Style Inspiration: Faces Of The Table by Ben Wells

My collection, Faces Around The Table, is set in the world of an underground poker game. It is gritty, intimate, and full of tension. The kind of room where the air is thick with smoke, the drinks are strong, and everyone has something to prove.

The inspiration comes from the idea that it is never just about cards. It is about character. Ego, confidence, fear and control. Each seat at the table tells a different story, and every image feels like a moment taken from a larger narrative.

Hair is the key storytelling element. The looks are sharp but lived in, refined but not overworked. Each style reflects the personality of the character, from controlled and precise to slightly undone and unpredictable. The wardrobe draws on an Australian sharpie influence, with each look personalised to feel real and individual.

The shoot is driven by movement and emotion, capturing interaction, confrontation and quiet moments. At its core, Faces Around The Table is about people, their tension, their stories, and how hair can define identity within a single frame.

Hair and Director: Ben Wells, Photographer: James Latter, Model: Shaggy Knees, Make Up: Gabriella Testa, Styling: Ben Wells

ABOVE: Soft mullet shape built around the natural curl. Curl cream and mousse were used to enhance texture and create a relaxed, lived in finish with personality.

Hair and Director: Ben Wells, Photographer: Reece Foster, Model: Shaggy Knees, Make Up: Gabriella Testa, Styling: Ben Wells

ABOVE: Hair was styled with a curling wand, then pinned to create a controlled shape and movement. An undercut taken to skin creates a soft mohawk effect and adds contrast.

Hair and Director: Ben Wells, Photographer: James Latter, Model: Mo Yousef, Make Up: Gabriella Testa, Styling: Ben Wells

ABOVE: A clean fade through the sides. The top was combed out with an afro comb to build volume and shape, then refined and detailed with clippers.

Hair and Director: Ben Wells, Photographer: James Latter, Model: Alex Bunting, Make Up: Gabriella Testa, Styling: Ben Wells

ABOVE: Cut entirely with scissors to shape and define each curl. Styled with curl cream and mousse, with the base of the fringe slightly straightened to create a subtle ledge and added structure.

Hair and Director: Ben Wells, Photographer: James Latter, Model: Lachlan O’neall, Make Up: Gabriella Testa, Styling: Ben Wells

ABOVE: Precise clipper work creates pattern through the sides, with scissor work through the top for movement. Clip in extensions were razored to blend seamlessly and create a natural, slightly undone finish.

Hair and Director: Ben Wells, Photographer: James Latter, Alex Wells, Make Up: Gabriella Testa, Styling: Ben Wells

ABOVE: Sharp low taper through the sides. Blow dried and styled to achieve a clean, lived in finish that feels refined without being overworked.