Brain Lust

At Akiko Ogawa, Peter Gray and Redken twist out a brainy hair design.

View PDF version (with more images from the show!) »

Designer: Akiko Ogawa

Products: Redken

“These are brain bits,” Peter Gray says enthusiastically, and I cock my head slightly in uncertainty. Did he just say “brain” or “braid”? Taking in the upstyle that Gray is ardently twisting with Redken products backstage at Akiko Ogawa, I’m thinking he said “braid.”

“Nope. Brains,” he insists as he douses strands in Vinyl Glam 02 Mega Shine Spray for a patentleather finish. “The brains sort of ooze out on some of the girls.” Perhaps “brains” is an appropriate moniker for the tightly coiled, rope-like masses that sprout from high atop each model’s head. Whatever the case, the overall style is composed of several variables: a part that circles the head from ear to ear; a side-swept, faux fringe that grazes the lashes; and then those heavily glossed brains…er, twists.

“The inspiration is Akiko herself,” Gray further explains. “I’m working her Japanese heritage into the hairstyle. Having the hair up in topknots is a very Japanese idea. I’d say it’s a little bit sumo, a little bit Kabuki and a little bit manga.” So, in other words, bridging the gap between traditional and modern-day Japanese beauty—which sounds oh-so brainy. —Karie L. Frost

Score This Look

Brainy beauty can be hers with these Redken products.

Outshine 01 Anti-Frizz Polishing Milk: allows clean definition and lends softness to the style

Vinyl Glam 02 Mega Shine Spray: imparts patent-leather-like sheen

(Photo credit: Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week)