Fall 2013 Runway Report: Hair, Makeup & Nails

Fine Bordeaux

The catwalks were flooded with plummy lips. At Derek Lam, makeup artist Tom Pecheux dabbed on a mix of brown, maroon, and burgundy cream lipsticks with his fingers to create a "saturated stain."

Tip: Tinted balms and glosses are an easy way to wear wine hues. Try Clinique Chubby Stick Intense Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm in Grandest Grape, $16.

Catwoman

Backstage at Anna Sui, makeup artist Pat McGrath drew on '60s sex kittens like Brigitte Bardot for inspiration. To modernize the classic cat-eye, McGrath painted winged black liner on upper lids, then lined the inner rims with white and dotted black liquid liner along lower lashlines.

Tip: This style is meant to be precise, so use a waterproof liquid liner with a fine-tip point, such as Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner in Intense Black, $20.

Aprés-SoulCycle

Fake a killed-it-at-Spin-class glow, like makeup artist Mel Arter did at Felder Felder.

Tip: Apply MAC Powder Blush in Peaches, $21, low on the apples using a tapered blush brush, which offers more color-placement control than a large, fluffy one.

Smoky 2.0

At Donna Karan, makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury blended gray shadow outward to create a bat-wing shape on lids. "It has classic smoky-eye roots with a modern twist," she says of the update.

Tip: For a more flattering gray, choose a shadow with a touch of shimmer, such as Shiseido Shimmering Cream Eye Color in Caviar, $25, or Estée Lauder Pure Color Stay-on Shadow Paint in Sinister, $24.

Penny Lids

Bronzed eyes are an ideal way to get a radiant glow during brisk months. Revlon Global Artistic Director Gucci Westman created the foiled look at J. Mendel using "copper with a glossy sheen that makes it more luxurious," she says.

Tip: Best shades: Maybelline New York Eye Studio Color Tattoo Pure Pigments Eye Shadow in Breaking Bronze, $7; Aveda Petal Essence Single Eye Colors in Ginger Root, $14; and Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Color Eye Shadow Singles in Shimmering Copper, $19.

Natural-Born Lips

Barely-there lipstick appears effortlessly cool yet totally professional. By patting a flesh-tone balm onto models' lips, makeup artist Lucia Pieroni conveyed an "angelic but strong" look at Missoni.

Tip: For a more natural effect, try dabbing on Laura Mercier Crème Smooth Lip Colour in Angelic, $26, or Rimmel London Kate Moss Lasting Finish Matte Lipstick in 113 (left, bottom), $5, with fingers.

Power Arches

Ditch the tweezers: The new tomboy-style brows are "effortless but controlled—full with volume, almost masculine," says Pecheux of the look he created at Isabel Marant.

Tip: To pump up sparse brows, apply a pencil like Clé de Peau Beauté Eyebrow Pencil in Light Brown, $60, using short, feathery strokes.

Nearly Naked

Fresh-faced complexions were everywhere. "Think porcelain dolls before they get painted," says James Kaliardos, who did the makeup at Theyskens' Theory.

Tip: The dewy finish of MAC Mineralize Charged Water Moisture Gel, $39, keeps skin from looking too mannequin-like.

Inky hair made a dramatic statement at Louis Vuitton, among others.

Tip: To prevent a harsh look, Sally Hershberger colorist Aura Friedman recommends keeping hair around the hairline one shade lighter.

1. L'oréal Paris Excellence Crème in Natural Blue Black, $9.
2. John Frieda Precision Foam Colour in Luminous Blue Black,$13.

Glamour Curls

For the big, brushed-out ringlets seen at Marc by Marc Jacobs, hairstylist and Redken Creative Consultant Guido Palau used a generous amount of volumizer before winding sections of hair around a small curling iron.

Tip: To keep your cloud of curls from falling flat, finish with a liberal misting of Living Proof Flex Shaping Hairspray, $24.

MASON PEARSON Extra Small Boar Bristle Hair Brush, $237.

Two-Tone

Attention-grabbing roots are for the woman "who likes to sneak out and have a good time," says the global creative director of Wella Professionals, Eugene Souleiman, who created the look at Haider Ackermann.

Tip: "The low level of maintenance required for these roots makes it great for someone looking to avoid multiple salon visits," Friedman says.

Shine On

Glossy, almost-wet hair looks fierce. To get the look—seen here at Prada—stylists applied hair oils such as Redken Diamond Oil Shatterproof Shine Intense, $40, or Wella Professionals Oil Reflections, $20.

Tip: Comb tracks can look severe, so use your fingers to rake an oil like Suave Professionals Moroccan Infusion Styling Oil, $6, through damp hair.

Laying Low

Ponytails have moved south for the winter, like at Chloé, where stylist Anthony Turner opted for a deep side part.

TIP: Soften a superslick style by applying a palm-size amount of Kérastase Couture Styling Mousse Bouffante, $36, to damp hair, then blow it out with a round brush before you pull it back.

MOROCCANOIL Luminous Hairspray Strong, $22.

Bold Accents

Ornaments, simple ribbons, and cool hair accessories were small touches that had a big impact at shows like PPQ.

Tip: For a subtler look, wind a ribbon around the base of your ponytail for added polish.

Perfect Plaits

Nothing fixes a bad hair day on a harried morning like a good braid—we loved the clean look at Valentino.

Tip: Smooth hair with a glossing serum like Phyto Paris Phytolisse Ultra-Glossing Finishing Serum, $30, before you braid so the plait doesn't get wispy.

Cinnamon Swirl

Looking to change up your color? Multiple runway models worked a spicy hue this season, like at Rachel Zoe. Red is notoriously tough to pull off, but this softer shade of cinnamon works with most skin tones.

Tip: DIY with Garnier Olia Oil Powered Permanent Home Haircolor in Light Natural Auburn, $10, or Clairol Root Touch-Up by Nice 'n Easy in Medium Auburn/Reddish Brown, $8.

Bright Idea

At Libertine, Butter London Global Colour Ambassador Katie Hughes painted nails gold and applied multicolored crystals in varying sizes for an eye-popping effect.

Tip: Strategically glue Cina Crystal Assorted Rhinestones, $5, on already-polished nails.

Gothic Renaissance

Nails were black as night at shows like Kenzo.

Tip: For a twist on the trend, paint nine nails with Butter London Nail Lacquer in Union Jack Black, $15, and then do a single red "accent" nail.

Gilded Tips

Metallic lacquers—seen at Costello Tagliapietra—are a subtle way to jazz up your standard office manicure.

Tip: Metallic polishes, such as Essie Nail Polish in No Place Like Chrome, $8, or CND Vinylux Weekly Polish in Locket Love, $10, are less likely to chip than cream or sheer polishes.

Matte Finish

The shine-free looks at Rebecca Taylor are a trendy alternative to more outré nail art.

Tip: Paint nails with a regular polish, then lay down a quarter-inch stripe of JINsoon Nail Polish in Matte Maker, $18, on only the tips.