Fashion Week Update: TIGI & R Session at Richard Chai

“With Richard, the girl who wears his clothes is always a cool girl; she’s a New York girl who doesn’t try too hard,” says Kevin Ryan backstage at Richard Chai’s Fall 2011 showing. “I know a lot of people cite New York girls as their inspiration, but this is the real deal,” he laughs.

To give this undeniably cool gal fuss-free hair, Ryan, who’s working with TIGI, blow-dries hair using his hands to “create a dry, natural and unpolished texture. We want a dry base, so we’re putting Catwalk Your Highness Root Boost by TIGI at the crown,” he says. “Some mousses get too sticky, or others just don’t do enough. This one strikes it right.”

Steering clear of a brush (which would make the look “too pretty”), he musses hair further, adding Rockaholic Dirty Secret Dry Shampoo to rough-up texture. Girls with naturally straight hair receive gentle waves with the R session Nalu Waver, but “we’re keeping the ends straight. This isn’t ‘sexy’ hair; it’s effortless. Or rather, it’s hair that’s touched by the hand of God. Does that sound too pretentious?” He winks. “Really, though, this wave mirrors that moment when you take a braid out and you get that lucky bend.” Before touching Nahlu to locks, Ryan sprays hair with Catwalk Sleek Mystique Look Lock Hairspray to help retain the wave and add sheen. He finishes the styles—both straight and waved—with Look Lock as well…and a balloon. “Gives you a little bit of static…just a nice way to apply some more texture to the ends,” he explains. Up, up and away! —Karie L. Frost