How to get it: Step 1: Apply a generous amount of volumizing spray gel (try Sebastian Professional Volupt Spray, $19.95) through damp hair. Blow dry your hair using just your fingers in order to add volume and maintain your natural texture, says stylist Thomas Dunkin who created the look.
Step 2: Once your hair is completely dry, allow it to part naturally. Next, spritz your whole head with flexible, shine enhancing hairspray (try Sebastian Professional Shine Define, $15.95).
Step 3: Twist a small section of hair on each side of your head (secure with a bobby pin) and pull hair back into a ponytail.
Step 4: Loosely twist the tail into a large chignon allowing shorter layers to pop out and remain loose. Secure into a pretty shape with bobby pins.
The look: Retro liquid lined eyes and coral lips paired with a bouncy ponytail
How to get it: Makeup:
Step 1: Even out your skin tone and camouflage flaws with foundation, concealer and powder.
Step 2: Line top lashes with black liquid liner. Make the outer half of the line a bit thicker than the inner. Check out this liquid eyeliner video tutorial if you need help mastering this technique.
Step 3: Subtly line your bottom lashlines with the same liquid liner. Connect the top and bottom lines at the inner corners.
Step 4: Dust a touch of peach-colored blush on the apples of your cheeks.
Step 2: Add a bit of Rene Furterer Myrrhea Anti-Frizz No Rinse Silkening Fluid, $30 to just the ends of your hair. Next, add a generous amount of mousse -- a handful of it -- by first rubbing it into your hands and then applying it to your hair.
Step 3: Rough dry your hair using just your hands for added volume.
Step 4: Create loose waves by using a medium-sized curling iron. Start your curls at ear level so the top of your hair remains straight, says Monzon.
Step 5: Once all of your hair is curled, secure it into a low side ponytail. Finish the look by wrapping a small section of hair around the elastic -- secure it with a small bobby pin -- and spritzing with hairspray for hold.
Photo 12/15
Fashion show: Cynthia Rowley
The look: Sexy brown and gold smoky eyes
How to get it: Step 1: Apply foundation like you would your moisturizer for a "second skin" effect, says Maybelline New York Global Makeup Artist Charlotte Willer.
Step 2: Cover your top lids completely with brown pencil liner to act as a base for your shadow. In addition, line your bottom lashlines and inner rims (waterlines) with the same pencil.
Step 3: Use a brown shadow quad to complete your eyes (try Maybelline New York Expert Wear Eyeshadow Quad in Chai Latte, $5.50). Apply the dark brown on top of the liner you just applied. Sweep the lighter brown shade around the edges of the dark brown to perfectly blend the color and to soften the look. Dab the shimmery white just on the inner corners of your eyes and finish by lining your bottom lashlines with gold -- use an angled liner brush for this.
Step 4: Apply a ton of black mascara to top and bottom lashes.
Step 5: Finish the look by dabbing on a nude lipstick using your fingertip.
Photo 13/15
Fashion show: Adam
The look: Twisted low pony
How to get it: Step 1: Spritz flexible hold hairspray (try Redken Fashion Work 12 Versatile Working Spray, $12.99) on the front and crown of your head to help you create a sleek side part.
Step 3: Separate out a two-inch long, one-inch wide section of hair in the center of the back of your head (just above the nape of your neck). Braid that section down just until it reaches the base of your head and secure with an elastic, says stylist Diego Da Silva who created the style.
Step 4: Pull the hair to the left of the braid in toward the braid -- secure it lightly to the braid with a couple of bobby pins. Next, gather the right side of your hair and wrap it over that left section. Twist it inward a bit then bobby pin the twist securely to the braided section (almost like a French twist).
Step 5: Finish with more hairspray for hold and rough up the hanging ponytail a bit more with your hands to enhance the lived-in texture.
Photo 14/15
Fashion show: Adrienne Vittadini
The look: Classic, glowing, bronzed makeup
How to get it: Step 1: Apply primer to prep your skin and follow with tinted moisturizer to even out your skin tone.
Step 2: Contour your face by applying bronzer beneath your cheekbones and highlighter on top of your cheekbones. Then apply a bit of berry-colored cheek stain on the apples of your cheeks for added glow and color (try Hourglass Aura Sheer Cheek Stain in Flush, $45), says Hourglass Beauty Director Michael Pierce who created the look.
Step 3: Apply a mixture of vanilla and shell-colored eyeshadows onto your lids. Next, blend a chocolate brown shade into your creases to create a soft smoky effect.
Step 4: Thinly line your top lids with liquid liner, winging out the line a bit at your outer corners. Finish with black mascara.
When you think about runway hair and makeup looks, what words come to mind?
Over-the-top? Avant guard? Wacky? Inspirational? Impossible-to-pull-off? Scary?
It's OK, you can admit that you don't find them wearable, pretty or feminine -- we won't tell the fashionistas.
But before you go and totally write off the runway as a source of inspiration for looks that are ones you can create without looking like a drag queen, we'd like to share these hair and makeup photos with you. All of these beauty looks were seen on the Fall 2011 Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week catwalks. Yup, it's true.
So many of the looks we saw were not only gorgeous, but also ones we knew we'd be able to recreate without having to seriously water them down. What's even better? We wouldn't need a backpack full of products to create them, either.
From sexy smoky eyes, to pretty twisted updos, we gathered up all of the prettiest and most wearable looks from the runways to bring them to you. Some of the looks are perfect for evening while others are suitable for every day. Check them out and then learn step-by-step how to copy them -- exactly. Your friends will be so impressed (maybe even a little intimidated) when they compliment you on your fabulous hair or makeup -- especially when you tell them the look was seen on the runway.
