and ends. It is absolutely banned to distribute the conditioner on the hair skin!

Perfect conditioner
Deep strengthening conditioner restores volume and eliminates dryness from lifeless hair that tangles easily. Moisturizes, nourishes and gives hair body leaving it soft, thick and shiny. Try it!

How to dry straight hair

Another important step before starting to dry the hair is to micro fiber towel dry the excess water. In this moment the hair are particularly sensitive and fragile, so avoid rubbing them too much. The next step is to choose a smoothing and thermo-protective product, in order to protect the hair from hot sources such as the hair dryer (or, when necessary, the hair straighteners). For a shine effect, the shine is perfect. For super glossy locks and long-lasting radiance with a sleek, lightweight finish. Leaves hair clean, silky and soft to the touch. Tames unmanageable hair. Spray a small amount onto the palms of your hands and distribute over the entire length of damp hair. For particularly thick or frizzy hair, repeat operation after drying to achieve maximum shine.

Which brushes to use

Not all brushes are suitable for fine hair. Let’s see what are the best for this kind of hair:
Comb: it should be made of wood and smoothed to avoid the tearing up of the hair.
Brushes for every day: the perfect models are with boar and nylon bristles. Melt the knots smoothly and smooth the fiber, increasing the volume. Big for long hair, medium for short hair.
Styling: to support the roots it is good to use a circle brush with natural bristles. Heat the hair by directing the hair dryer under the brush and never on it.

After styling: which hair products to use

Powder: volumizing and texturizing powder to give hair body. Cleans and refreshes hair absorbing sebum from the scalp. Distribute over the roots of dry hair, massage in lightly to style and achieve instant volume.
Saltiness: No rinse spray, ideal for giving all hair types body, hold and vigor. Fresh seaweed extracts make it ideal for those nostalgic for the beach. Use at any time as a styling product after shampooing. Light hold, does not make hair feel sticky. Apply to damp or dry hair. Leave to dry naturally or blow dry using a diffuser.

The best cuts

Let’s debunk a myth: cutting more often the fine and straight hair does not strengthen the hair (unfortunately). But, of course, to maintain a right cut and shape, it’s more than right to check and arrange the hair often.
To give movement to the cut:
Respect your hair and try to collaborate with the vertigo and do not oppose your part. Try a side lock!
Fine hair has less consistency so it is better to not have them too long. Fine and long hair unfortunately do not make it! The advice is to bring the hair short and messy, even uncombed, to create more volume and movement. Short “windblown” layered look is stunning!
Avoid fringes too short, but focus on the length. Avoid layered hair.
Symmetrical and asymmetrical bob are perfect for you!

Tips homemade: natural solutions

For bright and shine hair, with some tricks, even at home you can have an excellent result:
Compresses the hair with olive oil, coconut or argan oil. Dunk only the dry splits with the oil and rest. Suitable for split ends and damaged hair.

Name: Antonella De Grande
From: Rome
Hairstylist for: 30 years
With ContestaRockHair for: 21 years
Today: she works and she is a member of the salon ContestaRockHair Roma Centocelle.
Favorite hair products: volumizing shampoo + powder

I’m connected to the ’70s: flared pants, colored lenses: the golden period of counterculture when music and creativity inspired a real revolution, also in the fashion field.

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Simone from New York revealed us how to enhance the curls without hiding them. See below what to do and what not to do:

• How to fight frizzy
• How to wash curly hair
• How to dry curly hair
• How to cut curly hair
• New York trends: the 90s are back

How to fight frizziness

Curly hair tends to get the most frizzy! It’s possible to fight the frizziness with some little tricks in our daily routine. In curly hair, the sebaceous secretion that gets produced by the scalp helps the curls keep the frizz under control. As a result, not washing your hair every day is a must! This is a suggestion that goes for any type of hair. Reducing washings even once a week, helps domesticate also the most rebellious hair. Hair should be washed only when the skin has excess of sebum. We are the ones who decide how many washes are really necessary.

