Styling secrets of a red carpet insider
Published
01st Feb 2013
by rachael
Craig Chapman has made a name for himself with his stunning avant-garde and afro images, but the Cornish salon owner is also a red-carpet regular having styled the stars for Cannes Film Festival.
We interviewed Craig to find out his top tips for creating stunning red carpet styles, suitable for any glamorous event - from Hollywood to here at home.
How do you make a red carpet style last when a star is going to be at an event all evening?
Prepping the hair well with product and a good blow-dry is key. Regardless of the style, make sure the hair is well-supported and groomed so your up- or down-do will stand the night. Lazy prep = a hair flop!
What are your kitbag essentials for creating a red carpet style?
My Revlon Style Masters range - Volume Amplifer Mousse, Glamourzone Shine Spray and Photo Finisher Hairspray, as well as Orofluido Elixir. I can create anything with those four products! I also always pack wefts, my pin/grip tray, Cloud Nine irons and a BaByliss Pro wand.
3. What are the essential hairdressing techniques for styling hair for the red carpet?
Everyone works differently, but I think a good blow-drying technique is absolutely essential so make sure you practice regularly.
Where do you get your inspiration for red carpet hair looks?
Always look online at the catwalk trends, especially at the designers that the celebs might be wearing so that you can get the hair just how they expected it to look... Fashion week is always about the latest hair looks - these are then channelled through celebrities to the consumer, so it's important to be aware of the trends but also how to make them work for the red carpet.
What's your failsafe red carpet look that you know you can always rely on?
I have two; the sophisticated polished wave - whether it's slightly loosened up or groomed and perfectly - or a slightly Bardot updo, the more dishevelled the better as far as I'm concerned.
How much does the event impact on the style? I.e. something young and cool at the Brits or something more sophisticated for an event like Cannes?
A lot - but it's also down to who you're working with. Last year at Cannes, I looked after a few gorgeous girls. Gemma Arterton wore a stunning Gucci gown on the red carpet but wanted her hair to look like it had just been pulled up naturally to keep her looking young and very London - but then the following day for the Vanity Fair party we pulled it back and made it a little more polished to fit the mood. So yes, the event predicts the look to a point, but I think it's more about the client to be honest.
How much time do you spend getting to know the celebrity and their personality to ensure that the look works for them?
Generally you are in and out from my experience, so time is limited! At an awards event you can have a good few people to style in a matter of hours, so it's key get a bit of background knowledge about everyone you are looking after first.
Researching their personal style and what they have worn to other events will help - generally you can see a trend forming about how they like to look, but of course sometime you get people that like experiment! Of course when you have worked with the same celebrity a number of times you find about what they love and how adventurous they are. Grace Hightower De Niro was one that surprised me with her willingness to try different looks with each outfit that she wore!
