Celebrities such as Jennifer Lawrence, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Swift and Lea Michele have been spotted on the red carpet recently with elaborate chignons.
Add to that the elaborate hairstyles of the characters in the fantasy TV serial Game Of Thrones and the countless DIY hair updo tutorials available online, and it seems to us that the braided, twisted updo trend is here to stay.
LOOK 1 BRAIDED UPDO
Created by Mr Maurice Chee of Prep at 03-34 Mandarin Gallery (tel: 6732-6123). Do it yourself or get Mr Chee to to do it for you for $80.
STEP 1: Side part hair, section it from the fringe to about a third of the crown and create a braid along your hair line down one side of the face.
STEP 2: Tease hair with a tail comb at crown for volume and smooth over the top layer of hair.
Gather a handful of hair from just behind the ear on the other side, plait it across the back of the head and fix it to the first braid with bobby pins. This will form the base of the updo.
STEP 3: Pick up another handful of hair from the other side of the head and do a seven-plait braid across the back of head if you have someone to help you.
If not, cheat by creating two regular braids, then pin them together side-by-side. Affix them to the first two braids with pins. Plait the remaining hair into simple braids.
STEP 4: Pin the last few braids onto the base of the updo. Back comb the ends of the braids so that it is easier to tuck it under the knot. Secure it with bobby pins.
Finish with hairspray and secure with more pins where necessary.
You can accessorise the look with a bejewelled clip or comb (Krystal bejewelled comb in main picture, $389, available at Passion by David Gan and Glamour Inc).
LOOK 2 TEXTURED CHIGNON
Created by Ms Jacqueline Tan of Blow+Bar at 7 Rodyk Street, 01-32 The Watermark, Robertson Quay (tel: 6238-7338). Do it yourself or get Ms Tan to do it for you for $85.
STEP 1: First, use a hot curling tong on your hair to give it some texture.
Side part your hair and section it from the fringe to about a third of the crown.
Divide the sectioned hair into two and loosely twist them along the hair line. Secure with pins so it covers half of the ear.
STEP 2: Divide the rest of the hair into an upper and lower half. Secure the top half with a clip and leave it aside.
Tie the lower half into a ponytail on the side of the twist and secure with a rubber band.
Loop the ponytail into a loose knot and secure with pins. This knot will be the base of the updo. Tuck the tail end of the first twist braid underneath the knot.
STEP 3: Release the hair that has been clipped aside.
Use a hot tong on that section again for more texture.Then loosely drape and twirl the curls across the knot.
Loosely pin them onto the base knot for a soft textured chignon. Repeat until all the loose curls have been secured.
Finish with hairspray and secure with more pins where necessary.
Dress it up with an accessory if you wish (Swarovski Volupt Brooch in main picture, $190, from Swarovski boutiques).
Photographer KUA CHEE SIONG; Stylist GLADYS CHUNG; Make-up HIRO CHAN for Bobbi Brown using the new Navy & Nude Eye Palette; Model MALI S from Upfront Models
This article was first run in The Straits Times newspaper on September 6, 2013. For similar stories, go to sph.straitstimes.com/premium/singapore. You will not be able to access the Premium section of The Straits Times website unless you are already a subscriber.