Hair at Chris Benz was GORGEOUS… but highly complicated.

“Is this math?” I asked REDKEN lead stylist John Ruidant when he explained how he achieved the highly intricate, very complicated look he designed based on an uptown girl in the late ’70s/early ’80s headed downtown for a night on the town. I haven’t been this confused since my mandatory Calc class I took my freshman year at BU.

And I KNOW from hair, girls. But even the most copious notes didn’t allow for a good step-by-step how-to on this one. I’ll put in a request to REDKEN for deets for that. Stay tuned. I do think it’s lovely, however difficult it may be for a lay(wo)man to pull off at home. I can tell you that it incorporated REDKEN Hot Sets 22, REDKEN Fabricate, REDKEN Workforce Hairspray and a lot of backcombing.

The best part is that all the while, John is explaining this ‘do (which just SOUNDS so hard to do), he’s actually DOING the ‘do, I’m assuming, under pretty high pressure. And he’s ALWAYS cool as a cucumber. Every time I interview him. I’m not unconvinced that he’s not actually at the tents. I think he’s actually in Tahiti and is mentally projecting himself at New York Fashion Week in hologram form or something. Like Al from Quantum Leap. I’ve never seen anything like it.

Daniel Martin, Lancome makeup artist interpreted the “uptown girl gone downtown to a danceteria” vision using Lancome cosmetics. Complexions were intended to look blown out, as they do when photographed by a polaroid camera. To achieve this look, Daniel used powder and foundation two shades lighter than the models’ own skin tone. Eyes were enhanced with three colors: Lancome Cream Liner in Indigo (smudged on with fingers), Lancome Eye Shadow in The New Black, and famed Lancome Color Fever Gloss in Piha Black for a “slept in” effect. Tons of Lancome Hypnose Mascara was used on both top and bottom lashes. Lips were a matte beige that mixed Lancome Cream Blush in Chic Cassis applied with fingertips with Lancome Le Rouge Absolu Lipstick in Beige Cashmere.

Deborah Lippman headed up the nail team on staff backstage at Chris Benz. Three colors were incorporated, reflecting the primary color focus of Chris’ collection. The not-yet-named Lancome shades used are an electric blue with shimmer, a temperate red, and a soft gold metallic. “The red is not warm, but not cool,” Deborah explained.

The back of John’s hair concept.

A close-up of the “danceteria eye.”

Image credit: Beauty Blogging Junkie

#NYFW

Stay tuned for my coverage of the Chris Benz presentation!