This prom season, the best looks for evenings and special events are neither stiff with hairspray, sloppy, nor half-hearted. They’re sleek, stylish, sexy styles than can be done quickly with dry hair and a few styling products. We call this the “hair evolution”!
The following expert styling staples and hairdos will help you dress up your coif in minutes. 1. Large velcro rollers. To add volume. 2. Rat-tail comb. To tease and add texture. 3. Spray bottle filled with water. To dampen hair before adding
styling products. 4. Thin, stretchy smooth elastic bands, to prevent breaking or
damaging hair. Available in clear, brown, black and blond. 5. Firm-hold hairspray. To calm stubborn fly-away hair. 6. Bobby pins and hair pins. To secure hair in place invisibly. 7. Soft-bristled brush. To smooth hair perfectly into place before
applying firm-hold hairspray.
Step 1: Prepare the hair
Apply a dime-size amount of styling cream from roots to ends.
Part hair on the side about two inches from the center.
Rub a touch more styling cream between your hands, and pull all of your hair back so that it is smooth against the side of the nape of your neck. Place the resulting pony tail at the opposite side to the hair part you created.
Secure into a side ponytail with a thin, stretchy smooth elastic band.
Sweep bangs to one side; if necessary, secure longer hair behind the ear with bobby pin.
Step 2: Create braids
Divide the ponytail into three parts.
Braid each piece to the end.
Secure each braid with a thin, stretchy smooth elastic hair band.
Step 3: Finish the knot
Gather hair at the nape of the neck and twist braids around each other to create a thick rope of hair.
Twist hair into a bun and secure hair carefully and neatly with hair pins.
Brush hair gently with the soft-bristled brush to even and smooth out hair.
If your hair is course or wavy, you may need to apply a tiny amount of pommade to calm stray or stubborn hair with your fingertips. Be careful not to apply pommade in excess.
Spray thoroughly with firm hold hairspray.
Let hair dry; do not touch hair for the rest of the evening, if possible.
Step 1: Prepare the hair
Rub a dab of styling cream onto dry hair, smoothing it from roots to ends.
Put large velcro rollers at the roots, and lay (don’t wrap) a section of hair over each roller to add volume.
Mist hair with hairspray, and remove the rollers.
Thoroughly tease the hair at the crown to give profile a nice shape.
Create short side part about two inches from the center.
Using a rat-tail comb, tease hair all the way down the hair strand. Leave hair with as much volume as possible.
Spray with medium-hold hairspray.
Step 2: Position the hair
Working on the short part side of the style, pull all hair to the middle of the back of the head and secure with bobby pins in a straight line until all hair is secured tightly.
Brush hair gently with the soft-bristled brush to even and smooth out hair.
Spray with medium-hold hairspray
Step 3: Roll and Secure
Gather all loose hair on the side of the style with the long part and pull towards the back of the head.
Rub a touch of styling gel between your hands and combine both sections of hair.
Pull hair into a roll and twist it down to the end.
Pin the resulting roll into place with lots of bobby pins, tucking any stray pieces underneath the roll.
Brush hair gently with the soft-bristled brush to even and smooth out hair.
If your hair is course or wavy, you may need to apply a tiny amount of pommade to calm stray or stubborn hair with your fingertips. Be careful not to apply pommade in excess.
Finally, spray hair thoroughly with firm hold hairspray.
Let hair dry; do not touch hair for the rest of the evening, if possible.
Step 1: Prepare the Hair
Work a dime-size amount of styling cream into dry hair.
Put large Velcro rollers at the roots, and lay-don’t wrap-a section of hair over each roller to add volume.
Mist hair with hair spray, and remove the rollers.
Tease the hair at the crown (see inset), leaving the hair with as much volume as possible.
Step 2: Secure the Ponytail
Using a soft-bristled brush, gather hair and pull to one side at the nape of neck.
Brush hair gently with the soft haired brush to even and smooth out hair. Make sure that you are not pulling hair too tight as the height and volume you just created needs to stay intact.
Prepare to secure hair into side ponytail by gently gathering the hair to one side; leave a 1/2-inch strand of hair unsecured at the base of the neckline.
Secure remaining hair into a side ponytail with a thin stretchy smooth elastic band.
Step 3: Finish the Ponytail
Take the 1/2-inch strand of hair not secured by the elastic band and wrap it around the pony tail base. This strand of hair covers the elastic band and gives the style a professional elegant finish. Secure the strand of hair with bobby pins at back of the ponytail.
Final Touch
Smooth hair into place with the soft-bristle brush.
If your hair is course or wavy, you may need to apply a tiny amount of pommade to calm stray or stubborn hair with your fingertips. Be careful not to apply pommade in excess.
Finally, spray hair thoroughly with firm-hold hairspray.
Let hair dry; do not touch hair for the rest of the evening, if possible.
Christina M. Kane is the founder and chairwoman of the Make-upChannel.com, an online career and education company serving the beauty industry. Ms. Kane is a qualified makeup artist and aesthetician who holds diplomas from ITEC, London; Cidesco, London; Confederation of Beauty Therapy & Cosmetology, London; Dr. G.M. Collins School of Aestheticians, Paris; Linda Meredith Make-up School, London; and Portobello Beauty Therapy College, Dublin. Ms. Kane is a former booking agent for makeup professionals and owner of one of the largest accredited makeup schools in the United States.
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