Heatless Bouncy Curls?! Curls in a flash for NYE

So it's New Years Eve, and you've got to your friends house to get ready for the big night ahead. So far, so good. Pour yourself a glass of champagne and operation beautify begins... but you panic. You've forgot your curlers, straighteners, tongs!! In the excitement and last minute rush I have done this so thought I'd post this tutorial to show you how to create bouncy curls with no heated hair tools.

 

So firstly, these are the things you'll need.  Hairbrush, dry shampoo (I used Batiste), hairspray (Insette shown, but whatever you prefer), hair grips (although I prefer the silver crocodile hair clips you can buy from most hair shops) and a spray bottle filled with water.

 

 

 

 

So, keep sipping the champagne, spray your hair with dry shampoo if needed (I like it to add texture to my hair as my hair is so shiny and slips), then brush your hair and secure in a high pony tail.

 

 

 

 

The next step is to spritz your pony tail with the water. If you hair is super porous (like mine), you may have to repeat this step once you get about half way. You'll be able to gauge, but you want all of the pony tail to be pretty damp.

 

 

Then, in small sections, coil you hair around 2 fingers. Gently slip you fingers out of the coil of hair.

 

 

 

 

 

And secure in place with 2 hair grips (in opposite directions, for maximum security.) My hair has a mind of its own so I always double grip. The silver crocodile clips do hold my hair better, but wanted to show you hairgrips as most of your girlfriends will have those lying round!

 

 

 

 

If you love a varied size of curls like myself, then just alternate thinner and thicker sections of hair. This look was with strands from apx 1 inch wide to apx 2 inches wide.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keep pinning until all of your pony tail is pinned up. You need to leave in for quite a while so the hair will be dry once you unpin it all. Once all is pinned up, spray with hair spray. I find the most effective way is to spray from beneath upwards so you're spritzing the curls gently, not drowning them and making them heavier. This now allows you to 

1) Drink more champagne

2) Apply your make up and pick your outfit with your hair out of your face

 

 The longer you leave the curls, the curlier your hair will be. However, if you're pushed for time you can give them a helpful hand by drying with a hairdryer.

 

 

 

This is the final look, once the hair has been unpinned and also sprayed again for hairspray to hold them for the big night ahead. You can leave them in the ponytail or you can untie it and let your hair loose for a different style! I hope this helps a few of your girls, as I know the struggle can be real to look your best when the clock strikes midnight.

 

All images above are by Kirstie Mackin Photography.

 

 

Necklace is from Aphrodite Jewels

 

 

Until next time...

 

The Original Redhead

 

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City Rush & Aveda Hair Stylin'

Last Thursday was the night I attended the Newcastle Business Awards. Now, in true Original Redhead style, of course I was running round like a crazy person attempting to look glam! And when Aveda Blow Bar in Fenwick, Newcastle invited me in for a complimentary treatment last minute I thought my fairy godmother must have been looking down on me!

 

So, after finishing a long day at work, I rushed to Fenwick (same night as the Newcastle Light Switch On) featuring X Factor's Abi Garrido & Samantha Lavery. If you have somehow not heard these girls, seriously listen. As you can imagine, the city was buzzing and busy. So I get to Fenwick, with 45 minutes to spare, remove my make up, cleanse, tone, moisturise, prime and then start my make up again. This time with a much more fierce twist than my usual daytime look.

 

 

Thinking it would be nice & quiet and calm was a mistake on my part, with the toilets being on the children's floor and many families attending the lights being turned on every squeal and blast of the hand drier has me feeling hyper sensitive. Think it's the most rushed I've ever felt as I knew I had an appointment. BUT somehow in super timing, I managed my skin, lashes, brows, contour & highlight and then had to rush down stairs. Lashes and a red lip could be applied as I'm running out to my taxi!

 

When I located Aveda (they are pretty new to Fenwick!) I was greeted by the lovely Anna. She took my coat and many bags and made me feel so relaxed. I was talked through all the treatments they provide including blowdries, hair styling, head & shoulder massages and a full range of products. So I explained to Anna my event situation and we agreed on a hair style. To be honest I was expecting a simple blow dry so this completely outdid my expectations from the off.

 

 

My hair was combed & prepped with the Aveda Pure Abundance Hair Potion to create weightless texture as a base to begin my styling. I might add, I have super shiny and least textured hair ever so this product is great for all you girls who struggle to hold a style.Then my hair was curled in sections with a Diva Professional cone shaped curling wand - loved the curl shapes created with this! Wider and bouncier at the root with the curl decreasing towards the ends of the hair.

 

 

 

 

Anna worked her magic and started pinning! I wanted a nice up do for this evening event and the curls really looked lovely pinned up. We discussed a few details of how I'd prefer my fringe to sit and I liked it sweeping one side of my head so we worked on that and then added some gorgeous whispy curls which gently grazed my face. Spritzed with hair spray for extra hold this hair style wasn't budging an inch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The finished look I think you can all agree was a perfect hair-up for an evening event and this Aveda service really does help take the pressure off if you have an event/party coming up in the festive season. And on a time scale, I proved that it really is a valuable service! I made Anna aware of my short time scare and she really performed under pressure!!

 

Until next time...

 

The Original Redhead

 

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