Oof, am I ever excited for the Oscars on Sunday. Not because I’ve seen most of the movies that are nominated (I haven’t, although I’m casting my uneducated vote for Argo), and not because I like Seth McFarlane (I don’t really; he makes me uncomfortable, and not in a “whee, so edgy and awesome” way…more in a “oh dear, I feel bad for his targets” way)…because of the clothes.
Awhile back, StyledOn.com asked me what I would wear if I were attending the Met Ball.
This is what I chose: Elie Saab couture paired with glowing skin, tousled hair, and touches of sparkle.
And I have to say…I think I’m still leaning the same way. Sometimes, nothing but a drop-dead red dress will do.
Maybe Rihanna can loan me hers.
When it comes to black-tie beauty, I’m way over there in the Underdone Camp; I never feel particularly like myself in a fussy ‘do, and much prefer my hairstyles to look relaxed and casual…almost like an afterthought. “Oh, this old thing?” You know the drill.
I loved this dressed-up (but still simple) ponytail that I wore for the last day of shooting in Miami (pictured here with a Lilly Pulitzer dress; more shots are here), and it’s such an easy look to create.
1. This kind of look actually works better on next-day hair, which has more texture and staying power. If you insist on washing your hair, try working some mousse (I use Dove Style+Care Nourishing Curls Whipped Cream Mousse) through wet hair, and then blow-drying it smooth with a round brush. (If you have bangs, click here for some blow-drying tips.)
2. Separate out your bangs if you have them (I usually add a couple of tendrils around my face as well, to keep the look soft).
3. If you want a curl in your ponytail, use a 1 1/2″ barrel curling iron to curl small sections (stopping the curl about halfway up the hair shaft).
4. The next step is to add volume to the top of your hair, because this is what’s going to make your ponytail look fancy rather than “off to the gym”. If you’re not into teasing (and I’m not really; it’s kind of a pain), try using hairspray to create a similar effect: just lift the top section of your hair (pretend you’re pulling it into a half-up style) and spray hairspray (try Dove Style+Care Strength & Shine Flexible Hold Hairspray) onto the roots, holding the top section of hair up until the hairspray dries.
Like this.
5. Now just pull your hair back into a ponytail, but make sure not to brush down the top section of your hair. You can use a brush to smooth the sides of the ponytail, but just run a comb lightly across the top section to keep strays under control while maintaining volume.
6. Finish with another misting of Dove Style+Care Strength & Shine Flexible Hold Hairspray*.
Tip: If you’re going for sleek and sophisticated, try a low ponytail or a low side-ponytail. I prefer a more relaxed, fun look, so I usually set the ponytail fairly high up on my head.
Anne Hathaway; Reese Witherspoon
Lauren Conrad; Nicole Richie
*As Dove’s Hair Brand Ambassador, all products referenced in this post were provided by Dove.
