Hair

Hair styles: Crown affair

Holiday-hair must-haves.

by : Sarah Daniel Dolphin- Nov 2nd, 2009

Party planner
Top stylists share their tips on how to get great hair for soirée season.

• Have a versatile heat-styling tool in your arsenal, says Andy Bodine, artistic ambassador of the cult brand ghd, who recommends investing in a flat iron that can create several looks, from curls and waves to sleek, straight hair.

• Before party hopping, schedule a trim. If you have a great cut, your hair will be easier to style, says John Steinberg, a Toronto-based hairstylist who celebrates his 50th anniversary in the business this year.

• Have a post-work event? Start with a blowout in the morning, then pull it into a loose bun for the day, recommends Robert Vetica, a Los Angeles-based hairstylist and author of Good to Great Hair. Just before the party, undo the bun and brush the hair out, then spritz with hairspray.

Holy roller
“Hot rollers are the new curling iron,” says Harry Josh, a celebrity stylist for John Frieda. We’re betting that Betty Draper’s soft waves are at the bottom of the resurgence of these old-school styling tools. If you haven’t sold yours off at a garage sale, no need to invest in a new set — Josh uses Remington rollers circa 1990 to achieve modern, polished waves: “They deliver body without the damage or dents that can be left behind by a curling iron.”

High maintenance
If you colour your hair and can’t bear the thought of parting with your flat iron, stock up on the latest addition to Kérastase’s Thermique line: To counteract the negative effects of heat styling — colour fades faster and hair is stripped of shine — its Chroma Thermique Reflection leave-in treatment uses moisture-rich ceramide to repair damaged strands and a lustre-enhancing lipid to restore natural shine.

Fast company
You might feel like a Sesame Street extra wearing the Hand Dry Hair Gloves, but these fuzzy, oversized mitts can shave minutes off your hairstyling routine. Made from super-absorbent microfibre, they sop up excess water as you scrunch your wet hair, reducing the time it takes to let it air-dry — the ideal first step to creating beachy waves. They can also cut your blow-drying time in half. For even faster styling, Paul Mitchell’s Express collection has added a quick-drying cream gel and heat-shielding spray to its lineup.