Spring's hottest hairstyle trends: ponies, sleek and sexy, total texture
Nicole Farhi/ Imaxtree
Perfect ponies
The look: As seen at Donna
Karan and Monique Lhuillier,
the classic ponytail takes a
sleek turn with a nearly wet
finish. “This look is great for
everyday, but you can also
dress it up easily with
earrings or hair accessories,”
says Eric Del Monaco, official
hair stylist for L’Oréal Paris.
Prep: Use a lightweight serum
before and after blow-drying hair straight for a polished
and shiny finish.
Style: Once you’ve chosen a part (or decided against
one) brush hair back to the nape of the neck or
crown of the head and wrap tightly with an elastic.
“Take a small section of hair from underneath the
ponytail and wrap it around the elastic, securing
it with a bobby pin,” says Del Monaco.
Finish: For extra shine and glamour, smooth the
front of your hair with a bit of gel and set the look
with hairspray.
Expert tip: Del Monaco suggests using a boarbristle
brush sprayed with hairspray to avoid
static when prepping and combing hair.
Ponytail tool kit:
1. Cut styling time
in half with this
powerful tool.
T3 Featherweight Hair Dryer, $220, Sephora.
2. Create a smooth
finish with a flat
paddle brush.
Wooden Paddle Brush, $30,
Aveda.com.
3. Tame fly-aways
and boost
shine with a
finishing serum.
Total Results Sleek Silk Wonder Smoothing Oil, $15,
Matrix.
4. Keep hair in place
with a light but
firm strong-hold
hairspray.
L’Oréal Elnett Satin Hairspray, $15.
Sleek and sexy
The look: Soft and full hair
was seen at shows like
Salvatore Ferragamo and
Versace. The key to this style
is to get the right texture.
And this look works with
any length, says legendary
hair guru Marc Anthony.
“I love this style on shorter
locks too—it’s so modern.”
Prep: Start with a blowout to
achieve a smooth yet voluminous finish. For fine
hair, Anthony suggests using a thickening product
at the roots.
Style: Protect locks with a heat-styling spray. Use
a medium- to large-barrel curling iron and keep
the sections large. “It’s more about the movement
than the curl,” says Anthony. Spray each section
with hairspray, roll it up and pin it to your head.
Once the whole head is done, use hairspray again
and let the curls set for 10 minutes.
Finish: Brush out the curls until they become loose
waves. A romantic, soft quality is what differentiates
this style from a stiff, retro hairdo.
Glamour waves tool kit:
1. Get extra lift by
applying this
cream to roots.
Marc Anthony
Instantly Thick Hair-Thickening Cream, $10.
2. A large-barrel curling
iron creates loose,
feminine waves .
Swirl Professional Curling Iron, $150, Kqcbeauty.com.
Total texture
The look: Gorgeous, beachy
hair got an edgy update on the
runways of Michael Kors and
Jill Stuart. The more texture
the better, says Pantene Pro-V
consulting stylist Justin
German, who suggests curling
a few sections at random to
define the unfinished look.
Prep: Break out the mousse!
“Scrunch it into wet hair to bring
out a natural wave,” says German.
Style: Because this is not a uniform look, it’s
important that you curl in different directions.
Stick to smaller sections and deconstruct the
style by brushing out some of the curls to create
a varied texture.
Finish: For cute mock (and noncommittal!)
bangs, go for a deep side part. “Pull hair across
the forehead and secure with a bobby pin,”
says German. “Think of it as a pretty version
of a men’s comb-over.” Finish with hairspray.
Beachy hair tool kit:
1. Prep wet locks with
a curl-enhancing
mousse.
Pantene Pro-V Flowing Body Mousse, $6.
2. Dry shampoo adds
extra texture.
LaCoupe Volume Refresh Instant Hair Refresher Dry Shampoo, $8.
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