Photo: David Webber for Moroccanoil
Photo: David Webber for Moroccanoil
Photo: David Webber for Moroccanoil
Photo: David Webber for Moroccanoil
Photo: David Webber for Moroccanoil
Photo: David Webber for Moroccanoil
Photo: David Webber for Moroccanoil
Photo: David Webber for Moroccanoil
Photo: David Webber for Moroccanoil
Photo: David Webber for Moroccanoil
1/11
 
View all
1/11
 
Slider
2/11
 
Slider
3/11
 
Slider
4/11
 
Slider
5/11
 
Slider
6/11
 
Slider
Photo: David Webber for Moroccanoil
7/11
 
Slider
Photo: David Webber for Moroccanoil
Photo: David Webber for Moroccanoil
8/11
 
Slider
Photo: David Webber for Moroccanoil
Photo: David Webber for Moroccanoil
9/11
 
Slider
Photo: David Webber for Moroccanoil
Photo: David Webber for Moroccanoil
10/11
 
Slider
Photo: David Webber for Moroccanoil
Photo: David Webber for Moroccanoil
11/11
 
Slider
Photo: David Webber for Moroccanoil

Backstage at Badgley Mischka's Autumn/Winter 2013 show at New York's Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, Peter Gray and the Moroccanoil team was busy designing a beautiful, voluminous style that was inspired by Hitchcock’s femme fatales--Kim Novak, Eva Marie Saint and Grace Kelly--the paradox of their cool surface and inner fire.

The style emphasized whimsical contrasting elements, with soft, swirling volume at the top and front of the head, falling into a swirled chignon sitting atop a playful reverse-braid that tightly followed the shape of the head. The effect was created by braiding hair from nape to above the occipital, with the model's head flipped over, and the top was set in pins that, when cooled, created a swirled pomp.

PREP: Begin with a touch of Moroccanoil Treatment to condition and add shine depth, followed by Moroccanoil Heat Styling Protection. Work through Moroccanoil Volumizing Mousse from roots to ends for soft volume and hold. To create a soft, smooth styling foundation, blow-dry straight with a paddle brush.

BRAID: After making a horse shoe shaped section from each temple to the crown and pinning it on top, start to design the reverse-braid. Tip the model's head forward, braid from the nape of neck toward the crown, pulling in diagonal sections from the sides to the center of the head. "As I continued, I brought in pivoting sections from side areas, taking care to keep the braid closely following the shape of the head," Gray says. "When I reached the crown, I fastened the three-braided sections together into a ponytail."

TOP: Start to create the swirling effect on top of the head. "I created a set, curling the hair from the front hairline and then back using a ¾” curling iron (for the first two sections) to create a pronounced wave. I progressed to a 1” iron for the remaining set sections, including the ponytail." Mist the entire set lightly with Moroccanoil Luminous Hairspray Strong.

FINISHING: Release the set, and comb it out starting at the crown, and allow some loose pieces to fall free. “I backcombed the top section lightly for a fluffy, feminine effect, concentrating on the wave through the front area. The remaining loose lengths of the hair were wrapped around a pin-tailed comb--with the tip inserted vertically into the top of the braid--to hold the chignon above the reverse-braid." Fine wisps of hair were then brushed loose to soften, free and modernize the look. Gray used a fork comb to break up the edges of the set, and gave the style a final misting of Moroccanoil Luminous Hairspray Strong to hold it in place.

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, Click here.