The Coterie news

This week I’ve been doing my monthly Hair Guru slot on BBC Radio Leicester. I was first asked to do a section on hair trends, and it proved to be such a hit with the local women that it’s become a regular show! I love to talk about my passion and it’s amazing to listen to people’s stories – it’s a great insight into clients’ minds.

So many women are fearful of coming to a salon if they have a problem with their hair. The over-40s in particular have huge hang-ups about modernising their look – it’s the classic mutton-dressed-as-lamb scenario. It’s an honour to be able to give advice, to explain about how their face shape and personality are key points to discuss with their stylist, and to talk about what they should expect from the salon experience.

While I’m on the subject of hair trend advice, no matter what the season I love dressing hair into up-do’s. Right now, I’m encouraging clients to work their styles into messy buns, twists, quiffs, plaits and ponies – you name it, they’re trying it. We saw it all going on at the A/W 10 collections, with Karl Lagerfeld rocking out the most amazing Brigitte Bardot coiff with a touch of kick-ass attitude. It was hotter than hot!

The perfect ponytail, for me, is the one of the most stunning and powerful looks in session hairdressing – a great example of less is more. I’m obsessed with getting the perfect finish for this simple style, but in fact it’s one of the hardest to master. For me it’s all about the power in the position (eg, following the eye line to the crown creates a really fierce feeling) and the execution. Here are my top tips to create a power ponytail:

1. Dress the hair with salt water and blow-dry in the direction of the ponytail.
2. Keep your fingers light. Sometimes we hold too much pressure in the fingers, so relax.
3. Get the model to lean her neck right back as this will stop any bagginess and give that really sculptured feeling.
4. Once secured, spray section by section and follow with a hairdryer and nozzle, pushing right into the base of the ponytail (I like to use a comb). This will create a glass-like, flawless finish.
5. The position of the ponytail makes the statement. For a stronger feeling go higher; if it’s a softer edge you’re after, take it lower.

Another hot summer hair trend I love is the plait, in all shapes and sizes and with a real dishevelled and frothy feeling. A tip I’ve been giving clients is to run their straighteners over the plait to give it a romantic yet edgy texture. The boho look lives on!

Finding the right hairspray has become an obsession! Over the years I’ve tried and tested more hairspays than I’ve had hot dinners. To me, the perfect hairspray should offer a strong but flexible hold without compromising on gloss. It needs to allow the hair to be reworked without build-up, and without having to attack the hair with a road drill to get through it! So here is my perfect hairspray: Shu Uemura Sheer Lacquer. It delivers flexible, long-lasting hold without leaving the hair lacklustre or dull. It’s weightless with a modern and touchable finish.

Casting my eyes over the front cover of The Sunday Times Style magazine last week reminded me why dry shampoo is one of my favourite hair products (rumour has it that Miuccia Prada’s handbag is never without a can of the trusty powder and Kate Moss swears by it). So why is it so coveted? Firstly, it’s a great pick-me-up for oily, limp hair; and secondly, clients love it as it’s the secret weapon for an extra hour in bed! For me, though, its best used to blend roots and to add or enhance colour as it mops up excess grease from the roots and scalp, creating the illusion of clean, pumped-up hair. It also leaves hair less fluffy and easier to style, which is ideal when you’re working on a shoot or creating styles that require a bit of grit and staying power. Lastly, as seen on the front cover of Style magazine, dry shampoos now come in different colours that create amazing fashion effects – it’s another must-have product for your session kitbag!

This weekend I’m meeting up with my former FAME team colleagues. It’s going to be great to see them again – once you have had a year like that together you form a bond that lasts. Being the only boy on the team was a real novelty (that never wore off). I love these girls!

Until next week,

Chris

This entry was posted on Friday, April 9th, 2010 at 11:07 am and is filed under Guest blogger, Stylists. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.