Whether your hair washing cycle is out of sync with your social diary or you’re just having a bad hair day and it won’t do anything you want, we’ve put together the hair hacks, products and styles you can turn to when your hair just won’t cooperate.
When your hair is: Greasy and lank.
You’ve had a busy week and haven’t managed to find the time to wash your hair in between late nights at work, errands and social engagements. And now there’s a social event you actually want to go and your hair is looking slicker than Danny Zuko and the T-Birds (and not in a good way). What to do?
Your party hair hack: A wet-look low bun.
The best solution to slick-looking hair? An intentional slick-looking bun. Slightly dampen hair (or take a swim about an hour before you start getting ready) and apply a tiny amount of Fanola Styling Tools Extra Grip gel, before combing through gently with a WetBrush detangling comb. Tuck hair behind ears and comb hair back into a low ponytail, either straight back or with a centre parting, securing with an elastic – or for a more event-appropriate vibe, use a Tonytail ponytail hair wrap matched to the colour of your hair. Twirl the ponytail and wrap around the elastic into a bun, pinning with 999 Bobby Pins as you go. Set with your favourite finishing spray.
Your product saviours (clockwise from top left): Fanola Styling Tools Extra Grip Gel, $24; WetBrush detangling comb, $10; MIA Tonytail Ponytail Hair Wrap, $9; 999 Bobby Pins, $6; all available from StyleHQ.co.nz.
When your hair is: Dirty and full of product.
You’ve been to back-to-back parties all week and your hair is full of hairspray, texturising spray, shine drops and other finishing products. To say your hair is full of product is an understatement.
Your party hair hack: Dry shampoo and some tonged curls are the only way forward my friend.
Using Fave4 Dirty to Flirty Dry Shampoo or TIGI Custom Complete Revitalising Dry Shampoo, spray a generous amount on the roots, picking up sections of hair and making sure you have got in too the roots underneath, not just on top. Gently massage the dry shampoo in to the roots with your fingertips and then brush through gently with a WetBrush to distribute the product. Your hair should look and feel refreshed – but be still gritty enough to hold a curl, so get tonging! We love the Silver Bullet City Chic large ceramic conical curling iron, which produces a larger, softer curl.
Your product saviours (clockwise from top left): Fave4 Dirty To Flirty Dry Shampoo, $30; TIGI Custom Complete Revitalising Dry Shampoo, $32; WetBrush Detangling Hair Brush, $21; Silver Bullet City Chic Large Ceramic Conical Curling Iron, $61; all available from StyleHQ.co.nz.
When your hair is: Too clean and slippery.
Sometimes freshly washed hair is exactly what you don’t want to have when you’re trying to style it for an event – we’re sure we’re not the only ones who can attest to better hair on Day 2 or even Day 3! If it’s slippery and not doing anything you want, you might need to add a little ‘grit’ so you can manipulate it how you like.
Your party hair hack: Texturising spray and an accessory.
Create texture with a texturising spray, such as Affinage Volumising & Texturising Spray, spraying it through the root and ends, gently massaging the strands between your fingers to create a bit of volume from roots to the tips of the hair. A teasing brush can also help to build out a bit more texture with some subtle backcombing, before pulling your fingers through to separate strands. Finish with some shine spray and a barrette or clip.
Your product saviours (clockwise from top left): Affinage Volumising & Texturising Spray, $38; Brushworx Styler Porcupine Teasing Brush, $13; Oribe Apres Beach Wave & Shine Spray, $72; MIA Snip Snaps Leopard Print Hair Clips, $8; all available from StyleHQ.co.nz.
When your hair is: Fluffy and flyaway.
Humidity plus salty sea hair can equal fluffy, flyaway hair – and nobody wants that, especially when you’re heading somewhere special!
Your party hair hack: Get those locks under control using a straightening, smoothing product…
Use a straightening spray to tame the frizz – we love R&CO’s Mood Swing Straightening Spray which will switch your hair mood from frazzled to serene in a matter of minutes; and your hair itself from fluffy to silky before you can say “blow dry”. Speaking of blow drys, there’s no better hairdryer in the biz than a Parlux. Touted as one of the best by the professionals, you’ll get a super smooth finish using the Parlux 2800 Superturbo. Finish with a swoop of Oribe Impermeable Anti-Humidity Spray and a strong hold, anti-humidity hairspray such as the R&Co Vicious Strong Hold Hairspray.
Your product saviours (clockwise from top left): R&CO Mood Swing Straightening Spray, $50; Parlux 2800 Superturbo Hair Dryer, $214; Oribe Impermeable Anti-Humidity Spray, $74; R&CO Vicious Strong Hold Hairspray, $53; all available from StyleHQ.co.nz.
When your hair is: Flat and lifeless
The last thing you want to do is turn up to a party and your hair give the impression that you’re not in the mood for a good time… Flat and lifeless is the last thing you’re feeling, so it’s annoying that’s what your hair is saying!
Your party hair hack: Messy top-knot or bun.
Add some oomph and texture to dull, flat hair by adding texture spray to damp hair and then giving it extra volume, lift and shine by using BaByliss Pro’s rotating hot air brush to dry it off. You’ll be left with smooth, silky hair with a lifted root and dazzling shine, thanks to the ceramic heat and conditioning ions which seals in moisture. Use a teasing brush to backcomb slightly, then sweep back into a messy high bun and secure with an elastic. Extra points
Your product saviours (clockwise from top left): R&CO Balloon Dry Texture Spray, $60; BaByliss Pro Rotating Hot Air Brush, $168; Brushworx Styler Porcupine Teasing Brush, $13; MIA Flat Snap Elastics, $7; all available from StyleHQ.co.nz.
Words: Kelly McAuliffe
Photos: c/o Fashion Quarterly and Supplied