Whether you have a few minutes or all afternoon to primp for parties this holiday season, we share the top tips for simple but dazzling ‘dos.
Effortless effort
The key for going straight from drab to dazzling does not have to take so much effort!
If you have rubber bands, pull your hair up into a “dirty” ponytail. Make it really tight, but not perfect. If you have bobby pins, throw your hair up into a soft bun – keep it loose and sexy.
For added volume and strength, apply hair spray to the entire hair shaft and style your hair for the desired result. For that sunkissed, beach babe look, apply a bohemian beach spray and scrunch for a boho chic style.
Roll with it
Heat and velcro rollers are an oldie but a goodie when used correctly. Add a few to your crown and hairline while you apply makeup, then take them out and spritz lightly with hairspray. Use a fine toothcomb to backcomb away from the roots and crown for some serious volume.
Ride the wave
After washing your hair, lightly towel dry and apply a light mist of heat protector to prevent breakage and frizz whilst you style. Remove the excess moisture from your hair, blow-drying it until it’s 90 per cent dry. Be sure to always circulate the heat through your hair rather than concentrating on one section, to avoid heat damage.
Take large sections of hair and blow-dry smoothly into shape, by curling the brush under at the ends. Repeat this throughout the hair to create a soft textured and lightly waved look.
For beachy waves, simply wrap the front section of hair around a hot curling tong on each side of your part. For the final touch, brush out the styling with a wide toothed come and voila!
The high fashion messy bun
This style can give you a day to evening look in less than half an hour. Tame the flyaways around the face to achieve that sleek pull back. Start by spraying a fine mist of the heat protector. Using a wide-toothed comb and hair straightener tidy up the hair around the face and at the base of the neck. Pull the hair into a very high ponytail at the top of the head, securing with a hair tie.
Winding the ponytail, wrap it around the centre of the head, securing it with an additional hair tie. To finish the look, simply tidy up any parts of the bun which aren’t sitting straight using bobby pins. Make sure you always use bobby pins that match your hair colour, to camouflage and ensure the style is seamless.
Pert plait
Showcase a pert plait, keeping the whole look boho-loose. Dry damp hair with a diffuser and gather a chunk from either side of your part, braid it back, then twist into a loose bun, allowing a few strands to fall out and frame the face. Don’t worry if the braid or the bun is slightly messy! Undone hair is a beautiful contrast to a fancy dress or gown.
Fake a bob
By altering your length, you can get a completely new look – no haircut required. To create it, blow-dry hair, curl the ends under with a skinny curling iron, then brush out the ringlets to soften the texture. Back-comb, starting at the ends, and work halfway up the strands; then tuck it under to desired length and secure with U-shaped bobby pins. Final step: Gently tug hair out from pins to create the bob shape.
Add bangs
Sporting a temporary fringe will dramatically update your style. Plus, bangs make everyone look younger. The key to pulling them off? Ask your stylist to custom trim the bangs for your face. Make a centre part, slide them on top (about an inch from the hairline). Flat-iron the crown section and pull your hair up into a high pony.
Bump a bun to the side.
A side up-do isn’t just easy-it’s also way more flattering than a traditional up-do for most people. Separate the tail into two sections; wrap each around the base of the pony-do one clockwise and the other counterclockwise. Anchor hair with pins, hiding the ends under the coils. Pull and spread the chignon to create a messy cluster behind the one ear.
