Beautiful hair was everywhere at this year’s New York Fashion Week, and thanks to some of the industry’s top hairstylists, you can create these chic, straight-from-the-runway looks yourself at home. Read on for step-by-step instructions, and you’ll be looking runway-ready in no time!

A modern, youthful twist

Designer: Preen 
Hairstylist: Paul Hanlon, lead stylist for Aveda

To complement Preen’s modern yet feminine look, Hanlon says he “wanted the hair to impart the same lightness, innocence and purity.  We created a sleek silhouette to mirror the clean lines of the clothes.” The result? Hair that is “pure and neat; it almost has a forties feel,” he adds.

How to do it

1.     Prep hair by spritzing throughout with Aveda Volumizing Tonic, then blow dry with a round brush.  Work hair away from the face and neck to keep the hairline clean.  If hair is dry or damaged, begin by prepping with Aveda Brilliant Damage Control, and follow with Aveda Volumizing Tonic.

2.     Once dry, gently brush hair away from the face and let hair part naturally on the left side. Smooth hair with a fine-toothed comb and a light mist of Aveda Air Control Hair Spray.

3.     On the right side of the head at the top of the ear, begin to twist hair toward the back of the head, staying just on top of the parietal ridge.  Use a tail comb to neatly bring hair up into the roll, and secure the roll with “U” pins.  Avoid twisting too tightly at this point.

4.     Continue twisting toward the back of the head following the natural hairline.  Twist all the way to the nape, secure hairwith a clip.

5.     Repeat twist on the left side, starting slightly lower, one to two inches above the top of the ear, sloping downward at the back of the head to create a “U” shape when twists meet at the nape.

6.     Neatly brush hair upward from the hairline to create a seamless connection between the two twists.  This gives the appearance of a single, smooth, twisted roll that snugly wraps around the head.

7.     Use Aveda Air Control Hair Spray and the end of a tail comb to smooth all wisps and flyaways while replacing “U” pins with bobby pins, snugly tucked and hidden. 

8.     Finish with Aveda Brilliant Spray-On Shine.     

Long, loose, effortless waves

Designer: Christian Siriano
Hairstylist: Antoinette Beenders, lead stylist for Aveda

“The hair for Christian Siriano this season is playful and looks effortless,” says Beenders. “We’ve updated the loose, beachy waves of the ’90s with a more groomed look that’s smart, young and approachable. I was inspired by Christian’s muse for this collection: a charming, smart girl who radiates happiness. The hair is super wearable and reflects her flirty, yet clever nature.  It’s fun, fresh and modern—just like the collection.”

How to do it

1.     Dampen hair at the root with Aveda Volumizing Tonic and blow dry with a large round brush to create natural volume.  For added lift, use Aveda Control Force Firm Hold Hair Spray as a setting lotion while blow-drying by lightly misting the hair.

2.     Use a one-and-a-half-inch barrel curling iron to curl one-inch sections of hair away from the face until all hair is curled.  Rake with fingers to loosen. 

3.     Flip hair upside down and gently brush curls through.

4.     Flip hair back up. Create a deep side part and gently smooth out the top of hair using a comb, maintaining volume at the part.

5.     Spray Aveda Brilliant Spray-On Shine onto a kabuki makeup brush and stroke the brush over hair from roots to ends to give a healthy shine.  Keep style in place and protect against humidity with Aveda Control Force Firm Hold Hair Spray.

Textured and touseled

Designer: Band of Outsiders 
Hairstylist: Didier Malige, stylist for Aveda

Malige created two looks for the Band of Outsiders’ show (which was inspired by the dark 1975 Australian film “Picnic at Hanging Rock”), a romantic, “girly” look of textured waves, and a “boyish” look of a touseled chignon. “The hair for both looks at Band of Outsiders is textured, matte and has an easy look, almost undone,” says Malige. “It’s as if she’s done her hair herself, pulling it back into a loose chignon or letting it fall into natural waves.”

How to do it: The “girly” waves

1.  Divide dry hair into two sections with a straight middle part.

2.  Working with one section at a time, twist each section of hair away from the face while applying Aveda Brilliant Retexturizing Gel.

3.  Continue twisting hair and working in the gel until hair is nearly saturated.

4.  Holding the twisted section out with your fingertips, use a blowdryer to set hair. Continue blowdrying and twisting until hair is completely dry.

5.  Pin the twist to the side of the head, creating a large spiral. Leave for several minutes to set.

6.  Repeat on the other side of the head.

7.  Once the spirals have set, remove pins so that the twists fall onto each shoulder. Rake hair with your fingers to create waves.

