Famed hairstylist Francky L'Official shares his tips and tricks for getting Sanaa Lathan's hair with Pantene.
If you're going to spend an extended period of time getting your hair styled, there are few places more welcoming than Francky L'Official, a sun drenched celebrity favored salon on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Impeccably dressed in belted black trousers and a button down white shirt, Francky is an affable French hair stylist who has worked with some of the industry's biggest names — including Jacques Dessange — before branching out on his own. And yes, "L'Official" is his actual family last name. Adept at working with most any hair type and texture, Francky used Pantene Relaxed & Natural Dry to Moisturized Shampoo and Pantene Relaxed & Natural Dry to Moisturized Conditioner to help transform a model's dry, dull hair into the tousled waves that actress Sanaa Lathan is known for showing off.
Francky noted that he likes these two new Pantene hair products to tame frizz, particularly for women of color who often struggle with dry, coarse hair texture. He adds that when working with heat styling tools, it's especially important to focus on moisture because you lose so much of it in the styling process. He added that it's crucial to know your hair type and if your hair is curly, coarse, or dry, go with more moisturizing products. If your hair is on the oily side, opt for the opposite or you'll end up with overly shiny hair.
After hair is washed, Francky suggests brushing out hair and working in with your fingers a heat-protecting cream like Pantene Daily Oil Cream Moisturizer. This type of cream will not only work to protect hair from heat styling tools, but it will make the process of straightening more seamless. Blow dry hair section by section with a 1.5 inch barrel brush and when hair is completely dry, go over the entire mane with a flat iron. Again, it's important to remember that flat irons will zap moisture, so apply heat protecting cream to avoid ending up with heat-damaged hair.
According to Francky, pencil straight hair doesn't work with long faces; this particular facial shape needs movement, so the stylist used a one inch barrel curler and piece by piece curled the whole head of hair starting two inches below the root, which he says makes for the most natural result. Holding on to each curl in the barrel for five to eight seconds (as soon as hair feels hot, take off the curler to avoid burning hair), he curled the entire head.
Francky advises buying ceramic irons and curlers and, if possible, an iron with keratin liquid on the plate because when combined with the steam the keratin will help repair hair breakage. After curling the entire head of hair, letting each one fall where it may, take white truffle oil to make the curls softer, add more bounce and shine, and to tame any fly-aways. To do this, take some of the oil in your hands and lightly run your fingers through the curls.
Francky L'Official is regarded as one of the most sought-after hair stylists in New York City with his namesake salon and a throng of socialite and celebrity clientele. In addition to being a regular on Bravo's The Real Housewives of New York City, Francky has overseen numerous fashion shows and has become a highly reputable source on hair expertise.