Hairdresser to the stars, Richard Kavanagh, has just been named ghd’s new Creative Director. With 25 years under his belt and plenty of backstage experience at leading shows (think Prada, Calvin Klein, Jean Paul Gaultier and Saint Laurent) this hairdressing dynamo is the perfect man to ask about hairstyles that work.
What is a hairstyle that always looks professional?
Sleek and straight always looks professional. It’s shiny, healthy looking and makes a woman look put together, without looking like she is trying too hard. The best way to achieve this is by using your ghd platinum styler. It has patented tri-zone technology so the optimum temperature of 185°C is consistently maintained across the entire plate from root to tip, reducing hair breakage and leaving your hair looking shinier and healthier.
Do you have an example of this look?
I think the best example of this look is Guido Palau’s ghd hair trend for the Victoria Beckham Spring Summer 2017 show at New York Fashion Week. It was minimal and modern with polished and chic looking hair. I believe this is the one of the key looks of fashion this season and the easiest to translate to everyday.
If hair needs to be kept of the face, what is the best way to keep hair looking professional throughout a busy day in the salon?
I love a tight, low and sleek chignon. It looks professional, healthy and it’s an easy way to keep hair looking good all day.
How do you create your chignon?
Start with freshly washed towel-dried hair and apply styling product. Blow-dry with your ghd air professional hairdryer until it’s completely dry. If your hair is curly you can stretch out the curl using a ghd paddle brush as you blow-dry.
Then, section by section, straighten your hair using your ghd platinum styler.
Once shiny and sleek, part it where it’s most flattering on you (either the side or the middle) or if you prefer, pull it straight back off the face and fix it low at the nape into a ponytail.
Take a hairnet and catch your ponytail in the net twisting until it folds in on itself, then simply pin into place with hair pins. Finally, to hold the style, finish with hairspray to fix. If you like, you can also consider embellishing your look with a simple barrette or chignon pin.
How can styling tools cut down getting ready in the morning?
ghd has a range of tools that make great hair really easy to achieve. The hairdryers, like the ghd air professional hairdryer, are the best professional dryers on the market with powerful motors and advanced technology to dry hair faster and reduce frizz and fly-aways. The ghd platinum styler is the fastest way to get healthy sleek hair because it glides through the hair.
When using heat styling, what is the best way to protect the hair?
Always prepare your hair before any heat styling with good quality heat protectant to provide an invisible barrier against everyday heat damage. Finally, use heat styling tools which give you ultimate results without sacrificing the health of your hair.
How can we adapt an “up” hairstyle for after work?
If you’re wearing your hair sleek, straight and out, it’s a great option for night time. To adapt your sleek chignon for going out, simply let it down, run the ghd platinum styler over it to take out any kinks and bends from being tied up all day and you’re good to go.
