Balmain Fall 20 17. Indigital
With the party season in full swing, we asked one of the UAE’s most renowned hairdressers, Maria Dowling, to reveal three key looks that ooze wow-factor, but are simple and quick to achieve – leaving you more time to celebrate.
These party hairstyles come with an easy-to-follow step-by-step guide, so you can nail the looks yourself at home.
Low Pony with Triple Cornrow Braids
Balmain Fall 2017. Indigital
Seen at: Balmain
The Lowdown: No longer reserved for the bohemian or romantic, braids are now the go-to trend for that chic urban look. The sporty cornrows made their way to the runway at Balmain Fall 2017, while we also saw fierce, boxer-style braids at David Koma and Andrew Gn.
Get the Look:
- Start by blow-drying the hair straight and smooth. Use straighteners and apply serum to the ends.
- Take a 5cm wide section from the forehead through to the nape, and clip the sides to separate.
- Divide the piece into three equal lines and clip the two you aren’t working on before starting to braid the first piece to half way down the hair. Secure with a band. Do the same for the other two sections.
- Release the side sections, join to the plaited section, then pull back into a low pony at the nape.
- Wrap a thick piece of hair around the bands to cover. Finish with a touch of serum around the sides and ends.
Related story: The Vogue Guide to Hair Removal to Prep for The Party Season
1970s Crimped Low Pony
A model outside of the Vanessa Seward showspace for the Fall 2017 show. Getty
Seen at: Vanessa Seward
The Lowdown: Crimped hair is making a comeback. Embrace the trend by crimping just a few sections rather than the whole hair. Or, if you’re looking to embrace your inner disco diva, go all out with a voluminous look. Meet somewhere in the middle with this fully crimped low pony tail, seen at Vanessa Seward.
Get the look:
- Apply a texturizing spray to wet hair and loosely dry it. Make sure hair is fully dry before using any heat appliances.
- Take the hair into sections, starting underneath, and use your fine crimpers to create the crimped, slightly frizzy look.
- Other alternatives to using crimpers, try finely plaiting your hair from the mid-section down when the hair is damp and leave to dry overnight. Or, for a faster solution, plait dry hair and run your straightening irons through the plaits before releasing.
- Be careful not to brush through the crimps as this will remove the definition. Scrape back the hair with your fingers and tie at the nape, securing with a hair colorful band.
Related story: How to Get Va-Va-Va-Volume with Salt Spray
The New Bob
Balenciaga FW17/Indigital
Seen at: Balenciaga, Céline, Prada
The Lowdown: The new bob is very much back, with a natural progression from the much-loved ‘lob’. It’s ideal for women who aren’t quite ready to go back to super-long locks yet, but fancy a change from the mid-length style they’ve been sporting for the past year. The waved bob, in particular, is a top trend.
Get the look:
- Apply a curling product to wet hair (we love the Redken Curvaceous range) or a beach spray for texture. Leave the hair to dry naturally and scrunch the hair in your hands. Be careful not to over touch it as it might become frizzy. You’re going for a wave rather than a curl.
- Once dry, use a styling wand to define the waves by taking pieces from the top and using the narrow part of the wand for more curl. Be careful not to leave the heat on the hair for too long, as you just want a wave.
- Use a spray wax like Redken Diamond Oil to define the curls without being too heavy.
Words by Maria Dowling, Creative Director for Maria Dowling Salon.
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