I arrive at Prabal Gurung‘s show a few minutes before my 10am call time and head to the hair and make-up area backstage. As the official hair sponsor for the show, MoroccanOil products and brushes are at every styling station. I greet John, MoroccanOil’s public relations representative, and set up at the third station. I change into my MoroccanOil l t-shirt and hand out tee’s to the rest of the team. Shortly after, Odile Gilbert (my mentor and the key hair stylist) arrives with her French teammates, Hugo and Joseph. They set up their stations and Odile pulls Bruna Tenorio, the first model to arrive backstage, into her chair and demonstrates the original look created for the show: a clean, high ponytail with a side part on the left plus a combover swooping around and wrapped around the base for a clean finish. The ponytail is then clipped to the back of the head with a silver or gold hair clip to complete the sophisticated look. A little patience, a lot of product and a steady hand make for magic!

Diane Conterato was the first model I worked on, followed by Lakshmi Menon who has one of the best heads of hair in this business—thick, long and healthy. She was being interviewed by numerous media outlets while I did her hair. Lakshmi is definitely what clients look for in a spokesmodel—gorgeous, intelligent, humorous and memorable.

Lakshmi Menon

The girls got dressed for their first looks and hair and make-up teams stood by for touchups. Veteran model Heidi Mount, the face of Chanel, was backstage ready to walk down the runway, as well as newcomer Lais Ribeiro. Prabal Gurung himself appeared calm and excited to present his collection. All of the colors in this collection transformed the stark white location into a playground of excitement filled with anticipation for the beginning of show. Photographers snapped shots of the girls hopping in line, while we brushed and sprayed every hair into place. Everything looked perfect as we counted down to the start of the show.

“Frida, go!” And the show commences. As the girls exit the runway, you hear “clear the way!” Dressers run alongside their assigned model and back to their racks. All models have at least two looks and less than 90 seconds to get changed and back into the line-up, only to be rushed back in line for the finale. As the girls take their final walk during the finale, Prabal takes the runway himself to thank his supporters, special guests and industry critics.

Check the gallery below:

Rodnei Ferby (rodneiferby.com) is a New York City-based hair stylist.

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