Curls N Pearls

Spiral Hair Jewels – Quick & Easy Updo Upgrade

Styling your hair in an updo without the help of a hairdresser can be quite the daunting task. I say this even after my years spent behind the chair – I still would only attempt an elaborate updo on my own with carefully managed expectations (you can see some of my favorite hair tutorials here, here and here).

I came across these spiral hair jewels (for lack of a better word) at H&M a few weeks back. I’d share a link, but unfortunately they don’t seem to be listed on H&M’s website anywhere. There are some very similar alternatives if you’re interested: here and here. The set I purchased included six spiral hair jewels.

For the look you see pictured above, I simply wrapped my ponytail around a hair donut and secured with hair pins. Then, one by one, I spun each hair spiral into the bun in a clockwise motion. That’s it! (See this post for more detailed instructions on using a hair donut in an updo – it’s really quite simple.)

While they may be a bit much for an average day, the hair spirals could be an excellent solution for a bride planning to do her own hair on the big day. And you can’t go wrong for less than $5 for a set of six.

Please let us know in the comments if you’ve tried a similar—or better—product to easily upgrade an updo?

Step and Repeat: Red Carpet Hair at the 2012 Academy Awards

I think that we all can agree that the Academy Awards were ‘meh’ at best this year, which isn’t at all surprising. Sure, I enjoy scoping out celebrity style and makeup on the red carpet, but other than that I feel that the Oscars are nothing more than an underwhelming self-congratulatory bore.

That said, a few of the lovely women on the red carpet sported some gorgeous hair styles. Here are my favorite red carpet looks from the 2012 Academy Awards.

1. Jessica Chastain

Wow – that color and those effortlessly sexy waves. What a combo! Jessica sported a romantic half-up-half-down hairstyle with just the perfect amount of height at the crown.

2. Michelle Williams

A platinum pixie isn’t for everyone, but it is clearly a perfect match for Michelle. Paired with her understated eye makeup and orange/pink lip, she looks fresh and naturally stunning.

3. Zoe Saldana

One word – sexy. Zoe looked effortlessly sultry wearing her hair in loose beachy waves for an appearance at the Vanity Fair Oscars Party.

4. Gwyneth Paltrow

In general, Gwyneth normally kind of annoys me. I’m not sure why – maybe it’s because I’m envious of her natural blonde hair color. :) But I have to admit she looks great here. She wore her hair in a modern and sleek low ponytail with a deep side part. Simple, polished and gorgeous.

5. Leslie Mann

Understated and seriously sexy.  I’m thinking Leslie smartly opted for a simple high ponytail as to not draw attention away from her stunning figure and ahh-mazing dress. Leslie landed on my favorites list for exactly that reason.

6. Octavia Spencer

Similar to Gwyneth’s hair, Octavia’s sleek chignon at her nape and deep side part were the perfect complement to her dress. Volume at her crown adds a touch of retro to her classic style.  She looks fresh and glamorous.

Did you watch the Academy Awards? What did you think of the red carpet hair? Please share your favorites and your –err, not-so-favorites in the comments section!

Updo How-To: Messy Bun w/ Pompadour

This is an easy updo that works great with second-day hair, or dressed up with a cute headband or hair accessory for a fun evening out look. You only need a few items to do this simple hair tutorial, many of which you probably already have at home.

(click here to jump to the step-by-step instructions)

  1. Gather a small section of hair at the center of your forehead, about two inches wide and two inches back towards the crown of your head. Clip this section off to keep out of the way for now.
  2. Gather remaining hair into a ponytail at your crown.
  3. Smooth the sides and top of the hair gathered into a pony tail with a boar bristle brush. (I just purchased this boar bristle brush last week and I love it.)
  4. Free the first section of hair at the center of your forehead, and begin gently teasing the hair at the roots, starting with small sections furthest away from your face. (attention volume-loving ladies: Redken Powder Grip 03 works great for teasing)
  5. Continue to tease in small sections, but leave a final thin section (right at your hairline) smooth. Use a boar bristle brush to smooth the teased pompadour back towards the crown of your head, and secure with bobby pins at the base of the section. Use the boar bristle brush to blend ends with the top of the ponytail. Don’t worry about making it blend perfectly – the big messy bun will bring it all together.
  6. Once you have secured your pompadour in place with bobby pins, place the hair donut around your ponytail. If your hair is super clean and/or fine, you may choose to secure the hair donut in place with a few hair pins as needed.
  7. Since we want to create a big and messy bun, tease the ponytail in small sections. Don’t overdo it; we just want to create a little more volume to give this updo a playful look.
  8. Once you have teased the ponytail, begin wrapping the ponytail around the hair donut and securing with hair pins. The goal is to create an evenly placed bun that also hides the hair donut.
  9. Continue wrapping the ponytail around the hair donut, securing with hair pins as you go. I used 5-6 hair pins total; the mesh texture of the hair donut really helps to secure your hair without needing to use a ton of hair pins.
  10. Once you have secured your messy bun with hair pins, check it out in the mirror to make sure you have covered the hair donut well and that it isn’t lopsided. Spray away with a versatile working spray (I love Kenra’s Platinum Working Spray).
  11. Gently pull some sections around your face free so it doesn’t look too perfect.
  12. Optional: add a playful headband or cute hair accessory to dress this simple look up for a night on the town.

Enjoy!

Nordstrom Headband Nordstrom Headband Redken Powder Grip 03 Redken Powder Grip 03 Kenra Working Platinum Spray 14 Kenra Working Platinum Spray 14 Scunci Wood Club Boar Bristle Brush Hair Donut Hair Donut