by Colleen
How our hair looks and how we style it seems to be our first foray into the world of beauty. Before ever touching a mascara wand, we are already styling our hair like our friends or growing it way down our backs, which is derigeur if you are presently in middle school. (permed like a poodle if you grew up in the 80’s). Which points to the importance we attach to our manes and even how it defines us.
When I was modeling I spent hours in large velcro curlers in order to coax some volume into my straight, fine hair. (often times sitting in hotel breakfast rooms with them on-I got used to the stares from the other guests!) So when I launched myself into the world of beauty and became a makeup artist I assumed I could leave the hair styling to those fabulous hair dressers I’d met over the years as a model. I was wrong… in fact to be a successful makeup artist in Miami you need to also be able to style hair. ( In NY, Paris and other large markets this is not the case) Armed with only the training I may have garnered by watching other hair stylists, I jumped in and started styling hair as best I could. It’s HARD! Everyone has different hair textures, lengths, haircuts and there is no one secret product for everyone. But over the years, after much trial and error and tips from other stylists, I am confident in styling hair for photoshoots. I’d like to share with you some things I’ve learned, the styling products that I can’t live without and a few tips that will make your own hairstyling easier.
Tip 1- Don’t fight your natural hair texture! Ok on a photoshoot I am not always so lucky and have to curl stick straight hair into bouncy curls that must outlast the salty sea winds, or straighten naturally curly hair and outsmart the frizz causing humidity! But if you find a haircut that suits your hair texture than your hair styling will be a breeze. For me that’s the bob-perfect for fine, straight hair lacking volume.
Tip 2- Invest in a good blow dryer! And don’t stop drying until your hair is COMPLETELY dry! If you stop before it’s really dry it will continue on it’s natural texture path, which may mean frizz, puffiness or limpness depending. A blast of cool air when you are finished will help lock in your style. Keep the nozzle of the hair dryer pointing downwards. This will keep the hair smooth and eliminate frizz. Of course if you are blessed with lovely curls or texture, let it air dry. My dryer of choice: Super Solano
Tip 3 – I hate working with dirty hair but with that said, if you are planning an up-do (chignon, french twist, ponytail etc.) dirty hair holds the style longer. I have a favorite product right now that adds texture to fine hair but also does wonders to help hold up-dos (you need some texture for the pins to hold on to) : Oribe’s Dry Texturizing spray
Tip 4 – If your hair won’t hold a curl past your coffee break, try mousse. I know, mousse is so 90’s, but mousse applied mid-shaft down will add some strength to fine, limp hair and your curls will last longer. My mousse of choice is Living Proof Full thickening mousse
Tip 5 – Sea salt Spray is wonderful IF your hair looks great after a day at the beach, if not you will just end up with straw hair! Sea salt spray or beach spray is a very popular product but I have found many of them sticky and if your hair doesn’t form into that lovely wavy texture when you go to the beach than it won’t do it with a sea salt spray either! Spray onto damp hair and let hair air dry or curl hair into waves and when completely cooled spray lightly with sea spray and scrunch to give you that lived in look très sexy! My beach spray of choices Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray
Tip 6 – If all else fails, invest in some extensions! All those gorgeous models and actresses you see in the magazines? Extensions! They may be just to add volume, not necessarily length and they are hair stylists’ secret weapon. I keep at least four sets of extensions in different hair colors in my kit for photoshoots. So if you are lamenting your limp hair or regretting that lob/bob from last year, try it! They can look completely natural,but make sure to buy real human hair (otherwise they can not be styled) and in the shade that matches your hair. Even better, take them to your hair stylist and have him/her cut them while in your hair for the perfect customized look. My current extensions are mostly from Sally’s Euronext Remy premium
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Photo: Andrea Dematte
Makeup: Colleen Stone