Wigs and Warpaint owner Claire invited to style Lily Allen’s hair for 02 Academy gig

lily-allen-and-claire
On 23rd November, Claire Cox, owner at top Sheffield hairdressers, Wigs and Warpaint, was invited to the O2 Academy to style cool music superstar Lily Allen’s hair. Below is Claire’s account of how she went about it.

“I arrived at the 02 academy excited and nervous to meet and style Lily’s hair, whilst I waited to go through to her changing room I watched the preparations for the show. True to Lily’s own style the stage looked great with towering baby bottles that changed colour, quirky fun and different. I was then taken through to Lily’s room where she was very friendly and chatty asking how my day had been, immediately calming my nerves. The room was a buzz of cool beats and bass, scented candles, smoothie drinks, an array of make up and the most colourful warbrobe. I just wanted to scan everything in the room as it was a hub of 1970s meets modern day, inspiring me from the start.

I asked Lily what she was wearing and the theme for her hair, she had a lot of quick changes and need a style that would be moveable, I also got a sence of her need for her hair to look cool and a little “street”.

She had a fringe which she wanted hiding and her naturally curly hair smoothing as much as possible as she had been lightening her hair up a lot and was enjoying it being lighter.

I recommended using Diamond Oil-in Redken to treat and give flexibility, then over this I used Redken Smooth Lock to stop her hair from frizzing. Using my Mason and Pearson bristle brush I used a wrap drying technique to straighten and smooth then cooled the hair to set in shape. Around the low slung side parting and sides, I slicked Lily’s hair down using Oribe Creme for style then finished by spraying with Redken 28 hairspray over this then set.

As I was styling Lily’s hair she started to do her warm up exercises and then broke into song practicing her performance. I couldn’t believe I was having a private performance with such a cool British star whom I respect so much. Her voice and her style were second to none.

On finishing Lily’s hair she ran her fingers through to the answer “It’s perfect!”