Opulenza by Richard Ward
"I wanted a rich Diva look", says Richard Ward of his collection of couture hair. Shot in Milan, the photos show hairstyles that are created using traditional methods with contemporary twists, combining the looks with strong surges of color.
Full-Volume Hairstyle
The Cut: The hair is cut into long, deep layers in preparation for creating this full-volume style of lush curls.
The Color: The model's hair is colored a rich, dark-chocolate brown and highlighted with extremely fine highlights to give the hair a lustrous glow.
The Style: To achieve this look, use large rollers with on-base positioning for maximum volume and lift. Set the hair with a strong-hold mousse. When styling, define the curls with a smoothing serum to add extra gloss and depth to the hair.
Hairstyle with Box Layering
The Cut: This is a basic layered bob with box layering at the upper sections of the head to offer volume to the style. This cut works exceptionally well with fine hair.
The Color: The color is a very pale blonde, almost platinum. In fact, the already pale base color is highlighted with thin platinum locks for added depth.
The Style: After towel-drying, hair should be treated with leave-in conditioner and maximum hold styling product. Then, blow-dry the hair while holding the roots up for maximum lift and carefully form sweeping curves. Lightly backcomb the hair to create support in the style and ensure longer-lasting lift. Finally, use an ultra-fine misting spray to secure the finished style.
Beehive & Pompadour Updo
The Cut: The cut here is a standard long blunt cut.
The Color: The model's hair is a natural-looking honey blonde with soft highlights to add depth and light.
The Style: The style is a tribute to the 60s beehive/pompadour looks, with the top and crown sections backcombed and styled smooth on the surface. They are then gathered at the back of the head and finished in a cascade of soft, yet fully-defined curls. The hair on the sides is smoothed back, with one side featuring a ponytail that is wrapped at the base with a strand of hair itself, ending in a clutch of soft, smooth curls.
Twists & Coils Updo
The Cut: Again, this model's hair is a standard long blunt cut.
The Color: The color is a cool dark blonde with lots of shiny golden highlights that add shimmer and shine to the hair.
The Style: The style is a nest of upwardly styled twists arranged into large, loose coils, offering a rope-like effect to the hairstyle. To create the style, the hair should be prepped with leave-in conditioner and styling product when towel-dried. Blow-dry the hair until mostly dry, but still damp enough to be smooth when twisted. Finally, curl the loose ends of the twists and occasional strands into drooping coils.
Backcombed Curls
The Cut: The hair here is cut into a very long layered style, with added box layering to round the silhouette of the top of the head.
The Color: The rich chocolatey brown color of the hair here features soft highlights to give the hair a warm glow in the light.
The Style: This hairstyle is created first by blowing out the hair (prepped with leave-in conditioner and styling gel) using the fingers to create the maximum amount of lift. Soft curls are created using jumbo-sized Velcro rollers and a diffused hair dryer, followed by hairspray. The curls are then backcombed to maximize fullness and volume, and the finished style is misted with fine mist spray and fingered to define the curls.
Updo with Finger-waves
The Cut: This cut is a long layered cut.
The Color: The hair is a natural blonde (neutral base) with paler highlights for added depth and dimension.
The Style: This hairstyle uses finger-wave styling at the top and sides in decreasing ridges from the front to the crown and nape area. The long ends of the hair are rolled onto medium-sized tools at the back. Once the hair has dried and set, the finger waves are softened and carefully repositioned, while the curls are pulled out and backcombed to create full-volume tufts.
Updo with Smoothed Back Hair
The Cut: Once again, the hair is cut with a long blunt cut style.
The Color: The color of this model's hair is a cool sable black. Additionally, the hair appears to have been treated with a clear gloss additive to give it additional shine.
The Style: Towel-dry the hair and prep it with leave-in spray and styling gel or mousse, then blow dry it to achieve a smooth, straight finish. Lightly backcomb the hair at the top and crown of the head to add height. Smooth back the hair on the top and sides, gathering it back at the nape area. Twist the gathered hair into a single, long twist that doubles back, securing it with pins and other appropriate accessories.
Gingery Red Hair
The Cut: This is another style based on a long, blunt cut.
The Color: The hair's color is a soft gingery red with subtle highlights to give the hair a fiery glow without any brassiness.
The Style: Prep the hair with leave-in spray and styling gel, then blow dry it with a lot of lift. Backcomb the hair to add more fullness, then clip it on each side with barrettes. Double the hair under and secure it with the barrettes. Finish the updo with a misting of hairspray and smooth it with a styling brush.
Hair: Richard Ward
Makeup: Dyves La Medica assisted by Sonia
Styling: Gianantonio Allievi
Art Direction: Tim Frisby
Photography: Daniele Ciprani