We thought we saw a lot of buns at the VMAs, and then the Emmys happened less than 24 hours later. This time around we’re talking about the kind you wear high or low on your head…not the voluptuous curves seen on the likes of Iggy Azalea, Nicki Minaj, and Jennifer Lopez. While the styles tonight’s television stars wore didn’t twerk or fill out a dress, the low-dos that Claire Danes and January Jones sported were equally as impressive. Here, the pros that gave the classic chignon a radical red-carpet update break down how to get these not-so-basic buns.
A Givenchy gown with a glittering collar of ruby-encrusted dragonflies called for hair to be up, explained pro Peter Butler of Danes’ “not too coiffed” look. After working Leonor Greyl Mousse au Lotus Volumatrice through damp strands and misting Voluforme around the hairline to boost roots, he blow-dried hair and finished by making a soft side part. Using a bungee band, Butler gathered the length into a low pony before spritzing the tail withLaque Souple for grip. Next, a fishtail plait was formed and tied off with a clear elastic, wrapped counterclockwise around the base, and secured in place with straight U-shaped hairpins. “The French kind without a zigzag through the stem move in and out of the hair faster, and I think they’re actually sturdier,” he said. (Note to self: Pick up a few packs of bobbies next month in Paris.) Butler finished by gently pulling the braid apart for texture.
Hair guru Renato Campora adapted the “Victorian roll” to fit Jones’ “modern Grace Kelly” gown designed by Prabal Gurung. He created a strong foundation by prepping strands with Vidal Sassoon Pro Series Mega Firm Hold Gel and Heat & Protect Spray, then rough-drying them with a blow-dryer. After splitting the hair into two equal sections and applying more gel to the palms of his hands, Campora twisted the sides back, starting just above the ear and finishing at the nape. He joined both sides together, tied them off with an elastic, and pinned the ends up off the neck. Jones’ bangs were then trimmed to just above her brows, treated to the same product cocktail, and broken up with fingers and a blow-dryer. “A round brush would make them look too pretty,” noted Campora. And when you’re the blond bombshell that is Betty Draper, pretty is the least of your problems.
Photos: Getty
