Click here to see photos from this event.
All the hair VIPS were in the place to be on a gloriously sultry Sunday in April—The Biggs Museum of American Art in Dover, naturally. The museum held its second annual Hair Affair competition, and as someone who took in the event in its inaugural year, I gotta say, thumbs up to the bigger, badder sequel. Shout out to whoever reserved a front-row seat along the runway for the Gabby girl so I could get my Anna Wintour on all afternoon.
With flutes of crisp champy in hand, the well-dressed audience took in some hard-core avant-garde looks. And seriously. I cannot overstate how fresh, original and colorful you all looked. Before 2 p.m. on a Sunday, too. That’s skill. (Perhaps Bel Boutique had a little something to do with it? I know that Biggs’ program coordinator Beccy Cooper’s best gal pal, Erin Tinsley, owns the place, and styled Beccy for the event in a gorgeous floral mini-dress that I fully intend to buy. No shame here in copy-catting.)
I was close enough to the runway to feel the breeze off a purple punk-haired Elisa Fermin as she high-stepped it down the catwalk like a boss for MichaelAngelo’s Hair Designs in Dover, wearing nothing but leggings with gold glittery cut-outs, a cropped black blazer and some (very) strategically placed tape. Watch yourself, Rihanna—you’re not the only good girl gone bad.
Elisa, an entrant in the “Fantasy Couture” category, had some stiff competition in Crystal Cable, repping Wilmington’s Cielo Salon & Spa. And I do mean stiff—Crystal’s hair was arranged in 12 long, vertical points. The look (let’s call it “Woodland Beauty Nymph”) was a must-see.
My hands-down favorite look of the day, though, goes to Rori & Company Salon in Dover. The Rori style squad saw to every last detail for their mermaid model Caitlin Klerlein. Her hair, an ocean-infused concoction of braids, tucks and soft waves with sea inspiration pieces, was a vision.
The big winner was Dover’s The Upper Cut Salon, which swept all three categories with help from models Brittany Cambra; little Lila Kroshus in the “Children’s” category, who stomped right into my heart in the tiniest pair of cowgirl boots I’ve ever seen; and, Sydney Book in the “Updo” category. And while he wasn’t up for a prize, I must float a little love note to museum curator Ryan Grover, who looked laid-back Brooklyn bro cool in low-tops and a fabulous blazer.
