Now that the humidity of the Chapel Hill summer is gone, it’s time to put more effort into show-stopping hair. Loose, tousled waves and bouncy curls are classic looks that are flattering on every girl. However, not every girl feels capable of achieving this sexy look on her own.
At Bottega Hair Studio in Raleigh, lead stylist Jennifer Borneman touts the magic that is the Kevin Murphy Screen Siren kit. This do-it-yourself box set includes all the products, instructions and tools (minus the curling iron) necessary to get curls that hold in three simple steps.
Australian hair phenom, Kevin Murphy, gained notoriety as a session stylist, Borneman said. He worked under a time crunch to create memorable looks for the leading fashion magazines, including Marie Claire, Vanity Fair, InStyle, Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. Murphy has worked with elite fashion photographers such as Patrick Demarchelier and Robert Erdman, and you might be familiar with his work in Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge. Vogue magazine credits Murphy as the inventor of the iconic “beach hair” look, which is a favorite of his celebrity clients, Heidi Klum, Vanessa Hudgens, Kylie Minogue and Miranda Kerr.
I visited Bottega to experience first-hand the ease and simplicity of the Screen Siren kit. Before beginning to work on our lovely model Caitlin, stylist Aaron Myers promised that I would be out of the salon in 30 minutes or less!
Here’s what you will need:
Screen Siren kit, which includes:
– 6 pin clips
– 8 medium curlers
– Anti.Gravity, oil-free volumizing setting lotion
– Texture net
– Texture comb
A small curling iron, ½” – 1” barrel (depending on the thickness and length of your hair)
Step One: Divide & Conquer
Starting with dry hair, section off 1-2” pieces. Wrap each section around the barrel of your curling iron. Then, release each section from the iron and set in a curler. Repeat until all your hair is set curled (takes about 15 minutes).
Tip: As you work around your head, Myers suggests setting the curlers level with one another, and not above the eye level.
“You want your waves to all start in one place,” he said. “Not one up here and one WAY down there.” If you set the curlers at varying levels, the overall look will be messier.
Step Two: Patience
Make yourself busy for five minutes while your hair cools in the curlers. The kit actually includes a Texture Net, which is Kevin Murphy’s version of the lunch lady hair net.
“This kit was made for the everyday busy girl,” Myers said. “The net keeps everything together while you walk around the house.”
So make a sandwich or fold your laundry while rocking this ultra-sexy hair accessory.
Step Three: Unravel
Starting at the bottom and working your way up to the crown of your head, begin gently unrolling the curlers. Rub a dime-sized amount of Anti.Gravity through the ends of the hair. According to Myers, the final styling depends on the look you want to achieve.
“For the classic Screen Siren, take the Texture Comb and rake it straight down through your hair. This creates a uniform wave.”
Myers wanted to show off a more casual, tousled look; which he achieved by running his fingers through Caitlin’s hair, scrunching some sections and combing others out.
Tip: For added volume, tease the roots at the crown of your head, then smooth the top layer over it.
Smooth any flyaway pieces with your hands. For extra hold, use a finishing spray.
The final look:
Total styling time = 23 minutes
Sources:
All photos taken by Rahel Gebremeskel.