Everyone wants expensive-looking hair right now, and that’s exactly what you’ll get with sculptural waves, the glossy and luxurious blow-dry look that’s trending for autumn and perfect for special occasions. If you’ve got a winter wedding or black tie event coming up, why not try this surprisingly versatile style that combines defined waves with a shiny finish? “Clients love this kind of wavy look for weddings and parties,” says Yoselita Pandolfo, director at Paul Edmonds London. “The technique we use is different for everyone, which is why we do a consultation before every blowout.”
WHAT ARE SCULPTURAL WAVES?
Yoselita: “Similar to Hollywood waves, sculptural waves are very voluminous, shiny and thick, as opposed to beachy waves, which are more natural, soft and separated. The hair can be parted in the middle or to the side, whatever suits the client best.”
CAN YOU CREATE SCULPTURAL WAVES ON ANY HAIR TEXTURE?
Hayley Kemm, textured hair expert: “You can create sculptural waves with any hair type as long as you use the right technique and products. If somebody has really thick hair, it's a different approach to what it would be if somebody had finer hair, and if they have really fine curly hair, you have to use lighter products, but if they’ve got very thick curly hair, you have to use something heavier.”
WHY DOES TEXTURED HAIR REQUIRE MORE TIME AND EXPERTISE?
Hayley: “I work with a lot of textured and afro hair, and how I wash and dry hair is completely different to straight hair. For example, when I’m styling afro hair, I sometimes blow dry it straight before I trim it, and then I wash it. I also use very different products to sculpt the hair into the desired shape.”
DOES HAIR COLOUR AFFECT A SCULPTURAL WAVES BLOWOUT?
Yoselita: “Shiny sculptural waves can really enhance your colour and bring out the different tones within the waves. If clients have coloured hair, we will always be very careful with heat styling. That’s why you always need to do a consultation before a blowout, to make sure the hair's not too damaged.”
HOW DO YOU CREATE SCULPTURAL WAVES IN THE SALON?
Hayley: “There are several ways to create sculptural waves. You can use a straightener, curling tongs or a hair dryer and brush. With very short hair, like a pixie cut or bob, you can do finger waves by shaping the hair with mousse or wax and a comb. On longer hair, the stylist might start with a small round brush, because the smaller the brush, the tighter the curls, then they might go in with heated tongs to set the waves, because longer hair is heavier so has a tendency to drop out.”
Yoselita: “For me, when I do sculptural waves, I choose the size of brush depending on the hair. I used a ‘brush and twist’ blowout technique with the hairdryer, and I sometimes use tongs as well to create the right shape. With very straight hair, sometimes I do pin curls, which is where you wrap sections of hair around your fingers and pin them, so it looks like you've got rollers in but you haven't. The hair is heated by the hairdryer, then it cools and that's what creates the waves. I usually leave them in for about five minutes, but some people prefer to leave the salon with them in so the waves have longer to set. After taking the pins out, I gently brush the hair through with the big comb.”
WHAT PRODUCTS DO YOU NEED TO CREATE SCULPTURAL WAVES?
Yoselita: “I usually start with mousse on wet hair to create volume. I love the Oribe Curl Shaping Mousse. I add a heat protector on the ends of the hair before blow-drying, especially if the client has coloured hair. After I’ve finished drying, I add a serum like Shu Uemura Essence Absolue or Oribe Curl Gloss and hair spray to hold the shape. I also recommend using a bit of wax to tame baby hairs around the hairline or parting.”
HOW SHOULD CLIENTS PREPARE FOR A SCULPTURAL WAVES BLOWOUT APPOINTMENT?
Hayley: “Unlike with up-do appointments, where it’s better to have unwashed hair, with a sculptural waves blow-dry it doesn’t matter, because we’re going to wash the hair anyway. We usually wash the hair, do a treatment, then blow dry it.”
HOW SHOULD CLIENTS LOOK AFTER THEIR SCULPTURAL WAVES?
Yoselita: “To refresh the look the next day, you can add some dry texture spray on the roots, and hair spray or serum through the lengths and ends.”
Hayley: “With textured or afro hair I always recommend cients pop a bonnet on when they get home. We sell the Slip Silk Turban in the salon, and their silk pillowcases are great too for preventing frizz.”
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: What are sculptural waves?
A: Sculptural waves are glossy, defined waves created with a blow-dry appointment, similar to Hollywood waves. They're voluminous, shiny and thick, unlike beachy waves, which are softer and more natural. Sculptural waves are trending for autumn/winter and are popular for weddings, parties and black-tie events.
Q: Can sculptural waves be created on naturally straight hair?
A: Yes, as long as your hairdresser uses the right technique and products. For very straight hair, stylists sometimes use pin curls or curling tongs to shape the waves. After the hair has cooled, it’s gently brushed through to create a uniform shape.
Q: How do hairdressers create sculptural waves?
A: Stylists use a variety of techniques, depending on the hair type or length. Typically, with mid-length or long hair, they start with a volume-boosting mousse and heat protector on wet hair before blow drying with a ‘brush and twist’ technique, followed by using a straightener or heated tongs to add more definition to the waves. Serum and hairspray finish the look.
Q: Where can I book professional hair styling in London?
A: For luxury hair styling in the city, it doesn’t get better than Paul Edmonds London. Our team of stylists can create everything from glamorous sculptural waves to elegant up-dos, so if you’ve got a glitzy event coming up, book a blowout or hair-up appointment now.
Making waves
Glossy and elegant, sculptural waves are the perfect choice when you want to look glamorous for a special occasion.
From short finger waves to long cascading curls, our stylists can tailor the sculptural blowout look to suit your hair, creating a long-lasting style that compliments your ensemble.
Want to try the sculptural waves look? Book a styling appointment at Paul Edmonds London.
