Christmas Party Hair - Tips From An Expert!

Party Hair As Christmas party time rolls around again, it’s time to get creative with your do, and make sure it’s your hair that wows when you walk in the room. We asked Creative Ambassador at Headmasters salons Ollie Blackaby to run us through how to get that great look at home when you haven’t got time to stop at a salon.

1) Prep your hair! “If you’re planning an up do, make sure you wash it the night before the party. If you leave it until the day it will be too flyaway to tame. But if you’re donning a down-do, give it a good wash with a nourishing mask before blow-drying to perfection.”

2) Choose your style. “It’s important to pick a style that works best with your face. So flick the hair across defined eyebrows, or pull back to accentuate cheekbones. Decide what you want to achieve then go with a style to enable it.”

3) Allow enough time. “It sounds obvious but too many people try to achieve that salon-style look in a rush. Allow time to prepare your hair, style and fix, and give yourself an extra fifteen minutes to adapt it to fit you personally. We have some great Tip Sheets you can take away from the salon, but you need to practice first, and bear in mind it could take you quite a bit longer that the stylist who has been doing it for years!”

4) Use the right products. “At Headmasters we’re always happy to advise clients on what products are best for their particular hair type. I have a favourite for each type – I’d say use L’Oréal Professionnel tecni.ART PLI as a long-lasting fixing spray that feels weightless once applied. It’s a great all-rounder. If you have fine hair then apply some Kérastase Desimorphose mousse when it’s still damp to give it an extra boost of volume, and for straggly hair I always use Kérastase Forme Fatale gel. Run it through towel-dried hair before blow-drying. It really helps to bind the hair together.”

5) Make an appointment at your local Headmasters for a Party-ready Masterclass. It’s £45 for a 45 minute session (a hair-up appointment is £55) and your stylist will go through everything you need to do, step-by-step, as well as advising on what products to use, and offering personalised opinions on what is vest for you and your particular event.”

Belle About Town's new in-house hair expert

Ollie Blackaby has worked for Headmasters for six years, starting as a stylist in the Brighton salon and rapidly working his way up through the ranks. With more than 15 years in the industry he now divides his time between the Brighton salon and the Headmasters Academy in London. As Art Ambassador, Ollie creates beautiful editorial imagery, while incorporating the hairdressing industry’s demand for cutting edge looks. Ollie worked on the first ever classic collection for headmasters, collaborating with fellow art team members and ambassadors on how-to videos and is also a L’Oreal Techni.ART Ambassador, producing how-to videos for their product line.

Emily Cleary

After almost a decade chasing ambulances, and celebrities, for Fleet Street's finest, Emily has taken it down a gear and settled for a (slightly!) slower pace of life in the suburbs. With a love of cheese and fine wine, Emily is more likely to be found chasing her toddlers round Kew Gardens than sipping champagne at a showbiz launch nowadays, or grabbing an hour out of her hectic freelancer's life to chill out in a spa while hubby holds the babies. If only!

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