Interview

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For whatever very fashionable reason, October magazine covers are all about curls on the beach. Just the time to look to Jen Atkin—the celebrity hairstylist who rescued flat-iron curls from the clutches of your middle school years, who can turn pencil-straight hair into a chignon in no time flat—for advice. Jen has worked with everyone from Leighton Meester to Cindy Crawford at the Andy Lecompte Salon in Los Angeles; here she tells you to get back to the ironing board.


SARAH HOWARD: What are the haircut trends for fall?

JEN ATKIN: Anything curly.

HOWARD: Why's that?

ATKIN: 80s is back in clothing, from shoulder pads and blazers to high-waisted everything. And everyone's getting rid of their flat irons.

HOWARD: I've been seeing tons of beachy waves on the covers of all of the magazines. Any reason for such a paradox on the October covers?

ATKIN: It's fun and sexy and a lot of girls are dressing up but leaving their hair messy a la Chloe Sevigny or Erin Wasson.
HOWARD: What's the big red carpet trend this season?

ATKIN: Loose messy waves tucked back into a messy bun.

HOWARD: How has this changed from last season?

ATKIN: Last season a lot of celebs were wearing braids on the red carpet.

HOWARD: When you get someone ready for a red carpet even, from where do you draw hair inspiration?

ATKIN: It depends on the dress, makeup direction, the event, and the shoes.  I get inspiration from my clients and, usually, magazines from the UK.

HOWARD: Who already has the must-have fall style?

ATKIN: Baliaged tips, long bangs, and grown out bobs, like Alexa Chung

HOWARD: Must-have product for fall hair?

ATKIN: Frederick Fekkai sheer hold hairspray is the new Ellnet.

HOWARD: Anything else?

ATKIN: Leanor Greyl has a great mask for deep conditioning to get your hair out of it summer dryness and into fall fullness.

Sarah Howard is the editor of Beauty Banter.