Inside New York Fashion Week: Hair Tips

I stalked Hiroko Mima outside of Wes Gordon’s pretty Chelsea venue. She does this very SJP-worthy bun herself and claims it lasts from 8am-8pm. As a correspondent for FOX Japan, responsible for covering up to six shows a day, it better. Her secret is Sachajuan Ocean Mist, which she rough blowdries into hair using her fingers. She sweeps hair into a high ponytail at the crown. She uses a comb to tease the length of her ponytail and SOFTLY twists the length into a donut shape. She secures the bun with just three pins. She hates flyaways along the neckline and uses wax instead of hairspray, she isn’t partial to any particular wax but a great one to try is Davines Wonder Wax.

For Helen Steed, Creative Director of Jawbone, key partner this season at Milk Studios (where many shows are held), it’s all about cut and product. She’s been faithful to Eric at Cutler Salon to keep her hair gamine short for years. Her hair stays put via a few layered products. She swears by Bumble and bumble Grooming Creme applied to damp hair. Once it’s dry she defines ends with Bumble and bumble Thickening Creme Contour. Short hair does take work to get the style just so, but once it sets you generally don’t have to tinker with it too much. Even after partying with Kendrick Lamar at Jawbone’s jam-packed fashion week soiree, she still looked serene and polished.

I love a good hanger steak salad between shows—protein’s great for hair! The Standard’s hanger steak is the best. As I waited for a table (alongside Rachel Zoe’s fashionista son Skyler) I got the lowdown on the hostess Cipriana Quann’s sculptural bun. She has a lot of hair and swears by SheaMoisture Reconstructive Finishing Elixir applied to damp hair. She then separates her hair into EIGHTEEN individual twists and creates this amazing dual chignon. She loves using 100 percent extra virgin coconut oil or 100 percent extra virgin olive oil as a finisher in lieu of silicone-based serums. Get this girl and her mad skills backstage!

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Hilliary Latham washes every day, even during crazy-busy fashion week. Part of the Marketing/VIP Dressing/Social Media team at CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalist Todd Snyder, she not only knows fashion but knows her hair well. Her fine hair works best down and she loves a softly waved style. She (like me!) is a huge fan of Redken All Soft Conditioner and she also loves Fresh Soy Shampoo. She opts for one style that is easy to touch up, keeping a mini dry shampoo and comb in her purse to give locks a reset button. On the rare occasion she doesn’t wash her hair, she relies on an arsenal of vintage scarves courtesy of grandma.

Part of the marketing team of the ever expanding Who What Wear franchise, Heather Duchowny has to race from meeting to meeting with different clients and publicists. She’s actually on her way to the airport in this picture and did not style her hair. Her secret is Teddi Cranford at Sally Hershberger and show-stopping color by Nikki Ferrara. She gets it colored every six weeks and can’t live without Davines Alchemic Shampoo and Conditioner in Red to extend her hue. When your hair is this vibrant you often can cheat in other areas and still look great. Her Miu Miu flats also don’t hurt.

“There is little time for self prep when you are helping designers with their shows,” says Dana Nover, Director at Linda Gaunt Communications, who reps such designers as Jen Kao, Clover Canyon and ADEAM. “We usually have seven to nine shows each season so our dress code must be simple… wear black. Makeup, hair and nails should always look groomed and clean.” Dana swears by blowouts at Drybar and her secret weapon Bumble and bumble Hair Powder in Brown. And when in a bind throw it into a ponytail!

Which is exactly what I do. I nearly always wear my hair back during fashion week. I don’t have any styling technique behind it and I think it can look incredibly chic if you accessorize the look properly. It’s a great opportunity to wear a popped collar and a slick of lipstick in a statement color like cranberry or even the Spring/Summer ‘14 shade of choice: orange. I keep the rest of my outfit very muted and monochromatic so that my lips and skin take center stage. YouBeauty editor Courtney Dunlop knows a thing or two about this look as well. She’s the master.