MBFWA 19: Wella Professionals X BONDI BORN

Over enviable Mediterranean cuisine at Bondi’s trendy Totti’s restaurant, guests watched the runway show for BONDI BORN at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia. Complementing this major runway were three intricate hair looks from the incomparable Renya Xydis, creative director for Wella Professionals, incorporating braiding, styling and texture.

“Totti’s encapsulates everything the BONDI BORN woman values in a European holiday – good food, incredible company, and the utmost consideration to design, we feel fortunate that our guests have experienced our clothes in the environment they’re designed for,” said the brand’s founder McCarthy. “Notoriously well-travelled and from a big family-driven social background, Renya Xydis of Wella Professionals was able to capture this essence perfectly. From Top to toe, ceiling to floor, everything was perfectly placed.”

The collection included loose fitting pieces with knotted details – an element that translated to the hair looks – as well as swimwear and draped linens. The hair looks took this brief and created an idyllic and fashion-savvy pool-side aesthetic. The three looks were comprised of a textured, natural look, a knotted braid and an intricate twisted bun inspired by nautical knots and coral.

“The Australian woman loves to travel, the hair direction for the show was very much driven by looks that women can emulate at home, we showed wet hair because she’s always out of the pool, we showed slicked back hair because it’s what she likes to do before dinner, and to top it off we’ve included editorial iterations of ponytails and buns with a nautical nod,” Renya said.

It was a Fashion Week highlight that fused Bondi with Spain over an immaculate lunch, transporting guests to either beach front locale in the food, fashion, setting and hair. Add the looks to your repertoire.

Get the look – Bondi Knot:

Prep the hair with EIMI Perfect Setting from mid-lengths to ends and at the root
With a wide comb, push the hair back and apply EIMI Sculpt Force gel with a tintbrush to fix
Work the comb to ensure tooth-marks are visible
Dry and set with a diffuser for 10-15 minutes, until the gel has set
Pull the hair back into a pony tail and secure with an elastic, prep the pony with EIMI Perfect Me
Separate the hair into small sections (about the width of a finger) and twist out the length until tight, secure fly-aways with EIMI Mistify Me (Strong Hold)
Push the twist back until it curls upwards (if it flops, it isn’t tight enough)
Fold the knots back on themselves and secure inwards with a pin
Using a plastic needle, thread through the bun with elastic and pull tight, bringing the knots secure and compact into a narrow bundle.
Finish with EIMI Glam Mist (liberally at the root) to give an all over dewy, pool side glow. Secure with EIMI Mistify Me (Strong hold).

Get the look – Bondi Braid:

Prep the hair with EIMI Perfect Setting from mid-lengths to ends and at the root
With a wide comb, push the hair back and using a brush, apply EIMI Sculpt Force gel to fix
Work the comb to ensure tooth-marks are visible and remain.
Dry and set with a diffuser for 10-15 minutes, until the gel has set
Section the hair into 3 equal parts. Take the outer sections, pull tightly and folder across the centre piece in a half-pony. Knot the two sections (have someone hold) and knot a second time to secure. Spray with EIMI Glam Mist to keep slick
Section the remaining centre piece into 2 parts and knot together. Secure with elastic.
Take the ends of the first knot (left and right sides) and wrap around the base of the pony, knot together, securing at the base with pins.
Fold the rest of the pony back on itself and secure with a long elastic; wrapping and knotting.
Fan out the loop and leave the elastic ends loose. Finish with EIMI Glam Mist at the root, and EIMI Mistify Me (Strong) on the braid to hold.