Emerson Salon – Capitol Hill Seattle

The 2010 Oscar nominations were recently announced and one of the 10 films nominated this year for Best Picture is the much buzzed about film, An Education, starring Peter Sarsgard, Alfred Molina, and Carey Mulligan. Carey is also nominated in the best actress category for her role as 16 yr old Jenny.

This movie is set in the 1960’s and shows Jenny as she gets wrapped up in a new relationship with an older man as she travels to Paris. This film utilizes not only the arc of the script but in addition, changes in Carey’s hair. This visually shows the transformation of a girl into a woman as she is being swept up by her sophisticated 30 something lover (Sarsgard.)

In the beginning of the movie, Jenny has simple 60’s teenager hair. Here is probably how it was achieved:

• This hairstyle utilizes a medium length longer haircut with minimal texture/layers. The perimeter line is put in first (at the top of the shoulder blades), and then the layers in back are created by slightly elevating them at a 45 degree. Over direction of the front layers towards the previous layer in back creates a subtle texture when styled. Added to the style is a mod style blunt bang/fringe that is shaped around the brow line and upper cheek bones.
• If your hair is not naturally this color you can consult with your Emerson Salon stylist to find the best shade/tone of dark reddish brown that looks best on you as well as one that fits in with your maintenance needs. People with a cool skin tone look best with orange based browns whereas warmer skin tones look best with neutral to more red violet browns.
• To style: No hair setting required!!. Carey’s hair has minimal natural texture and can be mostly air dried with a leave in conditioner (try Leave in Luxury by Kevin Murphy). If you have natural wave or frizz: Rough dry 50% then add Morroccan Oil Styling Oil (about a nickels worth) to the mid shaft to ends. Then blow dry section by section from the nape up with a paddle or denman brush. Make sure to flat wrap the bangs around the head shape to avoid frizz and excessive bend. Flat iron all the ends and then spray lightly with Working Spray by Alterna Caviar. Scrunch the ends lightly for additional bounce.

As Jenny “grows up” her hair styles mirror her experiences:

• This hair style it is possible to use a shampoo set to create soft curl and bounce. This means using velcro rollers that are big enough to wrap the hair at least 1 1/2 times on mostly damp hair. A great setting lotion is Anti Gravity by Kevin Murphy which aids in fullness, hold and weightlessness. Make sure to comb the bangs down towards the eyebrows and clip lightly before drying.
• Dry for 25 minutes with medium heat and cool for 5 minutes. Unwrap the hair and lightly finger separate the curls. Spray lightly with Working Spray.
• To create this updo style you will need: Bobby pins and a hair elastic. Create a pony tail just below the crown area in back. Make sure to include the nape hair/flyaways in the ponytail with Sticky Business by Kevin Murphy and Working Spray by Alterna. Leave out the sides and bang areas.
• Back brush on top (in front of the ponytail) to create soft height. Slowly work the side pieces and top into soft, loose bun curls with double back pinning. Use the heat of your hands/fingers to sculpt and shape the size and roundness of each section being pinned. Tip: Make sure not to create too much tension on the sides as Carey’s style is somewhat loose and soft going into the updo.
• Make sure to look at all angles of the style in the mirror to troubleshoot/detail the symmetry and size of the updo with your face/headshape. Final step: Spray with Session Spray by Kevin Murphy for firm hold and Alterna Rapid Repair for soft picture worthy shine.

We love using current movies and celebrity styles to excercise our styling expertise. Want us to do it for you? Come on in and we’ll give you a consultation and service that will suit you in every way!

post by D’Arcy