HAIR

STRAND SLAYERCESAR RAMIREZ

SHOWS US HOW AGOOD WIG CAN GO

FROM BASIC TO BAM!BY NYKIA SPRADLEY

PHOTOGRAPHY BYCHRISTOPHER KOLK

HAIL,CESAR!

BONE-STRAIGHT LOBWhen Cesar Ramirez originally cut thisasymmetrical lob on Taraji P. Henson forour November 2015 cover, he focused oncrisp, clean lines. He was just as precise inre-creating the look here. All the wigs hecrafts enhance the individual’s bone structureand face shape. “When you buy a wig,it’s like a base. Take it to a professional tohave it cut and/or colored. Customize it tocomplement your face and skin tone,” saysRamirez. Sleekness ups the style’s impact,so he applied a shine spray to tiny sectionsbefore flat ironing. “It gives you a sleekcuticle, so everything looks silky.”

THE TARAJI

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BEACH-WAVE BLONDCiara is unquestionably a hair chameleon, but these sun-kissed,flowy waves have basically become the singer’s signature.Wigs give you a good excuse to try out a cool new color. Whendoing so, Ramirez treats them the same way he does his clients’tresses. “For the moment, it’s ‘your’ hair. If you want your exten-sions, weave or wig to look good, use the same quality prod-ucts you would use on your own locks,” he says. To maintaincolor as light as Ciara’s, apply a leave-in conditioner andthen an antibreakage heat protectant, which adds elasticityback to strands. This cocktail “makes the hair stronger, soit doesn’t break when styling,” says Ramirez.w

THE CIARA

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CURL CUES“When you’re cutting curly hair, it’s a lot of freehand,” says Ramirezof the triangle-shaped bob he made for Brandy. He prefers drycutting over wet in order to monitor the true shape of curly strands:“You don’t style your hair wet, so cut it when it’s dry to knowwhat shape you’re actually creating.” To keep his curly wigs fromfrizzing, he uses a non-crunchy gel cream, followed by a humidity-blocking hair spray that maintains definition. Stay away from wet ornonaerosol stylers, which can only exacerbate frizz. “I like soft-hold sprays because you can get the hold you need and still brushthrough the hair, and the curls can last for a few days without havingto wash them,” says Ramirez.w

THE BRANDY

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Jennifer Hudsonstarted with a nineties-inspired crop, consist-ing of long bangs andsideburns; it evolvedinto an edgy, spiky do.

Having worked with wigs since the beginning of his 18-yearcareer, Cesar Ramirez is now expanding his brand with afocus on customization. In April he opened his first studio,Bunny&Skull, in Los Angeles. There he fits, colors and styles wigsin an intimate salon setting. “I give my clients the opportunityto try new things without having to commit,” says Ramirez, whoplans to open a New York City Bunny&Skull soon.

Wigs are the perfect way togive a new trend a test run. Ifyou hate it, you’re not stuckwith it. Better yet, you mayend up loving it—which ishow Jennifer Hudson got herpixie. “We had a consultationand tried a bunch of styles,”says Ramirez. “I thoughtof doing something reallyshort, a pixie, which she hadnever done before, and sheloved it. The original was awig, and then she grew herown hair into the style.”£

GRAND OPENING

ShortStory

Jennifer’s originalpixie was a

wig, and then shegrew her own hair

into the style.

HAIR : WIGS

For our model,Ramirez crafteda platinum-blondversion of hisJHud crop.

WIG-SHOPPING IDEASAND PRODUCTS

• Get a wig measuredto your head so thatit’s not too big ortoo loose.

• Go for human hair.Steer clear of synthetic-and-natural-blendedstrands, which can lookfake and can’t be heat-styled as easily.

• Flat-braid the tresses.That’s key, because theway your hair is braidedunder the wig will deter-mine how the wig sits onyour head.

RICKYCARE ClassicLarge Paddle Brush ($30,rickysnyc.com). MIZANIHRM Humidity ResistantMist ($17, Ulta). THE WETCLIPS ($7 for 4-pack,thewetbrush.com).MIZANI 25 Miracle Milk($20, Ulta). KARG ShearK-Wide Royale Scissors($422, mikekarg.com).

CESAR’STIPS &TOOLS

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