CFDA’s Fashion Incubator, Charles Youssef, debuted his RTW Fall 2017 collection with bold form and soft beauty.
This season, we took our questions backstage to find out how to get the effortless, textured tresses that completed the looks for Youssef’s Fall 2017 collection. In the midst of the pre-show magic, I was able to chat with TRESemmé hair stylist, Holli Smith, who brought these hair dreams to life.
Tell me a little bit about the hair story for this particular look.
“There’s only a couple of girls who have really long hair that we’ll stick behind the clothing so it doesn’t interfere with such graphic detail, like pointy triangular shoulders. But in a way, I wanted the hair to still feel pretty. Some of the clothing has a boyish look, or shoes, so it kind of gives you an idea that the designer can handle doing something a little cooler. If you make it [the hair look] too pretty, I think it goes against the natural character that’s happening here. So we just thought to make the models have some sort of texture in their hair.”
How did you go about creating the perfect textured waves?
“I’m just grabbing a big chunk of hair and putting the TRESemmé TRES Two Extra Firm Control Mousse in my hand and dragging it through, and then you pull that section together and push it up [towards the crown of the head], and then apply heat. Then, you go to the next section and repeat. By doing this, you’re not using a curling iron to recreate this natural texture. And once you get to the other side of the hair, you start to break it up and there’s something naturally happening there – something that looks cool and not too forced.”
What are you using to apply the heat?
“A blowdryer – just the blowdryer. Some people use a diffuser, but for me, I think when you use a diffuser, it causes a lot of stray hairs. I find the most success by not using a diffuser, and putting the blowdryer on top of the hair and not moving it, just holding the hair. You put the product on dry hair, so you’re only applying heat for a couple minutes on each section and you get a nice result from it, whether you’re at home or I’m doing it.”
What’s your creative process like coming up with a technique such as this?
“You know it’s funny because every five years, you kind of let go of something and you add more. But for me, I just want people to get back to what it is that’s naturally happening and then teach them how to use product. My technique is to start with something natural, and then add to that. I think that’s a timeless thing; it’ll always be cool. It’s always about pulling back on something that’s been taken too far.”
So what other products are you using?
“I’m also using a little bit of the Fresh Start Volumizing Dry Shampoo in the beginning, and just trying to get whatever natural oils (which I love) to make it a little softer, followed by the mousse. Then, I use a brush and my fingers to break up the mousse, because I want it to look dry, so those are the only products that I’m using”
Photo Source: Monica Schipper/Getty Images North America