8.  For added texture, scrunch Aveda Pure Hair Abundance Potion into waves.

9.  Finish with Aveda Air Control Hair Spray.

How to do it: The “boyish” chignon

1.     Mist Aveda Air Control Hair Spray throughout hair from roots to ends to texturize the hair and give pliable hold.

2.     Gently brush hair through using a brush.

3.     Using a wide-toothed comb, backcomb hair from mid-length to ends, leaving the roots untouched. This creates grip and hold on the hair, making it easier to pull back and secure.

4.     Twist hair back and create a loose chignon at the occipital bone. Pin into place.

5.     Gently backcomb the top layer of hair and the chignon in a feathering motion, creating additional wisps and a slightly “undone” look.

6.     Loosen a few wisps of hair around the face for a natural, slightly mussed feeling.

7.     Hold style in place with Aveda Air Control Hair Spray.

 A wearable, pretty chignon

Designer: Sophie Théallet
Hairstylist: Didier Malige, stylist for Aveda

For Sophie Théallet’s collection, inspired by the 1969 film “La Piscine” (meaning “The swimming pool”), Malige wanted hair that expressed “an understated refinement, an instinctual sensuality.”  Malige says that “the hair is that of a girl who has just gone swimming, as if she has offhandedly pulled her hair back in a chignon and just left it to dry.  It reflects a nonchalant sensuality, her natural and understated sophistication.”

How to do it

1.     Brush hair away from the face with fingers, while working Aveda Pure Abundance Potion throughout to texturize.

2.     Pull hair back with hands, gathering at the back of the head as if to pull into a ponytail.

3.     Twist hair and coil into a loose bun, fasten with bobby pins.

4.     Pat a generous amount of Aveda Men Pure-Formance Grooming Clay and Aveda Control Paste onto the head, massaging and scrunching to create a matte, wet-and-dried texture.

5.     Smooth sides very close to head and leave a little volume on top.

Here is some information about hair transplants.

 

Hilary Swank wore her hair in a romantic bun at the 2011 Academy Awards. (Media Credit/Granitz, WireImage)

We’ve got spring/summer 2011’s hottest hairstyles straight from the runways of New York Fashion Week. This year, Sonya Metzler, creative director at Vim Fitness Spa and Salon in Cambridge, Mass., joined Aveda’s styling team backstage. Metzler shares her top three hair trends with Blast and gives us tips on how to achieve them.

Buns and knots

With the success of “Black Swan,” it’s no surprise that buns and knots made the list. Besides these updos’ homage to Natalie Portman’s character Nina, these ballet-inspired hairdos are perfect for the warmer weather. “This look beats the heat and humidity, keeping you cool and looking elegant,” says Metzler.

Where she saw it: Christian Siriano, Sophie Theallet and Jason Wu

Where we’ve seen it: At the 2011 Academy Awards, Sandra Bullock and Hilary Swank both wore buns.

How to do it: Pull hair into a ponytail either high on the head or at the nape of your neck. Secure hair with an elastic and twist into a bun, fastening with bobby pins. Hold the look in place with Aveda Control Force Firm Hold Hair Spray.  “For a truly up-to-the-moment look, add texture and interest with twists, braids and micro-crimping,” adds Metzler.

Smooth curls, like these at ORGANIC by John Patrick, are sexy and flirty. (Media Credit/Jon Gurinsky)

Smooth and soft curls

There’s something naturally feminine about soft, loose curls, and this hairstyle is perfect to go along with flirty, flowy spring and summer dresses. “This is a style that moves beautifully and works well for both day and evening,” says Metzler.

Where she saw it: ORGANIC by John Patrick

Where we’ve seen it: Celine Dion and Amy Adams sported this look at this year’s Academy Awards.

How to do it: Prep damp hair with Aveda Smooth Infusion Style-Prep Smoother to prevent flyaways and with Aveda Phomollient Styling Foam for volume and texture.  Part hair wherever you wish and blow dry hair with a round brush for extra volume and shine. Use a one-inch curling iron to make waves, working in sections from bottom to top. Rake through with fingers or a wide-tooth comb and finish with a light mist of Aveda Air Control Hair Spray.

Natural texture

Natural texture, seen here at Rodarte, is playful. (Media Credit/Jon Gurinsky)

Rodarte’s “young and innocent coif” was a standout at this year’s Fashion Week. “It has a playful and organic feel,”  says Metzler. “The swooping side part is a little bit retro, and the barrette you choose infuses the style with your personality.”

