Rachel Bilson’s Split-Personality Hair

Tue, 31 July 2012 1:15PM

When I saw first photos of Rachel Bilson at the CBS, Showtime and CW TCA Summer Party …

… I was sure that I’d decide I hated her hair. At first, something about it reminded me of those half-man-half-woman circus performers. You know, the ones who have pomade-slicked hair on one side, and a cascading curly ‘do on the other, while their outfit is similarly split into part-tuxedo-part-ballgown. But I was surprised to find that Rachel’s two-faced (or, should that be, two-headed?) style was starting to grow on me.

It’s not a look you see that often on the red carpet because it’s not symmetrically perfect. And that’s why it’s so refreshing. Stars rarely take style chances anymore, from head to Louboutin-clad toe, because they know that they’ll de dissected and dissed from Hollywood to Hobart and back. Fair enough. If I was a red carpet regular, I’d probably also be too petrified to venture out of a signature look I knew worked for me. So snaps to Miss Bilson for taking a beauty risk.

There are a couple of other reasons I think I like it so much. First, it’s a cute lopsided twist on the fab faux-bob trend, which we saw Mlle Marion Cotillard model so well last week.

And it plays with contrasting textures really effectively – there’s that super-smooth and shiny side, and then there’s the loosely mussed-up side. As well as contrasting personalities – one is strict and sleek, the other a little looser and more carefree. A little like that car ad that’s on television at the moment where the girl has a rational side (the one that wears a bun and writes lists and eats apples) and an irrational side (that wears her hair in waves and doodles and eats donuts). But a bit less crazy than that!

Convinced to try it? Let’s go …

• Blow-dry hair and create a deep side part.
• Lightly scrunch a salt spray or dry shampoo throughout the hair, but especially so on the larger side of hair.
• Pull the hair on your parted side back from your face, using a bristle brush to smooth the surface and keep it sleek to your head. Pull hair right around behind your neck, as though you’re working up a side ponytail. Secure it with a band right at the end.
• Using your fingers, lightly smooth the hair on your larger side. You want to take away any messiness or frizz, yet still keep some texture and movement.
• Now, turn your attention back to your pony: roll it up and under itself, securing with pins just behind your ear. Use as many pins as you need. Tip: to help them stay stuck in there, spritz them with dry shampoo first.
• Pull a wisp or two out at the front of the larger side, if you’d like that piecy look seen here. Remember: it’s meant to look a little whimsical.
• Once you’re happy with your style, mist all over with hairspray to lock it in place.

If you’re still not so sure the look is for you, then let’s just zoom in on those so-pretty lips? You can get ever-so-close to this look by slicking on Clinique’s new Chubby Stick in Curvy Candy, $35, from department stores, which Hayley lusted over last week. Incidentally, Hayley has been rocking the shade Two Ton Tomato a lot lately, layering it up for intensity, so much so that her lips look just like Jaime King’s here, who walked the red carpet alongside Rachel Bilson:

 

What do you think, Primpettes – have you tried a Chubby Stick yet? What’s your favourite shade?

And what about Rachel’s split-personality style? Tempted to try it?

Or what other beauty risks have you taken lately?

 

Kat x

Posted by: Katrina Lawrence

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Tags: beauty risk, clinique, faux bob, Jaime King, pink lips, rachel bilson, red lips, signature beauty look, updo