Top 10 Celebrity Red Carpet Hairstyles by: Leyla (Guest Post)

OK, so it’s all over for another year. Red carpet season pretty much wrapped up on Sunday with the golden finale of the Academy Awards. And wasn’t it a fabulous night fashion-wise? Angelina in deep black, velvet Versace; Gwyneth in crisp white Tom Ford; Penelope in blue Armani Privé; Jessica Chastain in show-stopping McQueen; Rooney Mara in Givenchy and Rose Byrne in Vivienne Westwood, there were some real movie-star dresses worthy of a Hollywood starlet.

But what about the hair? This year, there were some amazing hairstyles on show; from Viola Davis’s ambitious au-naturel style that bursts with confidence, to constant hair hero Michelle Williams’s gorgeous pixie cut that channels Sixties icons Mia Farrow and Twiggy.

If like me, you were searching for a fresh look this year, then next time you relax into the salon backwash, allow thoughts of these hair heroes past and present to fill your mind and inspire your look, whether your taste is structured or more soft and flowing.

Evan Rachel Wood

With the imminent release of Baz Luhrmann’s take on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan and Tobey Maguire, there has been a strong influence of the ‘roaring Twenties’. Evan must be no doubt aware of this, as she has been slick Marcel waves in a style that's ultra chic in its simplicity.

Scarlett Johansson

Another red-carpet celebrity who favours the movie-star glamour of yesteryear is Scarlett Johansson, with a more elaborately structured, upswept Forties style complete with barrel rolls for a look that's pure Hollywood romance mixed with GI sweetheart.

Rita Hayworth

Rita Hayworth was an old Hollywood icon who famously said “Every man I knew went to bed with Gilda... and woke up with me.” Although extremely self-deprecating, no one can dispute the influence that Rita has had on today’s sensual and sexy starlets; many wear their hair long in soft and seductive waves just like the legend who at one time was married to the bad boy of his day, Orson Welles.

Dita von Teese

For the more salon-perfect style of the fifties era, set curls show off the vintage glamour and beauty of Dita von Teese. A burlesque beauty, Dita was one of the first 21^st century pioneers of vintage, showgirl glamour.

Charlize Theron

One of my favourite hairstyles belonging to this South African seductress was her gentle waves and fifties-style headband at the Golden Globes. Wearing her hair almost loose but held in place with bobby pins for light control, the effect is 'girl-next-door' prettiness with a hint of sophistication; an almost messy but ever-so-cute heiress to the Grace Kelly legacy.

Gwen Stefani

Always cool and a complete maverick, Gwen Stefani is one of my hair heroes. With her ultra-blonde hue, she takes the look one step further, pinning her upswept hair in a cheeky curled quiff to one side of her forehead, in a look that's both retro and modern glamour.

Sophia Loren

One of the most striking celebrities of the Fifties and beyond was Sophia Loren, whose influence continues to be seen in the retro look of today in both soft, wavy, long styles and short, side-swept styles. Before there ever were Salma and Penelope, Sophia was the original Mediterranean goddess.

Adele

Nothing speaks more evocatively of the 1960s than the iconic bouffant beehive, with its dramatic uplift and extravagant backcombing. At London Fashion Week, Moschino was one of the labels that showcased sixties influenced hair, so it’s becoming really zeitgeist. The girl-of-the-moment Adele, for instance, chooses a classic, loose bouffant style with the height of big hair softened by ringlet curls falling below her shoulders. On the Grammys 2012 red carpet, she unveiled a shorter blonde sixties-esque bob which I think encapsulates the crowning of her fantastic year.

Jessica Chastain

Reflecting the same era, Jessica Chastain at the Golden Globes chose a softer, more natural, bouffant style, swept back from her face for lift then falling softly to her shoulders in romantic, cascading waves. Coupled with her show-stopping turn in McQueen at the Oscars, she is slowly turning into an icon for the future generation.

Ava Gardner

The former Mrs. Frank Sinatra wore a similar, sultry style in many of her movies, combining the movement of natural-looking curls with the holding power of the bouffant styling to give lift and volume to her hair while still allowing for natural movement. The overall effect is gloriously feminine and well groomed. For a woman who famously said at the end of her life: “My face, shall we say, looks lived in.”, Ava’s style always personified her wild-child persona.

Many of the retro hairstyles worn today by red-carpet celebrities are not difficult for a confident stylist to achieve, but give a stunning effect that exudes glamour and sophistication. If you love the romance of the vintage look, retro-styling your tresses like the A-list celebs is the way to go. Discussions between stylists and clients who are choosing a new look often start at the salon backwash. Hairstyles can be difficult to describe, so it often helps to define the kind of style sought if the era and overall effect of the desired look are brought to mind. Recalling celebrity or bygone movie-star styles can get the client and the hairdresser on the same page, avoiding disappointment.

With gossip at the salon backwash turning frequently to red-carpet fashion leaders, your stylist will know exactly what you mean if you want the 'Adele' style.

This guest post was written by Leyla, a British blogger who enjoys writing on fashion, hair and beauty topics. She is currently writing for Salons Direct.

I hope you enjoyed this post.

Thanks for reading and thank you again Leyla,

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If you are interested in being a guest blogger on D.G.S.Beauty, all you need to do is email me at [email protected]