Textured Ponytail and Topknot How-To
Your Easy Midnight-to-Morning Date-Night Hair DIY
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We know you're familiar with day-to-night styling, but for Valentine's Day, we're looking for the reverse — midnight-to-morning hair. For date night, you want a style that won't take too much time, but still looks sexy enough for him to run his fingers through. Lauren Thompson at Nunzio Saviano Salon worked with us to create the ultimate sexy ponytail. Yes, a ponytail. This is not the style you throw your strands up into on a bad hair day. This look is all about textured waves pulled up into an easy updo, and we've spotted a similar style on sex kittens like Chrissy Teigen and Amber Heard. For your second-day hairstyle (ahem), all you need to pack in your clutch are a few bobby pins. Just swipe the beard comb lying on his bathroom counter, and whip your mane into a messy topknot. Your early-morning Uber escort will be none the wiser . . .
Make Waves
Give texture to the hair by spritzing strands with Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray ($42). Then curl with a medium-size wand, making sure to always point the point of the wand downward. "I like a tapered wand because it gets the ends a little more curled, and that is the first part that tends to drop," said Thompson. To get that messy texture, run your fingers through the waves while the hair is still warm.
The Big Tease
Tease the front "Mohawk" section, from hairline to crown, using a fine-tooth comb.
Up and Away
Loosely pull hair back into a midheight ponytail just under the crown. Then tease the middle of the ponytail for extra volume. Finish the style with Oribe Superfine Hairspray ($33).
The Sexy Date-Night Ponytail
Want our model's bold red lip for your date? Mehron Cosmetics makeup artist Michela Wariebi used three different products to get the ruby shade. First, she applied the L.I.P. Liner Pencil in Brick ($10) for a longer-lasting pout. Then she topped the shade with Mehron L.I.P. Cream in Big Apple ($8) and Glosstone Pro in Red Kiss ($12).
Va-Va-Volume
Tease the remnants of your textured ponytail from midshaft to base. This will give your topknot volume and height.
The Swirl
While holding the base of the ponytail, wrap the ends around in a circular pattern. Then secure with multiple bobby pins at the base.
The Messy Morning-After Updo
Makeup artist Wareibi used an iridescent loose powder, Mehron Celebré Precious Gem Powder in Citrine ($10), on the highest points of the cheeks as a highlighter. If you've got a similar product at home, pour the product into the cap, so your brush doesn't pick up too many particles. Then remember to tap off any excess.
