Look we love: Big hair
By Emine Ali
Tasteless ’size’ jokes and veiled comments about bigger being better aside, this season, when it
comes to your hair, the latter definitely holds true. Margaret Thatcher may have been the fashion role model a few seasons ago, but the beauty icon du jour is a potentially disconcerting hybrid of Madame Pompadour and Tippi Hedren. Hair is high, volume is essential and backcombing is, well, back. The Hitchcock heroines who dominated the Alexander McQueen catwalk this season, complete with blood-red lips and bouffant ‘dos, may not gain full marks in the wearability department, but they inarguably prompted the biggest trend of the new season. Suddenly, pin-straight locks are looking a bit forlorn and hair without bounce is being relegated to the ’style don’ts’ list.
This season we want the sort of huge hair that oozes money, jet-set lifestyle and expensive grooming – the sort that is always accompanied by a pair of Jackie O shades and an expensive handbag. The truth is, big hair requires big attitude and even bigger confidence. It attracts attention and admiration. A primped, coiffed ‘do’ is part of being a ‘lady’, not a girl or woman, and for the various duchesses, countesses and princesses of Britain it is as essential to their image as the Barbour or riding crop.
OK, so we may not aspire to look like Princess Anne, but with a few modern tweaks there’s a lot to be said for big hair. Firstly, it makes your head look smaller and long faces really benefit from more height around the crown – think of Angelina Jolie’s voluminous locks (she may be beautiful, but she also has a rather sizeable head). Also, after the massive and inescapable popularity of ceramic irons, it’s the perfect way to avoid production-line hair and look different from the high-street hundreds. Lastly, it’s extremely feminine and sensual. Men never want to run their fingers through hair that looks as though it’s been flattened, then laminated, but they are instantly drawn to hair that moves, bounces and looks ‘alive’ (once again, Angelina Jolie comes up trumps here, too).
Before teasing long locks into shape, wash with Garnier Fructis Long & Strong Fortifying Shampoo and Cream Conditioner, www.garnierbeautybar.co.uk. Alternatively, for ultimate volume, wash hair with L’Oréal Elvive Non-Stop Volume Shampoo, £1.68, www.lorealparis.co.uk and Conditioner, £2.48, which cancels out any worries of hair that will droop after midnight with its 18-hour volume guarantee. Dry hair with your head tipped upside down, or brush it forwards over the eyes while drying and then flip it backwards when it’s dry. This will boost the volume immensely. Brush through the mid-lengths to ends with a smoothing brush (which will get rid of frizz and leave hair straight, but not flat). Then backcomb the top layer around the crown and pin it back with Kirby grips. To keep volume on top, spritz it with Elnett Hairspray, £4.99, and whatever happens, hold your heightened head up high and walk like you’re worth it.
Add comment April 16th, 2007