10 time-saving tips for party hair

All About You online 27.11.2008

Time-saving tips and expert advice on glamorous party hair without any effort

Hairdresser putting diamante and bead accessories into hair Great hair is about a good cut and glossy colour, but it's also about clever styling ideas and haircare know-how – especially when it comes to glamorous evening events. Here, we share our top tips from hair experts (with the emphasis on speed and ease) that are guaranteed to have you party perfect.

Fake it
'If you're having a bad hair day or don't have time to go to the hairdresser before a big occasion, simply tie or clip your own hair back, pop on a hairpiece and you're ready to go,' says hairdresser Denise McAdam, co-creator of the McAdam haircare range for Tesco.

Play with your parting
Regardless of the length or style of your hair, moving your parting, permanently or just for one night, can give you a whole new look. A side parting gives width to the top part of the head, which softens a pointed face or a heavy jaw. Centre partings work for most face shapes, apart from very long.

Trade secret
If you have only 10 minutes to get ready but your hair is looking greasy, try this tip. Tie your hair back, but leave a triangular section at the front of the hair. Wash the section as quickly as you can, blowdry as normal, then blend with the rest of the hair.

Wake up to perfect hair
Sleeping on a silk pillowcase makes your fresh-from-the-salon hair last longer (not to mention it's said to be anti-ageing too). Try Silkskin pillowcases, £35, from www.silkskin.co.uk or call 0121 308 2400.

Making waves
Transform curly or wavy hair with a styling cream, says award-winning hairdresser Lisa Shepherd. It will turn dull, frizzy hair into glamorous party hair with curl definition and shine. She recommends OSiS Loopy Curl Crème from Schwarzkopf Professional.

Quick change
Use large-barrelled curling tongs to create loose, sexy waves as an alternative for straight hair, suggests Lisa Shepherd. Just take your hair in sections and wind your hair upwards around the tongs, holding for a few seconds and releasing.

Add volume
When you want volume, rollers are hard to beat. Wind heated rollers into dry hair or use hairspray with Velcro rollers and apply some heat from your hairdryer. After taking the rollers out, just use your fingers to rake through your hair.

Solutions for thin hair
If your hair is thin, invest in styling products designed to bulk it up, making hair look thicker, but without stiffness or stickiness. We recommend Paul Mitchell Thicken Up styling liquid www.paulmitchell.com, Aveda Pure Abundance Hair Potion, www.aveda.co.uk and Kerastase Mousse Nutri-Sculpt www.kerastase.co.uk. You may also benefit from using a shampoo and conditioner for fine hair. Try McAdam Volume Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner from Tesco.

Style and go
If you haven't enough time to wash your hair before going out or if your hair is simply looking lacklustre, try the new Remington Shine Therapy Straightener, £69.99, www.remington.co.uk. Its ceramic plates have been infused with a blend of Vitamin E and conditioning agents to polish your hair as well as style it, leaving hair silky smooth.

Try a chignon
Comb a styling spray, such as Charles Worthington Salon Shine Results Root lift spray through your hair and pull it into a ponytail at the nape of the neck. Twist your hair around an elastic making a figure-of-eight shape to create a neat bun, and fasten it with grips. For a softer look, pull some strands of hair forward.

Learn to speed-dry
'Most women could save themselves time drying their hair before a big event if they only had the right technique,' says Denise McAdam. 'The trick is to section your hair with clips and dry one section at a time, rather than trying to blow-dry the whole lot at once.' Use a round brush for a little root lift and soft, sexy volume.

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