You're already thinking about what holiday parties
you're going to attend this year, but what are you going to wear and how
are you going to style your hair? Thankfully, hairstylists Ruslan Nureev and Harry Josh, and makeup artist Colleen O'Neill are here to take the guesswork out of getting ready.
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1. Sweet Side-Braid
If you don't want to make you hair a big to-do but
want it to look done, opt for a four-strand braid. It sounds hard, but I
promise it isn't. You just have to follow this simple step-by-step and
you'll be good to go.
[post_ads]To recreate this look,
Nureev suggests pulling all of your hair over to one side and dividing
it into four even sections. "Think of these sections as being associated
with a number from one to four, starting from left to right," he says,
"this will make following along with this tutorial super-easy."
OK, now for the braid! Starting from the left side,
cross the farthest left piece over the second section of hair, under
the third piece, and over the fourth section. Then, repeat the process
over again, starting from the left side, and keep that process going
until you reach your ends. Secure your four-strand braid with an elastic
that blends in with your hair for a more polished finish.
2. Gilded Five-Strand Braid
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If you have some time to spend doing your hair and
are good at braiding, give the five-strand braid a shot. If you're
getting ready with one of your BFFs, you might even enlist her help,
since this look is harder to do by yourself.
That
said, here's how it's done: You're going to want to start by separating
your hair into five sections, again, assigning them each a number from
one to five, starting from left to right.
[post_ads]Next, place section one over strand two and under
strand three. Strand one should now be closer to strand five. From
there, place strand five over strand four, and under strand one. After
you've gone through these steps, you should begin to see the braid
forming.
Then, Nureev says to place strand
two over strand three and under strand five, and then take strand four
and cross it over strand one and under strand two. Continue this process
and move through the steps until you reach your ends. Finally, wrap
three elastic bands around your hair wherever you'd like the braid to be
cinched and then finish your look by wrapping metallic ribbon around
the elastic.
3. Cool-Girl Fishtail Braids
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"You don't have to reinvent the wheel to add glamour to
your look," Josh says. "Sometimes, doing a basic hairstyle with a twist
can bring it to the next level." Exhibit A: The grown-up pigtails Josh
gave model Heeseung. To make her look modern and party-ready, he chose
to bring the hair over her ears and fishtail braid them to the ends.
"We've all seen fishtail braids before, but having a polished,
high-shine, clean execution makes all the difference," he adds.
[post_ads]To
get this cool-girl style: First, blow-dry the front of your hair
straight down. Use a boar bristle brush with some tension to knock out
any cowlicks — you'll get that nice inverted "V" shape that frames your
forehead. Next, create a straight part and put the two sections of hair
over your shoulders. Apply a silicone-based serum, like John Frieda Frizz-Ease Expert Finish Polishing Serum,
onto your palms and rub them together to warm the formula. This will
help keep flyaways at bay as you braid. Now grab the first section of
hair, and begin fishtail braiding it in front of your shoulder so your
hair covers your ears. As you continue braiding, spray the braid to lock
in any baby hairs that might slip out, and make sure the sections of
hair you're grabbing are of equal width so the braids look even as you
reach the ends. Secure with an elastic and repeat on the other side.
Finish off& your look by pairing it with a killer cat-eye and an ombré red lip, and throwing on a crushed velvet dress like this one from Free People.
4. Front and Center (Part) Dutch Braid
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Don't want to wear a headpiece to a party? A cool
way to use your hair as an accessory is to weave a Dutch braid down your
center part starting at the crown. Finally, when you reach your
hairline at your forehead, tuck the pieces behind your ear and bobby pin
them so the plait doesn't unravel. Pair this look with a neutral smoky eye, apricot-colored blush (which is universally flattering), a neutral lip, and a beautiful, beaded, feathery dress like this one from Hayley Paige.
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5. Wavy Faux Bob
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If you're looking for a modern take on the classic
Gatsby-inspired wave, this relaxed version is it. To recreate this retro
style, it's important to first apply mousse in your hair to give it
volume and hold. If your hair is frizzy, use a boar bristle brush, like Harry Josh Pro Tools Mini Oval Brush,
and apply heat from a blow-dryer to smooth it. Next, create your
desired side part and section the hair into quadrants, pinning them up.
Starting with one of the sections at the back of the head (since it's
the hardest), pick up a 1-inch curling iron and wrap a 1-inch piece of
hair over and around the barrel as you hold it horizontally. Continue
wrapping the hair around until the ends (if you're working on the left
side) face forward. On the right side, the ends should always face back —
that way the S-curves will take on the same formation.
[post_ads]After all the sections are curled, brush your hair lightly
with a boar and nylon bristle brush to reveal a wave pattern. Spray
your strands with hairspray, and then use a playing card and a hair clip
to set the waves in place — insert only at the indented parts of the
S-curve. Let cool for 10 minutes, and then remove all the clips.
Finally, gather the hair into a ponytail, pull the elastic down so it's
almost at the ends, and then roll the hair under until you land at your
desired bob length. Bobby pin it into place.
