Lana Del Rey at The Brit Awards - Hair by Anna Cofone

LFW Lana Del Rey & Alexa Chung at The Mulberry Show

Lana Del Rey's hair by Anna Cofone.
Alexa Chung's hair by George Northwood.

By Anna Cofone - Working with Lana del Rey

Only a few weeks into the new year and its already been a busy one… Flying to New York to shoot Lana Del Rey with Terry Richardson with Mel Ottenberg styling, for the New York Times and style her hair for numerous video interviews and performances. Just before we left for New York, Lana made a flying visit to London to perform on Jonathan Ross and what an experience that was!

Ever since I started doing Lana’s hair, 6 months ago, it has so far been an incredible journey…

Her vision and direction is inspiring, not to mention her unique look which has attracted many a fashion magazine to want her gracing their pages. Just before Christmas we shot with the amazing Sean+Seng for Interview (out the end of this month) styled by Jodie Barnes.

Out now, in V magazine,  is a beautiful story shot by Karim Sadli and styled by Jay Massacret. Lana, like most of us girls, loves dressing up and when she gets in front of the camera she truly is a natural!

Other great experiences have been working with the legendary Jean Baptiste Mondino for French magazine Next

And shooting the video for the Born To Die single with director Yoann Lemoin in the spectacular Fontainebleau Chateau in Versailles.

Working with Lana has been a dream come true… For so long I’ve wanted to work with an artist that had great vision and huge aspirations! Look out for her album, out on Jan 30^th.

Movember spawned a Moustache - Grooming tips for Men

You may have noticed a few more moustaches than usual sprouting up recently. This is not a new fashion statement (though for some it might be) but mainly because of ‘Movember’.

On Movember 1st, guys register at Movember.com with a clean-shaven face and then for the rest of the month these men, known as Mo Bros, “groom, trim and wax their way into the annals of fine moustachery” and seek sponsorship for their Mo-growing efforts to raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and other cancers that affect men.” (read more here)

In 2010, over 112,000 UK Mo Bros got on board, raising £11.7 million.

The artists at Emma Davies thought it was perfect time to look at male grooming to help these selfless and generous men through the month.

Moustache Tips:

• When trimming your moustache there are two things to consider, the silhouette or outline shape and the overall thickness and length. Shave just around the outside of the moustache and then tidy up properly with scissors and a comb (Kent Brushes have developed one especially for Movember). Use your lip as a template and trim one side first and then the other side. Take your time and try and get the shape as symmetrical as possible, a magnifying mirror would really help with this. Electric trimmers are also good to use but beware as one slip and your mo' could go for a burton! Scissors are safer!

•  Use Moustache Wax from Murdock's or Oregon Wild Hair to add volume and definition to your 'tache. For extra control apply the wax firstly to your moustache then use a hairdryer to warm the wax which makes it more malleable and allows greater control! 

• Choose a style most flattering for your face shape. The size of your philtrum (area between nose and top lip!) will obviously have a bearing on this. i.e. the larger the philtrum the wider the moustache should be.

Anna Cofone however, suggests having fun and men should be experimenting with different shapes, lengths and thicknesses! Anna pointed out how good they can look giving the example of “Johnny Depp at the UK premier of ‘The Rum Diary’ wearing his trademark Tom Ford suit, an open necked shirt and his ever groomed moustache.”

For ‘a very gentlemanly look to match your Movember moustache’ Philippe Tholimet suggests using a bit of any conditioner in your hand to give the hair a feel that it has brillantine in it without using brillantine… He says to comb through the hair then make a side parting with your fingers and let it dry naturally. Philippe says “The hair should look that it has been groomed at some point in time and then this is about a few hours later.”

Eli Wakamatsu’s favourite mens pre-to-post shaving products are from Kiehls as there is a lot of variety for different skin types. She says, “Men’s skin needs to have cleansed well into pores and regular gentle scrubbing at least once a week”. 

Maria Comparetto agrees “Make sure you exfoliate your skin at least once a week”, she suggests using “a ‘sloughing brush’ these are available from most high street stores including Boots, Muji and The Body Shop.”

“This little wooden brush is used to lather up your usual facial wash in the palm of your hand, then with small circular motions massage all over your face and neck for a few minutes (avoiding delicate eye area). Wash the product off using warm water and apply a moisturiser (such as Clinique lotion)”

For a flawless look for the Movember party at the end of the month, Maria says, “Grab your girlfriend’s YSL ‘Touche Eclat’ (or get your own) and dot just under the eyes where you may have dark circles then gently pat with your ring finger until the product disappears, this will reflect the natural light and give you a fresh & rested appearance.” She adds “Just be careful to use the shade that suits you. There are 7 available. You’ll look smokin! and noone will know how/why....”

Anna Cofone - The Guardian 6 August

Anna Cofone did the hair on this shoot in the Guardian (Saturday 6th August) with the photographer Andre Wolff and stylist Priscilla Kwateng.

Anna said "The feel of the shoot was all about a chic but cool character..think Jane Birkin..fresh natural makeup and hair and all about the 60's influenced clothes". Lovely - see the full story here.

'After Dark' - Maria and Anna talk about the shoot for the Guardian

Maria Comparetto worked on the make-up and Anna Cofone did hair on this shoot for the Guardian (Saturday 9^th July edition) with Priscilla Kwateng styling and Jon Gorrigan shooting.

As the shoot was ‘After Dark, they didn’t begin until 6pm one (luckily warm) evening last month and the shoot involved going round London to major landmarks.

Anna said that for the hair “We took inspiration from the 70's... sexy teased curls but with a heavy shape around the face”. LOVE it.

