Glamorous Updos Hair Ideas

At Bottega Veneta, the look was chic and polished with the emphasis on big hair. According to top hair stylist Paul Edmonds ‘many of the designers this season have taken their lead from the hit TV series Mad Men. Bouffant hair brings glamour back to the beehive while keeping the look new with the lower side parting and keeping it a little tousled.’

Edmonds recommends sprinkling L'Oreal Professional Super Dust Powder (£10.50) on hair roots to start with to make back combing easy. ‘After a light dust of the powder, lightly back brush the hair against the direction that the hair will be placed in when put up. Brush one side back and secure with grips in the middle of the back of your head starting in the nape and finishing just below the crown. Sweep the other side and top back, and twist and secure over the row of grips already there with a second set of grips.’

Edmonds’ tip for finishing the look is using a tale comb to lift and push the hair into shape. A light spray of Shu Uemura's Sheer Lacquer (£16.75) will add gloss and hold.

Kate Beckinsale wears the Glamorous Updo style so well. Teamed here with a beaded evening gown, her look is sophisticated chic and perfect for the red carpet. It’s also a great way to show off a pair of beautiful earrings.

Marc Trinder, creative manager at Charles Worthington salons says ‘it's all about height and the bigger the better. Use Front Row High Definition Crackle Wax (£6.29) and then backcomb roots which have been root crimped to give double the volume and ensure beehive style looks and updos stay up all night.’

Charles Worthington run Masterclasses in its central London salon to help teach you how to perfect the look at home.

An oversized chignon, as seen here at Donna Karan, is a great evening style and one that was much loved by Sarah Jessica Parker in Sex and the City. Perfect for a wedding too, get the style right and it’ll stay in place all night.

‘The catwalk’s move towards more polished, glamorous updos this season is such a breath of fresh air’ says Thomas McMillan co-owner and director at Cox McMillan who recommends taking inspiration from Donna Karan’s chic bun. ‘The key to any of these style looks is in the preparation; you'll need a smooth blowdry, which is best achieved using a large paddle or bristle brush, for the perfect base.’

Post blowdry, McMillan advises using a protective spray such as Clynol's Flatter Thermal Protect Spray (£8.25). ‘Then smooth hair back into a high ponytail to the crown area, ensuring all loose hairs are secured in place. Roll the hair from the ends of your ponytail into a tight bun and secure with kirby grips. To ensure the look is polished and has real staying power, spray liberally with a strong hold hairspray.’

Sienna Miller shows off the oversized chignon style and has opted for a loaded lashes make-up look to nod to Sixties.

‘Every stylist’s secret is preparation’ says Josh Rees Hole, senior stylist at Urban Retreat’s flagship location at Harrods. ‘You need to inject a little texture into your tresses before you can expect them to work with you and stay in place. Day-old hair will hold a curve or bend better than freshly washed hair, and a few hours set in hot rollers, or at the very least some volumising product worked through, will make it more pliable. Kerastase’s Resistance Mousse Volumactive (£15.25) will do the job.’

At Dolce and Gabanna the look was more relaxed and low key. The designers were keen to draw attention to their statement earrings, a recurring theme throughout the show, and sophisticated updos were the perfect way to make them the focal accessory.

Celebrity hair stylist Sarah Louise Okin, style director at Daniel Hersheson, is a fan of the more laid back look. She comments ‘a top tip for wearing you hair up is don't try too hard. The best updos look cool and relaxed. This doesn't mean flat and straight, I love back combing and plaits, twists and knots but keep them all relaxed. Get some back combing in the crown and play around.’

Freda Pinto effortlessly incorporates a feminine touch to her updo by adding braid detail to her look. This adds texture to the style and keeps the look modern.
Trinder terms this the Halo Braid and has created this look previously on the Erdem catwalk.

If hair is naturally frizzy, he recommends spritzing with a little Front Row Volume Blow Dry Spray (£6.29) before styling.

‘For silkier hair, use Front Row Rough and Tousled Salt Spray (£6.29) at the roots and comb through to the ends, this will help hold the plait. Divide your hair into two sections from ear to ear, crossing through the crown then secure both sections into two ponytails - the top ponytail at your left temple and the bottom to the right behind the ear.'

'Plait each in a loose chunky traditional way and then use a small clear elastic snag band to secure each one. Wrap them around the circumference flat to the head, so they appear as one and secure with hair grips. Lastly, pull sections of the French plait gently out so it looks slightly dishevelled.’

The undone loose updo look is deceiving. While it looks much less put together than some of the other styles, there is still plenty of prep needed.

Van Clarke’s step by step instructions include firstly blowdrying your hair using a medium/large round brush. ‘Set your parting, making sure this is really clean. Take each side and divide into 2 or 3 sections depending on the thickness of your hair. Using a large barrel tong, curl these and then roll up. Some backcombing at the roots may help. You can use your fingers as a guide to roll the hair around or use the mousse/spray bottle, once the section is rolled up, loosen to get the size of roll you require and pin into place. Spray with 3 More Inches Holding Spray (£12.50) to keep your look in place.’

Heidi Klum has perfected her red carpet look and never puts a food wrong. Here her look focuses on the embellished gown and couture diamond earrings. Her hair is worn up to ensure all eyes are on her dress and is sleek with a subtle side parting and a loose low updo.

If you’re keen to try out this kind of look for the evening but are going straight from office to out, prep your hair in the morning. Van Clarke suggests ‘an egg size shot of 3 More Inches Volumising Mousse (£12.50) to give body and comb through. Blowdry paying special attention to your hairline. Pull your hair back into a loose low knot and secure with pins for finishing later.’

For other tried and tested advice check out our Hair Ideas galleries.