May flowers are on the rise — though, for the time being, April showers are ushering in a whole crop of bad hair days. But, here's a novel idea: What if there were a style that actually looked even better when it got wet? We asked celebrity hairstylist Anthony Cristiano, owner of the eponymous Chicago salon and artistic director of Phyto Global, to create a chic-yet-simple 'do that's perfect for the city's wettest month of the year.
And, the best part? His clever DIY requires no hot tools, only two products, and works on almost all textures and lengths. Check out the easy steps along Cristiano’s expert tips below to recreate this rainy day strand-saver at home.
Step 1: Wash and towel-dry your hair, then section off the top portion along your crown, starting just above the temple on either side. Tie this piece into a small topknot to keep it out of the way temporarily.
Step 2: Reach for some gel, which provides hold and is essential for creating the wet, sleek look you’re going for, Cristiano says. Depending on the texture of your hair, rub a dime- to quarter-sized dollop (fine tresses needs the least, curly the most) between your palms. Work the gel through two small sections of your hair, taken from right above the ear, before gathering these pieces into a taut ponytail.
Tip: If your strands are on the finer side, create another topknot here to add more height and volume to the end result. On the flip side, if your hair is too short to pull into a pony, just pin these parts in place with a few bobby pins.
Step 3: Undo your top bun, then apply some more gel to this front piece and begin combing it up and back — think a modern-day version of an Elvis-style pompadour, Cristiano says. Use a wide-tooth comb, which, combined with the gel, will result in the cool, grooved appearance. (A caveat for curly girls: While the gel/comb combo will relax your curls slightly, the end result won’t be quite as smooth as seen here. It will look more like a finger wave instead.) Once you’ve created the slicked-back shape, pin the ends behind your ear.
Step 4: Set your finished style in place with a quick hit of hairspray, and you’re good to go. If you do get caught in the rain, the water will reactivate the gel and only accentuate the wet, sleek look, Cristiano explains. And, if the bottom pieces start to frizz a bit, all the better to enhance the contrast between the super-smooth texture on top and the more messy, undone feeling of the bottom, he adds.
So, pop on your Wellies, leave the umbrella at home, and have a great hair day!
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