Fashion Week Hair Makeover with Redken and Cutler Salon

So what do you do when fashion week is fast approaching, and your hair is two-toned and looking an absolute fright? Why you go to the experts, and get yourself a fabulous hair makeover in time for the big day.

 

Desperate for a change, I sent out a distress call asking my peers their thoughts on the best salons in the city. In those answers, I heard of a place designed to turn dead-looking hair (see above) right round into extraordinary hair. A sleek and modern space right in Midtown that is cool, comfortable, and bursting at the seams, chock-full of talented people. I was convinced, and I answered my hair's s.o.s by running (not walking) to Redken and the Cutler Salon in New York City. In just two short hours, my hair looked Red Carpet worthy, and I left feeling over-the-moon in love with both my new look and my experience.

To watch the transformation, take the jump!

Backstage at New York Fashion Week- Thuy by Make Up For Ever, Zoya, and Cutler Salon

The Thuy girl is classic and cool. A refined Uptown Girl, who is just a little bit undone.

Makeup by Lottie for Make Up For Ever

 

Led by Lottie, the Make Up For Ever team created a look that was cool and fresh, without trying too hard. 

To get the look, models were prepped with HD Foundation, Super Matte Loose Powder #12, Mat Bronze #2 and #6, Shine on Powder in #3 and #6, and Pan Cake Foundation in #3.

The eyes were adorned with Diamond Shadow in #305, Star Powder in #920 and #957, and Smoky Lash Mascara. Lips were stained crimson with a mixture of flash colors #1 and #17, for a soft red pout with no harsh lines.

 

Nails by Sunshine Outing for Zoya Nail Polish

For the nails, Thuy wanted a look that was neutral, but not too pedestrian. Zoya brought some pizazz to the realm of neutrals by applying two coats of Tasha (a sheer cream), with a layer of Uli (a warm gilded nude) on top.

Hair by Rodney Cutler for Cutler Salon

 

The hair look for Thuy was all about unique textures and a strong silhouette. To achieve the look, the Cutler team first utilized a straight blow-out. To achieve lift and volume, stylists back-combed hair at the root, effectively lifting hair at the crown. The ultimate goal was to have movement and bounce on the top layer of the hair, as models walk down the runway.

 

 

  

Cool, chic, and just a little undone, the look at Thuy was as beautiful as it was wearable. If shows thus far are any indication, fall will be about red lips and hair texture in a big way.

Backstage at New York Fashion Week- Badgley Mischka by Redken, MAC, and Lippman Collection

I am continuously blown away by the stunning looks I have seen backstage this fashion week. This oh so dreary and wet-snow filled day began with a trip into an Avatar inspired runway beauty look at Badgley Mischka.

Hair by Peter Gray for Redken and Cutler Salon
I think I have a new favorite hairstyle as seen backstage. Wholly inspired by Avatar, Peter Gray and the Redken team executed two perfect hair looks, Princess and Warrior Princess.

The first look was designed for Badgley Mischka's signature line of Red Carpet wear, and featured an edgy but polished updo. Looking at the roped jewelry for the signature collection, Gray modeled the updo after the ropes and vines found on Pandora. Hair was divided into a top and bottom section. The top was formed into a wide, textured mohawk, while the bottom portion was pulled back tight. Both sections were then interlocked and twisted, to form a roped figure eight.

The second look was designed for Badgley Mischka's new diffusion line, which has a decidedly different vibe that is a bit younger, and edgier. As with the first look, hair was divided, and the top was formed into a loose mohawk. The main difference is that the bottom portion stayed down, falling long and sleek.

Makeup by Charlotte Tilbury for MAC Cosmetics

 

Further expanding on the Avatar and warrior princess theme, Tilbury designed a look that draws heavily on contouring and highlighting. The face was heavily highlighted and contoured, but in a natural looking way. 

Nails by Deborah Lippmann for Lippmann Collection

 

To complete the look, the Lippmann Collection team went with Marquee Moon, a silver metallic with silver sequins. The overall effect was modern, deconstructed, unstructured, and out of this world.

 

From hair, to makeup, to nails, the Avatar inspired look at Badgley Mischka scored an out of this world effect that was nothing short of amazing.

New York Fashion Week Backstage at Karen Walker with CND, Shiseido and

Show 2 of Saturday was Karen Walker's presentation at the Altman Building.  With a focus all on striking red lips, and sheer washes of color, the look was soft with just a hint of pop.

Nails by Angie Wingle of CND

Inspired by the sheer wash of color on the model's eyes and face, and by the playful yet feminine look for Karen Walker Fall 2010, Angie Wingle and the CND team went with Rose Water on model's nails. A cool sheer that plays up the color of the  skin and nails, Rose Water is one of those polishes that every girl must have in their polish wardrobe. Completely buildable, and every-day wearable, Rose Water is all sexy femininity, and perfect for the look of Karen Walker's show.

