How to make a braid look like loops and 3 things I learned from Angelo Seminara

Angelo Seminara is one of the leading hairdressers of our time. He is a creative genius, though he denies this. He simply says he is curious, and this is what drives him.

I was lucky to spend a day with Angelo when he was in Sydney recently at an intimate workshop with some of the top hairdressers in Australia. It was a rare opportunity to get up close and personal with this hair legend. Huge thanks to M.Division and Davines / Hairjamm as this wouldn’t have happened without their support.

I came away so inspired and it’s hard to put that into words but I’m going to share a technique Angelo taught as well as 3 things I learned from him.

How to make a braid look like loops

If I hadn’t watched Angelo Seminara create this braided style, I wouldn’t believe how easy it is. This technique is something you can try with a friend to create a totally different look with a standard Dutch braid.

1. Part your hair in the centre. Angelo used some padding to create this domed head shape at the crown of the head.
2. Begin your Dutch braid right at the hairline. Add in small to medium sized sections to hair from each side as you braid.
3. When you reach the nape of the neck, finish in a regular braid.
4. Stretch out your braid. My favourite step of braiding and Angelo really massaged the braid to stretch it out and create this beautiful, soft texture.
5. Tuck the end of the braid up and pin it underneath with bobby pins.
6. The secret to making your braid look like loops is your hairdryer. With the dryer in one hand and hairspray in the other, Angelo went along each side of the braid lifting the edges with the dryer and spraying it in place. This transformed it from a braid into these vertical loops. Repeat on the other side.
7. Finish with colour. Angelo used a temporary makeup spray along the loops to make them stand out. He also smoothed the side of the head with a tail comb to contrast with the softness of the loops.

Three things I learned from Angelo Seminara

• Stay curious. Stay hungry. Angelo denied the title of creative genius and said that anyone can do what he does. His curiosity is what drives him to develop new techniques and ideas.
• Surround yourself with talented people. Angelo has a close working relationship with Edoardo Paludo and credits his team as to how he can do it all.
• Keep it simple. Watching Angelo work you realise that most of his techniques are incredibly simple. Anyone could do it. The difference is that he just spends months in advance developing the idea for the finished look. This make the techniques seem so revolutionary. His mother-of-pearl hair colour is the perfect example of this.

Thank you Angelo for your generosity in sharing your time and knowledge during your whirlwind trip to Australia.

If you want to be inspired, head to Angelo Seminara’s website and go through his collections. Absolutely amazing.

Who do you find inspirational?