Winging it
While soul-singing sensation Amy Winehouse has been wholeheartedly crooning her adamant feelings about rehab while mother pleads for help through open letters in the daily papers — who would have thought that she could ignite a beauty trend that is so in vogue? It seems that the ladies have really taken to the winged eyeliner look and modern beehive, whether or not they party like Amy and her hubby, Blake Fielder-Civil.
Anyone can sense the parallels to Kate Moss, post-coke scandal, that are so blatantly present. Once darling Kate was caught on film doing drugs, her popularity rose again like a house on fire, complete with endorsements pouring in and a design stint at high street brand Topshop. Now that the crazy chanteuse’s name and photos have been slapped all over blogs and gossip rags, her fame has grown and her look has been sported all over the globe.
Does tragedy with emphasis on substance abuse qualify for icon status? Perhaps Karl Lagerfeld thinks so. He admitted that Amy’s hairdo was an inspiration for him, even claiming that she was the new Brigitte Bardot. The models that worked the runway at the Chanel show had Amy hair which sparked hair brand Bumble & Bumble to offer a special hair how-to class with a demonstration on how to make a modern beehive, which is actually just half a beehive. The beehive, coupled with the winged eyeliner look that has been a major fad this season and has been plastered all over the Prada ads, makes it seem that the ‘60s reign again. Could this also mean it’s a time of free loving once more?
Amy may think rehab is for quitters but I say she dump the junk and focus on her singing career instead. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for her while we work her look without the hangover.
How to do the ‘do
Obviously those with bobs and boyish cuts should rethink a ‘do like this. If you are aching for a snazzy bouffant like this you can always clip some extensions on but that is rather hard to do on your own. Best to leave this to a pro but for the brave ones out there… Here goes.
Step one
Gather hair as if you are about to put it half up and gently tease it for volume. Clean hair that is stripped of oil won’t take too well to this so skipping the shampoo may help with the hold. Adding styling wax or gel won’t cut it — it’s hairspray all the way. Aerosol works best for the locks but not for the environment.
Step two
Collect the teased tangles around the crown and make a base hive out of it. Smoothen out the outer strands in an effort to sweep them over the hive. Take bobby pins to tuck the hive in place in the back. Keep adding hairspray along the way. Maximize your tools.
Step three
Toss some hair in the front to the side for sweeping side bangs. Adding a thin headband is cool and it sometimes can mask all the bobby pins holding together the hive.
Step four
Muster enough courage to step outside. While you can easily tack a few inches on to your height stepping up confidence, this ‘do may not be taken seriously by everyone. In the right atmosphere and with an appropriate outfit, it can be glam and super fun.
How to wing it
Lining your eyes isn’t the easiest thing to do, so only attempt doing this when you have ample time to get ready. Make sure you have a steady hand, liquid (preferable) or gel eyeliner (definitely not pencil), neutral eye shadow, mascara and some cotton swabs handy.
Step one
Gently swipe neutral eye shadow across the lid. A light eyeshadow works best as it doesn’t take away from the main attraction — the liner. Whether you elect to use matte or shimmer is entirely up to you.
Step two
Line the upper lid with a straight line. Start with a thin line — it’s always easier to make it thicker than thinner. My two favorite liquid liners are Shu Uemura (our condolences, as he just passed away this holiday season) and the liquidlast liner by MAC. When I opt for gel, I go for the long-wear gel eyeliner by Bobbi Brown that I apply with its matching brush. These liners are in for the long run as they won’t come off until you force them off.
Step three
Above the outer corner of the eye, flip the line upwards towards the temples. Depending on how dramatic you want to be, you can elongate the line however long you wish but definitely taper it off at the end so it doesn’t look like one big chunk.
Step four
Remove any excess liner with a moistened cotton swab (lightly dipped in eye makeup remover) and reapply eye shadow should any come off in the cleanup.
Step five
Coat your lashes with mascara. Pile it on the upper lashes to amplify the definition of the liner. Fasio hyper-stay mascara with curl volume is a winner. The brush is angled to hit each eyelash perfectly without smearing and it lasts until you have to scrub it off each eyelash. Make Up For Ever’s Sens Eyes is wonderful oil-free gel that removes waterproof eye makeup in a cinch even for contact lens wearers and those with sensitive eyes while the Extreme Cleanser, a dry oil, works magnificently, lifting off all traces of makeup.
