The Rockettes' French Twist Will Kick Up Your Holiday Hair Game
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The holiday season can get a little crazy with all the shopping, cooking, and decorating, so we can't blame you if you end up saying "bah, humbug!" when it comes to finding your perfect holiday hairstyle. With the help of Pond's, maker of cold cream cleanser for performers and us normals alike, we sat down with the ultimate experts of getting people into the Christmas spirit: the Radio City Rockettes.
Combined, dancers Amy Klingler and Katie Hamrah have been with the company for more than twenty seasons, so they know all about a classy coif. Underneath their multiple hats and headpieces, nearly all of the Rockettes sport a timeless french twist (and can put their strands up in less than 60 seconds). The look is sleek and stunning, but it does require some practice. Even though the Rockettes are seasoned in beautifying themselves before a performance, they can still have bad hair days — or as they like to call them, "twist tantrums." Be patient when trying out this classic style! It's totally worth mastering and looks quite impressive, even if you can't pair yours with a high kick.
Step 1: Start with a ponytail.
Collect all of your hair at the nape of your neck, as if you were about to put your hair back in a ponytail (but don't fasten it!). Start twisting your hair.
Step 2: Twist hair up.
Like you were making a quick topknot, twist the entire length of your hair up. Your strands should be very taut once you reach the ends.
Step 3: Tuck!
Holding the twisted section tightly with your nondominant hand, fold down the ends of your strands and use your dominant hand to tuck them into the twist. Use a rolling motion with your wrist to capture all the loose pieces and fold them behind the style.
Step 4: Secure it.
Starting from the bottom and working your way up the twist, add as many bobby pins ($1) as you need to make your style feel secure. The Rockettes use at least 20 — the look needs to last through their whole show, and they can have as many as five performances in one day.
Step 5: Seal it!
Use liberal coats of hair spray on your finished look. While L'Oréal Elnett spray ($15) was omnipresent backstage, the Rockettes are also fans of Got2B Glued Freezing Spray ($8). "It's not for every day," admits Amy, "but when they say 'glue,' they mean it!" Use a narrow bristle brush like Spornette's pencil boar brush ($5) to smooth out any flyaways.
Step 6: Add a boost of bling.
While the Rockettes' headpieces are custom-fitted to each dancer's head, they still need to be carefully secured. "Headpieces flying off can become a hazard," says Amy. While the Rockettes' hair accessories may be a little theatrical for every day, we still like adding a little something extra to our french twists, whether it be a crystal hair comb or glitter spray.