Ponytails And Penciled Lids

Ever since Redken creative consultant Guido Palau championed the ponytail at the Fall 2011 shows, the easy, girl-next-door style has become perfectly acceptable runway and red carpet fare. But in an exciting first, the simple technique turned up backstage at Valentino, making an unlikely appearance at Couture week. Hair was kept deliberately loose around the hairline, allowing for soft wisps to fall around the face, which lent an unfinished, mysterious air. To add a slight edginess to the equation, makeup artist Pat McGrath built a flawless, clean base, to which she added a square, black liner application, similar to the technique she employed backstage at Lanvin two seasons ago. True to form, the face painter also put her stamp on brows, “lightening” rather than fully bleaching them, to create more of a contrast with the blocked-off, winged liner.