For this week's wedding updo, we had the chance to visit some good friends of Modern -- and they're neighbors too! Bonnie Conte and Shyla Samel-Kurnick are co-owners of Avalon Salon & Day Spa in Deer Park, Illinois, only 15 minutes from the Modern offices. We've also been freqeunt visitors there over the past couple of years. So when they heard about our wedding trials, Shyla jumped in with an offer to try her hand at taming Laurel's hair. The result was one of the coolest styles we've seen yet. We asked for avant garde and she delivered!

Steps

1. Shyla ran Aveda's new Smooth Infusion Glossing Straightener through the hair to add shine and help it resist moisture. Then she created a ponytail at the crown, twisting it into a bun and pinning it into place for the base of the style.

2. Next, she pinned a hair piece over the bun. She created the hair pieces used in this style by using wefts of hair dyed several different colors. For the main piece, she hand-sewed the pieces together into a spiral and sewed in two clips underneath it to secure it to the head (see video for closer look). For the other pieces, she simply braided them in different thicknesses and colors.

3. With that piece in place, Shyla began working on the front, backcombing strands for thickness and texture.

4. She then built the style from the front, starting on the right and pinning pieces back around the bottom of the bun. Once she reached the area behind Laurel's ear, she switched and did the same on the left side. All strands from the front and to the ears were pinned at the base of the bun.

5. Shyla then used her first braided weft, pinning along the side to add detail.

6. She moved to the back of the head to pin up the back third of the hair. As she took strands, she looped them with a bobby pin, smoothed them down using Aveda Air Control Hairspray, then pinned them.

7. To create the loopy effect, she pinned first leaving the ends out. The she folded each strand back over itself, covering where the hair had been previously pinned.

8. To finish the main part of this avant garde wedding confection, she used two more braided wefts along the back and other side, looping them and weaving them so that they almost appeared to be one single strand weaving amongst the regular loops of hair.

9. Finally, she moved back to Laurel's bangs, straightening them with a brush and blowdryer. Once they were smoothed, she swept them back to the side and sprayed them into place.

10. As a finishing touch, make-up artist and front desk manager, Amanda Pollett, took over creating a smokey eye in warm, plum shades.  

Finished Look

Make-up artist Amanda Pollett, Laurel, co-owner and stylist, Shyla Samel-Kurnick.

Related:
Wedding Updo #1, Ruby Room
Wedding Updo #2, Salon Coccole
Wedding Updo #3, Salon 1800
Wedding Updo #4, Avalon Salon
Wedding Updo #5, Michael Anthony Salons
Wedding Updo #6, Prink Salon