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There is just something so magical about The Blonds during New York Fashion Week.

It is one of the few shows where the beauty teams are invited to go extreme making the hair, makeup and nails as important as the fashion. In a season chock full of simple, brushed hair, bare faces and nude nails, this show was refreshing. Everyone just goes for it!

For the spring/summer 2015 collection, The Blonds were inspired by world-traveling "gangsta genies," girls who are in three cities in one day and ready for any situation. Although we only got to watch Kabuki for MAC from afar, MODERN managed to get up close and personal with the hair and nail artists.

THE HAIR

Catwalk by TIGI Global Creative Director Nick Irwin ran with the concept and created a giant, fat braid with cheap, faux hair. The model's real hair was deliberately gelled and combed to allow scalp to show and to look almost greasy (a hot look this season).

Irwin and team misted wet hair with Fast Fixx Style Prep and followed with Session Series Wet Look Gel. The hair was combed smooth and tight to the crown. The hair was then set with Session Series Work It Hairspray. The giant braid, which was made from approximately 9 packets of faux hair per braid, was then placed on top. A work of art.

THE NAILS

CND unveiled 20 unique nail designs, all with a modern twist on a variety of cultural references, pushing the boundaries of artistry resulting in exaggerated glamour.  

“We are so excited to continue this long-standing fashion partnership with yet another spectacular show this season,” said CND Co-founder and Style Director Jan Arnold. “The Blonds’ aesthetic for this collection correlated perfectly with CND’s Summer 2015 trend story, which is all about sculpted and dramatic silhouettes and intense, seductive hues for a mysterious contrast of color and texture. CND and The Blonds just get each other – we’re like family at this point!”  

CND took nail design to a whole new level for The Blonds, fully accessorizing each look that walked down the runway with a distinct over-the-top nail style on every model. The elite team of artists handcrafted the nails and their dramatic embellishments with CND Liquid & Powder and BRISA Gel. Then, layers of high-shine color were applied using CND SHELLAC brand 14+ day nail color and VINYLUX Weekly Polish in saturated tones with accents of gold throughout. CND blinged out the innovative 3D looks with unconventional materials, including filigrees, oversized gold chains, medallions, tassels, lace, porcelain and over ten thousand stones, gems and jewels.

The lavish designs, which took more than 500 hours to create in the CND Design Lab, truly represented CND’s unique partnership with The Blonds and showcased their unrivaled artistry at New York Fashion Week.

“We have worked with The Blonds since 2008 because we love their fun, high energy vibe and their willingness to let us into their magical world as true artistic partners,” said Arnold. “Working with them is such an inspiring process, and this gang of genies really personified the essence of our collaboration!”

Thanks to CND for this amazing backstage video which offers a true feeling of what it's like to be there at the creation of art for such an amazing show.

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