How to wash curly hair

When the shampoo is emulsified and the hair is soaped, it’s very important to massage just the scalp, and it’s absolutely wrong to massage also the lengths with the shampoo. Massaging the lengths with the shampoo amplifies the frizziness of the hair. 
The conditioner should be used after the shampoo and it has the power to close the scales of the hair. Due to its form, it is able to easily untangle the knots. A good conditioner, does not only dissolves the odious knots, but also deposits substances that help eliminate the frizz.

How to dry curly hair

Just before drying your hair, it is good to use a hair cream (the hair have to be very wet). The product must almost be like an adhesive, but not sticky, to completely remove the frizz from the hair. Curling milk, for example, is a no-rinse formula designed to moisturize the hair and encourage curls thanks to the resin contained in it that gives definition, elasticity and shine. Its function is to seal the cuticles with a blend of plant extracts, oils and butters for a more healthy, nourished and smooth appearance. It lightly smooths curls without leaving any residue. Once the product has been applied, it is important to shape the curls with the fingers, favoring the direction of the curls and disfavoring the frizziness. Generally, the predisposition is to move the curls with your hands and to tighten it. However, this movement increases the frizziness and removes the cream effect. After washing the hair and applying the product, the curls should not be touched any more. Dry the hair with a diffuser and avoid modeling the curl in the drying phase, this leads to a surprising result. With these small tricks, the curls will be flat, but compact and defined. In the final phase, when the hair is completely dry, you can begin to open the curls and quickly undress the hair. Finally, the volume begins to take shape, and the frizz will disappear.

How to cut curly hair

Looking for a cut that flattens curly hair may seem like the solution to people that are afraid of volume. People are often afraid to create short scales for the fear that the hedgehog shrinks. It’s not exactly like that. Creating fairly strong scales that create volume it’s good. Curls need expression and they need space and volume; otherwise, they tend to go down and to flatten all on the top of the head.

New York trends: the 90s are back

The detached cut with a long tuft and lateral scaling: for young people with urban style.
Curly long bob: the curly hair is cut almost neatly, but has some scalings in the middle, so they can rise freely, expressing themselves in the best way, with the same line of the bob, but curly!
The messy fringe above the eyes : free the face, but keeps the curls.

Name: Simone Domizi

Age : 36
From: Rome
In ContestaRockHair from: 18 years
Today: he lives and works at ContestaRockHair New York for 7 years
Preferred products: Saltiness + Curling Milk, for a crazy effect on curls (apply the products on wet hair)
90s Curly Hair Icons: Patti Smith, Julia Roberts, Drew Barrymore

At ContestaRockhair we try to amplify natural beauty trough a change that lasts in time. Getting advice on the good technique for a cut can solve a lot of problems that every curly haired person has to confront every morning. The path we do as  stylists before starting a service, is analyzing the morphology of the clients face: eyes, mouth and chin. From there, we decide what forms to
amplify and which ones to minimize. With a targeted face and life evaluation of the client, we can change the look and, with good cares at home, keep it lasting in time. Play with curly hair, don’t hide them, but pronounce them in the right way!

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The protagonists of the project are six young hairstylists of the ContestaRockHair group: Fan, Amina, Frank, Summer, Martin, Marco.

ContestaRockHair has always involved the juniors in a continuous and rather distinctive training process through experiences both inside and outside the show. The goal is to transfer to the team not only technical and professional skills, but also administrative and managerial skills. Right here The Shanghai Junior Project develops: a work-based approach to stimulate the young minds of the brand and, at the same time, being an example for all the Contesta staff worldwide. A great little experiment that saw the protagonists of the project, from the initial drafting of the concept to the production of the materials for the realization of the shots, from the make up to the styling, up to the realization of a professional photo shooting. To support the younger throughout their path: their mentor – as well as art director – Emanuele Santopalo – make-up artists, photographers and clients, who lent themselves to the project and have actively contributed.

