By Gaynor Alder
Following in the footsteps of last week’s makeup looks, the screen sirens are back with four signature hairstyles and tips for Spring Carnival glamour. First, we need to get your hair in prime condition. Make sure you book a trim and colour before the big day, and start putting an intensive treatment through your hair one to two times per week. For super luscious race day locks, also put a treatment in the night before.
I’m really taken by O&M’s Seven Day Miracle Moisture Mask, as was the Fellowship For Australian Hairdressing, which recently awarded it ‘Best New Product’. What’s all the fuss about, you ask? Macadamia and rapeseed deliver a double shot of moisture, leaving your hair soft and smelling like coconut, whilst natural silica adds high shine and gloss.
O&M combines nature with science, without the nasties. No sulfates, parabens, ammonia, propylene glycol, MIT, phthalates or triclosan. If there’s something I love more than their clean and unique ethos, it’s their 100% recyclable packaging that, wait for it, actually looks fabulous in your bathroom – finally, a natural product with stylish packaging.
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To recreate this look you need heated rollers, curl setting spray, firm hold hairspray, a tail comb and a bristle brush. There are two methods for setting curls. One is rolling them when your hair is wet and letting them dry naturally, but this will take hours and if you let them out before your hair is completely dry, they will drop. The second (and much easier method) is using heated rollers on dry hair. You can help the curls last longer by spraying each section with hair spray, and a curl setting spray, before you use each roller.
Use the tail comb to set your side part, and then to section your hair for the rollers. The secret to height and bounce is to roll them as tight as you can to the crown of your head. The rollers will take about 20 minutes to cool, which gives you the perfect opportunity to have a good breakfast. With the name of the game at the races being longevity, adequate sustenance is essential to ensure you go the distance.
Once you have taken out the rollers, take the bristle brush and gently smooth out the curl, so you look more Veronica Lake and less Shirley Temple. Once you have achieved your desired look, spray it with a firm hold hairspray for the best odds of all day staying power.
Ava’s race day tip: For a smooth base, blow dry your hair straight with a hairdryer prior to putting in your rollers. If you use a hair straightener, the curl will have difficulty holding and quickly drop.
Velcro rollers give straight hair height and volume. For maximum height, you need to use your hairdryer and a large round brush – it will be worth it, I promise. Apply a volume booster to your roots, and a lightweight straightening cream or serum to your hair. Once your hair is completely dry, roll the velcros into your hair, spraying each section with a firm hold spray. Once you have finished rolling them, give them another light spray and a good burst of heat with your hairdryer. After you take them out, spray your hair again, but be careful not to overdo it, otherwise it will weigh down your hair.
Race day tip from Sophia: Blow dry your hair the night before and put your velcros in as soon as you wake up – the longer you leave them in, the better the result.
Bridget’s beehive ponytail demands smooth and sleek hair. Yes, yes, it’s finally time to reach for your straightener. Once you’ve finished, take a tail comb and side part your fringe. Sweep it across your face and pin it out of the way, whilst you are creating the height on top of your head.
Now section your hair horizontally from behind your fringe, but don’t start too close to your forehead. Flip forward this first section and then use your tail comb to make another horizontal section behind it. Lift it up, and backcomb it with your fine-toothed comb. Depending on how much height you want, repeat the process with another horizontal section underneath this layer.
Gently comb over the teased layers to smooth them, without losing any of the height you created. Take the first smooth horizontal section of hair and fold it over the backcombed section, and pin it just above where your ponytail will sit. The result should be height with a smooth top layer. Make sure it’s well pinned and use lots of spray – less is not always more when it comes to the beehive.
Take your remaining hair and tie into a ponytail, joining it up with the pinned section. You can hide the elastic and bobby pins, by taking a fine section of hair from your ponytail and wrapping it around the elastic. Hold it in place with one pin under the ponytail.
Race day tip from Bridget: Make sure your fascinator is held firmly in place with enough bobby pins. Take some extra ones with you and a small can of hair spray to maintain a smooth and sleek look.
This elegant bun is easier to emulate than it looks. Straighten your hair with a straightener and apply a smoothing serum to control any fly-aways. The most important part of this style is to comb your hair into a high pony that is completely free of lumps or bumps. Take your time and redo it if necessary, until it’s perfect. The trick is to tie the elastic around your ponytail, and on the loop before the elastic becomes too tight to loop around again, pull your ponytail through the loop, but not quite all the way through.
This will naturally create a bun that you can secure underneath with bobby pins. If you want to wrap a piece of hair around the bottom like in the picture, gently pull a piece of hair from the right hand side of your bun, and place it across the bottom, pinning it at each end. Use lots of hair spray, but don’t spray it too close, otherwise your hair will go stiff, and you will lose the softness and smoothness that this look relies upon.
Race day tip from Grace: If you are going with a hairstyle you haven’t tried before, have a practice run during the week, to avoid a hair crisis and imminent meltdown on the day.
Next week’s Fascinators & Fillies will be on The Body.
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