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Top Hair Stylists Reveal Their Tricks


Frank Apostolopoulos

The 2014 Schwarzkopf Professional Hair Expo Australian hairdresser of the year is creative director of Melbourne's BiBA salons, and has had Jessica Hart and Shanina Shaik in his chair.

Current muses: Models Freja Beha Erichsen and Saskia de Brauw.

What I tell my clients: Treat your hair the way you would your skin. Keep it hydrated and always follow professional advice to ensure you're using the right products. Clients get disappointed when their product hasn't performed - it might be a good product, but if it's not suited to your hair type you won't get the results.

Hot haircut: Right now, it's the long textured bob, sitting almost on the shoulders, layered and chipped into for texture and character. It has a rock'n'roll element to it and is very easy to maintain.

Top tool: I love hair that looks natural and has character, and the ghd Air Professional Diffuser, $25, keeps the movement while reducing drying time.

Beat a bad hair day... With a textured ponytail. Sprinkle powder onto roots and ends, brush out with a cushion brush to build body and loosely pull into a low pony.

Our pick: Toni & Guy Hair Meet Wardrobe Casual Sculpting Powder, $15.99.

In my kit: Applied on wet or dry hair, BiBA Divine Decadence Moulding Mud, $28, encourages natural texture and movement. Wella SP Delicate Volume Volumising Foam, $33.50, is a very light lotion that gives body without stiffness, and using Sebastian Professional Whipped Creme, $38, pre blow-dry makes hair feel like silk once it's dry.

Sarah Laidlaw

The 2014 Australian Hair Fashion Awards session stylist of the year has worked with Sarah Murdoch and is creative stylist for Kerastase Couture Styling.

What I tell my clients: You don't need high heat. If you use tools at 150-165*C, you'll get shape and longevity, any higher and you're just drying the hair shaft, which tries to compensate by pulling moisture from the atmosphere, causing frizz.

Runway to real way: The Isabel Marant A/W 2014 hair was natural and sexy. To re-create this, work a generous amount of mousse from roots to ends and blow-dry using your fingers to lift hair away from the roots. For soft movement, add a slight bend with a curling wand and finish with a texture spray.

Splurge on... A good shampoo and conditioner. Using products suited to your hair type will transform your hair before you even start styling.

Our pick: Matrix Biolage HydraSource Shampoo and Conditioner, $29 each.

In my kit: I use Kerastase Mousse Bouffante, $40, every day - it's versatile and gives beautiful texture to all hair types. De Lorenzo Elements Sandstorm, $23.50, gives hair that cool, matt look, and the temperature controls on the Cloud Nine iron, $299, mean I can create any shape on any hair type quickly and easily.

Brad Ngata

With two Sydney salons and two consecutive Australian hairdresser of the year wins, the L'Oreal Professionnel ambassador has worked with Erin Wasson and Megan Gale.

Hot haircut: I love a short, sharp bob with a wet finish.

What I tell my clients: Embrace your natural texture; don't fight it.

Secret styling weapon: Acca Kappa brushes have natural bristles that stimulate scalp blood supply to nourish follicles and encourage healthy, shiny hair.

Our pick: Lacquered Hair Brush with Bristles, $69.95.


Runway to real way:

The hair for Saint Laurent A/W 2014 paid homage to the brand's heritage while remaining youthful. Mist a dry texturising spray from roots to ends, then create movement in the mid lengths by wrapping hair around a large tong and alternating directions. Pull hair while it's hot to relax the curls. Brush hair, then mist with dry shampoo and use your hands to position the style.

My latest obsession: Shu Uemura Tasai Cream, $46, puts traction into the hair, so it cements the style in place.

Save on... The post-cut blow-dry. Ask if your cut will cost less without it.

In my kit: The ergonomic Tangle Teezer Salon Elite Hairbrush, $29.95, glides through hair to prevent splitting, and I couldn't work without a Parlux 385 Power Light ionic & Ceramic Dryer, $229.95 - it's small, but has the same grunt as the bigger one. The L'Oreal Professionnel Volumetry range gives incredible volume, especially on fine hair.

