Cheat’s-Chic Hair … Get a Valentino-Worthy ‘Do in Seconds

Thu, 29 March 2012 10:54AM

I don’t know about you, but I can be quite lazy when it comes to tjuzing my hair. I spend hours lavishing serums and creams on my skin, and all sorts of glimmery, shimmery powders on my face, but by the time I get to my hair (perhaps out of sheer exhaustion), I’m usually desperate for some kind of styling short-cut (flat irons, dry shampoo, bad-hair-day hats … where would I be without you all?).

That’s why I’m so happy to report that the trend for ‘dos – even black-tie and cocktail-hair looks – seems to be on the low-maintenance side of the styling divide. That’s if the ones at the opening of the Valentino flagship store on LA’s Rodeo Drive are anything to go by.

My main hair crush from the event is this Rippled Rapunzel look, as seen on Monet Mazur:

Okay, sure, Ms Mazur probably did have a top hair stylist tending to her locks with tongs for hours, but there’s a nifty way to get a similar style in next-to-no-time. Have you heard of a triple barrel iron, such as this one from BaBylissPRO ($94.95, from department stores)?

You simply clamp hair between the three barrels and the result is a kind of stretched-out crimpy effect. That’s a bad description perhaps but, take it from me, the effect is ridiculously pretty.

An easier style still is the Posh Ponytail, which popped up on Kim Kardashian and Jessica Szohr …

Okay, sure, wearing a Valentino frock would probably make any hairdo seem posh, even a scrunchied-up topknot, but there are ways to ensure you give your pony the A-list treatment even when you’re wearing trackie dacks:

• It must stay in place! Droop and sag is not chic, in ponies as much as in your latest pair of designer jeans. To keep your tail in the high position seen here, tip your head back as you gather up and secure all of your hair – it’s something about the gravitational pull that helps to keep everything nicely in place for hours. A second elastic will also help things along.
• As shiny as the hair looks here, never work with squeaky-clean-just-washed hair. Way too slippery. You need to create some gritty second-day-like texture by working a mousse, volumising spray or sea salt spritz throughout hair first. Then, once you’ve styled up, mist on a shine spray to give back that clean-hair look.
• If you prefer a slick, shiny style of ponytail – in which case, snaps, they always look chic – massage a serum or shiny gel throughout hair – from roots down – and pull hair into place. The product will allow you to get better stretch in hair, and therefore a sleeker look.

So, Primpettes, what do you think … are you going to try these easy-glam styles?

Or do you have another cheat’s-chic hair style you can share?

Kat x

Posted by: Katrina Lawrence

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Tags: babylisspro, crimped hair, curling irons, curling tongs, featured, high ponytail, jessica szohr, kim kardashian, monet mazur, mousse, ponytail, valentino, volumising product, wavy hair