BEHIND THE COVER: Color Flair

It was a fun frenzy at the model casting for MODERN’s most recent Artist Session. The two-day photoshoot workshop hosted more than 80 hopeful top beauty models at the Water Street Studio in New York City.

Alabama-based artist Detra Smith, an Artist Session second-timer, was torn among several favorites.

“I wanted a model with a different look from my regular clientele to add to my portfolio,” says Smith, artistic director of Hot Tools and Matrix artistic educator.

After consulting with photographer Roberto Ligresti, Smith decided on Yuen from Major Models.

“I have learned from Artist Session that the most important thing to look for is a good face,” Smith says. “Hair professionals have the skill to make the hair look good no matter what. I loved her hair! It is thick and healthy and I could see from her portfolio that it looked great straight and with texture. She was the one.”

On day two, shoot day, Smith spent hours creating stunning texture and curl, taking small sections and wrapping with an assortment of Hot Tools curling and styling appliances.

“Even though her hair is heavy, it moved beautifully and held the shape,” Smith says. Smith and Yuen were the first on set and were finished shortly after lunch. With some extra time, Smith decided to play with her flatiron and make the hair sleek, silky and shiny. Smith looked around the studio for inspiration and spied that fellow Artist Session attendee, Heggy Gonzalez had a bag full of extensions. She couldn’t resist.

“She let me dig around, and I just fell in love with these emerald clip-ins,” Smith says. “They added the perfect amount of personality.”

When told that, the finish with the Hair Art emerald clip-ins would be running in our “Beauty at Any Age” issue, Smith agreed the look was perfect. “Younger women can get away with a lot, but women of any age can still wear a pop of color,” she says. While younger women may play with mermaid-inspired colors, mature women may consider using fashion colors a bit more conservatively or consider wearing brights on their ends.”

View the Artist Session photoshoot here!

Photography: Roberto Ligresti
Makeup: David Maderich
Fashion styling: Rod Novoa, assisted by Dennis Pinto
Nails: Amanda Smith

PRODUCTS & TOOLS:
Irons: Hot Tools Cool Tool Vapor Iron
Stylers: Smooth Setter Smoothing Cream, Gloss Booster and Perfect Volume Fixer Hairspray, all by Matrix Style Link
Fashion: BCBG, Maison Margiela