Hair Makeover: Tamed Mane

Introduction

Carefully managed unruly hair can be sexy. While overdone strands look out of date, out of control tresses looks like a beauty afterthought.

In keeping with current hair trends the goal should be to keep hair looking soft and natural, but tamed, with a well-defined shape. The new style can be managed with great hair care products.

Before

Model Katharyn (shown to the side) visited the famous New York City's Gerard Bollei Salon (212-759-7985) with a slightly below shoulder length mane of wild curls and waves that were misbehaving.

Katharyn wanted a hair makeover that allowed her to wear her hair both up and down. However, she wanted a sleeker, sophisticated look that could work for both day and evening wear.

She always wanted to keep her hair longer and close to her shoulders. And yes, while she wanted a "makeover" she wanted to recognize herself in the mirror.

The Makeover

Bollei's talented stylist, Alan Adler, understood that Katharyn's goal for a low key makeover. Working within her parameters to achieve tress control and sleekness, Alan added more shape to Katharyn's tresses by carefully trimming approximately 2 inches from the ends.

Combining skillful beveling in the back with layering around the eye areas, Alan preserved Katharyn's beautiful curly texture while adding sultry definition and movement.

After Hair Makeover Styling Tips

The end result? A flattering straight style with light layers that softened Katharyn's modified heart shaped face by minimizing her cheeks. This sleek and sensual style looks natural while playing up loose curls on the ends.

A make-up makeover emphasized her beautiful eyes and gorgeous skin.

Katharyn's desire to keep her hair longer was also achieved with her newly shaped style nestling just at the top of her shoulders.

Styling

When styling Katharyn's hair to wear sleekly down around her shoulders, Alan used Redken's Outshine leave-in formula to help deal with humidity and hold in needed moisture. He also used Wella's Liquid Hair to add instant volume and help hold the curly hair straight while blow drying. Alan used a large round brush to create a subtle curly flip on the ends and to frame hair around the face.

The key to re-creating this style at home is to use a good leave-in formula like the Redken or similar leave-in conditioning products like Phyto's #7 or #9. If you prefer, you can use a good post-shampoo defrisant product like Phytodefrisant to control fizzy waves and/or curls and maintain the sultry sleekness. You can also mix and match products. Try blending a dab of the Phyto 7 or 9 with a dab of the Phytodefrisant for an ultra conditioning customized anti-frizz formula.

Blow-dry the style with a flat or paddle style brush to get sleek straight strands. Then use a round brush for gentle root lift and light curly flicks on the ends. Add a bit of mousse to help with volume creation. If you want a bigger curl on the ends, create them by using a 1" to 1 1/2" barreled curling iron on individual sections.

Apply a tiny bit of styling cream or gel to the longer layers that nestle on either side of the face. Finger pick the strands to give them that sexy, slightly tousled style. Or if you prefer, use a round brush to merge the strands into the rest of the style for a very smooth overall finish.

Alternative Styling

Katharyn also wanted the option to instantly dress up her new sleek style for evening wear. Alan created a soft, sultry chic chignon that is easy for Katharyn to duplicate herself.

Starting with her newly shaped and sleekly straightened hair, Alan applied a straightener to give Katharyn's hair hold and more texture.

Alan simply parted and then clipped off Katharyn's tresses into two main sections. One section was behind the top of the crown and one a few inches above the nape of the neck.

Alan loosely twisted Katharyn's hair into a two-part soft ultra messy chignon that nestled at the back of her crown and extended down to the nape of her neck. Using bobby pins he pinned the new chignon sections into place He finger picked the hair along the sides of Katharyn's face to form soft wavy sultry strands (as shown above).

To recreate the updo, blow dry hair with a paddle style brush to get sleek straight strands. Use a round brush for gentle root lift. Add a bit of mousse to help with more concentrated volume creation.

Apply a tiny bit of styling cream or gel to the longer layers that nestle on either side of the face. Finger pick the strands to give them that sexy, slightly tousled style (as shown above).

Finishing Touches

Add instant bling to the chignon by pinning in a shimmering hair clips, chignon pins & couture jaws, decorative flowers or other hair jewels.

To add even more color depth opt for Ken Paves Healthy Hair Boost Up Color Drops in your favorite hue. Or you may wish to use a color enhancing shampoo to pump up the color.

Add a dab of shine with Phyto's PhyoLisse, Rene Furterer's Spray Gloss or Ken Paves Healthy Hair Shine Serum. Another option is Robert Hallowell's Love That Shine Drops and you will have a bright and shiny new hairstyle.

To Schedule Your Own Makeovers

If you love this makeover and would love to experience your own personal transformation, call the Gerard Bollei Salon in New York City for an appointment (212-759-7985 or 1-800-BOLLEI2).

More About Gerard Bollei Salon

In 1973, Gerard Bollei, stylist extraordinaire, and James Santa, master colorist, teamed up to introduce a new concept to the salon trade . . . a total service center which would not only cater to every beauty need imaginable, but also specialize in specialization. The result was the Gerard Bollei Salon, the showcase of the famed Galleria Building on fashionable East 57th Street, and a model for others to emulate for its abundance of talent and its overall ambiance

Those familiar with its dramatic entranceway know that, contained within this bustling dominion, are NYC’s top beauty experts. Many of them personally trained by Gerard himself, and all of them forever inspired by his spirit.

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