A week ago, I collaborated with Shu Uemura Canada and Kérastase Canada on a fun hairstyling project.
I got in touch with a very talented Toronto-based hairstylist—Yadge Lukasz. I met her about a year ago at a party and we have already worked together once last December, when Yadge did an updo for my New Year’s Eve celebration. I loved it and now that Yadge is relocating half way across the world to Australia, I knew I had to work with her at least once more before she leaves!
Meet Yadge Lukasz.
For this particular project, Yadge and I brainstormed and recreated some of our personal favourite classic looks. Most women automatically default to a ponytail or wearing their hair down. So why not put a fun twist on a more predictable look?
Yadge created 4 looks that are perfect for a day at the office, a date night or even a trip out of town. They are all very simple to do and can be easily recreated at home—with the right hairstyling products, of course.
Shu Uemura and Kérastase are renowned for their quality and product diversity: there are so many incredible ranges and items to choose from. Take a look at how we paired them together for our final Top 4. To add an extra elegant touch, all looks were shot in black-and-white.
Note: Before creating all looks, I washed my hair with the Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil Shampoo, followed by the Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil Conditioner. They both had a soft texture and a wonderful floral scent. We were off to a good start!
Look #1: The Sleek Ponytail
Created with:
Shu Uemura Straightforward Time-Saving Blow Dry Oil
Shu Uemura Essence Absolue Nourishing Protective Oil
Shu Uemura Sheer Lacquer Micro-Fine Finishing Spray
Spray Blow Dry Oil Spray throughout the hair, focusing mainly on the ends. Blow dry the hair straight, using a boar bristle brush. Using the brush, brush the hair into a sleek, high ponytail and tie it with an elastic. Taking a small piece from the side of the ponytail, curl it with a curling iron, wrap the piece around the elastic band and pin it underneath the ponytail.
Spread some Nourishing Protective Oil in your palms and run your hands over the hair and through the ponytail, to add shine and tame any frizz and fly-aways. Finish with Sheer Lacquer Finishing Spray, spraying the hair from all angles to ensure it is well-sealed.
Look #2: The Messy Top-Knot Bun
Created with:
Shu Uemura Liquid Fabric Mineral Texture Spray
Shu Uemura Color Lustre Dry Cleaner For Color-Treated Hair
Shu Uemura Texture Wave Dry Finishing Spray
Shu Uemura Sheer Lacquer Micro-Fine Finishing Spray
Spray Liquid Fabric Texture Spray into damp hair, and blow dry the hair using a paddle brush or your fingers for a more natural finish.
Taking small sections at the roots, spray the Dry Cleaner (dry shampoo) into hair and work it through with your fingers. Spray the rest of the hair with Dry Finishing Spray and brush it through the hair.
Taking a paddle brush, brush the hair into a high ponytail and tie it with an elastic. This is a messy look, so the ponytail doesn’t have to be perfect and sleek.
Take sections from your ponytail and tease the hair with a teasing comb/brush. Once the entire ponytail has been teased, gather the hair and start to wrap it in a circular motion around the elastic, creating a messy bun. Pin the bun into place. Finish with Sheer Lacquer Finishing Spray to seal the style.
Look #3: The Classic Wave
Created with:
Kérastase Crème de la Crème Sumptuous Blow Dry Control Cream
Kérastase Materialiste All-Over Thickening Spray Gel
Kérastase Laque Noire High Anti-Humidity Super Shield Fixing Harispray
Apply Sumptuous Blowdry Cream into your palms and spread it through damp hair. Once it has been evenly distributed, spray Materialiste Spray Gel throughout the hair and brush it through. The Blowdry Cream will help seal the hair cuticle, creating smoothness, while the Spray Gel will thicken the hair and offer hold for better moulding.
Using a tail comb, create a side part. Curl the hair using a one-inch curling iron, ensuring that all your curls face in the direction that your larger part is on. For example, if your larger part is on the right side of the head, curl all your hair in the right direction. Once the curls have cooled, brush the hair out using a boar bristle brush. You will start to see an “S” shape pattern starting to form in the hair. Mould the waves together with a comb, so that they are uniform and consistent. Finish with Laque Noire Extra Strong Hold Hairspray to ensure the waves are locked and sealed in place.
Look #4: The Fishtail Braid
Created with:
Kérastase Elixir Ultime Voluptuous Beautifying Oil Mist
Kérastase Spray À Porter Tousled Effect Spray
Kérastase Laque Dentelle Micro Mist Fixing Hairspray
Spray Elixir Ultime and Tousled Effect Spray into damp hair, and blow dry using a paddle brush. The Elixir Ultime will provide nourishment and shine for the hair, while the Tousled Spray will add some light texture.
Brush the hair to one side of the head and divide the hair into two sections. Taking a small piece from the right section, cross it over and join it with the left section. Taking a small piece from the left section, cross it over and join it with the right section. Continue alternating sides until the braid is complete.
Finish with Laque Dentelle Flexible Hold Hairspray to give the braid hold and tame any fly-aways.
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