Creating a holiday hairstyle that looks like you've gone somewhere to have it done can actually be achieved very easily and very cheaply – here are my tips on how-to.

The 5 tools needed, (get ready – this entire list will cost you about $15 and can be found at any drug store):
1. bobby pins (black or blonde, based on your hair color)
2. hairspray (my favorite as well as the favorite of many hair stylists I work with is TRESemmé, Tres Two, Extra Hold)
3. styling wax or pomade (I am currently using a Pantene, Texturize! Sculpting Wax, but I have used several kinds and they all work)
4. rubber bands (I use a black band, based on your hair color white or brown may be a better choice)
5. a comb or pick

To get started I recommend planning on using next-day hair, or end-of-day-hair. Freshly washed or styled hair is often too clean or slippery to best achieve these looks. I encourage you to create these dos with hair that is a little "dirty" as it will have more texture to it; you'll get much better volume and control.



For a sexy high ponytail look you can choose to sweep all of your hair back for a very sleek and modern look (like Rose Byrne), or for something a little softer, leave a chunk of bangs loose in the front, (like Jen and Eva M.). Either way start this process with as voluminous hair if possible, if needed do a little back combing and add a little hairspray to give texture, especially at the crown.

First, put a little pomade in your hand (about the size of a dime) and work it evenly between both of your hands so that it's soft and warm.  Sweep the pomade lightly and briskly through all the hair that will be pulled back into the pony, including the back of your hair at the neckline, (don't touch the bangs if you plan to leave them loose in the front). Pull your hair together as tightly as possible at the highest point of your crown and secure it with a rubber band, again looping the band as many times necessary to achieve a really tight hold.

Next, take a look at how the hair within the pony is falling, most likely it will need to be smoothed and possibly back-combed to achieve more volume at the crown, then lightly set that shape with hairspray. If there is not enough natural wave happening you may also want to use a large barrel curling iron to add a little more volume. To do this separate the pony into 3 sections and create a few large curls, then shake out the curls to work them into one wavy curl throughout your pony, then again set the shape with hairspray.

Lastly the final touches to create a finished look are to take a small chunk of hair underneath your pony and wrap it around the rubber band twice, then secure it with a bobby just under the binder as well as with a light spritz of hairspray. The other thing I like to do if I've got a sleek entirely pulled back look like Rose's, is to add some ridges on the top and sides of my head to make it look like I have more texture in my hair than I really do, (Jen's photo is a good example of this). To do this I lightly apply hairspray on the sides and top of my hair and then immediately run my fingers through those areas in about ½ inch sections giving the taught hair little ridges that create the illusion of thickness and texture.

And if you've left the bangs loose at the front, at this point I recommend doing a little back combing to give them more volume, and then either do a front part and have them loosely hang on either side with a little curl (like Jen has done); or do a side sweep of the bang like Eva Mendes, sculpting them to the shape you want with your hand, and then lightly fixing with hairspray. Another little tip, if these side-swept bangs are long enough lightly sweep the end of the bangs behind your ear after applying the hairspray. By doing this you create a sophisticated look as well as you will get a nice natural curve at the end of the bangs that sets after about 10 minutes, so you may choose un-tuck the hair to let it hang loose and pretty at that point.



To create a second look party look with a loose and fun low chignon like Eva Longoria's, follow all of the same steps above for the look of the hair on the top and sides of your face. Again it's your choice on sleek and tight, or loose and romantic like Eva's, both are appropriate for this hairstyle as well.  The ponytail is obviously now gathered at the nape of your neck to create the low chignon. I like the style of chignon that Eva L. is wearing here because it's the easiest for a "non-professional" to do. To achieve this look first backcomb the pony to get as much texture and volume as possible. Then separate the pony into several sections, I recommend more sections than less as it's easier to achieve a full-not-to-done and fuller look with a little more twisting and back-pinning of the hair. With every section (I recommend 3-4), first back-comb, then twist it into a little imperfect circle, back-pinning with bobbys near the end of the twist, (leaving a couple inches at the very end to flow freely), and also to secure the center of the twist. Continue to do this with all of the sections, placing them alongside and slightly on top of each other to eventually create the illusion of a single, playful, design at the back of your neck.  A rule of thumb is to try not to over-think or over-work this process. The more random-looking the better, the shape will end up more interesting and look even more professionally done. To finish, one final look at how it all came together with a hand mirror will allow you to add any additional bobby pins to secure the shape, and then just a light application of hairspray to fix, and you're good to go!

Jennifer Bakken is a San Francisco based wardrobe consultant.
For more information: cabinetdenvie.com.

Photos Enclosed and Credits:
High Classic Pony: Rose Byrne, InStyle.com
Looser Pony with Bangs: Jennifer Aniston, InStyle.com, Eva Mendes, InStyle.com
Low Chignon: Eva Longoria, InStyle.com