Emanuele Santopaolo – art director ContestaRockHair Shanghai

“I have lived in different places and I want to continue traveling, growing and experimenting with new things. In ContestaRockHair we believe that, once the cutting technique has been learned, the improvement is based more on the exploration of the world and on contact with what happens on the streets, in art galleries or on the catwalks; that’s how you can put something personal in what you do. “

Make-up artists and the photographer Nicholas May:

The course has been divided into three meetings. The students were focused on observing and exploring everything that fashion and urban style have proposed over recent years: hairstyle, materials, accessories, colors and trends. The target has been to look for the style and materials to recreate, rework and use during the final shots, through the help of fashion and industry magazines, catwalk, exhibitions, cinema, books, street style and any other form possible inspiration. Discover and select the most innovative trends that the fashion world has produced in recent years, not only in the hairstyling industry, but also in photography, fashion and art. Not just hair, not just technique, cutting and coloring, but also art, photography, cultural exchange, music and social commitment. The final stage of the course saw the juniors in action for the realization of the shots. A low-budget project that saw the guys create the set with their own hands, containing cost and striving to create the final shoot.

An initiative born from the bottom, therefore, that has managed to balance the relationship between theory and practice: a result that has exceeded expectations and now is finally online:

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During the month of December #AIDSISNOTDEAD CONDOMS will be distributed in all ContestaRockHair salons worldwide, and all the funds collected will be donated to LILA – Italian League for Fighting against AIDS. In addition, from this year you can also donate online via Contestarockhair social pages and website.

All the people who will contribute to the fundraising will be also invited to our PHOTO CALL to be AIDS IS NOT DEAD testimonial:

1. Grab a condom and take a selfie
2. Share your pic with hashtag #AIDSISNOTDEAD
3. Tag your friends and ask them to do the same

DONATE NOW – CLICK HERE

To avoid infection from sexual diseases, condoms remain our only allied. Unfortunately, the question is not so simple: cultural barriers, prejudices and misinformation make condoms still a taboo. Therefore, this campaign gives us the chance to see how free we can be through the naturalness of a gesture that is part of our intimacy.

LILA – National Onlus recognized worldwide has been at the forefront since 1987 on the topic of HIV prevention, as well as one of the first companies to talk about condoms in the media. It deals with the prevention of the spread of HIV, offers support and services to people with HIV or AIDS, their families and all those involved; protect the rights of people with HIV or AIDS; develops awareness campaigns and health education for the entire population and promotes a culture of solidarity against all forms of intolerance and social exclusion.

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A happening to celebrate the book signed by roman photographer Matteo Casilli, dedicated to the visual narration of Italian music, expressed through black and white portraits of the artists involved. An alternative representation: intimate, introspective, deep, the looks of the artists captured by Casilli reveal every emotion in its naturalness.

This composition of shots, turned into a real installation, will be the set for the upcoming “Secret Shows” in which the musicians of the Italian indie, rock and pop scene will perform.

The new project will start in September 2018, proposing a series of events at ContestaRockHair’s Salons in Rome and Florence where the fusion between art and music will take place.

The MUSICIAN project is sponsored by NASTRO AZZURRO, the well-known premium Italian beer.

Watch the video report of the launch event:

 Click here to see the photogallery!

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The 20th and 21st of July is going to be the best weekend of Rock music!

ContestaRockHair will be guest of Rockin’1000 at the Rock Village / Artemio Franchi Stadium in Florence: more than 1000 musicians, the biggest rock band in the world in concert, with special guest Miss Courtney Love!

Two days to live the concerts and be the protagonist of the Cutting Live Show by ContestaRockHair: a real interactive performance of hair styling to the rhythm of music.

For this event we will surprise you with an innovative Cutting Live Show together with L’Oréal Professionnel’s ColorFul Hair Flash. Inside the village, the brand and partner L’Oréal Professionnel are ready to change everyone’s look. For all visitors of the event, it will be possible to access the village for free and live a unique experience.

«Our job is made up of meetings and contaminations – tell us the creative directors of ContestaRockHair, Alessandro Santopaolo and Massimo Bianco – our partnership with L’Oréal Professionnel is a constant input for us to tell the world our point of view about urban lifestyle».

Join Us ► https://goo.gl/2p7YHL

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