Beauty Secrets We Learned From Bridget Brager

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As far as we know, there’s almost no such thing as effortless beauty. From facial treatments that leave your complexion dewy and luminous to the perfect winged eyeliner, experts reveal their most-trusted, insider hacks for CR‘s series, Beauty Secrets.

“It’s actually a little bit of a love story,” Bridget Brager tells CR, diving into her journey to becoming a professional hair stylist. It began with a blind date with a model, Michael Brager, who eventually became her husband. “I couldn’t believe how incredibly high fashion he was,” Bridget says. Michael introduced Bridget to the world of fashion and when the opportunity came for her to change course from a career in dentistry, he encouraged her to pursue her passion for hair. Later, when the couple moved to New York City, Bridget began cutting models’ hair in their Upper East Side apartment. She was soon connecting with other artists in the fashion industry, accompanying them on set, and booking jobs of her own. After years of traveling around the world, working under the likes of Sam McKnight, Danilo, and Bob Recine, she and Michael decided to settle in Los Angeles. Now, Bridget does the hair of a bevy of celebrities, including January Jones, Kristen Bell, Constance Wu, Kate Bosworth, and more.

Here, CR speaks to Brager about creating red-carpet worthy waves, how to maintain fringe, and what a good hair day looks like to her.

What have you brought from your experiences doing hair in the fashion world to doing celebrity hair?
“Coming from New York and being in Europe–that was a huge influence for me bringing it back to California and working on clients. When I look at a person’s face, I could do any hair style, but–and this is where I pull from fashion week, watching how the concepts of the shows are created–you have to set a balance for these women walking the red carpet. I don’t know that I would have been that artistically open if I hadn’t had that experience.”

A lot of your red carpet looks feature tousled waves. What are you top tips for creating the look?
“I think my biggest tip would be a great foundation. I am only as good as the hair that I have, the fabric that I have. When I meet a new client I [suggest a] shampoo and conditioner, it’s typically sulfate free, and then I give them an oil to toss in there and protect. They really help in the health of the hair. It makes my job so much easier, and also a lot of people don’t know how to take care of their hair. The foundation is everything. A good brush is also important–I love an Ibiza brush; the boar bristles are so good at stretching the hair. Also, The Harry Josh hair dryer is so awesome, and I love a T3 one-and-a-quarter inch curling iron to make any kind of wave. A great mousse or a great volume spray is imperative because it has to last. It’s important to have lift at the roots and a smooth cuticle even if you want the bed-head, messy look. Hair tends to shrink if it doesn’t have body and volume, so what might look big to you looks just the right size when you go on a red carpet.”

As someone with bangs, what’s your advice for maintaining them while a hairdresser might not be accessible?
“Go online and get yourself a decent pair of shears and a cutting comb. [Watch] a great tutorial that shows how to trim your bangs in sections until you get comfortable. I see a lot of people take their bangs, pull straight out from the scalp, and then cut their bangs down and suddenly they have a layered bangs situation that is often too short. The reason shears are so important is because a dull shear can make the end of your bangs look fried, like bleached or like you set them on fire. There’s something that happens where it looks like the cuticle is blown open, so a good pair of shears will help make the cut super precise and will allow your bangs to absorb any oil whether you put it there or whether it’s natural, because bangs should be shiny and cool. I typically wash my bangs every couple days because they get oily, so I throw the rest of my hair up and just shampoo them. No conditioner on the bangs because the oil from your scalp will go to your bangs. Blotting paper is also a lifesaver. The thing about a bang is that it’s so easy to do and then suddenly you’re stylish.”

What’s your personal haircare routine?
“I like having a couple of shampoos and conditioners, so I go between my Herbal Essences Aloe Collection and Pureology Hydrate Shampoo and Conditioner. On damp hair I always start with an oil. I love Unite’s oil, it’s marketed for blonde hair and it doesn’t have silicone in it. It’s super lightweight and there’s a purple tint. Then I let my hair air dry and for my bangs, I brush them to one side, do some makeup, brush them to the other side, and then pretty soon my bangs fall in line. If I don’t have to use a blow dryer it’s a good day for me. As far as curling my hair, I put in the most haphazard bends, knowing that over the next two days I’ll add to this mess. If I’m going out, Christophe Robin has the most amazing volume spray. It’s so light, smells so good, and it does a great job at giving the hair a home.”

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