In timely fashion I'd been slowly dying my hair out of black - when I was obsessed with Bettie Page, away from reds - ah, the Lana Del Rey days, and towards the blondes. Now I wanted to go Gwen's colour - a warm white blonde.
With fine, damaged hair and chestnut brown roots, my hair situation was not ideal. I had to shop around the hair salons to find the one that would take care while still delivering the results. They ALL said they would deliver. Very few, though, mentioned precautions. Only Daniel Galvin Junior warned me not to expect peroxide blonde on the first go - if I wanted to keep the condition. Their policy is no bleach, no chemical, all organic. So I decided to try the natural route.
And I'm amazed at what they achieved. While my hair had a lot of orange undertones, colourist Olyvia used toners and colour to take it into a more ashy place, brightening the colour up and while cooling the tone down - and she got the roots to match, too. I've no idea how! I used peroxide and a dye on top at home, but clearly if you use the right products there's no need. Stylist Fatima kept my hair long but took a lot of length off from the front around my face allowing for easier styling into glamorous, retro looks a la Gwen. To demonstrate she put my hair in heated rollers, then styled the front into a roll on one side and pin curl on the other.
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| Actual hair colour like daylight pics above. Poor camera flash. |
When styling your hair at home, there's loads of options. The easiest I found is putting the front section of the hair in a victory roll and gripping a hair comb into each side.
Just grab a 3x3 inch square from the middle front section of your hair, backcomb thoroughly from behind, hairspray, curl the end in on itself slightly and pin to the side. Then just grip the combs in and spray again. This takes five minutes and has the perfect balance of vintage glamour and punk that's so signature to Gwen's style.
Another option for the front section is backcoming from the front and rolling the hair in on itself - thus creating a faux smile fringe like 1950s glamour girl Bettie Page. Gwen had one of these in the 90s when she had pink hair and braces. She was so cool.
For the make up, start with a pale base. You know what foundation works best for you, so use that one then powder it down. Gwen has stunning bone structure so if you're good at contouring I recommend using a dark bronzer to define your cheekbones.
Next you'll need big red lips. Outline with MAC lip pencil in Brick, ensuring to define your cupid's bow and slightly exaggerate you top lip's outer edges. Then fill with MAC's Matte lipstick in Ruby Woo. MAC lovers will be aware of this shade's torturously dry formula, and luckily for this look you'll need plenty of gloss on top. I use Dita Von Teese for Art Deco Lip Lacquer in 28 - it's highly pigmented, super shiny and longlasting.
For the eyes you'll want no or nude eyeshadow. The look is strong enough withoout and besides, Gwen's not a fan. Shade and exaggerate those brows with brown pencil and use Bourjois Light highlighter on the brow bone for extra pop. For the cat-eye flight I recommend a gel for pigment, longevity and precision - I use MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack. Complete with a slick black mascara. Then, if you're brave enough, stick on a bindi. And you're Gwen.
Gwen's top looks
- Elle compiled an amazing slideshow of Gwen's top looks. This one, from the 1998 MTV VMAS, is my favourite. Gwen's mad style is at peak, complete with blue hair, bindi and fluffy bra top.
- At Cannes last year Gwen rocked smoky eye, bouffant and black chiffon - completely different to her usual look and simply stunning.
- Taking her edge and glamour to modern-day sophistication in a black ensemble, cream coat and printed scarf.