Hair by Rolando Beauchamp of Bumble and Bumble

 

For Karen Walker, the hair look revolved around a messy ponytail that was kept tight and tidy both on the sides and underneath the head. The hair on top was back combed through with the fingers, so as to not give the look too much rigid structure, and the ponytail was given texture thanks to Bumble and Bumble Does It All Styling Spray. All in all, the hair was designed to play up model's features and draw attention to the star of the show, the red lip. 

  

Makeup by Jenna Maynard for Shiseido 

 

For makeup, the look was all about the red lip. Keeping the face and eyes simple, models were treated to deep crimson pouts, designed to stand out on the otherwise neutral, earthy, clothing color palette. The eyes were given soft definition with sheer tones, and cheeks were contoured slightly with matte bronzing powder.

  

  

Another look where the focus was all on the dramatic lip, Karen Walker did not disappoint.

Backstage at New York Fashion Week- Toni Maticevski by Zoya Nails, MAC Cosmetics, and the Cutler Salon

The party continues with an amazing backstage experience at Toni Maticevski, with some of my favorite people/brands.

Nails by Sunshine Outing for Zoya Nail Polish

 

Leave it to the brand that has become the nail polish love of my life to shake things up a bit, with runway nails like I have never seen before. Sunshine Outing for Zoya Nail Polish adorned model's digits with either Casey or Sloane, depending on model's skintone. Cool toned gals got the Sloane treatment, while warmer tones had Casey applied to all but 2 digits. Now this is where the fun part comes in, so pay attention beauties. To decorate the ring fingers on the models, Sunshine and the team used either Nova ultraglitter or Richelle metallic to decorate the fourth fingers. All in all, I absolutely adored this nail look.

  

Makeup by Dev for MAC Cosmetics

 

Led by Dev of MAC Cosmetics, the makeup look was all about "gold, gold, gold". Inspired by Byzantine aesthetic and Ava Gardner, the look is a departure from traditional dark fall colors, and uses esoteric, illuminated, lighter shades of gold. There were a few new MAC colors for fall that my eagle eye spotted, but more on that later.

  

 

Hair by Rodney Cutler for Cutler Salon and Redken

 

Led by the hair genius and owner of Cutler Salons, Rodney Cutler and the hair team created a stunning topknot of an updo, adorned with golden chains and sequined gold leaves. Hair was swept up and overlapped in the front, and then pinned up into elaborate loops. The look was clean, modern, not too trendy, and all in all ultra glamorous. 

  

Nails, hair, and makeup came together to create an absolutely gorgeous look for Toni Maticevski's show. 

  

Backstage with Gottex at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week

* Model Arlenis Sosa gets made up by the hair and nails team

Nails:

Headed by Angi Wingle of Creative Nail Design, the nail team set out to create a custom look especially for the Gottex Show. Angie described the look as a sheer, gold mineral wash. Angie described the look as sandblasted. The color was achieved by mixing a special blend of 3 different lacquers: 5 drops of bicycle yellow, 5 drops of Gold Chrome, and a teeny drop of Oil Slick.

This is the end result, which is absolutely beautiful.

Makeup:
The MAC makeup team, headed by Philippe Chansel, sought to channel the look of rich girls on the beach. Dripping with glamour, the models look both expensive and untouchable, evoking memories of runway vixens circa 1990.

*MAC Senior Artist Neil Y. touches up his model

To achieve this look, MAC artists used a mixture of face and body foundation and mineralize skinfinish to create a flawless canvas. Eyes were then defined using feline khol power and lots of mascara to create an intense look. MAC artists used tan pigment to get the light cocoa shade seen on the lids. To enhance the skin, emphasis was placed on the high planes of the face including cheekbones, under the brow, and the cupid's bow, highlighting with the use of MAC pigment in Melon (a beautiful pinky peach). To finish the look, MAC artists applied Sun Tints on the lips.


Hair:
The hair team consisted of stylists from Cutler Salon, headed by Peter Gray. To go with the luxurious beachy vibe, stylists went with a look that is both fashionable and very sleek. A far cry from the texture we have been seeing all over the runways, the look of Gottex was full of shine and smoothness.

Hair was flatironed completely flat, with a microbraid plaited directly below the model's left ear. A tiny strip of hair from the right side was then positioned horizontally across the back of the head and then pinned into the braid to keep hair slicked back and in place.

To finish the look, stylists pinned stunning jeweled headbands in place to match the swimsuits, creating the illusion of an elegant swimcap.

That, beauties is the look of Gottex for Spring 2010. What do you think? Are you feeling the rich girl goes to the beach vibe?