We have this thing where, upon entering someone’s home and pillaging their closet, we like to make them our friend and persuade them to help us with things that might fall under this person’s expertise. Like when Madeline Poole taught us how to actually do nail art following an especially colorful closet shoot. Or, in this case, when, after visiting Harry Josh at his New York home and going through his leather jackets and band tees, we showed up less than a week later at the Serge Normant Salon to have him teach us the intricacies of his infamous tousled waves.
See, Josh is the man behind the most effortless-looking hairstyle ever. Key word: looking. Because no matter how long we fiddle with a blow-dryer/curling iron/flat iron combo, we can’t seem to make those waves fall just so. It was about time we went to the source. And since it’s, you know, the most wonderful time of the year or something and there’s an expectation that we’re supposed to pull ourselves together and dress up, we went for the polished wave rather than the beachy, just-rolled-out-of-bed thing that we attempt in the summer (the fact that our model had Cher-worthy hair didn’t exactly hurt—more on her :point_down:). Herein, Josh shares the surprisingly simple method. Holiday hair = done.
— Harry Josh’s —
Rich Girl Waves
— The Products —
John Frieda Frizz Ease Curl Reviver Mousse
John Frieda Frizz Ease Expert Finish Polishing Serum
Serge Normant Dream Big Instant Volumizing Spray
— The Tools —
Harry Josh Pro Tools Pro Dryer 2000
Harry Josh Pro Tools 2-in-1 Ceramic Marcel Curling Iron
— The Step-by-Step —
1. “When it comes to creating bodacious hair that’s full of volume and texture, product is key. I never work without using a mousse. I’m obsessed with the John Frieda Frizz Ease Mousse—even if you don’t have frizzy hair—because it has the perfect hold and it feels brushable and soft. It never leaves your hair feeling sticky or stiff, but allows you to rework the hair, use the curling iron on top of it again and again, and it just keeps holding the shape beautifully.
For fine hair: Apply the mouse on wet hair and then dry the roots by lifting them up—the dryer cooks the mousse upright. You don’t have to worry about the rest of the strands—all you care about is getting this kind of center section nice and full. Use the hot air first, then the cold shot, which freezes it in place. You start to see this mohawk effect. Now dry it fully with your fingers—no brush needed. Brush it out, and then start wrapping your Velcro rollers over the top section, nowhere else.”
2. “Next, use a curling iron. If your hair tends to fall, use a one-inch iron; if your hair holds, you can use a one-and-a-half-inch iron. While you’re wrapping [the hair], it might look tight [if you’re using the one-inch], but it’s going to fall. Just keep working your way around the head [with the iron]. For the pieces around your hairline, the iron should be vertical and you should wrap the hair away from the face. On the right side, wrap your hair going back; and on the left, wrap it forward—you want to flip it. One side will be facing the temple and one side will be facing the back of your head. At the end, it will be even.”
3. “After you have a head full of ringlets, flip your head upside and shake it vigorously. Or use a diffuser to put some more heat and roughness into it.”
4. “Finish with hair spray, or use a texturizing product to create a bed head look. This look is ideal on every hair texture, but the look will be completely different based on the beginning point of your hair. So if you’re looking for that Kate Moss, Gisele, sexy, beachy wave, your hair needs to be blonde—that’s what creates the roughness and the texture. If your hair is healthy, beautiful, and long, you’ll still have a wave pattern, but it’ll be more polished and clean. But the tips and the techniques will remain the same, regardless of what your hair looks like.”
And now, a moment with our model and the owner of the most beautiful hair ever, Natalia Mantini. (She also happens to be one of our favorite new photographers.)
“I was always into taking photos of my friends growing up. I wasn’t trying to pursue anything or take much seriously, I was just into documenting the people around me. I would take a lot of photos of my friends playing in bands when I was younger and loved photographing my female friends for fun. As I kept shooting friends in music, it led to working with record labels and my list of clients started to increase.
“I had the opportunity to take photos of a pretty influential performer as a trial to become her tour photographer. I shot her entire rehearsal, and there were times when it was just me and her in a huge space. I didn’t continue the tour, but it was such an insane experience and I will never forget it. It had to be very low-key, and it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It was extremely surreal. I literally teared up shooting when a certain song came on because I was just amazed as to how I was where I was, but a camera was in front of my face so obviously no one could see. It was crazy.
“When shooting beauty, I want to amplify what is already beautiful about my subject, which is never difficult if you are looking at it from that angle. It’s just about the photo capturing what I am already seeing. As a female, I feel I have an advantage on shooting women. I know we all want to look our best and getting the subject comfortable is the most important aspect.
“My own routine seems to simplify as I get older. I now use a smaller amount of better-quality products. I keep things minimal and focus on healthy skin and hair for my day-to-day. If I feel good about my skin, I don’t really feel the need to put much on top of it. I start my routine with a mixture of avocado oil and Glossier’s priming moisturizer. I use Anastasia products on my brows and the classic Maybelline Great Lash mascara. For a lip I always wear Pigalle by Nars, it’s my favorite color.
“I am obsessed with taking care of my hair—it’s kind of ridiculous, but it’s working. I wash once a week with Pureology. I just tried Living Proof shampoo and conditioner, which I’m loving. I use a deep hydrating hair masque by DevaCurl maybe once a week. I don’t apply any heat to my hair ever—I get a Keratin treatment twice a year and that’s it. I always air-dry it. My only and most important tool I own is a Mason Pearson brush—it completely transformed my hair. I take BioSil liquid once a day, which is epic for hair, skin and nails. My goal is to have ’70s Cher-length hair by next summer. I’m almost there. Sulfate- and paraben-free everything!
“The best advice is DON’T QUIT.
“The best advice I’ve ever received is not to take anything personally.”