Have you ever wondered how celebrities manage to look so stunning on the red carpet? Their glamorous gowns, flawless makeup, and dazzling accessories are certainly eye-catching, but what really completes their look is their hair. Whether it’s a sleek bun, a voluminous ponytail, or a cascade of curls, their hairstyles always seem to complement their outfits and personalities perfectly.
But you don’t have to be a star to rock a red-carpet-worthy hairstyle. With the right tools, products, and techniques, you can create your own stunning looks at home. In this article, we’ll share some of the best hair styling tips and tricks from professional salon stylists and celebrity hairstylists, as well as some examples of the most beautiful red carpet hairstyles to inspire you.
Tip #1: Know your hair type and choose products accordingly
The first step to achieving a great hairstyle is to understand your hair type and what it needs. Hair types can be classified into four categories: fine, thick, curly, and wavy. Each type has its own characteristics, challenges, and advantages.
Fine hair is thin and delicate, and tends to lack volume and body. It can get weighed down by heavy products and easily damaged by heat styling. To add some oomph to fine hair, use lightweight formulas like mists and sprays that won’t make your hair look greasy or flat. You can also use volumizing mousses, root lifters, and dry shampoos to create some lift and texture.
Thick hair is coarse and dense, and tends to be frizzy and unruly. It can be hard to manage and style, especially in humid weather. To tame thick hair, use rich oils and thick creams that will moisturize and smooth your strands. You can also use anti-frizz serums, leave-in conditioners, and heat protectants to prevent damage and flyaways.
Curly hair is springy and bouncy, and tends to be dry and prone to breakage. It can lose its shape and definition if not properly cared for. To enhance your curls, use activating sprays, curl creams, and gels that will define and hold your curls without making them crunchy or stiff. You can also use deep-conditioning treatments, detangling sprays, and wide-tooth combs to keep your curls healthy and knot-free.
Wavy hair is somewhere between straight and curly, and tends to be versatile and easy to style. It can look beachy and casual or polished and elegant depending on how you style it. To create different looks with wavy hair, use texturizing sprays, salt sprays, or curling irons to create more or less waves. You can also use shine-enhancing sprays, smoothing serums, or flat irons to make your waves sleeker or straighter.
Tip #2: Start with a good haircut that suits your face shape
A good haircut is the foundation of any hairstyle. It can make a huge difference in how your hair looks and behaves. A good haircut should suit your face shape, enhance your features, and work with your hair type.
There are six basic face shapes: oval, round, square, heart, diamond, and oblong. Each face shape has its own flattering hairstyles that balance out the proportions of the face.
Oval faces are considered the ideal face shape because they are symmetrical and harmonious. They can pull off almost any hairstyle, from short bobs to long layers. The only thing to avoid is covering up the forehead with bangs or heavy fringes that can make the face look shorter.
Round faces are circular and full, with soft features and no sharp angles. They can benefit from hairstyles that add some height and length to the face, such as long layers, side-swept bangs, or high ponytails. The only thing to avoid is hairstyles that are too short or too voluminous on the sides that can make the face look wider.
Square faces are angular and strong, with a prominent jawline and forehead. They can benefit from hairstyles that soften the edges of the face, such as waves, curls, or wispy bangs. The only thing to avoid is hairstyles that are too straight or too blunt that can accentuate the squareness of the face.
Heart faces are wider at the forehead and narrower at the chin, with high cheekbones and a pointed chin. They can benefit from hairstyles that add some volume and balance to the lower half of the face, such as chin-length bobs, side-parted bangs, or long layers. The only thing to avoid is hairstyles that are too short or too slicked back that can make the forehead look larger.
Diamond faces are narrow at the forehead and chin, with wide cheekbones and a sharp chin. They can benefit from hairstyles that add some width and softness to the forehead and chin, such as fringes, curtains bangs, or chin-length bobs. The only thing to avoid is hairstyles that are too long or too tight that can make the face look longer.
Oblong faces are longer than they are wide, with a high forehead and a long chin. They can benefit from hairstyles that add some width and volume to the sides of the face, such as waves, curls, or side-swept bangs. The only thing to avoid is hairstyles that are too long or too high that can make the face look longer.
Tip #3: Use the right tools and accessories for your desired look
The tools and accessories you use to style your hair can make a big difference in the outcome of your look. Depending on what you want to achieve, you may need different types of brushes, combs, clips, pins, elastics, curling irons, flat irons, blow dryers, and more.
Here are some of the most common tools and accessories and what they are used for:
Brushes: There are different types of brushes for different purposes. A paddle brush is good for detangling and smoothing long hair. A round brush is good for creating volume and curl while blow-drying. A vent brush is good for adding lift and airflow to the roots. A boar bristle brush is good for distributing natural oils and adding shine to the hair.
