NYFW Hairstyles How To: David Tlale S/S 2014

An established brand in his native South Africa, award-winning designer David Tlale made his presence known across the Atlantic Ocean helping to kick off the first day of Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week. “This Spring collection is for the new woman of today,” says Tlale. “This woman is demanding, in control and wants to look beautiful at all times.” Jazz tunes filled the air in Lincoln Center’s Box venue as Tlale’s Spring 2014 presentation dazzled guests with ornate evening dresses, structured blouses, statement pieces and tailored-to-perfection separates on striking display. For his third showing at New York Fashion Week, David Tlale looked to the past for inspiration bringing together features from the 50s and the 80s. “The fusion of the decades was an exciting moment. Within the collection there are classic 50s elements along with a punk 80s element,” says Tlale. The blended designs, which had touches of coral and mint green, called for an assortment of fabrics and textures from silk organza, brocades, hand-sewn beading to laser-cut fabric. Texture was also an integral component of the hair look created by hair stylist extraordinaire Junya Nakashima. Exclusively using René Furterer styling products, Junya created a sleek look that melds a delicately structured, almost “wet” texture into smooth, soft, pin-straight ends.
 
The hair look was pivotal to completing the aesthetic of Tlale’s collection. “We wanted to bring a New York feel into the look and decided to keep hair clean and chic,” states Tlale. “And because the garments are so involved, we wanted the hair to be simple, classic.” Junya adds, “The hair needed to be simple yet chic to contrast and complement David’s designs. With René Furterer styling products I was able to create and execute the look that would last throughout the entire presentation.”

CREATE THE LOOK»[pagebreak]

Junya explains how he created the sleekly smooth yet simply elegant coif for the presentation of David Tlale’s bold designs:

• First, I applied a liberal amount of René Furterer STRAIGHTENING GEL to dry hair and combed it through from roots to ends to help achieve the sleek look we were going for. Using a blow-dryer with a nozzle attachment, I then straightened hair in sections with a Mason Pearson brush.

• After blow-drying, I wanted to make hair as straight and sleek as possible, so we took hair in small sections using a tail comb and ran a straightening iron through hair.

• Next, I used ample palmfuls of the René Furterer VEGETAL MOUSSE to saturate the hair from the top of the head to a little past the crown. The product was concentrated in this section and hair was brushed from front to back around the ears with all hair placed behind shoulders.

• I applied additional René Furterer VEGETAL MOUSSE to the top of head as needed to ensure there were no parts or separation in the hair. This helped to create a dual-texture, with a more slick-looking top half leading into soft, pin straight and sleek ends full of shine.

• To help keep the shape of the hair, I sprayed generous amounts of the René Furterer VEGETAL FINISHING SPRAY throughout hair while blow-drying hair down. On models that had flyaways, I used a small amount of René Furterer GLOSSING SPRAY to smooth any stray hairs.

• To further set and maintain the shape of hair we wanted, I clipped tissues strategically onto the sides of the models’ hair and across the point where the two textures of hair met.

• Finally, once the models’ makeup was in place and they were dressed for the presentation, we took out the tissues and clips and once again sprayed René Furterer VEGETAL FINISHING SPRAY throughout hair to hold everything in place and to keep hair as sleek as possible.

[Images courtesy of John M. Craig for René Furterer]