As Chinese New Year & Valentine’s Day roll into one long weekend celebration, there's lots of time for you to spruce up your hairstyle while pampering yourself. Plus, if you’re planning to skip the shampoo over the weekend, these looks are great with naturally volumized hair.
Sleek Top Knot
Top knots may be your go-to style for busy days, but with the right tools, you can make it a dreamy look that shows off your most important asset, your face. With celebrities like JLo & Shay Mitchell slaying the style on the red carpet, it’s worth trying. Plus, it offers a bit of a quick facelift for video call dates. Here’s how to achieve it.
What you’ll need
- Smoothening Shampoo and Conditioner
- Paddle Brush
- Dry or Volumizing Shampoo
- Hair Oil
- Hair Ties
- Hairspray
- Fine Tooth Comb
First, start prepping your hair at least a day or two before with your favorite anti-frizz routine. It’s always good to prep your hair for any look/style to make it easier (and less frustrating) for you to achieve them. For us, we love the Davines Oi Ultimate Shine Set*, P3,740, as it already has the smoothening shampoo and conditioner made with Roucou oil to help hydrate hair and give you extraordinary shine from root to tip. Plus, this set also includes the Davines Oi Oil you’ll be needing for this top knot later on.
Then, when you’re ready to style, brush your hair back with an anti-static paddle brush to make it smooth and shiny, focusing mostly on your roots, and leaving out your lengths and ends to maintain their volume. Spray your roots and mid-lengths with dry shampoo. We like Bed Head by TIGI Oh Bee Hive!: Matte Dry Shampoo, P1,050, as it offers impressive volume without making hair feel stiff.
Finally, apply hair oil to your lengths and ends, combing it with your hands. Then, pull your hair back to a top knot and apply a hair spray, like Bed Head by TIGI Hard Head Hairspray Mini, P500. This will help secure the top knot, while still maintaining that sheen you need for this sleek style. Tie in a bun (use two to three elastic bands to be sure it’s ultra-secure), then start twisting the bun around itself. Finish it off with a fine-tooth comb to iron out sections that may have fallen out. Apply hair spray as needed, and you’re all done.
Pro tip: This hairstyle works best on no-shampoo days, so it’s also good for hair in a hurry.
Cold Creased Textured Hair
Have your curtain bangs grown out? Great! Then, this may be the look for you. Lots of volume and texture, plus a layered long fringe, can do wonders to frame your face. Enjoy this easy, carefree style on your Valentine’s date night. You’ll need a good night’s sleep, plus some tools to get started.
What you’ll need
- Overnight Leave-in Hair Serum
- Texturizing Spray or Sea Salt Spray
- Hair Ties
Start with damp hair or spray a little water on your locks. Apply a few pumps of your favorite leave-in hair serum. Ours is the Kérastase 8-Hour Magic Night Serum**, P2950. It not only nourishes your hair to keep it smooth and strong, but also has a delightful scent to soothe you while you sleep. Follow this up with a generous spray of a hair texturizer like L'Oreal Tecni. Art Beach Waves, P830, perfect for a matte finished beach wave or messy looks with a texturized effect that’s not rough to the touch.
Then, part your hair into two, and begin to braid your hair from top to bottom, starting from the very front of your hair. This doesn’t have to be neat. It just needs to be tight enough to cold crease your hair and add texture later on. Tie the ends, and get yourself some beauty sleep.
Finally, when you’re ready to go, remove your braids. Loosen your curls to the preferred texture. Add in a bit more texturizing spray for good measure. The style should last a few hours, but if you need it to hold the whole day, we recommend getting a curling mousse to add extra hold.
Pro Tip: Don’t have time to braid? Try sleeping in high pigtail buns. These make for bigger curls and less texture, but create romantic waves.
See how to achieve this look here.
Glass Hair Hack
Ultra sleek and extra shiny, the glass hairstyle is a refreshing contrast to all the boho curls we’ve been seeing of late. Seen on celebrities like Kylie Jenner & Hailey Baldwin, if you already have that blunt bob/lob, then this style is definitely worth falling in love with.
What you’ll need
- An Ultra Shine Ritual
- Blow Dryer
- Flat Iron
- Crocodile clips
- Hair Smoothening Product
As always, a bit of prep work will turn this look from just regular flat hair to glass gorgeous. Start off with your favorite shine ritual, ours is the Kérastase Elixr Ultime Opulent Shine Hair Ritual, P7,550, with its oil shampoo, strengthening mask, and shining oil to give your hair a boost.
Working with dry hair, start ironing hair in layers separating your hair with crocodile clips (best so as not to leave creases on your hair). For smoother results try a professional steam iron straighter like Gamma Piu Vapor Styler Hair Iron, P8,750. It’s a high temperature straightener that emits steam and protects hair as you style. It works even on fragile hair.
Finally, here’s the secret to DIY glass hair. With your hair flat straight and ready to party, finish it off with some Bed Head After Party Smoothing Cream, P1500. It adds extra gloss to hair and keeps fly always at bay.
So, which style did you love? Let us know. Message us about it, or tag @HairMNL on Facebook/Instagram.
Want to give any of these as products? Let us know so we can help.
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*For a limited time offer, get the Davines Oi Ultimate Shine Set, and enjoy a FREE Travel Sized OI All-In-One Milk and NOUNOU Hair Mask to make sure your strands are ultra-smooth and extra shiny.
**Get a free tote bag valued at P450 when you shop for Kérastase 8-Hour Magic Night Serum or any Kérastase product worth P3,000 between Feb 12-15 only.