Maria said “Anna’s great job on the hair inspired me to do something very late “70s”/early "80s"with the makeup”. Maria created "Uber Glossy Lips" (using Chanel Levres Scintillantes in ‘80 Etole’ followed by Chanel Glossimer in ‘Pink Peony’ on top) with a flushed cheek and lashings of Mascara top and bottom to make a “very sexy yet fresh makeup”.

Maria added “Shooting with Priscilla is always a treat and working with Jon Gorrigan for the first time was a bonus (especially sharing a mutual love of northern soul!).

“Bikinis's on Westminster Bridge!!!!!?” The team are looking forward to the next assignment. Watch this space!

Hair by Anna Cofone - Naag Magazine

Anna Cofone worked on their hair with the lovely photographer Sarah Piantadosi to shoot this story

 for NYC based Naag Magazine, an online magazine launched last June run by best friends Fiona Byrne (Editor in Chief) and Agyness Deyn (Creative Director) who describe it as “talking about things we live and see and do and feel”.

For this story, Sarah told me that they were inspired by new textures in hair and make-up, which is why they shot most of the story in black and white “ to get really focussed on the texture instead of the colour”.

Sarah said she loved how Anna “maximized the theme of texture

through 'wet look' hair for the first look and then a large simple plait starting at the crown of Nancy's head for the second.” which she described as “Simple, evocative and beautiful.”

Anna added "The whole feel of the story is very simple with an emphasis on dewy makeup (by Thomas DeKluyver) so it felt right to keep the hair very undone".  She used water and Shu Uemura Essence Absolu to give the hair that separated look without it looking too greasy or heavy.

The shoot was styled by Ellie May Brown with the model Nancy Williams at FM.

  

 

Hair, Make-up and Nail: Beauty Tips for Autumn

Summer is coming to an end and Autumn is now upon us. Here are some beauty tips from the artists at Emma Davies on how to survive the change in season in style.

Sisley Crème Gommante

Chanel Base Lumier

Maria Comparetto and Eli Wakamatsu both recommend exfoliating and using a face pack to get rid of any lingering scaly and patchy skin such as the Sisley Gentle Facial Buffing Cream.

Maria suggests using a few drops of Chanel Base Lumiere in to your moisturiser or foundation to wake up sullen skin. She says, “This will instantly lift your skin tone and with its illuminating qualities skin will look brighter and healthier.”

Givenchy

 Eli says that this autumn there are lots of beautiful bold colours available for lips and nails, so enjoy them - Givenchy has some great colours.

Ruth Funnell’s tip is to try some of the gorgeous taupe blushers that are around this season to give yourself some great bone structure with some subtle shading just under the cheekbone, (the new way to use blusher). A sweep over the top with a pretty peach will bring a delicate bloom and make the eyes stand out and says to also experiment using the beautiful taupe, camel and grey tones in eye palettes. These can intensify both light and dark eyes.

Chanel Enigma Eye Pallette

Ruth says “This soft approach with makeup will totally modernise the camels and nude tones of clothes that are around this season and make them appear fresh and new” and loves the Chanel A/W Enigma eye palette (as used on the Red magazine shoot), she adds “This is particularly lovely to use with just the right amount of glimmer. Water can be added for more intense colour next to lashes".

Chanel

And as Maria reminds: “Rain rain go away...” use waterproof mascara as she rightfully says “Who needs panda eyes??!”

Ayo Laguda says that this is the to use deep conditioning treatments to combat dry and frazzled hair thanks to the ravages of summer and the central heating coming on.

Ayo shared his tips for creating the season’s hot hairdo (as seen in the Beauty Buzz by Ruby Hammer & Millie Kendall):

1.      Use mousse in clean dray hair and a squirt of anti frizz serum.

2.      Brush in to a ponytail at the nape of the neck and pin back any wispy bits. Hold the base of the ponytail to twist in to a tight spiral and coil it around the base to form the chignon.

3.      Tuck the end under the chignon and use grips (and maybe a light mist of hairspray to hold in to place).

Shu Uemura Essence Absolue

Anna Cofone uses Shu Uemura Art of Hair Essence Absolue on towel dried hair to help give a groomed sleek 'Chloe' inspired blow dry (of the season).

And don’t forget your nails… We need all the help we can get for our nails in the colder months so massage nail oil into your cuticles, nails and surrounding skin pre sleep to both hydrate and simulate increasing rate of growth. Try the Andrea Fulerton Nail Boutique 'Cute-Icles Love Oil' (available exclusively at Superdrug) it's infused with mint, smells fresh and not at all over powering whilst the vitamin E works it's magic!

Introducing Anna Cofone - Hair Stylist

Me with Anna at The Coterie Event

 I am delighted to now be representing the lovely hair stylist Anna Cofone.

 

Already cited as ‘One to Watch’ in Vogue online and featured in Vogue in November of last year (right), Anna is also an ambassador for Shu Uemura Art of Hair.

Interview with Adam Reed for The Coterie

Anna has also recently been interviewed by Adam Reed for The Coterie and there will be a feature on her in the next edition of Creative Head.

Anna worked on a great story published in the Guardian this weekend and was shot by the photographer Tomas Falmer who said, “Anna was great, really lovely and she did an amazing job so all good!”

Photographer: Tomas Falmer Guardian 25/9/10

After a recent meeting, Alison Bird  (The Wall Group in New York) said, “she is so lovely. I think she is obviously a developing talent… but I can see that she is going to be great.” And “she has a such a nice, easy personality.”... I couldn’t have put it better myself!

Here is a small selection of her work.

Please see more on the website: www.emmadavies.co.uk and take a look at her own blog through being resident stylist at Lost in Beauty where she is available by appointment.