Sharon Blain: Agent Provocateur

[Tue 06/07/2010 03:12:16]

By Lena Sgambati

Sharon Blain, updo queen and Hair Expo Australia 2010 Educator of the Year showcased her incredible talents on stage at Sunday’s Hair Expo Workshop Agent Provocateur. The various looks were inspired by the glamour girls of the 1940’s and '50’s who often played femme-fatal characters opposite James Bond.

Sharon Blain with one of her models

The show opened with three models dressed in skin coloured bodices and transparent overcoats walking out across the stage then stoping to hold the iconic Charlies Angels poses. Each model’s hairstyle boasted a sculpture-like work of art. Sharon talked the audience through the collection, stating she predicts a Katherine Hepburn trend emerging.

“You can’t just redo the styles from the past, you have to change them and make them look a little bit different," she said. As hairdressers, we have to re-create those looks and put a little bit of a twist on them. It’s got to come back looking a little bit different.”

Sharon explained to the audience the various techniques used in the many hairstyles from the collection, while deminstrating how to create her signature hair padding used when up-styling.

“When creating bird-nest type curls, always use a brush to achieve this," she advised. "When you want to have a strong structured curl, always use a ‘stack and pack’ technique.”

In order to prep for one of her famous up-styles, she used plenty of fishnetting in the hair especially when creating the padding. The fishnets allowed the stylist to gain control of the hair and mould it into the desired structure.

Sharon explained that before creating a high pony-tail, it is important to directionally blow-dry the hair from the roots upward. This removes any hanging bags of hair from the back crown. She then takes to combing the hair to the base of the band. This smoothes out any bumps giving the hairline a flawless slick look.

Sharon Blain with her Agent Provocateur models

The hair styles from the collection had an impressive polished, sleek and sexy aesthetic as Sharon achieved the provocative '50s pin up girl look, yet gave the hairstyles a modern day twist.

www.sharonblain.com