by Fabiana Santana
Ward Stegerhoek has worked with Karen Elson and Claudia Schiffer. Photo courtesy of Living Proof.
Ward Stegerhoek is an international hairstylist that has been setting fashion trends for over 25 years. Through his collaborative work with some of the top photographers, editors, models, and celebrities, Ward has created iconic looks that have shaped fashion and culture, including Claudia Schiffer’s original Guess style, Karen Elson’s fire-engine red hair color, and Gisele’s career-making shaggy cut.
He is a first choice for editorial spreads and advertising campaigns, having worked most recently with top photographers such as Ellen von Unwerth, Peter Lindbergh, Steven Meisel, Sølve Sundsbø, and Steven Klein, publications such as Vogue, Allure, Harper’s Bazaar, and InStyle, and top brands, including Calvin Klein, Wolford, Boucheron, YSL, and Dolce & Gabbana. When he isn’t on set, Ward’s dedicating his time to making you look good. He is one of the founders of Living Proof, a new beauty company dedicated to solving one of the toughest beauty problems: frizzy hair. Ward consults on new product development and helps test them in real-world settings to ensure top performance.
He spent some time talking with Modelinia about how to handle unruly hair.
Why does hair get frizzy? Are all hair types at risk?
Frizz is caused by humidity and friction. The more humidity that gets into hair, the more it swells. The more it swells, the more the hairs rub against each other, causing friction and static, which then causes it to pouf even more. All hair types can be susceptible to frizz, especially during the summer months.
How do you know which products are right for your hair type?
Your hair is like your fingerprint—in other words there is not one hair type that is the same. Everyone has their own recipe, and the recipe changes according to the desired styling effects you want to achieve. The best way to find out what’s good for you is by trial and error, and to get advice from a real expert. When the products “work,” they are right for you. You have to experiment.
A few guidelines: If you have very thin hair or hair that gets greasy easily, it is best not to use a product that is too heavy or thick. If you have hair that is very dry, look for products with moisturizing properties. It’s important to read the fine print on the back of any hair-care product.
There is a new product from Living Proof that has no silicone in it. The scientists at Living Proof have developed a brand-new ingredient called polyfluroester; this ingredient rejects friction and humidity like nothing else. The product is called No Frizz and it comes in different versions with hold and without for thin, medium, and thick hair—and the great thing is that it really works!
What are some things to avoid if you have frizzy-prone hair?
Friction, humidity, and static. And then you should also avoid products that attract humidity (like some creams and leave-in conditioners), and you should also avoid products that make your hair heavy and ugly. These products generally just control your frizz for about five minutes and then they don’t block humidity or friction, so your hair will then look frizzy and greasy. This is not a good look!
Do you have any special styling tips?
The idea behind No Frizz from Living Proof is that you create an invisible, super-lightweight coating on each strand of hair evenly, so because No Frizz is made of nanoparticles instead of molecules and since the nanoparticles are much smaller than molecules, it’s now much easier to make a much tighter and even coating on the hair.
The product is made superlight so you can use generous amounts of it on wet/damp hair spread evenly throughout the hair from root to end. This step is very important to create an even layer throughout the hair. The fact that you can use generous amounts makes it much easier to put the right amount in your hair. When products are heavy and concentrated, just one little drop too much can lead to you having to wash your hair again. Living Proof No Frizz is so light that you can almost never overdo it. Once dry, the product becomes invisible and super-lightweight, but leaves hair radiating with shine without the frizz, resulting in a silky smooth flow with strong humidity and friction control.
After you have spread the spray or emulsion throughout your hair, you have different options for styling. For super-straight hair, use the straight-making versions. Then blow-dry hair with a round brush and use a flatiron for long-lasting results that reject odors and dirt, which means you can go longer periods without having to shampoo your hair and restyle.
For a slight wave or wavy hairstyles, use the wave-making versions, and then blow-dry hair with a smaller round brush. Take large sections and blow-dry in an upward direction until the entire section is dry and hot. Then while the hair is still hot, roll it up on two fingers and clip it in place for 15 to 25 minutes. Clip up all your hair—for beginners, this might take a little practice so be patient. For tighter waves, once hair is dry you can very well use curling irons of your choice. The product doesn’t stick to hot tools, so it really works very easily. And once your hair is styled it’s protected against humidity, so it’ll last longer then you think. Try it for yourself!
Battling frizz can be such an involved process. If I’m traveling and have limited space in my suitcase, what essentials should I take to stay smooth?
The Living Proof No Frizz that’s right for your hair type is absolutely the only product I would take with me. Whenever I’m doing a fashion shoot in Miami or the Caribbean or even a hot summer day in New York City, before all my styling, I start with No Frizz to protect my styles. The products come in really cute travel-size bottles that are easy to bring and will fit in even the smallest handbags for the girls that travel really light!
Want to look like a supermodel? Ward told us how to do it!
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Brooklyn Decker’s tousled natural curls are soft and easy, yet still alluring. 1. Comb No Frizz through fingers to make sure it’s evenly distributed 2. Blow the hair straight and add rollers 3. For extra volume, elevate your hair and apply heat directly to the roots 4. Use a large curling iron to enhance some of the curls 5. Pull back the front quarter of the your hair in a bobby pin |
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Melissa Haro’s Project Runway finale look—straight hair with body—is easily achieved with wave-shaping spray. 1. Apply 10 to 15 sprays of the Living Proof No Frizz Wave Shaping Spray and 10 to 15 sprays of the Living Proof No Frizz Straight Making Spray—the amount of product used depends on the length of the hair 2. Brush Living Proof No Frizz through the hair evenly and make sure your hair is fully saturated with product 3. Apply both sprays: the Wave Shaping Spray will hold the curl, and the Straight Making Spray will maintain the blow-dry 4. Use a big round brush to blow-dry the hair to add a bit of bounce and roll your hair around the brush like you would with rollers and then apply heat to both the root and the lengths on the brush 5. Use a curling iron to finish the ends for a more defined curl |
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Erin Wasson’s sexy, messy waves take only four steps! 1. Apply Living Proof No Frizz cream 2. Create a center part and then scrunch the hair dry with a diffuser 3. Curl hair with a 1 ½” curling iron 4. Use Living Proof Spray to add a bit of texture to the hair and to create a matte finish |
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Want Kemp Muhl’s cool, textured crimps? 1. Use a small ½” curling iron 2. Divide the hair in six pieces 3. Curl the hair away from the root 4. Finish off with Living Proof Wave Making spray |
