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Wedding season is almost upon us! Attending a wedding as a guest can be tricky. It’s formal, but it’s important not to be overdressed. It’s glam, but you don’t want to look like you spent as long in hair and makeup as the bride.
According to Statistica in 2021, October was the most popular month for weddings — that means your calendar is probably filling up.
The tousled chignon is popular for a reason — it’s elegant, it keeps your hair out of your face (helpful if you’re planning to bust a move on the dance floor) and won’t look over the top with a slightly more formal outfit.
The trick is, how to keep your chignon looking “tousled” (chic and wedding-appropriate) rather than messy. Looking like you’ve just rolled out of bed isn’t an ideal look for a guest.
Attending a wedding is expensive — there are gifts, a new outfit, and if it’s a destination wedding, transport and accommodation to consider. An easy way to save is by doing your own hair and makeup. So, do you execute this tricky style by yourself?
Jessica Elbaum is a pro-stylist for HASK, an affordable, cruelty-and-harsh-ingredient-free haircare brand. HASK products have been used on set on several feature films and TV shows including The Marvelous Mrs Maisel and Bombshell, where Nicole Kidman, Margot Robbie and Charlize Theron wore Oscar-nominated, heavily styled wigs. Elbaum has led hairstyling teams on TV shows like Modern Family and Entourage, and she shared her top tips on nailing the tousled chignon, all by yourself.
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2014 Rhianna, showing us how it's done
Elbaum describes her job as on-set as, “keeping talent’s hair looking fresh and continuity the same all day.” These days can go for about 12 hours, similar to your friend’s poppin’ wedding.
“The best up dos start in the shower,” Elbaum tells POPSUGAR Australia. “I tell my clients to use a volumising or thickening shampoo and conditioner.” Elbaum’s favourites are HASK, Biotin Boost Thickening Shampoo ($16) and HASK, Biotin Boost Thickening Conditioner ($16).
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Taylor Swift, queen of princess hair, perfectly executes the tousled chignon
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Elbaum tells us to skip the heavy leave-in conditioner and go straight for a long-hold mousse. “This builds a great foundation for your blowdry,” she explains, particularly for those with straight hair — “if you have straight hair it’s important you use a base to lock in the curl.”
Her current favourite is HASK’s Curl Care Enhancing Mousse ($16) because it works for straight, and curly hair types.
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Olivia DeJonge giving big '60s energy with her chignon-meets beehive
For a lasting style, a thorough blow dry and curl is necessary. “I recommend sectioning hair,” she instructs, and “curl each piece section by section and lock it in with a flexible hairspray.” Then, once you’ve combed through the curls it’s time to style your updo.
Styling The Tousled Chignon:
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Gemma Chan's low-bun take on the chignon
For a “styled but tousled” look Ebum recommends Frenchies, Better Hair Pins, ($90). “They’re velveted coated hair pins that lock in an updo while keeping it loose and fun, plus they won’t snag and break your hair when you take them out.”
She recommends finishing with another blast of flexible hairspray, or, depending on the climate, an anti-humidity spray.
Tackling a Tousled Chignon With Hotel Hair Tools:
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Cardi-B, nailing the look
Left your Dyson or GHD at home and dealing with less-than-best hotel hair tools? Elbaum has some tips for working with the tools you have.
“Hotel hairdryers can be very weak in power,” she explains. “I recommend travelling with a micro-fibre hair towel and wrapping up your hair in one post-shower.”
The towel will soak up the maximum amount of moisture while managing frizz. Then, add your mousse and leave to air-dry while doing your makeup. This gives your hairdryer a head start.
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Emma Stone, the unsung Queen of the tousled chignon
Elbaum says that weak hair dryers “aren’t the best” for your hair. This is because you need to use them for longer to get the desired result, and they may only have one setting — scorching. “Be sure to use a heat protectant when using hotel hair dryers,” her favourite? “Hask’s Coconut 5-in-1 Leave-In-Spray” ($16).
If you have a flat iron, you can use this to smooth out flyaways and create some additional movement.
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Emma Stone, once more
Otherwise, leave your hair to dry in braids, for a subtle beach wave.
Follow these steps?
Now, you can enjoy forgetting about your hair and focus on your friend or family member’s special day — and collecting wedding-photographer snaps for the ‘gram that should last you the next 12 months.
