Hair stylist Neil Moodie, whose clients include Mario Testino, Scarlett Johannsen and Calvin Klein, explains how to style the perfect simple summer chignon.
Ideally created on texturised, day-old hair, the chignon is the perfect beach-to-bar summer style.
On the beach, style the chignon on saltwater dampened hair or to boost and add guts, apply Bumble and Bumble’s Surf Spray (£19, spacenk.co.uk) or Styling Crème (£19, spacenk.co.uk) from root to tip before styling.
1. Scrape hair back into a ponytail
Use your fingers rather than a brush, and secure roughly using a hair tie (try Blax Snag Free Elastics £2.6, hqhair.com).
Where you position the chignon is up to you, however a rule of thumb is that the lower on your head the softer the look, and the higher, the more severe and obvious. I would suggest somewhere mid-way.
2. Create a bun shape
Take the length of hair, wrap it from right to left around the secured base to create a bun shape.
3. Hold in place
Using the left hand, hold in place whilst securing the hair, with your free right hand, using U-pins or Kirby grips. Don’t worry about any stray hairs that fall out, as a summer look, this simply adds to the soft, un-done feel.
Tip: Bend one edge of a Kirby grip back on itself so that it becomes like a hook. Doing this will make the pin act like a grip, holding the chignon in place from inside.
4. Frame your face
Once in position, and secured, tilt your head in all directions to ensure it stays put. Using your fingertips, carefully loosen sections across the hairline, taking out fine pieces to softly frame your face.
5. Finishing touch
Mist with a gentle hairspray.
