Backstage DKNY: A Conceptual Look

We’re back in the NYFW swing of things. Backstage at DKNY we talked to some of our favorite beauty veterans and got the scoop on the conceptual beauty look they created. From the cobweby hat-hair created by Eugene Soueliman to Yadim's quirky graphic eye. See how they created these memorable runway looks.

Textured Cobweby Hat Hair

“We’re doing a hairstyle that’s as if a hat has been on it and it’s squished down," explains lead Wella hairstylist, Souleiman. And the key to getting this sans hat? Tension, which he created by French braiding two sections of hair beginning behind the ear and bring it down the back of the hairline. Then, using the small end of the back of a comb, he pulled out a thin layer on both sides along the center part, brushed them until full of static, giving the cobweb texture. After spraying them with dry spray, the static hair hung as a veil over the sleeked down flat hair. To keep it pressed down while backstage, the girls wore bandanas while finishing up backstage.

Quirky DIY-Looking Graphic Eye 

“When I talked to the team they said they wanted something quirky and eccentric,” Maybelline lead make artist Yadim explains. Well, he nailed it with the imperfect non-straight line around the eye replicating a shape found on the fabric on a piece in the collection. “It was a bit of a flower print but you wouldn’t really know it because it’s so abstract,” he explained.

Interested in how he created this squiggly graphic eye? He drew the lines using Maybelline Master Precise and Master Graphic, meeting the top and bottom on the outside corner. "You can't make a mistake because it's done purposefully." To get the lines this perfectly imperfect, smear them out with a makeup wipe and then go around and cleaned it up with a dry Q-tip. It still will leave the squiggly effect without initially creating it on purpose.

"The Fast Pass" Mani 

Keeping with the conceptual, DIY theme, lead Essie manicurist Michel Saunders gave each model what she called "The Fast Pass," manicure. It's simply one swipe of nude-colored polish called "All Eyes On Nudes" down the center of the nail. Also looking as if the model quickyldid it herself. "Leaving a little bit of the sides out to show that it's ok to be imperfect," explains Saunders.

6 Steps to Kate Beckinsale's Cascading Waves

Kate Beckinsale never fails to turn heads.  This weekend, she attended the third annual LACMA Art + Film Gala in California donning a strapless Gucci gown complimented by Veronica Lake inspired waves.  Her stylist, Sascha Breur, gave me the 411 on how to get her touchable, sexy style. Step 1: Towel dry your hair and apply mousse for staying power.  "To evenly distribute the mouse, use a wide toothed comb," Breur says. "Ensure that you spread the product right through to the tips of the hair to boost the energy of your curls with irresistible definition and virtually frizz-free shine."

Step 2: Use a large round brush and blow dry directing the nozzle upwards for added root-lift. Then, create a low side part and section your hair into pieces for curling.

Step 3: Use a medium size curling iron and work in sections all the way around your head rotating the way you curl – away from your face and then towards.  Pin the curls up with hair pins allowing them to cool after each section and spritz with Wella Stay Essential Hairspray.

Step 4: When the hair is completely cool, release the curled sections, remove all the grips and smooth through with your hands to loosen the ringlets.

Step 5: Use a large soft brush gently brush through the curls to create smooth soft waves. "Don’t be attempted to over brush or the hair will become frizzy and loose its smoothness," he explains.  "A few drops of Wella Oil Reflections will work wonders to add the right level of smoothness and glossy shine to your 'do."

Step 6: Use a lightweight finishing spray so it lasts all night.

The Casual Chic Setting at the Independent Spirit Awards Blew My Mind, The Backstage Scoop & Video

If you've been following me on Twitter this weekend, you probably saw me freak out at a Michelle Williams and Busy Phillips sighting yesterday backstage at the Independent Spirit Awards.  Yes, I'm in LA!  While here for some business meetings I made sure to schedule some time to take advantage of one of the biggest awards season weekends of the year. Yesterday, I covered backstage at the Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica and have never experienced such a scene! The event was held right on the beach with the purple carpet facing the ocean. The awards were held in one big tent and all around that tent were smaller tents of gifting lounges and open bars.  The actors and actresses were in a very laid back fashion walking around in between presenters and everyone was hanging out as if it was one big festival on the beach.  Here were some highlights:

I chatted with Carson Kressley (the guy from Queer Eye) on his idea of beach chic (since that was the dress code for the event and Oscar predictions.  Check out the video here.

In a gifting lounge, celebs like Jeffery Dean Morgan, Penelope Anne Miller and Gabrielle Beauvais were flocking to the Votre Vu table (of course I was hanging out by the beauty stuff) and couldn't wait to get their hands on SnapDragon.  Jeffery Dean Morgan also visited Wella and was joking around about his hair and what he needed while posing with a bottle of styling product.

