Having the right kind of hair is not enough, one also needs to give it the right kind of look, say international hairstylists

by Prachi Raturi & Upasana Pande

HAS that sudden chop made heads turn around like you never thought it would? The right hair style, say experts, can do this and much more for you. No wonder then Delhi saw three experts flying all the way from Italy and France to talk about hair care and hair styles, last week.

So Mr Andrea Minghetti from Italy and Mr Mathew and Mr Fredric from France not just talked about having the right kind of hair but also about giving it the right kind of look. The trio also conducted workshops for hair experts.

So what are the kinds of styles that are predicted for the season? Though the three have different things to say, the common thread of a natural look links their predictions. Mr Minghetti, who has the reputation of having worked with designers like Armani, Versace, and Dolce and Gabbana was in India to train Lakme beauty experts at its different centres across India, predicts a “feminine look” to dominate in the near future. Says he: “The 2001 woman is extremely feminine with a streak of determination. So, the basic emphasis this year is going to be femininity and looks that bring forth that femininity of hers.”
According to Mr Fredric, the style that is currently in vogue is length with layers. Straight flat hair, he says, is off the season. “People want to have movement and flow in their hair. And layers not only provide movement, but complement the beauty while increasing the volume as well,” he adds.

Says Mr Mathew: “About 20 years ago there was something like true fashion or some 3-4 special hair styles, now nothing like this exists. You have to see the person and give her a style that suits her.”
Adds Mr Fredric: “It’s essentially the work profile of the person by which we decide the best suited hair-cut. It all depends on how much time one can give to maintain hair. With most of the women working and not having much time at their disposal, they generally prefer something which is comfortable and easy to manage. We generally hold a conversation with the person, observing the hair, make-up, jewellery and then recommend her the suited hair-cut.”

Mr Minghetti echoes the same emotions. Says he: “There are no specific hairstyles as such. You have to see the person, the energy level of her hair, her kind of profession and what kind of hair style goes well with her looks. So you have to see the person and give her a cut that suits her best.”

The best suited face which merges well with all kinds of hairstyle is an oval cut, say Mr Fredric and Mr Mathew. “With a round face, we try to keep a higher top. However, with a square one we minimise the volume on the sides keeping the top heavy. So whatever be the face-cut the idea is to give it an oval look by the hair style,” say the duo.

The look, they say, can further be enhanced with decorations on the forehead, like supporting a fringe or curls. “Normally the most important aspect of the haircut is that your forehead should be made clearly visible,” explains Mr Mathew.

A wavy hair, according to the duo is best suited for experimenting different hair styles.

A suitable summer hair style for Indian ladies, according to the duo, is short hair with layers, leaving the neck area open for comfort.

And what do the three have to say about hair colouring. According to Mr Mighetti, it is important to give your hair a natural look and not go against its basic nature, meaning pick up colours which go well with your skin colour and a style which follows the style of your hair. The duo from France say much the same. Uniformity in colouring, they say, is out. There is more use of highlights to enhance one’s feature. Ruling out the blonde colour for Indian women, he says, the best suited colour would be either copper, red, brown, mahogany, burgundy or a mixture of any two, depending on the looks.

For hair care tips, Mr Mathew suggests treating one’s hair with a good shampoo and then applying a conditioner suited to the hair-type. Wrapping a hot towel around the head for 10-15 minutes after conditioning, followed by a rinse, gives the hair the necessary shine and bounce.

Mr Minghetti is all praises for Indian hair. Says he: “Indian women have some of the most beautiful and healthy hair around the world. It’s probably the natural hair products which do the trick.”