How Slick Hair Became the Supermodel’s Answer to Beach Waves

Click here for gallery.

There’s hardly a better signifier of a sunny day well spent than a finger-combed mess of windswept waves, but leave it to the street style set to spark a party-ready hair trend that adds a bit of polished yin to all that beachy summer yang: slicked-back hair that conjures up lazy poolside chic and ’80s-inspired power glamour in equal measure—while requiring little more than a fine-toothed comb and a dollop of gel to perfect.

It all began with Kendall Jenner and Joan Smalls, whose minimalist hair at Canneslast month looked like they had taken a quick dip in the Riviera before diving into their gowns, while Toni Garrn recently took the style into hard-edged Helmut Newton territory with a liquid off-the-shoulder dress in Monaco.

But for all its ocean-fresh appeal, the clean sweep feels just as right for an evening in the city: Josephine Skriver and Stella Maxwell wore the style on the red carpet in Manhattan this week, proving the look pairs just as nicely with clean skin and a floor-length dress as a smudge of eyeliner and an androgynous tux.

Just in time for a steamy Saturday night, here’s to summer’s coolest shortcuts to high-impact hair.

JUNE 11, 2016 8:00 AM by SOPHIE SCHULTE-HILLEN

FINALLY! Oribe Fragrances

Available at the Timothy Pamment Salon

When Oribe was first developed, we set out to elevate the hair category throughperformance, packaging and scent. The facets of our bottles, the carton paper and, most importantly, the fragrance were inspired by the beauty and sophistication of fine perfume.

To create our signature perfume-grade scents, we worked with the world’s finest French fragrance houses and after exploring several iterations that work for men and women alike, two fragrances stood above the rest which embody glamour, sex and fashion in a bottle.

Fragrance has always been a part of Oribe's DNA. These signature perfume-grade scents work for men and women alike, and embody glamour, sex and fashion in a bottle.

Behind the Hair: NYFW F/W 2015

Oribe Hair Care was backstage at more than two dozen shows during the most recent New York Fashion Week, and our hairstylists created a variety of looks to complement the designers’ Fall/Winter 2015 collections. The styles that make their way down the runway are regularly a precursor to what we’ll be seeing in magazines, on red carpets and in salons in the months to come, so we broke down the top hair trends you should be on the lookout for. Our lead hairstylists updated the ponytail, played with texture, kept it natural and slicked hair down, offering a variety of options for you to experiment with.

Sally LaPointe: Hair by Yannick d’Is

Designer Sally LaPointe found inspiration in German ballet dancer and choreographer Pina Bausch for her new collection, so lead hairstylist Yannick d’Is created a cool, simple, wearable dancer look for the show.

Photo Courtesy of Sally LaPointe

Get the Look

1. Create a strong middle part in dry hair, then apply Grandiose Hair Plumping Mousse and blow-dry it into the hair.
2. Spray Volumista Mist for Volume into the lengths of the hair for some texture, and lightly tease the hair. Run a flat-iron over the lightly teased hair to enhance the texture and create flyaways.
3. Pull hair back into a low ponytail and secure with a band, leaving some hair soft and loose in the front. Wrap a section of hair around the band and tie it in a knot with another section of hair to create the illusion of a second ponytail coming out of the first.
4. Spray Thick Dry Finishing Spray into the ponytails to add depth.

Chromat: Hair by Amy Farid

For Chromat’s Fall 2015 runway show, key hairstylist Amy Farid wanted something graphic to complement Becca McCharen’s designs, which were made of synthetic materials like latex and TPU (a synthetic plastic). The main look, a high and tight ponytail, was achieved with generous amounts of Superfine Hair Spray and Shine Light Reflecting Spray . “I wanted to add height and drama to the collection with the hair, making it look wet, slick and shiny,” explained Farid. “I also incorporated latex from the collection into the look by wrapping it around the high ponytails.”

Photo Courtesy of Chromat

Get the Look

1. Prep dry hair with Foundation Mist and Maximista Thickening Spray.
2. Blow-dry the hair straight with a Mason Pearson brush, directing the hair backwards.
3. Use generous amount ofSuperfine Hair Spray and brush hair back into a very high ponytail. It’s helpful to tilt the head all the way back to get the necessary height. Secure with a bungee. Use a fine-tooth comb and more Superfine Hair Sprayto get rid of any bumps and achieve a slick and smooth look.
4. Apply Supershine Light Moisturizing Cream on the ponytail and create a thick rope braid. Mist the braid withSuperfine Hair Spray and secure the end with an elastic, leaving about an inch of hair left at the end.

Veronica Beard: Hair by Kien Hoang

For Fall 2015, the designers behind Veronica Beard created tailored separates, dresses and outerwear inspired by the outdoors and the great camps of the Adirondacks. To complement their collection, hairstylist Kien Hoang created the perfect look for those who look forward to campfires and hikes in the fall. “We wanted to make a certain texture that was as if you were river rafting and your hair is in a low ponytail,” explained Hoang. “You would be left with a lived-in style that was soft and natural.”

Get the Look

1. Prep the hair with Foundation Mist and apply Dry Texturizing Spray all throughout the hair.
2. Create a deep side part, then fold sections of the hair like an accordion and secure with an elastic, leaving the ends out. This will create a loosely crimped texture. Let the hair set with moreDry Texturizing Spray.
3. Use a flatiron and Après Beach Wave and Shine Spray on the ends of the hair. You’ll be left with matte finish on the lengths of the hair and shiny ends.
4. Take out the elastics and tie the hair back into a low ponytail. Let pieces of the hair frame the face. Use Rough Luxury Soft Molding Paste to polish the hairline.