Finish getting party-ready by applying a rose gold smoky eye, dusting on a pop of blush, swiping on a gorgeous deep bold lip, and slipping on a show-stopping sequin dress, like this one from Free People.
6. '60s-Chic Short and Sweet
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There are a ton of styles you can create with short hair,
but if you're hard-pressed for time and need to head to a party stat,
here's one look to try. "The '60s were all about the high crown, but a
way to make it more modern is with undone waves and straighter ends,
which give it that sex appeal," Josh says.
To steal Chelsea's look: Apply mousse, like Oribe Grandiose Hair Plumping Mousse,
on dry hair from root to tip to give the hair nice texture and
pliability. Next, blow-dry the hair at the crown of your head before
putting into rollers for maximum lift (you can backcomb if you need
extra height, especially if you're going to be dancing throughout the
night). "Just make sure you over-direct the hair, pushing it forward
before you start wrapping the hair around the roller toward the back of
your head," Josh says. You'll know you're doing it right if you feel a
tautness at the root; this way, the root lands at 90-degree angle and
creates the proper straight-up-and-down lift so your volume lasts.
[post_ads]Reheat
the hair around the rollers at the crown of your head for two or three
minutes, and curl the rest of your hair to give it that coveted
downtown-chic wave. "Wrap 1-inch sections around a curling iron and
twist it away from your face," he says. Repeat this around your entire
head, and then hit your hair with a cool shot of air to set it. Then
take out the rollers, wave the hair the same way you curled the rest of
your hair, and backcomb the crown some more if you need it. Finally, hit
your hair with hairspray at the roots, and finish the whole look with a
texturizing spray, like John Frieda Beach Blonde Sea Waves Sea Salt Spray, for a rougher, cooler look.
For
your makeup, apply a bronze-y shadow to your lids and create a cat-eye,
lining your lower lash line as well for added drama (see no. 5 here for a how-to). Top your cheeks with peach blush and a little highlighter,
and pat a dusty rose shade onto your lips. Finally, slip into an
eye-catching, plunging V-neck sequin dress, like this one from Balmain x H&M.
7. Badass, Voluminous Bun
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Embracing your natural texture is a beautiful
thing. Even more beautiful? The fact that you can create whatever look
you want with curly hair and it will last all night long, since curly
girls' strands have texture and won't slip out of a style easily.
Before heading out to the big bash, Josh suggests applying a silicone- and coconut oil-based product, John Frieda Beyond Smooth Frizz Immunity Primer,
into your hair to tame frizz, and using a skinny curling iron to define
the outer layer of your hair (since that's the hair that's going to be
seen when you pull it up). Try Hot Tools 5/8" Gold Curling Iron.
To mimic Diandra's style, the most important thing is
building the foundation. "After you let your hair air dry — or on dry
hair — create a ponytail just with the hair at the crown of your head,"
Josh explains. "Leave the rest of your hair down, dangling in front of
your face so that you resemble Cousin Itt. Then, put your ponytail
through a hair doughnut from Ricky's, and wrap the ponytail around the
doughnut to conceal it." Use bobby pins to lock it into place.
[post_ads]From
there, pull 1-inch sections up toward the doughnut, twisting them
slightly before using a bobby pin to pin the hair around the doughnut
base. "Think of it as a pin cushion," he said. "As you lift the hair up
and pin it into place, it will morph into this cool shape."
Josh says to keep this look young and cool with hair accessories — specifically ones that give it a party-like feeling. Try Jennifer Behr Aster Bobbypin Set of Five,
which you can pop in anywhere you like — preferably on your best side
(You know which one that is!), since you're bound to be taking pictures
all night for Insta.
To finish off your look, give yourself a stunning smoky eye and pair it with a neutral lip, and then step into a tough, yet feminine mini dress like this one from Balmain x H&M.
8. Sleek, Stunning Strands
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Don't have time to really
style your hair? Never underestimate the power of silky smooth strands.
All it takes is a few passes of a flat iron, plus a fancy-looking
headpiece, and boom: You're an instant bombshell.
Before
you actually straighten your strands to perfection though, Josh
recommends creating a strong center part to give your look more drama,
like he did with Hayley. Then, take small sections and run the flat
iron, like Harry Josh Pro Tools Ceramic Styling Iron,
over them from root to tip. "Small sections are key because this will
give you that sleek hair look that everyone will be envious of," Josh
says.
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After all your hair is straightened, apply a spritz of a frizz-fighting product into your hands, like Serge Normant Meta Sheer Dry Oil Finishing Spray,
and then apply it to the ends for high shine and to keep any split ends
looking polished. Whether or not you choose to wear a hair accessory is
up to you, but they really can take a simple style like this to the
next level. Try Jennifer Behr Thea Diadem headpiece.
Go from work to werking it by lining the inner rims of your eyes, applying a deep pink blush to your cheeks and lips, and then ditching whatever shirt you wore under your blazer to show some skin for a sexier look.
