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Gwen Stefani: Blonde Pop Star!

Karen Marie Shelton/Dedicated To FFOS

Date: 12/1/2005

Introduction

It's No Doubt that Gwendolyn Renee Stefani is on fire. Everything this California girl (Anaheim, California) touches turns to platinum, including her always edgy tresses which instantly set new hair trend frenzies.

The award winning Libran (October 3, 1969) pop star recently appeared at the 2005 American Music Awards with her platinum blonde tresses coiffed in a sizzling new do (shown above). Designed around a high quiff that extended from forehead to crown, Gwen instantly recreated her look.

Morphing from her recent Harajuku look into a more eclectic even look that combined dressy jeans with a sultry black jacket. The platinum queen added her unique touch with charm laden accessories ranging from gold dangly intertwined necklaces and matching gold bracelets.

Earlier in November Gwen performed at a sold-out Hollywood Bowl show followed by a late-night star-studded launch of her eagerly anticipated Harajuku Lovers fashion line at the Hollywood Museum. Hanging with Gwen were members of The Black Eye Peas, Ashton (Kutcher) and Demi (Moore) and other Hollywood notables.

(Image of Gwen Stefani with short loose waves - Harajuku Lovers - Apparel Line Preview - 2005)

Gwen told the media that "Harajuku Lovers can be anything that inspires me -- T shirts, sweatshirts, underwear, hats, belts, wristbands, hair accessories". After she received an award in recognition of "Hollaback Girl" being downloaded one million times, Gwen and her Harajuku girls hung out and partied into the wee hours.

Continued below ↓

Don't Try This At Home

Although she has played with outrageous hair colors like vibrant pink and white with black stripes, for the most part Gwen hugs the platinum blonde curve.

The all American girl loves retro styles that range from an adaptation of Jean Harlow's Hollywood blonde bombshell look (shown to the side) to 40's hair rolls. Who better to play Harlow in the 2004 movie The Aviator then Gwen? Harlow fans reported that the pop queen nailed Harlow's bleach blonde style.

When not channeling a famous sex siren like Harlow Gwen will try anything if the mood strikes her when it comes to her hair style, fashion and makeup.

In fact, over the past few years she has become better known for her platinum blonde hues. Yes, sometimes she morphs slightly to the right or left of platinum adopting buttery or lemony blondes with some stark white streaks but for the most part she prefers that goddess overall white on white blonde. Achieving Gwen's platinum tones is not easy to achieve, especially on hair that is medium to dark brown. For almost all hair colors, bleach is required to lift so many levels. Bleaching hair is definitely something that should be left to a professional, especially if several levels of color must be lifted to achieve the white blonde platinum hue that Gwen has adopted.

Steal Gwen's Quiff Style

Her latest quiff-meets-pompadour look is a new deviation from some of recent modified mohawkish styles included the rolled pompadour do shown to the side.

(Image of Gwen Stefani - with quiff and front hair roll - Anchorman The Legend of Ron Burgundy Premiere - June 26, 2005 - DailyCeleb.com)

So what the heck is a quiff (pronounced kwi-ff) hairstyle? It harkens back to the badass hair looks of the 50s and the early 60s. Originally true quiffs were worn by guys that often donned lots of chains and leather jackets and looked like they would kick your butt in a dark alley, given the chance. A softer roller version of the quiff was also introduced in the 40s post World War II.

Step By Step Instructions

When asked about Gwen's hair, famous Hollywood hairdresser Robert Hallowell, who has never worked with Gwen, made suggestions on how to recreate Gwen's exotic new quiff.

Complete the following steps recommended by Robert:

STEP 1

Since Gwen's hair has been bleached, colored and highlighted for years Robert recommends that if you have bleached or chemically colored hair that you follow a conditioning program to give your hair that glossy look like Gwen's tresses.

Consider using either a pre-shampoo or post-shampoo conditioner along with regular deep conditioning and leave-in conditioning products. Robert recommends his love that shine treatment elixer for heavily highlighted or bleached hair. The rich mix of essential oils with hydrolyzed silk creates a perfect recipe for incredible shine! The product contains honey fruit complex for adding shine and moisture.

Note: A similar version of this quiff is shown, step-by-step in Patrick Cameron's Dressing Long Hair 2 in the Hermia - A Midsummer Night's Dream section.

To protect bleached, blonde highlighted or colored tresses, start by dousing hair completely with lukewarm water. Keep in mind that hotter temperatures will speed up fading and dry hair even further. Select a super moisturizing shampoo formula like Robert Hallowell's Shine Booster Shampoo which Robert actually uses on many of his celebrity clients to condition their tresses.

Other moisturizing products to try for bleached or highlighted strands include Paul Brown Hawaii - Hapuna Cleanse Shampoo.

STEP 2

After one application of shampoo, rinse well. Keep in mind that if shampoo is not completely removed, a soap film will remain on your strands and cause them to be dull or hard to manage.

When you have finished rinsing your strands gently squeeze out any excess water with your fingers. Apply your favorite rinse-out conditioning product. Robert currently uses a small amount of Robert Hallowell's Prawduct - shine booster conditioner on the bleached hair of his celebrity clients because it has a perfect moisturizing balance.

Be sure to match the product to your hair type, texture and condition. Work the conditioner into the driest parts of your hair. Leave on for up to five minutes. Rinse well. Finish with a cool to cold water rinse.

Moisturizing Conditioner to try: Paul Brown Hawaii - Hapuna Conditioner.

STEP 3

Towel blot your strands to remove excess drippage. Apply your favorite detangling product or leave-in conditioning product based on your type, texture and current condition of your strands.

