Top tips and products for tangle-free party season hair

Big plans for your party hairdo but short on time? Lisa Haynes reveals how to transform your hair in minutes.

Don’t panic if your hair’s fallen flat at 5pm and your Christmas party kicks off at seven sharp. Whether you want a glam updo or tousled waves, it’s perfectly possible to transform your locks in minutes — no salon appointment required.

“Just keep it simple and classic and you can’t go wrong with a quick but glam party hairstyle,” says Efi Davies, Toni&Guy international artistic director.

Arm yourself with a brush and stopwatch, and follow these steps for party-ready hair in a flash...

Toni&Guy Flower Girl headband, €17.80 (toniandguy.com)

DAZZLE ADDITION

Even the drabbest ponytail can be taken into disco ball territory with a statement accessory — just add jumbo hairslides or a blingy headband.

“Accessories are a must to take updos and ponies from everyday to major glamour upgrade,” Efi says. “If you’re wearing your accessory with a low pony, try backcombing the ponytail to create width and change the texture from day to night.”

You can also give hair extra oomph in seconds with a hair powder, lightly sprinkled into roots. The grittiness will give your statement accessories added hold, too.

Hair Kit

Fudge Urban Powder Styler, €9.99 (www.boots.ie)

Topshop Mega Embellished Hair Slides, €20 (topshop.com)

SWIFT WAVES

Cheat the look of a Brigitte Bardot-esque blow-dry by arming yourself with volumising potions and a waving wand. “Prep the day before is key, so you’re working with day-old hair for hold,” Efi advises.

“Wash your hair the night before and apply a volumising mousse, so it embodies that ‘ready to dry’ style before you’ve even started with your wand or tong.”

Pushed for time on party day? Just take larger sections of hair and wave randomly. The end wave result will be loose and tousled, rather than corkscrew and uniform.

Hair Kit

Cloud Nine Waving Wand, €144 (littlewoods ireland.ie)

label.m Volume Styling Kit, currently reduced to €33.40 from €45.85 (labelm.com, plus p&p)

Elnett Volume Excess, €9.99 (www.boots.ie)

EFFORTLESS UPDO

If your hair’s been down all day, switch up the mood instantly by changing to an updo for after-dark. Even shorter length hair can go wild with the grips.

“A low updo, like a wispy hair bun, can be done in a matter of minutes,” Efi suggests.

“Add extra drama and softness by exaggerating wisps of hair escaping on either side, which will give your hair a romantic vibe.”

If you’re usually first on the dance floor, keep extra grips stashed in your clutch bag to salvage any hair emergencies during the night.

Hair Kit

Boots Hair Grips Blonde, 30 pack, €1.49 (www.boots.ie)

Dafni Go portable hairstyling brush, €120, approximately (www.torikeane.com)

Aveda ‘Brilliant’ spray-on hair mist. €25 (www.debenhams.ie)

SPEEDY STYLING TRICKS

Make your hair transformation easier with these pro cheats from Toni&Guy’s Efi Davies.

• Always aim to wash your hair the night before. This saves heaps of time and your hair will be way easier to manage.
• Pick a party-proof ‘do. If you’re going for ‘up’ hair, a tight and sleek style is more likely to stay in place.
• If you don’t like updos, go for loose waves or a textured ponytail — these always look better when they’re messy.
• Using bobby pins? Mist them first with hairspray and you’ll get a more secure grip on your hair to help keep it in place. Criss-crossing them to form an ‘X’ will also give you stronger hold.
• Set your style with hairspray but keep the mist an arm’s length away so it’s evenly distributed.