Ahh the Oscars.
A time when celebrities really bring their fashion and beauty A-game. There are few other events (perhaps The Met gala?) where the dress code and aesthetic expectations are so high.
So far during awards season this year there had been a decidedly overt trend of sticking to the tried and true, classic ‘old Hollywood’ style beauty – with gowns to match. There was certainly plenty of this continuing at the Oscars, – Rita Ora was a particular stand out. However although it’s a beautiful look, it certainly relies on an army of makeup artists and hairstylists and hours of effort to pull that particular look off.
So it was a slight surprise to see another, more relaxed look dominating the red carpet at the Oscars, when it comes to hair at least.
That is the up-do, generally worn in a French roll or twisted knot, paired with a few tumbling tendrils, all the better if the overall look is slightly loose and dare we say it disheveled. Artfully disheveled, mind you.
There were a few variations, but the common thread is that looking at them, we thought – “I could do that”.
The hairstylists reading this will likely be rolling their eyes, and yes, we recognise these looks would also have had had significant work put in from those experts, but the end result is not too dissimilar from twisting your hair up, grabbing a claw clip to secure and pulling a few front pieces loose. Perhaps even a move you use when keeping your hair from getting wet in the shower.
It’s a go-to option, made slightly more event-ready by swapping the claw clip for a few bobby pins.
If you’re unsettled by these looks’ similarity to how you used to wear your hair a couple of decades ago, that nostalgia is well-placed. That’s because this look owes a lot to the 90s-throwback trend that is absolutely everywhere in fashion and beauty right now. If you hair is long enough, it’s definitely time to re-visit.
Just make sure you create a strong foundation for your look by prepping hair with styling products like mousse, hair powder and/or thickening blow-dry crème to add grip. Curling hair with a tong before securing will help add those nonchalant waves if you are starting with straight hair.
If you have a fringe, you can either push it back and blend into your up-do, or the more modern option is to let it grow to lash-grazing length, part in the middle and blend into the few longer tendrils for a shorter ‘curtain fringe’ or ‘bottleneck bangs’ look.
And if you’ve got medium to long hair and it’s all one length? Consider this a sign to have a few layers snipped in around your face so you can wear these pieces loose when it’s worn up. The best length is around the chin or slightly longer, but your hair stylist will be able to guide which length will best accentuate your face shape.
Here is all the inspiration you need from A-listers attending the Oscars and various after-parties, to try the look yourself:
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Images (top): @stylegrazer, @kristenstewartu @hairbyantoinettenyc,
