Just adding a little height to the top of your hair can make a world
of difference to your hairstyle. However, this is easier said than done.
True, a little gel serves the purpose, but not for long.
If you're more than just a little terrified of turning your sleek mane
into a wild bird’s nest in the name of fashion, take heart. You don’t have
to go all the way! All we’re trying to do is to add a little height to
your hair.
GET THE LOOK
To achieve a subtle but higher than usual do, just style your hair as
normal and then comb the front section of your hair forward and either
tie it up or clip it together, so that's it's separated from the rest of
your hair. You are now ready to tease or backcomb your hair.
Many women make the mistake of backcombing the entire front section
and then lightly brushing it to neaten it up. What you are doing then is
untangling the knots you had created by backcombing, defeating the purpose.
Your hair then falls flat much faster. You should, therefore, tease the
section just behind the front of your hair, which is why it makes
sense to start by clipping the front section.
Gently tease the hair left on top of your crown with a small brush or
comb. Teasing hair gives you instant volume. After you've brushed it in
the wrong direction, it should look like a little ball of hair is sitting
on top of your head.
Sprtiz this ‘hairball’ with a bit of hair spray, or apply gel before
backcombing so it stays put.
Now take the front section of hair (which you initially separated) and
smooth it over the top of your head to cover the back combed section. Voila!
A perfectly coiffed style achieved in minutes. You could leave your hair
open, or pin it up into an elegant bun.
If you change your mind and decide big hair is just not for you, just
brush through the hairball, untangling it slowly and carefully – and you’re
back to your basic flat style within moments.
On the other hand if you love the look and want to go even bigger and
better, just use more of everything. More hair from the crown of your head
to back-comb, more hair pins, more gel and hairspray – or just go bananas
and back-comb your entire head of hair. Caution: birds may mistake your
head for a nest.
This may not work well if your hair is too fine, and a couple of inches
above the crown is probably about the biggest your hair will get. It helps
if you gel your hair a day earlier and then gel it again before styling
it.
Whatever you do, don’t wash your hair the day you want to style it if
you want this look.
For a looser look with more movement, simply use a few rollers at the
top of the head, secure with styling gel to set the style and you’re done.
If you have the time, go in for sponge rollers as these are the gentlest
on hair. Metal rollers are the harshest, so if you must use heated rollers,
invest in non-metal ones.