Sexy, sporty and natural is the look that’s hot right now. Now you can pull it off beautifully – by doing next to nothing.
Sexy, sporty and natural is the look that’s hot right now. Now you can pull it off beautifully – by doing next to nothing.
Forget frying your hair into submission – the latest head-turning styles are low maintenance, place less stress on strands, and require zero heat to achieve. “When you skip hot tools, even just for a month or two, your hair is easier to manage and looks healthier in the long run,” says hairstylist Nunzio Saviano, the owner of the eponymous salon in New York City. Here’s how to go unplugged for an effortlessly gorgeous mane.
MAKE WAVES
Anyone who has spent time at the beach knows that salt water is the secret to natural-looking ripples. To get the same effect without a trip to the ocean, try this trick: Right after a shower (or when your hair is a little sweaty post-workout), mist damp hair from roots to tips with a salt-infused formula like Redken Fashion Waves 07 Texturizing Sea Spray ($32, redken.sg).
“Lift the hair in sections as you spray to evenly distribute the product all over,” says Cash Lawless, a celebrity hairstylist in New York City. Then swirl your hair into two tight buns on top of your head, pin them and let them dry. After you release the buns, tousle the hair with your fingers and you’re ready to dazzle on surf or turf. Another even easier option is to work damp hair into a loose braid before bed so you’ll have waves the next day. “And if you twist the braid into a bun, the waves will look even fuller and sexier,” says Jerome Lordet, the style director for Pierre Michel Salon in New York City. “Secure the bun with an elastic-free hair tie so that you don’t get any creases.” Then, when you wake up and unravel the braids, spritz them with a texturizing spray like Ouai Haircare Wave Spray ($39, Sephora) to give your curls a more uniform shape.
FLAUNT SMOOTH STRANDS
Heat and humidity are the dynamic duo of fizz inducers. If air-drying your hair leaves you with a lot of it, reach for a paper towel. “Drying your hair with a cotton towel causes friction, which leads to frizz,” Nunzio explains. “Dab strands with a super-absorbent paper towel instead to gently soak up water.” Afterwards, while your hair is still a little damp, rub a drop of lightweight oil like L’Oreal Paris Hair Expertise Oleo Therapy Perfecting Oil-Essence ($25.90, leading pharmacies and supermarkets) in your hands, then run your fingers through the ends, working your way towards the roots. “Even just a little oil smooths the cuticle and sets it in place, preventing frizz from popping up in the first place,” Cash says.
Since baby hairs are extra-sensitive to heat, they’re usually the first to go rogue when introduced to any moisture (like workout sweat). To tame them, along with other flyaways that may crop up throughout the day, Cash swears by men’s pomade formulas, such as Aveda Men Pure-formance Pomade ($48). “Used sparingly, you can really smooth frizz and create a cool texture,” he says. “Dip a finger into the pot to grab a tiny bit of paste and work it into frizzy sections.”
GET MEGA VOLUME
Fuller hair starts in the shower. “The cleaner the hair, the more height you can achieve,” Cash says. “That’s because product build-up can sit on your scalp, weighing everything down.” To keep your strands squeaky clean, wash your hair regularly and use a clarifying shampoo once a week. We like Oribe The Cleanse Clarifying Shampoo (£38 (S$67), www.spacenk.com). It’s sulphate-free and therefore safe for colour-treated hair. Once you’re out of the shower, mist your roots with a body-boosting spray such as Kerastase Densifique Serum Jeunesse ($110, hair-salons. kerastase.com) and immediately wrap your hair around Velcro rollers to lift your roots, then allow hair to air-dry. “Your hair stays in whatever position it dries, so this gives you longlasting volume without using a blow-dryer,” Jerome explains.
For even more body, mist roots with a dry shampoo like Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo ($32, Sephora). The formula doesn’t just soak up excess oil – it also bulks up your texture for a fuller look.
