Love: Oscars red carpet style, by Mana Dave

One of the country’s most talented and charming hair stars, Redken Artist and Auckland’s Blaze salon co-owner Mana Dave picked his hottest red carpet hair from this week’s Oscars, and gave me the rundown on the stylists’ secrets to achieve the looks.

Michelle Williams (above) – the stylised urchin cut:
1. On damp hair, layer a pea sized amount of Redken Satinwear 02 Ultimate Blow Dry Lotion and a walnut sized amount of Redken Blown Away 09 Protective Blow Dry Gel to create sleek hair with natural body.
2. Using a small paddle brush together with a hairdryer and nozzle attached, begin to blow dry the hair starting in the nape area and then moving to the sides, completing the front last.
3. Work through the head, brushing the hair from side to side, with the hairdryer nozzle following closely behind - this side-to-side motion enables you to create some body while also smoothing out any natural kinks.
4. Once the style is dry, then comb in a diagonal side part to finish the look.
5. Smooth over a very small amount of Redken Water Wax 03 Water Based Pomade to give light hold and natural shine.

Natalie Portman - old Hollywood glamour:
1. Lightly spritz Redken Iron Silk 07 Ultra Straightening Spray through dry hair, ensuring to spray from at least 30cm away from your hair (this will avoid making the hair too damp).
2. Place large heated rollers into the hair, taking quite large sections; this will create more of a soft wave instead of definite curls.
3. Once these have cooled off, remove the rollers and brush through with a small paddle brush.
4. Comb in a side parting; brush hair in the back to wrap around so that it sits over your shoulder on the opposite side.
5. Spray Redken Forceful 23 Super Strength Hairspray over the entire look to hold in place (you can also secure the back area with a few small bobby pins to match the colour of your hair).
6. Finish with Redken Wax Blast 10 High Impact Finishing Spray-Wax for lightweight shine.

Jennifer Hudson – the ultra modern glamour up-do:
1. Use heated rollers on the hair just through the top area to create body and wave using very large sections. Spray each section with Redken Fabricate 03 Heat Active Texturiser to give more grit to the hair and some heat protection as well.
2. While those are cooling down, spray Redken Fashion Works 12 Versatile Working Spray through the remainder of hair to add texture and grit for ease of styling.
3. Pull hair from the sides toward the centre back and clip up with bobby pins into a pleat that sits flat against the head.
4. Take out the heated rollers and stretch out the wave. Comb in your clean crisp side parting.
5. Under the parting, discretely place in some backcombing for added volume.
6. Use a small paddle brush and mould the hair into the soft quiff shape. Push the remaining lengths around to the back area and then tuck in to the pleat you've created and secure with bobby pins.
7. Complete with Redken Quick Dry 18 Instant Finishing Spray for lasting hold and shine.