amika Destination: NYFW Finalists

We have selected our top finalists for the amika Destination: NYFW competition—and now it’s up to you to join us in selecting a winner! These five finalists have worked to create runway-ready hair looks inspired by their favorite designers for the chance to join the international amika team this September for an all-expense paid trip to New York City. Your votes will decide which stylist will win the trip of a lifetime—a five-day event packed with education, a pro photo shoot, and Fashion Week events.

To Vote: Head to the amika Facebook page, and view the finalist photo submissions in the Destination: NYFW Finalists photo album. Make sure to Like the photo of your favorite entry, as the stylists with the most "Likes" for their runway-ready look will be chosen a the winner.

But before you cast your votes, find out what inspired each look, how they were created, and what amika tools + products each stylist used...

Steps:

1. Begin by blow-drying hair while using the Power Cloud Dryer and  Straight Up Smoothing Balm. 
2. Next, after using the Heat Defense Serumr, part the hair and hold it up with the Straightening Tension Comb and create curls with the 25mm Barrel Curler.
3. After the entire hair is curled, secure with Touchable Hairspray, and straighten hair along the hair line with the Titanium Glide Obliphica Styler.
4. Section hair and begin to braid on the side.
5. Finish this look by adding a flower for summer, and once again spray Touchable Hairspray to secure. 

Steps:

1. Prep the hair with Straight Up Smoothing Balm.
2. Blow dry the hair using the amika Power Cloud, and infuse hair with the Oil Treatment
3. Curl hair using the 32mm Tourmaline Curler. 
4. Using the Touchable Hair Spray to set, brush and mold hair into a high bun. 
5. Apply additional Straight Up Smoothing Balm to the hair, before using a hair extension to finish the base of the bun. 

Steps:

1. Begin by prepping the hair with Blow Up Spray and Oil Treatment. 
2. Spray hair with Perk Up Dry Shampoo and texturize using the Titanium Glide Obliphica Styler. 
3. Use bobby pins to create zig-zagged figure-8s into the hair. 
4. Backcomb to add body and shape, and use Touchable Hairspray to hold the look in place. 
5. Finally, create a fishtail side-braid, and once completed, pull pieces from the final look to make the style look undone. 

Steps: 

1. Create a center part at the top of the crown, while separating hair from ear to ear into neatly clipped and secure sections. Apply Heat Defense Serum to each section. 
2. Beginning at the nape of neck, using the 3P Triple Barrel Curler, take 1" sections and soft-set the hair—working up to the crown and repeat on the sides.
3. When curls are set, remove the clips, shake out the curls, and gently run fingers through hair.
4. Create a diagonal ear-to-ear part, and clip sections upwards.
5. Securely clip the back of the style up, to ensure it will not interfere while styling the front section.
6. Begin with the right side, and back comb the hair from the inside, and smooth with comb out brush and begin to roll inward to create first victory roll. 
7. Repeat on other side. 
8. Take down the hair in the back and slightly back comb hair to create volume. 
9. Set the look with Touchable Hairspray. 

Steps:

1. After prepping the hair with Perk Up Dry Shampoo and Oil Treatment, use the 25/28mm Curler to create curls.
2. Take two diagonal partings from recession to just in front of the ear, and style a fishtail braid. Smooth the braid with Leave In Cream. 
3. Tease hair at the crown and spray with Touchable Hairspray.
4. Begin to pin hair at the sides, and then take sections from bottom, and gently (and randomly) pin hair until it is all up—creating a draping effect.
5. Finish the look with Touchable Hairspray.

Fall 2013 Beauty Trends

Just like that, another season in fashion has come and gone. But don't fret, if you weren't sitting front row at the shows, we made sure to keep track of all of the hottest trends in hair and beauty for you. Beauty trends are by far our favorite part of any season because, while many of the gorgeous garments you see on the runways are one of a kind (with a price tag to match), anyone can recreate these inspired hair and beauty looks. Here are a few of our favorite trends, and check out our full collections of looks from this seasons shows on our "Fall 2013 Beauty" Pinterest board! 

Undone is the new "Done-Up"

Karen Walker SP'13

"Shhh please, with your silly little questions," was exactly what I thought when someone had the nerve to ask me, "Why do you do your hair, just to make it look like you didn't do your hair?" ...If you, like myself, neurotically followed all the runway looks from NYFW SP'13, the answer is no doubt quite obvious. Undone is the new done-up! 

Natural seemingly effortless hair flowed all over the runways at NYFW. There was clearly a lot of thought behind these undone tresses, all inspired by the concept that "less is more." Many of the looks seemed as though they didn't even require a tool to style... blasphemous, I know! Finger combing, natural texture, fly-aways, and (dare we say) even a bit of frizz were fully embraced at the latest edition of NYFW!

Donna Karan SP'13

Calvin Klein Collection SP'13

Proenza Schouler SP'13

And no this adorable head scarf is not just Lindsey Wixton's way of looking chic while getting her pre-runway primp on, this was the actual runway look for Marc by Marc Jacobs SP'13. Talk about, "Oh I just threw myself together (and ended up looking fabulous), no big deal."

xo Q!

(images via Style.com)

Backstage Pass: Zero Maria Cornejo Spring/Summer 2012 Fashion Show

amika joined forces with beauty sponsor Beauty.com again for the Zero Maria Cornejo Fashion Show. amika provided Stylers, Hair Dryers, Straightening Combs and Styling Mats for the hair team that worked their magic on the models at Zero Maria Cornejo SS2012. Lead hairstylist Martin Cullen created a complex hair look for the show including twists and folds molded tight to the head.

You might need a few extra sets of hands to attempt this hair look on yourself but if you want to try it, here is how to do it:

1. Blow dry hair straight. Martin used the amika Black NRG Professional Drying System.

2. Straighten hair to create a perfectly smooth look. Martin used the amika Ceramic Styler with 1.25" Floating Plates.

3. Create a side part. Take two small sections of hair below the part and twist them back parallel to the part, tight to the head, and secure with a tie.

4. Fold sections flat against the head at the nape of the neck and secure with bobby pins. Use hair spray for additional hold.

5. Apply netting to protect the smooth hair and blow dry to set. Martin used the amika NRG Professional Drying System.

The finished look:

amika Mini Stylers were also given to all of the front row guests in attendance:

Big love to Beauty.com choosing amika hair tools for the hair team. See more backstage photos on our Facebook Page. Learn about the full beauty look from Zero Maria Cornejo on Temptalia here.

Backstage Pass: VPL Spring/Summer 2012 Fashion Show

amika tools were a part of another beautiful show at New York Fashion Week. At the VPL Spring/Summer 2012 Show we provided the hair tools that lead hairstylist Bob Recine and his team used to create the hair look. The collection had a scuba/surf vibe and to emphasize all of the bare skin in the silhouettes, the hair was clean, wet and slicked back as if the model had just stepped out of the water.

How to get the look:

1. Section the hair and saturate each section with mousse.

2. Comb the hair back, away from the face, wrap with a towel and hold in place with alligator clips.

3. Carefully blow dry to set. Bob used the amika NRG Professional Drying System.

4. Remove towels and clips and voilà.

A big thank you to VPL SS2012 beauty sponsor Beauty.com for inviting us to participate! See more images from the show on our VPL Facebook album. Check out more coverage on the VPL beauty look from beauty experts at Temptalia.

Hey amika fans on the West Coast!

Fred Segal Santa Monica is the place to be for Fashion's Night Out! Don't miss their event tomorrow, they will have deluxe sized samples of amika Obliphica haircare, a great DJ, and even a Pop-up Tattoo Shop! Here are the details: