Johannesburg - Plaits or braids, rolled into a bun. Or loose and sleek. These were the dominant hair styles at last week’s Sheer Glamour Show, a showcase of hair and fashion trends for 2013/2014.
The show, which opened SA Fashion Week in Rosebank, was a collaboration between hair stylists Nthato Mashishi and Matthew Mansoor and fashion designers Stoned Cherrie, Black Coffee, Rubicon, Clive Rundle, Terrance Bray and Vesselina Pentcheva.
Mashishi was the stylist for the Williams sisters, Venus and Serena, when they were in South Africa, and is also the whiz behind Minnie Dlamini, Bonang Matheba and Lira’s red carpet styles.
Mansoor’s client list includes Jamali, local soccer stars Ryan Botha and Larry Cohen as well as Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty.
The long, sleek look for Caucasian hair, which was styled by Mansoor representing TRESemmé products, effuses youth and romance.
The other styles showcased by Mansoor, inspired by styles worn at the Oscars by actresses such as Hilary Swank and Jessica Alba, included French braids on the sides of the head, then rolled into a bun at the back, a soft curl in hair let loose, and a simple French twist, also a staple at London Fashion Week in February.
And the colour choices are sandy or dark blonde or spicy brown. “It’s about toning down your bright colours a little for winter, making them warmer,” says Mansoor.
The long, sleek look can easily be achieved at home with ironing tongs or blow-drying, he says. “Just make sure you use a heat protection product if you’re using heating tools,” says Mansoor.
For men, he adds, the trend for 2013/14 is slightly coiffed hair on top with totally shaven sides, “the conservative Italian man with an edge”.
Nthato Mashishi, who represented Motions Hair Care for ethnic hair, showed styles which he says encapsulate what is happening on the streets as well as on the world’s catwalks.
Again, the predominant look entails “lots of braids, twists and plaits, as seen at New York and São Paulo Fashion Weeks”.
Most striking at the show was the top braid, like a Mohawk-style “wheel”, which Mashishi says pays homage to African queens. “Thandiswa Mazwai (musician-singer) rocks that style,” he says.
Among the models were a handful of celebrities. Actress Hayley Owen was styled with Mansoor’s French plait, gathered into a loose bun on one side, while former Miss South Africa Tansey Coetzee looked elegant with her hair soft-curled and pulled to one side. Actress Jay Ainstey wore a long, sleek look, while Mansoor added a soft curl to singer Chiano Sky’s long red-brown hair.
5fm DJ Poppy Ntshongwana sported a slicked-back-on-the-sides and curly-on-top style, “in deference to Queen Cleopatra” says Mashishi, while TV presenter and actress Dineo Moeketsi wore a Swiss plait.
Top Billing presenter Lorna Maseko wore a high bun and a long fringe covering one eye, paying homage to the Nubian queen whose identifying trait was that she was blind in one eye, and TV personality Minnie Dlamini was styled with the top braid, the pièce de résistance of the show.
“I created these styles with a mind to them being achievable for ordinary women. They look complicated, but they are simple, using hair extensions.
“It’s important to see hair extensions as accessories, the way you regard make-up. Don’t be afraid to use them, but take care of your hair underneath with nourishing treatments and products,” says Mashishi.
Mashishi adds another note of warning. “Ethnic salons are popping up everywhere. Watch out for the fly-by-nights.
“Google the salon, ask around, look at past results. Make sure you’re in the hands of a good stylist.”
BUN-LICIOUS
* Apply Motions Oil Moisturiser Hair Lotion and brush your hair upwards to the centre to create a pony tail. Leave some hair in the front for a side fringe.
* Comb the front of your hair into a side fringe and spray with Motions Marula Natural Therapy Hair and Scalp Oil.
* Use pins to secure the bun.
* Comb the front of your hair into a side fringe.
* Trim your hair in a desired angle to give that blocked eye style.
STRAIGHT AND SLEEK
* Spray TRESemmé Heat Defence Styling Spray liberally 14-18cm away from the mid-shaft to the ends of your hair. For damp hair, use before you blow-dry; and for dry hair, use before flat ironing to shield hair from damaging heat.
* TIP: When blow-drying hair with a round or flat brush, always point the nozzle down towards the end of your hair. This smoothes the cuticle and prevents tangles.
* Iron hair straight.
* Finish off with TRESemmé 24 Hour Body Finishing Spray.
FRENCH TWIST
* Generously apply TRESemmé Salon Finish Extra Control Mousse and blow-dry your hair with a diffuser.
* Tease your hair from about 12cm from the roots to ends of your hair.
* Twist your hair up and start pinning from the bottom using large bobby pins, working your way up to the crown of your head to create a French twist.
* To finish, use TRESemmé Extra Hold Hair Spray.
SWISS PLAIT
* Apply Motions Oil Moisturiser Hair Lotion and comb through your hair. Separate your hair onto two sides, from the middle of your head.
* Divide one side in the middle, into two equal sections. Spray Motions Marula Natural Therapy Hair and Scalp Oil liberally over scalp and hair.
* Begin twisting or braiding your hair towards the back.
* Use hair pins towards the end at the back to secure the braiding. Repeat on the other side.
* Twist both braids into a Swiss. Tuck the loose ends of both braids under the plaits and secure with hair pins.
* To give it a dramatic effect, use hair extensions if the hair is not long enough to make the Swiss.
BRAIDS
* After washing your hair, protect it by spraying with TRESemmé Heat Defence Styling Spray which is a fantastic tool for instantly transforming all hair textures and holding shape.
* Once you have dried your hair, apply a small amount of TRESemmé Salon Finish Extra Control Mousse.
* Take the section of hair where you want the braid to be and separate this into two sections.
* Twist both strands in the same direction while crossing over each other on the opposite direction (Once you get the hang of this motion, it’s so easy).
* Repeat twisting and crossing over until you’ve reached the desired length of the braid.
TOP BRAID
* Apply Motions Shine Enhancing Pomade and brush your hair to the top and make a pony tail.
* Braid your pony tail. The longer the pony tail the better because it will save your hair line.
* Braid extensions into your pony tail.
* Roll the extensions into a Chelsea bun.
* Use hair pins to make sure the bun is secured. Spray Motions Light Hold Working Spritz over the bun and hair to hold the look in place. - The Star