Date-Night Updo Hair How-To
The Quick Date-Night Updo You Can Pull Off in 15 Minutes
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In the age of Tinder and Instagram, one photo could be the difference between meeting your soul mate and being utterly rejected. What does your profile image (and, more importantly, your hair) say to your potential dates? Match and Wella Professionals have teamed up to give us some authentic statistics for your next first date.
As it turns out, 48 percent of single men think women wearing an updo are down-to-earth (yes, you're going to need more bobby pins). Southern gentlemen especially like a woman to show off her face with an upswept style. Dudes dating in the Northeast prefer sporty braids — not that men understand how complicated a fishtail plait is to create. With the help of Soroya Lowman at KeratinBar in NYC, we created the perfect date-night hairstyle, which will only take you about 20 minutes to pull together. This twisted updo will send all the right messages: I'm a laid-back girl who loves to do SoulCycle on Saturdays!
This may sound counterintuitive, but the first thing you want to do is dirty up your strands with a hair spray, like Wella Stay Firm Finishing Spray ($15). This will give the strands the hold and grip you need for styling. If you have superstraight hair, prepare to pile on the product!
Use a one-inch curling iron to give the hair volume and movement all over. Make a center part and then section the hair into four quadrants: two equal portions from the hairline to the ears, a crown section, and a larger piece from ears to nape. Pull the back portion into a loose, low ponytail — this will become the base of your chignon later.
Tease the crown section from midshaft to ends. Using a comb with special teeth for backcombing ($2) is the best tool for the job, if you don't want tangles. A brush can leave you with too much frizz instead of precise volume. Smooth the hair over and secure by wrapping the ends around the base of the ponytail.
Loosely braid the ponytail and wrap it up into a chignon. If there are any short hairs around the nape that escaped the bun, use Aveda Control Paste ($24) to brush up and hold the wispy strands (bobby pins also work, if your hair is extra-uncooperative).
