|
Stylist
to the Stars!
Though
based in the country music capital,
Riqué has done hair,
makeup and fashion for recording artists all around the world -
from Manhattan to Japan to Atlanta to L.A. He has worked with the
likes of Emmylou Harris, Alan Jackson, Lyle Lovett, K.T. Oslin,
The Judds, Patty Loveless, Tanya Tucker, Suzy Bogguss and Vince
Gill. When a country music video needs to be done, producers often
call on Riqué to do the styling, not only for the hair but
also makeup, fashions and art direction.
Riqué likes to
talk most about Emmylou, with whom he has worked for nearly a decade.
"She's a sweetheart," he confides. One of the reasons
she bought her current house" is tat it's around the corner
from my salon!"
Lately the Grand Ole Opry star has
been wearing her hair shorter, permed and glazed, according to the
designer. "Glazing lets the (natural) gray be the highlights,
"Riqué explains. "It's a translucent coloring."
By maintaining the variation of the tone, the growing-in process
becomes easier. The healthier, low-lift, low-volume peroxide does
away with the "root problem," which women experience when
drastically changing their haircolor. You could go fro months without
touchups or even give up the highlights if desired.
Riqué says Emmylou gets compliments
on the many different ways she wears her hair. The mane expert says
there are two reasons she gets such versatility: the cut and the
perm. Here're the secrets that lend themselves to the various looks
you've seen Emmylou wear: long, side bangs with little wisps underneath,
and angled fringe and long layers throughout. Her style of bangs
works well on many hairstyles, according to the stylist extraordinaire.
The design gives her the option of wearing a soft bang, lifting
the fringe to one side or taking it totally off the face.
"The long layers help release
the curl," he explains. "The cut is so important for anyone's
hair!"
The former New Your City stylist gets
most excited when talking about Emmylou's perm. She calls the look
"Riqué on the road"; he calls it wash 'n' wear
hair. "We give Emmy a perm once a year right before she starts
touring," Riqué reveals. "In the interim we have
her highly conditioned with oil treatments to revitalize the perm.
She's concerned abut "over shampooing" and takes care
to avoid doing it.
Riqué suggests waiting to shampoo
a perm for three to four to even seven days after getting it done
for longer lasting results. His reasons? "You don't want to
disrupt the curl pattern."
To create Emmylou's natural locking
curl, Riqué uses a weave rolling technique, alternating two
different-sized rods on one strand of hair. That way you get an
"unorganized curl pattern which looks really natural,"
Riqué says. By rolling hair vertically on the sides, he achieves
a cascading effect. Riqué does what he calls directional
rolling on top to get the desired movement. For Emmylou, he takes
the rods over to the side so there will be gorgeous waves moving
off the face.
This stylist to the country stars
recommends conditioning before, during and after a perm. He always
cuts hair after perming to cut into the curl or the wave. Don't
perm more than twice a year, Riqué advises. "It's too
hard on your hair."
Other tricks of the trade: "Try
not to shampoo every day. Your hair and scalp need natural oils."
A perm may be moistened with water daily before styling, he explains.
Wetting the hair every day removes today's light products, according
to Riqué, who should know because he has developed his own
line of hair-care products.
If your hair needs shampooing every
day, Riqué suggests concentrating on the scalp. He's a firm
believer in the 100 strokes a day wives' tale... but only if you
use a natural bristle brush that will distribute the natural oils
from the roots to the ends.
His favorite client is a great example
of the changing style of country music stars. "Country is really
transcending the old bouffant... the 'lopsided, conehead' look,"
notes the fashion leader. "I usually try to steer women away
from Big Hair. Women who wear short hair are really fashionable
if the cut is designed for the individual's looks and features and
if the weight line is right."
Referring to Emmylou, he says, "I've
taught her how to do her makeup. It's an easy, natural approach.
I do this technique I call eye art with one pencil and a brush."
Also naming it enhancement makeup, Riqué teaches women how
and where to line, brush and smudge. "It's not a lot of work,
just embellishing."
As an extension of years' working
with singers, this hair designer has come up with a line of easy-to-use
hair-care products. Emmylou uses the styling tools religiously and
has given them the same name as her perm: "Riqué on
the Road." The aloe-based, environmentally responsible collection
includes shampoo, moisturizer, protein treatment, spray and mousse.
Before finalizing the line, the stylist "tested the products
on musicians who need reliable hair care tools that are easy to
use on the road."
We could go on and on about this beauty
authority, but his hints could fill a book. Now that you know who
Riqué is, watch for his name on videos, album covers and
in other magazines.
|
