For special occasions such as proms, weddings and award ceremonies, women with long hair have taken to styling it in “updos.” The possibilites are limited only by a woman’s — or her stylist’s — skill and creativity. Charlie Price, editorial director for Antoine Du Chez, says such red-carpet regulars as Jennifer Lopez can get away with the perfectly coiffed chignon, but women tend to be flattered by more relaxed variations on this enduring style. “Fashion has been so much about long hair that we’ve gotten bored with wearing it long and curled,” he says. “There are endless ways to create updos.” Here are Price’s five tips on styling updos:
1. You don’t want the end result to look perfect. Brush the hair back cleanly, create the bun, and then run your fingers through it to “give a halo of flyaways.” You can also use just your fingers to pull the hair back, wrap it into a chignon and secure with pins.
2. Add texture. Do something unexpected, like crimping it with an iron.
3. Use a geometric part, such as a zigzag, rather than a straight part.
4. Add ornamentation. Slip on a hairband, pin an exotic piece like you’d find at an Asian market, or add decorative gold clips.
5. Use styling products beyond aerosol spray, such as pomade to give it a gritty edge, or create a powdery matte look with dry shampoo.
Charlie Price, editorial director for Antoine Du Chez salons, is an award-winning hairstylist who has twice won North American Hairstylist of the Year honors, and he won the NAHA people’s choice award in 2011, the first year it was offered. He has worked with top hairstylists and fashion designers on runway collections and editorial shoots in the United States and Europe. More at
Have a fashion or beauty issue you’d like us to tackle? Contact Suzanne S. Brown: 303-954-1697 or sbrown@denverpost.com.
