Tress Trends

By Laila Nasry

Colombo's glitterati was out in full force at the social event to kickstart the new year. Sleeveless, backless and strapless outfits, sequined, rhinestoned or otherwise floated around as did wafts of Dior 'Poison' and Channel. The 'truly international flavour' promised by Vasantha de Silva of Kess, did not need working at. 

The show commenced at 9.30 p.m. Both Indian and local models took the ramp. Hair, straight, curly, permed, layered and crimped, came and went before our eyes; all the cuts and styles had been administered by Vasantha and his team with French stylist Laurent Phillipon lending his expert touch. Makeup experts flown in from India handled the makeup, which was in nude tones with lots of gloss and shimmer. 

The shorter cuts were snippy and sharp ranging from 'cropped' cuts to bobs whilst the hair worn long sported different but versatile styles. 

However, some of the creations were hard to pass on practicality. Although they steered clear from qualifying for the fantasy category that generally go with hair shows, they fell short of 'everyday wear'. Nevertheless they scored on the colour and movement the cut or style offered. 

Of the wacky styles worthy of mention one beat all norms of gravity- a french braid starting at the nape of the neck ended like the hood of a cobra standing over the model's forehead. 

Hair-raising eh? It had one onlooker quip it looked like it was out of the movie 'Something about Mary'! The other beat all norms of reason- strands of hair attached to a zipper 'artfully' placed to blend in with the model's hair. It sure raised an eyebrow or two. 

It's a pity though, that the majority of men's styles were limited to short cuts slicked back with gel alone while a number of the men in the audience sporting long locks would have appreciated having other options displayed. 

The show ended in 45 minutes, with Vasantha sporting some thingumajig on his head,taking a bow to loud applause. Thingumajig? Sorry 'trends', I forgot.