It’s party time and that means one thing – making sure you’ve got fabulous hair. But we’re not just talking a quick wash and blow-dry this year. Tresses are making a big statement this season with the blunt bob, the 70s ‘lion’ locks, contemporary cuts and dramatic copper-tones. Don’t worry, Friday has the hottest hairdresser in Dubai – Natalie O’Sullivan, manager at the award-winning Pastels salon – on speed-dial! She’ll guide you through the latest looks. Here’s how to get the most glam party hair:
Lion locks
What’s it about? Big hair gets its name because its similar to a lion’s voluminous and face-framing mane. A modern take on the 1970’s disco-era look, this seductive hairstyle looks better when you move. To liven flat hair colour, the stylist used a new hand-painted highlighting technique called balayage. “It subtly lifts the hair naturally to give it different tones,” says Natalie. “It gives a more sun-kissed effect rather than the one flat boring colour of highlights.”
Who does it suit? You need to have medium or long, thick hair for this look because the overall entire effect is about volume. The bigger, the better.
Stylist’s tip: The lion hair look is quite easy to achieve if you’re good with hot tongs and heated rollers. Take sections of the fringe and hair at the crown and back comb, before smoothing down with a brush. Spray only the front section with hairspray, so the rest still moves naturally.
Modern-day Twiggy hair
What’s it about? It’s the famous 1960’s British model Twiggy who’s the inspiration for this style. But while her hair was honey blonde, the modern-day Twiggy look is not only platinum but the cut also has sharper edges. For some extra party fun, add a wash-out purple colour.
Who does it suit? Tom boyish girls carry it off best and you’ll need to dress to match this style. Healthy, straight hair works best for this – not for those with curls.
Stylist’s tip: Both brunettes and blondes can go for this haircut by keeping one solid colour without the purple tinge.
Copper curls
What’s it about? Stand out for all the right reasons with some feisty copper-red curls that scream Moulin Rouge and burlesque – a popular trend on the runway. After colouring the hair with an ammonia-free shade from L’Oreal’s INOA palette, the model’s medium-length hair was blow dried and barrel-curled for volume.
Who does it suit? These curls suit most face shapes, so many of us can copy the hairstyle easily if you have thick, medium-length wavy to curly hair. But the same can’t be said of the fiery copper hair colour as this look is a real head-turner. Don’t go for it if your skin has red pigmentation.
Stylist’s tip: You can always fake a fringe at a party, even without cutting your hair. The model here doesn’t have an actual fringe, her front hair is just styled to look like one. Take a diagonal section of front hair, blow dry it smooth and drape it over one side of forehead. Pin the longer pieces behind the ear.
The sleek bob
What’s it about? A contemporary take on a classic cut, this look redefines the iconic bob. The modern version is a short sleek razor bob with a classic fringe. The classic style is usually one length but now its more graduated and blunt, getting sharper around the cheekbones.
Who does it suit? You might think a bob is just a bob but it is one of the more versatile cuts. If you have slightly longer length, you can go a bit asymmetric with it at the back. But remember you should only go for a bob if you have straight hair and don’t have frizzy texture.
Stylist’s tip: If you have straight, healthy hair, maintaining a bob at home isn’t difficult. Just learn to blow dry your hair before smoothing it with a hair iron. But of course, with unhealthy hair, it’s a different story, as that requires a lot more blow drying and ironing to achieve the same effect and prevent kinking or waving.