Keep in mind that if you have fine or thin strands, you will want to use a very light detangling spray. For medium to thicker strands, use a heavier conditioning product.

STEP 4

To recreate Gwen's quiff, be sure to either apply a straightening balm like Robert Hallowell's Flat Factor or Paul Brown's Stay Straight Smoothing Balm or similar product.

Robert pointed out that "not everyone can wear a quiff like Gwen. It is important to limit the height of the style if your face shape is super long, thin or angular. This style can naturally add needed height to round faces and can work well for oval ones as well". Remember to use your own judgment when creating this style.

Distribute a dime-sized dollop of the balm into the palms of your hands and mix well. Use your fingers to work the product completely through your tresses.

STEP 5

Separate your hair into 2" sections and blow dry straight with a large paddle or flat brush, starting near the back of the head and working around to the front on either side.

Robert recommends a large paddle style brush because "it allows you to blow dry and straighten a large amount of hair at the same time".

Beginning at the back of your head, blow-dry hair in half-inch pieces using a large round brush.

STEP 6

To create a super straight finish, use a hot flat iron to touch up any sections that requires a smoother texture.

STEP 7

Brush hair so that it is completely detangled. Using your hands and brush, direct all of the hair towards the back of the head and off the forehead area.

STEP 8

Working with a tail comb make a clean diagonal part that extends from ear to ear at the back of the head. In essence you will be separating the hair into two major sections. The sections will be separated by the diagonal part.

STEP 9

Create a nape level ponytail out of the bottom section of the hair using a Blax or bungee in the same color of your hair. Clip all the top hair to one side to keep it out of the way.

STEP 10

Starting at the front of the hairline separate out a small section of hair that is approximately 1-2 inches in thickness. Using your hands in conjunction with a Mason Pearson or similar boar’s head brush, lift the section of hair and begin to back brush.

Note: You may need to experiment with the thickness of each section that is backcombed to determine the amount of teasing required to achieve desired fullness and height.

STEP 11

Hold the ends of the top section straight out from the scalp with one hand. Use the brush to backcomb the hair towards the base n sharp sweeping strokes. Remember to use your hair and wrist in a fluid motion against the underside of the hair as if you were scooping out ice cream away from your body to get the best fullness.

Note: The advantage of using a brush instead of a comb is that there is less potential damage to the hair. Another advantage is that it is possible to get really "big hair" with a brush that might not be as easy to achieve with a comb.

STEP 12

Continue to back brush the first top section of hair until you achieve the desired height and fullness. When the volume you desire has been achieve, spray the entire section with a firm hold hairspray.

STEP 13

Pick up the next section of hair underneath and repeat the same steps. Continue to back brush and spray with hair spray until all of the back hair that is not in the ponytail section is completely backcombed.

STEP 14

STEP 15

Using your hands and a regular comb which is position to lay flatly against the backcombed strands, gently smooth and mold the teased hair section on either side of the head allowing the middle section to remain untouched.

STEP 16

Using interlocking bobby pins in the same color as your hair form a complete line of pins extending from the base of the head to the top of the crown to hold back each newly smoothed side. The center section of teased hair should be left untouched at this point.

STEP 17

Using your hands and a brush, carefully smooth the center section of hair and push the section up as you smooth to form the high quiff look.

STEP 18

Direct the center section down to the back of the crown and then merge with the hair that is overflowing the bobby pins on either side.

STEP 19

Using hands gently push the new ponytail up until the desired top quiff height is desired. Form a loose ponytail at the middle of the head that is above the bottom hair. Use a Blax or bungee in the same color of the hair to capture the top and side hair sections. Allow the "tail" of the pony to flow freely.

STEP 20

Release the bottom ponytail and merge the "tail" of the top pony into the loose bottom hair.

(Image of Gwen Stefani with front quiff and ponytail - Anchorman The Legend of Ron Burgundy Premiere - June 26, 2005 - DailyCeleb.com)

STEP 21

Use a medium barrel curling iron to form medium sized curls. Release each newly formed curl and pin to the back of the head to cool. Continue to work from side to side until all of the loose hair is completely curled. Allow all curls to completely cool.

STEP 22

Right before leaving the house spray the new curls completely with a strong hold hair spray. Remove the pins and use fingers to gently tousle the new waves and curls.

STEP 23

Apply a drop or two of a shine serum drops like Robert Hallowell's Love That Shine Drops to the palms of your hands. Rub the serum into the palms and then lightly glide over the top of the style to add instant shimmer and shine.

If you prefer a lighter shine product try Robert's love that shine spray. Or try Paul Brown Hawaii Diamond Heads Cuticle Sealant.

STEP 24

Spray well with hairspray like Phytolaque or Jessica Simpson’s favorite Phytolaque Soie made with real silk to give an extra glossy look to the style.

STEP 25

Add a small hair comb or other barrettes or jeweled bobby pins to cover up the bobby pin seams on either side of the style. Or use a small piece of hair and position over the bobby pins to cover.

Note: Remember to always attach accessories last after all styling products have been applied to avoid damaging delicate accessories.

Optional Look

The beauty of this basic style is that it can end in a variety of styles.

For a different look, smooth all the back and side hair into a soft chignon, classic French Twist or pull loose hair into a pony.

Create Gwen's look shown to the side by using fingers to lightly rake through the finished crown to create ripples of soft waves.

Summary

Gwen Stefani is a true hair trendsetter. Expect to see her version of the quiff/pompadour look showing up on celebrities in Hollywood during the upcoming award seasons.

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