Most people don’t have the budget to buy the same outfits the stars wear on the red carpet, but the hairstyles are fair game. This season’s styles are sleek and stylish, but they’re not hard to copy. Create five red carpet hairstyles to give yourself a great new look. The designer dress is optional.
Long Sidesweep
The long sidesweep keeps appearing on the red carpet. Jessica Alba and Jennifer Lopez both wore this style to the Golden Globes. It’s a sleek, feminine look that’s very easy to style.
Start with clean hair. Make a deep part to one side. Gather hair at the nape of the neck and sweep it to the side where hair is thickest. Add a pretty clip at the base of the hair; place more if needed. The goal is to keep the hair over one shoulder.
Use a flat iron or large curling iron to create big waves. Start with a section about 3 inches wide. Wrap it around the tool from the top first, and then continue wrapping until you reach the end. Release and gently finger-comb to loosen the curl into soft waves.
Side Updo
You can create a side-centric hairstyle without the long sweep of hair. Amy Adams wore a beautiful side updo to the Golden Globes, and her look isn’t difficult to re-create.
Style hair for a sidesweep style with a deep part to one side and the hair gathered at the neck. Begin twisting at the base of the skull, gently pulling and twisting hair to the side where it’s the thickest (opposite the part). Twist hair into a circular bun and pin into place. Quick elegance!
Bold Boy Cut
Tired of the extensive shampooing and brushing and styling? Go bold with a boy cut. Anne Hathaway made short hair look gorgeous at the Golden Globes with her simple, sleek style. Charlize Theron stood out at the Oscars with her glossy, slightly slicked-back locks. The cut is adaptable. If you want a look that’s a little more unstructured and wild, wear your hair in short spikes like Miley Cyrus.
Long and Loose
The center part is back! Long and loose styles are popular on the red carpet this season. Amanda Seyfried and Hayden Panettiere both wore the look to the Golden Globes.
Create a glamorous long and loose style with a straight center part. Add big, loose curls to give the style some life. Flatten the part with a little mousse to hold the style in place. Treat hair with anti-frizz serum before styling to keep the look sleek and sophisticated.
Elegant Updo
Nothing says red carpet quite like an elegant updo. Taylor Swift wore one to the People’s Choice Awards, and Ashanti’s looked glamorous at the Grammys.
Create a simple updo by combing hair back away from the hairline and gathering it at the nape of the neck into a ponytail. Secure the pony with a hair band. Place your hand, two fingers extended, beneath the base of the ponytail. Move upward, right next to the scalp, inserting the fingers into your hair to create a hole.
With your other hand, flip the ponytail down and back up to pull it through this hole. Depending on length of hair, you may want to pull it through once or twice more. Pin the ends of the hair under, against the scalp, to create a pretty (and pretty simple) updo.
Red Carpet Ready
You may not have a red carpet to walk on, but you’ll find plenty of reasons to give yourself a little celebrity style this season. The right hairstyle can make you look like a million bucks — even without all the fancy jewelry and the expensive shoes.
