Ethereal, woodland fairies: The theme for the hair at Erin Fetherston’s Fall 2011 show perfectly mirrors the designer’s own otherworldly beauty. In fact, Fetherston glides around backstage wearing the very same hairstyle that Odile Gilbert, working with Catwalk by TIGI, crafted for the models. “It’s a very romantic, very girly look,” Gilbert remarks. “We want a very tiny, smooth head, and then this wrapped-around braid to offset it. In the back, we’re rolling up the hair [as another element to the design].” To introduce a bit of fairy-tale whimsy, Gilbert weaves in silver and gold thread through the braid, and is allowing some of the braids sit slightly off-kilter rather than straight across the forehead. “It’s just a very sweet style,” she says.
To prep hair, Gilbert uses Curlesque Lightweight Mousse, which she notes “gives the hair a fluffy texture and the volume we need for the braid,” as well as Superstar Queen for a Day Thickening Spray to grant hair more pliability and guts. A tight French braid is created at the hairline to act as an anchor for the bigger braid (which is made from extensions). At the back of the head, Gilbert is pinning grips into “X” shapes across the base of the head that will serve as anchors for the rolled-up hair. To keep the style secure, she sprays Sleek Mystique Look-Lock Hairspray throughout, which also lends a hint of fairy-perfect sheen. —Karie L. Frost
