This Spring, hair got slicked back into a high classic pony with a modern, elegant edge. Unlike super-curly, victorian tendrils or volumnous waves, this new take on the sporty up-do is feminine, whimsical yet sophisticated, but the best part? The styles are so easy to mimic for just about all hair types. Wear it high, wear it at the nape of your neck, wear it dead center in the back - it's all up to you but here's how to get the basic look down and a little memo of a few things to keep in mind!
1. Start with working in a dime sized gel to the roots of damp hair and work through entire head with fingers. Try one that doesn't harden or get too sticky. You want the gel's texture to almost dissappear into hair strands. Try the Shape Memory Gel from Stephen Knoll New York Collection. The light gel not only has styling power but the ability to memorize shape and nourish hair at the same time. Leaving no residue and hair, silky smooth, soft and in control. 2. Blast hair with a gush of cool air with the dryer nozzle pointed downwards to set hair and keep shorter strands from flipping up. This also flattens and straightens hair. Of course, if you have curly hair, spritz hair with a heat activated protectant formula and if needed, a straightening glossing serum and use a straightening iron - although if you have super wavy hair, I say try the other major trend for hair this spring season which is natural, romantic, a little bit undone locks with a little bit tied or bunned up, rather than damaging your hair with the heat. Working with your natural beauty usually creates the most alluring results!
3. Two options here: A: Completely brush all the hair tightly back with no part as was seen at Balenciaga and Calvin Klein
B: Part the hair deeply onto one side and then sweep hair tightly back and tie with elastic as seen at Behnaz Sarapfour and Rag & Bone, letting the stray shorter strands on one side frame your face a little. If you have a sharp, pronounced fase with a strong jaw line, higher cheek bones and a good brow, the all-back look will look amazing but if you tend to have softer features, the slight side sweep over will be more flattering and every-outfit-appropriate.
4. Spray glosser or dab a little bit of light polish over the head and through the ponytail hair to keep hair in place and straight. If the pony tail gets dry and tousled, spritz on a hydrating or a intensive leave-in conditioning mist like Bio-Ionic Micro Hydration IonFixx Hydrating Strengthener throughout the day and it will keep it smooth, sleek and straight.
5. Last touch? if you get bored of the pony tail, try the other sleek up-do must: the new sleek, twisted and twirled bun. Divide the pony tail into 4-6 sections, take on section over and under the base rubber band one at a time, secure each with bobby pins and loop the second strand through the first one so they entertwine. Do the same with the other strands so that instead of one big twist, you get a bun that has interlaced strand segments. Add dabs of polish or gel as you go if little hairs start popping out.
note: some ends of the strands could be poking out and down, letting the bun take on a little more casual feel.
Lastly, check your foundation in a bright light making sure that the color is smooth, fluid and the same shade from the face to the jaw line to neck since tightly pulled back hair is unforgiving on makeup mishaps!
xox
