Red Carpet-Ready
“I'm all about glamour,” says Ted Gibson, hair guru to Hollywood's elite (think Angelina Jolie and Anne Hathaway). His current muse is Ashley Greene. For a spotlight-stealing style, he enjoys giving the Twilight actress an updated version of Veronica Lake's classic, side-parted waves. Here's how to recreate the look at home.
Draw the Line
A deep side part yields instant sophistication and opens up the face—but proper placement is key, says Gibson: “For a symmetrical appearance, the part should align with the highest point of the eyebrow.”
Apply Product
After rubbing a dollop of his Tame-It Shine Lotion between his palms, Gibson applied the mixture to dry hair. “It’s great for calming flyaways and adding shine,” says Gibson.
Ted Gibson Tame-It Shine Lotion, $19.95; dermstore.com
Brush Product Through
“You always want to use a brush after applying product so that every strand of hair is thoroughly saturated,” says Gibson. “I prefer using a mixed-bristle brush—one that has nylon as well as boar bristles. The boar is for smoothing and the nylon is for detangling.”
Mason Pearson Popular Mixture Hair Brush, $170; barneys.com
Define Your Part
Next, Gibson perfected the part using the end of his tail comb. “Its fine tip helps to give that sharp edge,” he says.
Tool Structure Tortoise Tail Comb, $1.29; sallybeauty.com
Curl Sections
To get the “soft waves” he desired, Gibson chose a medium-barrel curling iron. “I took sections of hair that were about two-inches wide and one-and-a-half inches deep and wrapped them around the iron, leaving the ends out,” says Gibson. “I like the ends to be straighter because I think it's more natural and modern.”
Be Strategic
“When creating waves, you want to work from the bottom up,” says Gibson. “This gives a good shape and foundation.”
Brush Out Curls
Once he finished curling, Gibson softened spirals using the same mixed-bristle brush he employed earlier. He then brushed hair “from the side part, all the way over,” before planting a bobby pin above the arch of the brow.
Pin According to Plan
Gibson says the pin placement should follow the same rules as the initial parting: “To open up the face, the pin should go around the eyebrow arch.” For slippery or thick tresses, Gibson prefers using Japanese bobby pins for their strong hold. “The metal grooves keep hair in place better than most American bobby pins,” he says.
Nishida Hair Pins, $24.95 per pack; shearworld.com
