Behind The Scenes Beauty: Christopher Raeburn SS16

Twice a year the Marie Claire team decamps to the fashion capitals – New York, Milan, Paris and of course (our favourite) London – to see the trends we’ll be wearing next season.

Twice a year the Marie Claire team decamps to the fashion capitals – New York, Milan, Paris and of course (our favourite) London – to see the trends we’ll be wearing next season.

Maybe we’re biased but London Fashion Week really is where all the new creative talent can be found. The Christopher Raeburn show is a particular highlight.

This season we went backstage at fashion week’s new home in Soho to see the look at Christopher Raeburn come together and we caught up with renowned hair stylist Leigh Keates who created it.

Keates – who counts Uma Thurman, Victoria Beckham and, Marie Claire favourite, Alicia Vikander among the celebrities he has worked with – told us, ‘this season Christopher was really inspired by the Borneo jungle. I’ve taken that as my lead for the hair and, using Batiste’s ‘Stylist’ range, I‘ve created the kind of texture you would see if you were in a really humid environment.’

We can’t get enough of a low ponytail and it seems the fash pack can’t either. The low pony has popped-up all over the SS16 shows and it’s a trend that’s set to stay.

Keate’s textured take on the style makes it even more wearable. If you’re keen to re-create the look here’s how he did it.

Arm Yourself With…

Batiste Stylist Texture Me Texturizing Spray, £4.49

Batiste Stylist XXL Plumping Powder, £3.99

Batiste Stylist Smooth It Frizz Tamer, £4.49

Hair elastics of even better a bungee cord

Batiste Stylist Hold Me Hairspray, £4.49

How To Recreate The Christopher Raeburn SS16 Hairstyle… 

Step One: If your hair is very clean mist Batiste Stylist Texture Me Texturizing Spray through the length and particularly through your roots. It will knock-back some of that smoothness and give a more flattering texture to your hair.

Step Two: With your hairdryer on its cool setting, set the product into your hair.

Step Three: Bring on the Batiste Stylist XXL Plumping Powder! Backstage, Keate’s really went to town with this powder to get the most out of that disheveled texture. He wafted it all through the roots, length and ends and rubbed it in with his fingertips. This is perfect for the catwalk but for a more wearable take on texture just use a little less.

Step Four: Batiste Stylist Smooth It Frizz Tamer does exactly what it says on the tin and it’s a gem for calming flyaways. But did you know it’s multi-talented? Keates sprayed it close to the roots to give the hair around the hairline a wetter feel and leave the impression of humidity.

Step Five: Where would we be without hairspray? After tying your hair off at the nape of your neck with either an elastic or a bungee, pull a few strands loose to soften the finish around your face and set your style in place with Batiste Stylist Hold Me Hairspray. For Raeburn’s show, Keates even misted it through the ponytail ends but this is optional.

That's our hair sorted. Now, if only we could buy-up the entire Christopher Raeburn spring collection we would be one happy beauty team...

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