Jayne Wild

A three-time winner of the Australian hairdresser of the year award, ild has two Sydney salons and is a ghd ambassador. She has also worked with Miranda Kerr.

Current muse: Tilda Swinton.

What I tell my clients: Get regular trims, even if you're growing your hair. Never leave it longer than 10 weeks as split ends can travel up the shaft and you'll have to get more cut off to get above the split.
Hot haircut: We've been influenced by the hemlines at Prada's A/W 2013 collection, and have been playing with a bi-level look on both long and short hair.

Top tool: The ghd Eclipse, $300, speeds up styling time - you only have to pass it over the hair once to get smooth hair that's straight, curly or wavy.

Beat a bad hair day... By treating your hair. Cleanse hair and apply a treatment, then comb or shape into style, whether it's a pony, bun or sleek 'do. I like Goldwell Dualsenses 60sec Treatments, $24.95.

In my kit: Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil Shampoo, $72, deeply cleanses any hair type without stripping it, leaving it light and airy, and I'm never without Bumble and bumble Pret-a-powder, $40. It works as a dry shampoo and gives great body. Plus, every girl should use a heat protectant before picking up any hot styling tools.

Our pick: Moroccanoil Heat Styling Protection, $55.

Anthony Nader

In his 20-plus years in the business, Nader, who divides his time between New York and his Sydney salon, has worked with well-known names like Cate Blanchett and Gisele Buendchen.

Current muses: Carine Roitfeld and Grace Coddington.

Top tool: Mason Pearson brushes come in different sizes, colours and bristle combinations, and are an investment that will last a lifetime.

Our pick: Large Extra Pure Bristle Hair Brush, $320.

What I tell my clients: Keep a few bobby pins in your handbag as you never know when you'll need a quick change. With haircuts, I think it's best to keep some length so you can move the hair in different directions. And switching up your styling products is key if you want a different look every day.

Secret styling tip: To add body to fine hair, use mini crimpers on random sections underneath the top layers.

Beat a Bad hair day... with a thick black headband, a la Brigitte Bardot. It's a timeless, sexy and glamorous look.

Splurge on... The Anthony Nader WAHL Professional Megastar 7000 Dryer, $139.95. It has an in-built tourmaline ionic that doesn't over-dry the cuticle, and helps maintain shine and softness.

In my kit: Batiste Dry Shampoo, $9.95, is a lifesaver when a model shows up with dirty hair. Anyone that uses heat tools needs a thermal protector, like KMS California Freeshape Hot Flex Spray, $31.95, to shield the inner hair structure from heat, and Bumble and bumble Prep Spray, $30, detangles, freshens and helps neutralise product build-up.

Caterina Dibiase

Melbourne-based DiBiase is a L'Oreal Professionnel ambassador and three-time Australian hairdresser of the year winner.

Hot haircut: Beyonce has made some drastic hair changes over the years, but right now I'm loving her shorter hair.

Runway to real way: The topknot at Jean Paul Gaultier A/W 2014 was sleek and futuristic. Prep hair with gel or mousse, then slick into a high ponytail. Straighten the tail, then twist tightly and wrap around to create a knot and secure with pins. Finish with hairspray and shine spray.

Our pick: L'Oreal Paris Elnett Satin Diamond Hold & Shine Hairspray, $9.95.

What I tell my clients: Invest in a good shampoo and conditioner. You won't maintain the look and health of your salon cut and colour without quality products.

Beat a bad hair day... With L'Oreal Professionnel tecni.art Fresh Dust, $25. It can be used as a dry shampoo or to give texture to clean hair.

Save on... Heat protectors. Look for shampoos and conditioners that contain thermal protection, so you don't need to use a separate product pre blow-dry.

In my kit: Used on wet or dry hair, Kevin.Murphy Hair.Resort.Spray, $34.95, gives great texture. Redken Shine Flash 02, $30.95, is a finishing spray that also adds incredible shine, and Shu Uemura Fiber Lift, $46, gives hair that va-va-voom effect.

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