Calm Before The Storm

A fusion of stark shapes and tousled waves come together in the latest collection from British hairdresser Melenie Tudor.

For these cool short styles, British hairdresser Melenie Tudor of En Route Hair & Beauty in Wakefield, UK, was inspired by how natural elements can take the form of silhouettes of opulence. Aptly titled Decadence, the collection edges on the intricate, the refined and carefree punk. “I wanted to explore textures and shapes combined with sophisticated glamour and beauty all twisted together to create bold, strong looks,” Tudor says. The collection is comprised of looks of the past that are updated, cultivated and then completely overhauled with touches of sleekness, small soft waves and robust lines. —Jolene Turner

Photography: John Rawson of The Rawson Partnership; Fashion Styling: Jared Green; Makeup: Jo Sugar

IMAGE ABOVE - For this bob, Melenie Tudor took sections from the occipital bone and cut directly from the nape working up to the crown. She then took small vertical sections just below the occipital bone and cut sections of hair at 45 degrees to create graduation. For the square shape, Tudor ensured the sides were short and made allowances for the ears.

IMAGE ABOVE - To create voluminous waves, Tudor dampened hair with water and volumizing spray, then set with medium perm rods starting at the nape. She used a stack wind technique to ensure the top sections remained straight. With a natural bristle brush, Tudor brushed out the curls once they dried until she achieved the desired wave shape. She finished the style using her fingers and a light serum.

IMAGE ABOVE - For this spunky crop and top quiff, Tudor cut hair short with graduation toward the neck, leaving the side sections and top longer. To style for volume, she used a round brush to set, then used her fingers to tousle the strands into shape.

IMAGE ABOVE - For this edgy short crop and long fringe, Tudor used a scissors-over-comb technique to undercut a section of hair from just below the temple to the occipital bone. She started in the back, cutting at right angles to the head, allowing small longer sections to fall over short hair, and left it disconnected. Tudor then cut the middle sections into an inverted shape, continuing to the front. Finally, she layered hair into a square shape for texture.