In Conversation
with Uli Wissel

“When did you get home last night?” I ask.
” Half past one,” Uli smiles with no exhaustion in her voice. We had just finished the ‘Summer in the Hair’ production for Maison Ë the day before. Uli wasn’t just the hair artist for the shoot—she played a pivotal role in every aspect of the production. And it seems like that is always the case with her. “It’s not about control,” she clarifies, “but about taste. Over time you develop an eye. People trust that—they invite me into the full creative process.”

Her aesthetic stands apart—timeless, modern, and deeply human. “I’ve never been interested in artifice or over-styling. Even when maximalism was trending, I stayed with a more natural, understated approach. It’s always been my language.”

From Sculpting Clay to Sculpting Faces
Wissel’s creative roots are as grounded as her philosophy. Raised in a family of sculptors, she learned proportion and form as a child. “My father taught me to draw from a young age,” she recalls. Later, she studied art and was discovered as a model in Paris—a path that led her to Tokyo and across Europe. “But sitting in makeup chairs, I saw something else: this, too, was sculpture. Working with faces and hair means shaping with your hands—just like in the studio.”

Determined to master the foundations, she trained classically in hairdressing. “Before you break the rules, you have to know them. I wanted the full technical base—that’s simply who I am.” After her training as a hairdresser she started to work with the biggest photographers, magazines, and brands around the world, and never looked back. That was 40 years ago, and when you talk to her, it’s clear she has no intention of slowing down anytime soon.

The Intimacy of Authentic Beauty
In an era where fashion often flirts with indecision, Uli champions clarity. “It’s not about volume or noise—it’s about vision. You sense immediately when a team is aligned. There’s a quiet certainty when everyone knows where they’re heading.”

Her work is never about masking her subjects. “I want to reveal the person—to bring out their presence, not disguise it. True beauty lies in authenticity.”

Rooted in Nature, Driven by Curiosity
Although her work takes her around the world, Uli remains rooted in nature. She lives by a lake at the foot of the Alps, surrounded by animals, wildflowers, and mountain air. “I grew up on a mountain farm. Nature keeps me grounded.”

When her husband—once a documentary filmmaker—wanted to settle in Munich and pivot to creating an organic market, she played a key role in shaping it into a beloved local gem, blending fresh, natural produce with thoughtfully curated interiors. All while pursuing her career and traveling the world. “It’s not just a store—it’s an experience. Flowers, vintage furniture, a bistro, even a small beer garden.”

Managing such a diverse life requires intention. “I care for my energy carefully: a clean diet, herbal supplements, mountain sports, swimming in the lake, and long hours reading.” Her taste in the written word is wide-ranging—a balance of novels, political writing, science, and biography. One recent favorite? The Order of Time by Carlo Rovelli.

Endless Evolution
For Uli Wissel, creativity is lifelong motion. “The moment you stop learning, you stop growing,” she reflects. “Curiosity is everything.”

In an industry so often driven by spectacle, Uli offers something rare: a quiet mastery anchored in authenticity. She’s a behind-the-scenes legend and a radiant presence—someone every creative should have the joy of working with at least once.