By now, you've probably heard that spring fashion and makeup are all about bold, vibrant color. Assuming you're up-to-speed on the color situation (if you're not, be sure to check out the following posts for the low-down on how to wear this season's brilliant shades: Spring Color Explosion: Shake Up Your Makeup With Oscar 2011's Hottest Hues and Spring Color Burst: Get This Season's Brightest Runway Looks With a Little Help From Your Friends at Cosmetique!) the question becomes... what to do with your hair. Well, there's no need to worry your pretty little head about such things because we're running down the 5 sexiest hairstyles for spring - PLUS, expert styling instructions so you can keep those heads a-turnin' all season long!
Sexy Hairstyle #1: Super-Sleek Strands
Gwyneth Paltrow
Photo Courtesy of Blog.thelasttangle.com
Jennifer Connelly
Photo Courtesy of Dailymakeover.com
Supermodel Bar Rafaeli
Photo Courtesy of Prohaircut.com
Get the Look: To get truly sleek strands a la Gwyneth Paltrow, prep hair with a smoothing conditioner in the shower. Before blow-drying, be sure to use a frizz serum to minimize fly-aways and add shine to tired tresses. Once hair is completely dry, finish with a flat-iron for the ultimate super-sleek look. Remember, flat-irons actually smooth and flatten the hair cuticle as they straighten for high-shine, manageable locks.
For a more voluminous, low-maintenance look, blow-dry hair straight using a round brush and skip the flat iron. Finish with a conditioning shine spray.
Sexy Hairstyle #2: Bodacious Bedhead
Who's Wearing It:
Models on the Derek Lam Runway
Photo Courtesy of harpersbazaar.com
Models on the Peter Som Runway
Photo Courtesy of Marieclaire.com
Models on the Cynthia Steffe Runway
Photo Courtesy of Marieclaire.com
Get the Look: The easiest way to get this sexy, undone look is to wash and dry hair before bed. Apply a texturizing spray or pomade to damp hair before blow-drying with a diffuser for a tousled, wavy finish. Go to bed, get a good night's sleep... and wake up to one of this season's sexiest hairstyles! If your hair goes truly haywire while you're getting your zzz's, wake up and shake hair out by flipping your head over and finger combing. When you're right-side-up again, loosely position strands for a perfectly bodacious bedhead!
If your hair is ultra-straight and/or fine, use a large barrel curling iron after applying texturizer and blow-drying with your diffuser. To add volume and achieve the ultimate in undone chic, only curl random 1 inch sections of the hair before finger combing. Et Voila! The Bodacious Bedhead!
Sexy Hairstyle #3: The Sophisticated Chignon
Who's Wearing It:
Amy Adams
Photo Courtesy of Onsugar.com
Zooey Deschanel
Photo Courtesy of celebhairstyle.com
Carrie Underwood
Photo Courtesy of Fancypromhairstyles.com
Get the Look:
To get this season's most sophisticated hairstyle, wash and condition hair with volumizing shampoo and conditioner. These products will add volume (shocker, right?) and give the hair a bit more texture for a long-lasting look. Add volumizing mousse to damp hair before blow-drying upside down. For the sleekest chignon, flat-iron only face-framing strands and those at the crown of your head. These will be smoothed over the top for a polished result. Do not flat-iron the rest of your hair, as this will rob tresses of the volume and texture required to secure this hairstyle. Tease hair at the crown for added drama before smoothing flat-ironed pieces over the top and gathering hair into a low ponytail at the nape of your neck. Use a large-barrel curling iron to add soft waves to hair - this will go a long way towards making the look last. Using the curl of the hair, loosely wind 1 inch sections and secure near the base of the ponytail using bobby pins. Be sure to position strands all the way around the base of the ponytail to cover your elastic band and create a rounded shape. Finish the look with a medium-to-firm hold hairspray.
Make this look even hotter by adding a jeweled barrette in an unexpected spot... You've never looked so sophisticated!
Sexy Hairstyle #4: Braided Beauty
Who's Wearing It:
Blake Lively
Photo Courtesy of Allhairstyles.info
Ashley Greene
Photo Courtesy of Shortlonghairstyles.com
Jessica Alba
Photo Courtesy of Shortlonghairstyles.com
Get the Look: For a bohemian-chic style like Blake Lively's, begin by applying a volumizing mousse at the roots and blow-drying upside down for a minute or so (aiming the dryer at roots only). This will give hair a slightly mussed look and add volume at the roots, where you need it most! Braid random sections of hair (2-3 1/2 inch sections are all you need) and secure at the ends with an elastic band. Either leave braids loose or, for a more subtle style, use bobby pins to secure braids behind your ear. Arrange loose hair over the braids to hide pins. This way you're left with just a peak of bohemian-chic!
To add interest to an updo like Jessica Alba, style as usual and then braid (french is best, if you can manage it) right at the hairline. To keep this style from looking too little-girly, braid one side only. Gather hair as desired - a low bun or chignon makes this look polished and sophisticated, while a teased ponytail just below the crown is super-fun and very of-the moment!
For Ashley Greene's low-key look, simply gather hair near the nape of your neck, slightly to one side and loosely braid the hair, securing with an elastic band. Leave a couple inches of hair loose at the end and pull out a few face-framing strands - That's how all the cool kids are wearing it these days!
Sexy Hairstyle #5: The Undone Side Bun
Who's Wearing It:
Taylor Swift
Photo Courtesy of Onsugar.com
Kerry Russell
Photo Courtesy of Hairstylezine.com
Eva Longoria
Photo Courtesy of Stylebakeryteen.com
Get the Look:To achieve this oh-so-pretty, ultra-feminine updo, begin by applying a texturizing spray to damp hair, from roots to tips. Blow-dry hair upside down for added volume at the roots. Separate hair into 1 inch sections and curl with a medium-barrel curling iron, starting 1-3 inches below roots. After misting hair with a shine-enhancing, light-hold hairspray and letting it dry completely, shake curls out with your fingers. Now, pull hair into an ultra loose side ponytail near the nape of your neck. Create a super-loose bun and secure with bobby pins. Pull a few pieces out for that perfectly imperfect finish. If desired, you can also pull out a few face-framing strands to soften the look a bit more.
For added panache, attach a soft flower or ribbon to the side of the bun with bobby pins.
Accent spring's vibrant, colorful makeup looks with these super-sexy, easy-to-achieve hairstyles as seen on runways and celebrities alike. Keep your admirers guessing by trying them all... OR, if you're a creature of habit, choose your favorite and perfect it for a signature style that's all your own. Either way, you're sure to be right on trend this season... With a little help from your friends at Cosmetique!
