A Greg Murrell how-to: long, loose and braided

One of my favourite hair looks that emerged this year from the catwalks internationally has been the long, loose wave, braids optional. If you have long hair it is often a struggle to look like you’ve actually got a “style” as opposed to just a lot of hair, and this a perfect look that is both easy to achieve as well as super feminine, if that’s your bag. The talented Greg Murrell and his team from Ryder salon in Central Auckland created a perfectly tousled example of this at a recent Stolen Girlfriends Club show, and I got the low down on how it was achieved.
“The look is wavy with a dry, dusty texture and features a braid across the whole of the front hairline. There is some height at the top with the volume through the sides being reduced by the addition of two plaited headbands made from hair which contrast slightly in colour to the natural hair. This is designed to fit the theme of nomadic abandonment.
Hair is sprayed liberally with KMS California Sea-salt spray and twisted in large sections. Then the hair was dried using a dryer, but taking care to keep it in the twists. When dry, repeat the process to build up the product texture.
Take a 1.5 inch wide section just in front of the right ear and start braiding a two strand twist right across the front hairline towards the left ear and ending at the nape. Fasten the end of the braid with a clip to prevent unravelling.
Now back-brush to the roots on top of the head for volume.
Place hair with your hands and then place the first headband in position at the high recession, wrapping it around the head. Take the second headband and place it just behind the right ear and wrap it to the other side. Fix both headbands in position by sewing them in place.
Finish by using KMS California Dry Wax for texture.”