Crazy for Curls

Let’s not beat around the bush – pun intended- we are all familiar with the film Curly Sue, an archetypal character that all young curly haired girls would associate themselves with purely on their hair type, but this year’s Met Gala and Cannes Film Festival proves that the ’50s Hollywood deep set sleek waves are back.

As Wedding season is approaching, as are a lot of Summer Balls, there is only one hairdo for you.  Channel your inner Jessica Rabbit (or the more preferable comparison Blake Lively) to get the deep set waves like Amal Clooney and Charlize Theron at the Met Gala, and Selma Hayek at the Cannes Film Festival with their sleek deep set waves that all follow the glossy neat wave throughout their locks, which will instantly give your friends major hair envy.

To create this sleek style use GHD Curling wand and twist small sections of your hair around the tong all following the same direction, so that your entire head is laden with ringlets.  Yes, this may seem crazy but this is GHD Styling expert’s top tip- there is a method in what seems like madness.  Once your hair has completely been curled you then brush out the curls, add a light hair serum (which is optional depending on how sleek you want your style), this will loosen your curls but enable them to collect in the wave-like formation.  Sweep your hair all over to one side and voila…. red carpet ready!

However, it is the summer, and we females do not always want to be swamped by hair.  So, if that is the case, you can still channel this 50s uber glamorous style but opt for an up do; it is still keeping with the trend but adding a twist, which is what the twenty first century is about, right?  Look to Charlize Theron who did just that, she has the sleek deep set 50’s waves but loosely tie up your hair in a low loose bun at the lower base of the back of your head.  Or look to the one and only Queen B who turned heads at this year’s Met Gala (minus the lift wars) and once your hair is fully tonged and brushed out. Collect your hair in a tight, slicked back ponytail, this way you still feel like a fierce female yet remaining col in the summer heat when all hair types have a tendency to frizz.

For an even looser curl, brush out the curls a tad more or opt for TRESemme’s Heated rollers, which you can leave in for as long as you want and opt for big or smaller rollers depending on how tight you want your curl, also what can determine the tightness of your curl is how long you leave the rollers in for; for some with thick hair that has a tendency to make a hairstyle drop out quicker, then leave the rollers in for slightly longer, however if you have thin hair and only want loose curly waves, then leave in for a short time. Heated rollers still bring that fun glamorous bounce to your locks, but ensuring that they the curls are not just-so.

If however, you wish to opt for a day time curl then do as I do, and as your hair is drying leave it tied up quite tight in your towel to let it dry; you can be painting your fingernails, applying your make-up, simply reading your book and taking some down time just to let your hair dry, once your hair has dried they will have a loose yet natural looking curly wave.  To ensure that your curl doesn’t drop out during the day you can quickly whip your hair up in a tight bun held together with a crocodile clip, then once you let your luscious locks down and have that L’Oréal moment and you have everyone wishing they knew your curly hair secrets.

M x

The Plait-form

The plait has taken the lead again…

Numerous A-listers from MIC’s Millie Mackintosh, Stephanie Pratt, to the Queen of A-listers Angelina Jolie, are sporting the plait in any which way possible. It seems that are many more ways to spice up your plait than just simply alternating the plait you use.

We once wished we were skilled enough to do a French plait, which we conquered, then we discovered the mermaid like fishtail plait, and we mastered that. We also experimented with whether to have plaited pig tails, or plaited fringes. But, just as you think you’ve exhausted very plait possible, along comes a new style.

Angelina and Millie have experimented with their plait by merging a plait in with an authentic hairstyle, to create a modern and innovative way to style your locks. Millie has opted for the traditional back plait, which is a smart but casual hair do, and she has sneakily added in a fishtail braid to show that she (or her hair stylist) can master two plaits – it is the hair do that copies the ‘double denim’ craze …plait paired/ plait². By interweaving a fishtail plait with a traditional hairdo, and therefore opting for two different types of plaits in one hairstyle creates a fun way to show you can experiment, and it helps to achieve a medley of sophistication, youth and fun. Similarly Angelina has merged a plaited bun with a beehive up do to show how you can make your plaits work the red carpet too.

Below are more plait-spirations:

If you want to keep it simple, add a sly fishtail plait when you wear your long tresses down, whether the body of your hair is straight, wave or curly, you can disguise your plait amongst your hair, so occasionally when you get that little glimpse it adds another dimension to your hairdo. However, if you feel like an odd plait in your hair is giving you a whiff of nostalgia and taking you back to your primary school days, then you can take this style a little further, like Millie, by weaving the plait in the body of your hair into an up do, whether a ponytail, half up/half down, a bun, or a plait that wraps around your head- whether just half of your head like a crown, or the entire of your head, or even into a larger classic plait- mix and match.

Whichever way you style it, plaits are definitely number one on our hairspiration podium this season; it is a hairdo that is a plait-form above the rest!

M x