Where she saw it: Rodarte

Where we’ve seen it:  Scarlett Johansson, Florence Welch and Michelle Williams chose natural-textured hair at the Academy Awards.

How to do it: Blow dry your hair straight, using your fingers instead of a brush to achieve more texture.  Create an imperfect part on the left side of your head.  Rub a nickel-sized dollop of Aveda’s Light Elements Texturizing Crème in your hands.  Tousle and scrunch your hair to create texture and body. Finish with Aveda  Air Control Hair Spray. To add more personality to the look, secure a thick barrette to the left side, just above your ear.

For even more hair how-tos, go to www.aveda.com/video.

With everyone from Anne Hathaway to Eva Longoria, it seems that hair buns are the latest look to be gracing the fashion runways for summer and fall. Celebrities and runway models are sporting their buns everywhere, and not necessarily the ones made of steel.

Our pal Nick Penna, Jr. of SalonCapri, told us this is a versatile look that can be dressed up or down. He told Blast the steps to realizing this hot-off-the styling chair look. Go ahead and get cooking.

Penna explained that the key to mastering this look is to create a well-defined part. “I’d suggest a side part to draw more attention to your face. A part in the middle of your hair can sometimes appear too harsh, depending on the shape of your face,” the “Best of Boston” stylist said. Use a lightweight styling pomade or texturizer to smooth the hair along your part and create a sleek finish.

To achieve a wavier look like Reese Witherspoon’s for example, skip on the styling pomade and wait until the look is complete to use a finishing spray. Penna suggests Shu Uemura’s Liquid Fabric Texturizing Spray as an easy-to-manage product.

Sweep your hair back into a low ponytail and secure it with an elastic that best matches your hair color. This should be a tight ponytail and it should be securely fastened at the base of your neck. With a firm grip, pull the end of the ponytail clockwise around the elastic, making sure to smooth the hair as it is being wrapped.

After the circular shape of the bun has been created, begin to pin the loose ends with bobby pins. Secure as necessary. “You want your bun to feel secure and cleanly wrapped without flyaways and extra strands of hair sticking out,” added Penna.

To finish the style, use a flexible finishing spray. Don’t be afraid to spray the bun, part and sides of your hair to ensure a sleek look. If you’re aiming for a messier approach, use your fingers to further add texture to your waves and then finish by spraying. If you add sexy smokey eyes you are ready to sport the do with sexy heals and a classy dress. ‚ With innocent light makeup and pink lips you can wear the colorful spring palettes seen in a lot of runways this season to take over the arm weather.

Fall is here and along with it wind, rain, snow and similar hair-ruining weather changes. However, stylists and designers have made it easy for you this season with “hobo-romantic” hairstyles. Blast spoke to lead stylist and Fashion Week usual Nick Penna, who owns SalonCapri, to get the list of things to do to get the look.

First off, be prepared for long tresses. Throughout the catwalks at this year’s NY Fashion Week, long dark hair was ever-present. Think rich brunette colors. Penna assures that this serves a purpose, “at the Fashion Week shows what I was seeing was the kind of boho chick look that will be really in this season. Hair is long, very romantic, very soft. Subtle details included little braids; headbands are making a big statement right now too and this whole look is useful and fun, free and flowy.”

However most of us are not blessed with naturally “flowy” hair and deal with the typical frizziness or lack of volume, to name a few.‚  For this the stylist suggests using headbands. They have become very popular accessories seen all over the place, from Gossip Girl to Madonna’s forehead.

Penna said that the headband is taking center stage even more though, “headbands are huge accessories right now and they are very easy to use because they take the hair back and really show off the headband.”‚  By pulling the hair back into a sleek low-bun, ponytail or braid the simple do can be glamed up by adding a headband with details and any untamed hair is hidden.

Other tips include using smoothing and cream based products that eliminate excess frizz and soften curly hair to look soft and romantic.‚  Curl enhancing products are better too if you have a natural wave to the hair and want to give it more definition. Air-drying is also better than blow drying or straightening. The straight from roots-to-ends hairstyle is no longer popular and looks severe, Penna said.

Try this tip from the pro, “create braids in the front, near the temple area. Take a small section of hair in the temple area and braid the entire section, pull it back and join into a ponytail so you can see the detail from the side,” Penna said. Just remember to keep it simple. “Don’t over exceed, two or three small braids scattered around are more than enough.”

For a more vivid guide, look at Blake Lively. Penna is a fan of her hair, saying that for this season’s trends she is the, “epitome of the style without a doubt.”