For Anna Sawai’s cover shoot with Marie Claire, the creative vision centered on a striking contrast. Set against a desert backdrop, Anna’s sleek hair gradually transformed into an ultra-glossy, wet finish, creating an otherworldly, high-fashion look.
Here’s how Anh Co Tran brought her editorial hairstyle to life.
Step 1: The Foundation
To achieve her hair’s dramatic length, Anh first added hair extensions.
He then applied a generous amount of Milbon&’s Monochromatic Froth Blowout Foam, approximately 5 palmfuls, throughout damp hair to build body and a workable foundation. He followed with 2-3 pumps of Milbon’s Luminous Bodifying Oil through the mid-lengths and ends for a smooth finish.
After blow-drying smooth, Anh flat-ironed her hair to create an ultra-straight finish for the first few looks of the shoot.
Step 2: Building Shine
As Anna underwent look changes, so did her hair.
By the fourth look, Anh began layering in lightweight finishing products to gradually increase a reflective shine. He misted Milbon’s Brilliant Shine Spray all over and applied additional Smooth Luminous Bodifying Oil from roots to ends to create subtle separation and piecey texture.
To amplify the shine, Anh layered in Milbon’s Brilliant Polishing Oil. The lightweight formula allowed him to continue building radiance throughout the shoot without weighing the style down.
Step 3: Wet Hair Effect
For the final looks of the shoot, Anh shifted Anna’s style into a more striking, wet-hair look.
Anh applied Milbon’s Wet Shine Gel Cream 5 and Wet Shine Gel Cream 8 throughout the hair to create a glossy, dimensional finish with piecey definition.
By gradually increasing the product application, he was able to control the intensity of the wet effect throughout the final looks.
Step 4: Ensuring Hold
To ensure each editorial look held up throughout the day’s shoot, Anh finished with layers of Milbon’s Flex Memory Hairspray 7 for flexible hold and Firm Hold Shielding Hairspray 10 to lock in the look.
The Results
From sleek, polished hair to a dramatic wet finish, Anna Sawai’s Marie Claire cover demonstrates how thoughtful product layering can transform a hairstyle throughout the course of a shoot. By gradually building shine and piecey texture, Anh created a series of looks that evolved naturally and stayed true to the creative vision.
Credits:
Photographer: @chantalaanderson
Stylist: @sktang__
Creative Direction: @awiley_creative
Art Direction: @montse.tanus
Hair Stylist: @anhcotran
Makeup Artist: @yukari.makeup
Manicurist: @nailartbyqueenie
Set Designer: @peter_gueracague
Entertainment Director: @nehapk
Producer: @_porcelainchaos
Video Director/Videographer: @samueljosephs, @sarahaliaslaity