Twisted Desires
What was once reserved for ages ten and younger has suddenly experienced a ‘second-coming’ on the catwalk. Braids are back and are packing a whole lot of ‘oomph’.
The look of the moment is anything but dull. The ever-functional (yet undeniably edgy) braid has become 2012’s go-to hairstyle when superfluous hair accessories just don’t feel right. Reinvented to suit every occasion, from beach days to wedding ceremonies, from nights in to nights out, the braid delivers an organic, ethereal affect that’s perfect for the summer season.
“The braid was everywhere in this year’s London Fashion Week, but not in its most recognisable, three-strand form," says Eric Choong, the Director of Toni&Guy Academy & Salons, Shanghai. “Instead, the form has been revamped to a whole other level, with different widths, lengths and patterns. You can build on it, you can twist it, and you can accessorise it. Designers and hairstylists love it because the basic concept can be altered to fit many different moods.”
The result being that we girls love it, especially at the moment with celebrities such as Sienna Miller and Rachel McAdams putting their own take on it, twisting and manipulating it into ways which show its versatility. “There is a vast range of braids from which to choose,” says Choong, “depending on your desired result. The most common braids are three-strand braids, fishtail braids and anti-three-strand braids (otherwise known as the French plait).” Fishtail braids (pictured, top right) have currently become particularly popular and are inherently elegant, but by no means easy to create. Most people are perhaps more familiar with the three strand braids, which are more conservative and structured like the French braid.
So how can you go about getting a fishtail braid, the ‘Dutch braid’ popularised by Jennifer Lawrence in her role as Katniss in The Hunger Games, or the waterfall braid, worn by Rihanna at the Met Gala 2011? It’s complicated, but according to Choong, the key to putting it all together is by first creating a workable, texture-heavy base.
“Before braiding your hair, you must first wash and dry it. I recommend using a Toni&Guy Paddle Brush (RMB 128) when blow drying your hair. This will ensure that your hair comes out untangled.
"The next step is to add a bit of hair product such as label.m Sea Salt Spray (RMB 200/200ml, RMB 310/500ml) followed by a bit of teasing with a Toni&Guy Tail End Comb (RMB 80) to create friction. Teasing your hair (technically referred to as back-combing) texturises the mane so that once you braid it, the added friction will hold the strands together. label.m Sea Salt Spray also ensures that the braid lasts throughout the day.
“The last step is to spritz on some hairspray to smooth down ‘flyaways’, thus resulting in a perfect finish.”
As easy as Choong’s steps sound, it’s important to remember that achieving a perfect braid depends greatly on your ability to work with the inherent characteristics of your hair-type.
“All hair is different in composition, so knowing how to work with it is key to a successful braid. Straight, black hair, for instance, is prone to falling apart. Applying label.m Sea Salt Spray creates enough texture to hold it together. Blonde, red and brown hair each have varying levels of thickness, but are overall more malleable than black hair. When dealing with such soft textures, I would recommend using label.m Mousse (RMB 170/200ml) to provide volume from root to tip.”
The truth is that braids take a long time to perfect, but it’s not impossible. The only solution is to practice braiding as often as you can. In time, your dexterity will improve and you’ll be able to braid your hair faster than you can get to the bottom of your purse. Now wouldn’t that be something?
RMB 300 for all types of braids and updos. Additional charges are according to length and density of hair. Estimated time: one hour for each style. Braids last 1 – 2 days.
Toni&Guy Academy & Salons. The Cool Docks, Block 7, 3F, 505 Zhongshan Nan Lu, near Maojiayuan Lu. Tel: 5098 8018, Web: www.toniandguychina.com.cn
Learn how to make your own braids on the next page!