Combs: There are also different types of combs for different purposes. A wide-tooth comb is good for detangling wet or curly hair. A fine-tooth comb is good for creating precise parts and smoothing flyaways. A rat-tail comb is good for teasing and backcombing the hair. A pick comb is good for fluffing and separating curls.
Clips and pins: There are various clips and pins that can help you secure your hair in place. Bobby pins are good for holding small sections of hair or hiding the ends of braids or twists. Hairpins are good for holding larger sections of hair or creating loose buns or updos. Alligator clips are good for sectioning off your hair while styling or drying. Barrettes are good for adding some decoration or accent to your hairstyle.
Elastics: There are different kinds of elastics that can help you create ponytails, braids, or buns. Clear elastics are good for creating invisible holds or finishing off braids or twists. Fabric elastics are good for creating gentle holds or adding some color or texture to your hairstyle. Rubber bands are good for creating tight holds or securing small sections of hair.
Curling irons: There are different sizes and shapes of curling irons that can help you create different types of curls or waves. A small barrel curling iron is good for creating tight curls or spirals. A medium barrel curling iron is good for creating loose curls or waves. A large barrel curling iron is good for creating big curls or body waves. A tapered curling iron is good for creating natural-looking curls or beach waves.
Flat irons: There are different types and widths of flat irons that can help you straighten or smooth your hair. A ceramic flat iron is good for reducing frizz and adding shine to your hair. A titanium flat iron is good for heating up quickly and evenly and maintaining high temperatures. A tourmaline flat iron is good for enhancing shine and reducing static in your hair. A narrow flat iron is good for straightening short or fine hair. A wide flat iron is good for straightening long or thick hair.
Blow dryers: There are different types and features of blow dryers that can help you dry or style your hair. An ionic blow dryer is good for reducing frizz and drying your hair faster by breaking down water molecules. A ceramic blow dryer is good for distributing heat evenly and gently across your hair. A tourmaline blow dryer is good for enhancing shine and smoothing your hair cuticles. A diffuser attachment is good for drying curly or wavy hair without disturbing its natural shape. A concentrator nozzle attachment is good for directing airflow to specific sections of your hair while styling.
Tip #4: Learn some basic techniques and tricks to create different looks
Once you have the right tools, products, and haircut, you can start experimenting with different techniques and tricks to create different looks with your hair. Here are some of the most common techniques and tricks that can help you achieve various red-carpet-worthy hairstyles:
Blow-drying: Blow-drying your hair can help you create volume, smoothness, or shape depending on how you do it. To create volume, lift your roots with your fingers or a round brush while directing the airflow upwards from the roots to the ends. To create smoothness, pull your hair taut with a paddle brush while directing the airflow downwards from the roots to the ends. To create shape, wrap your hair around a round brush while directing the airflow towards the brush.
Curling: Curling your hair can help you create curls, waves, or texture depending on how you do it. To create curls, wrap small sections of your hair around a curling iron, hold for a few seconds, and release. To create waves, wrap larger sections of your hair around a curling iron, hold for a few seconds, and release. To create texture, wrap random sections of your hair around a curling iron, hold for a few seconds, and release. You can also use different sizes and shapes of curling irons to create different types of curls or waves.
Straightening: Straightening your hair can help you create sleekness, shine, or edginess depending on how you do it. To create sleekness, run a flat iron over small sections of your hair from the roots to the ends. To create shine, apply a heat protectant and a shine-enhancing spray before using a flat iron. To create edginess, use a flat iron to create bends or flips in your hair by twisting your wrist as you glide the iron down your hair.
Braiding: Braiding your hair can help you create interest, elegance, or romance depending on how you do it. To create interest, add some braids to your hairstyle as accents or details. You can try different types of braids such as French, Dutch, fishtail, or waterfall. To create elegance, use braids to create updos or crowns that look sophisticated and chic. You can try different types of updos such as chignons, buns, or knots. To create romance, use braids to create loose and messy styles that look soft and feminine. You can try different types of loose styles such as half-updos, ponytails, or side-swept.
Teasing: Teasing your hair can help you create volume, height, or drama depending on how you do it. To create volume, backcomb small sections of your hair near the roots with a rat-tail comb or a teasing brush. To create height, backcomb larger sections of your hair near the crown with a rat-tail comb or a teasing brush. To create drama, backcomb your entire hair with a rat-tail comb or a teasing brush and then smooth the top layer with a paddle brush.
Accessorizing: Accessorizing your hair can help you add some sparkle, color, or fun to your hairstyle depending on what you use. You can use different types of accessories such as headbands, clips, pins, barrettes, flowers, ribbons, or hats. You can also use different types of jewelry such as earrings, necklaces, bracelets, or rings to complement your hairstyle.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many ways to style your hair for a red-carpet-ready look. You just need to know your hair type and choose products accordingly, start with a good haircut that suits your face shape, use the right tools and accessories for your desired look, and learn some basic techniques and tricks to create different looks. With some practice and creativity, you can achieve stunning hairstyles that will make you feel like a star.