I ventured into the Piaget gifting suite (yes, the celebs are also gifted with diamonds) with my friend Nola from Glam.com and ran into Rosario Dawson who was practically being hit on every two seconds.  We sat with her on the couch drinking mimosas and kept laughing as people approached her.  First a fashion stylist wanting to give her a bag she made, then a man who practically proposed and it went on.  She was so accepting to all of them.  Nola and I sat there discussing how hard it must be to really have to put up with that.

Throughout the day, A-listers like Jonah Hill, Seth Rogen, Penelope Ann Miller and Kate Beckinsale all walked by countless amount of times, but it was Michelle Williams and Busy Phillips who had me at awe.  I'm rarely caught off guard by a celebs presence, but seeing them together as two best friends in such a casual setting was very cool.  Check out the video below!

2012 Golden Globes A-List Hair Predictions

While I may not be dishing about who's predicted to win which award on Sunday night at the Golden Globes, I can tell you that beauty predictions by top stylists and makeup artists have been rolling in and those, well, I just have to share.  My friend's at DailyMakeover spoke with Wella Professionals Celebrity Hairstylist Andy LeCompte and Wella Professionals Color Ambassador Aura Friedman to get their insights.  Their top two hair predictions – Effortless yet glossy and daring tones mixed with definition.  Check them out. Effortless Elegance With A Glossy Finish "I think we'll see a peak in fluid textures that suggest effortless elegance, like very healthy and sleek hair that shows a lot of movement. This style will be popular with soft and light tones with a warm glow that emphasizes healthy, shiny hair representative of the Wella Trend Vision look aptly named, Grace," says LeCompte. Another great example: Charlize Theron's shiny, sleek blowout with gentle waves.

To get the look, first, apply a good amount of hair primer, like Wella Professionals Velvet Amplifier, to wet hair. This will create an even surface on each hair follicle, improving the evenness of your overall end look. Then, while your hair is still wet, apply a smoothing balm, such as Wella Professionals Flowing Form, to dramatically enhance the manageability and smoothness of your blowout. One you've finished blow drying your hair, finish with a spritz of shine spray.Wella Professionals Shimmer Delight helps keep hair healthy and shimmering, despite the heat of a blowout.

Statement-Making Tones And Daring Definition To the contrary, we can also expect to see daring, modern styles made possible by the evolution of high tech hair tools and high pigment color. Wella Professionals Color Ambassador Aura Friedman says, "We can look forward to the soft introduction of this very bold hair color trend at the Golden Globes this year. Inspired by the Trend Vision look, "Roxy," this is an attention grabbing style where color plays an integral role. We will especially see a shift to cool red tones and bursts of violet, statement-making colors with an edge of sophistication."

"A perfect color," says Aura, "should complement the person who's wearing it...but also suit their personality and lifestyle. It should enhance, but not overpower." To keep vibrant hues looking their best, Aura suggests to avoid shampooing too much and use a color-safe shampoo and conditioner, like Wella's Brilliance Line. If your hair is very dull, she also recommends getting a clear gloss to add instant vibrancy and seal the cuticle of your hair for added shine. As for the style, this look does not shy away from shape or definition. Tight curls and gravity-defying shapes can be expected. With such "atypical" styles being created with styling tools, it's very important to prepare your hair with a heat protectant spray before styling, such as Wella Professionals Thermal Image Heat Protectant Spray. You'll need to finish the look with a strong-hold hairspray, such as Wella Professionals Stay Firm Finishing Spray.

Chat LIVE with the hair experts during the award show's red carpet arrivals! "Like" Wella on Facebook to get tips, tricks and commentary from several celebrity stylists on their favorite looks of the night.

*This is a sponsored post.

Go Backstage at Cynthia Rowley

The Cynthia Rowley fashion show was held at Gotham Hall this year and backstage was surprisingly calm. There were two strikingly different things about the look that caught my attention, beauty was an accessory in these cases: straight eyelashes and jewel-toned extensions.

The Lashes

Inspired by a girl gang look, two layers of real lashes were blended together and accentuated with eye liner to create an almond shaped eye. Before applying lashes, MAC Makeup Artist, Val Garland, said the team straightened the lashes with a hair straightener.  "The straight lashes act like a double viser over the eye, bring back lashes in a fresh, modern way," she commented.  Tip: Don't try to straighten your synthetic lashes at home, they'll melt!  

The Extensions

Instead of using extensions to add volume or length to the models hair, Antonio Prieto who created the look for Wella used jewel-toned pieces as accessories.  "They're a modern twist to extensions," he stated.  The pieces were dyed, crimped and curled to create texture before being placed into the models hair.