Hollywood’s hottest leading ladies scored major beauty points on the red carpet this season with their long, loose, ethereal waves. Inspired by former silver-screen legends such as Veronica Lake, the wavy trend was seen on some of the industry’s biggest names including Aussie beauty Naomi Watts, whose subtly sexy tresses lit up the award-show scene.
Celebrity hairstylist Giannandrea, who created Watts’ golden waves, was inspired by two images. “When I think of ethereal waves, the images that pop into my mind are those of Veronica Lake and painted angels from the Renaissance period,” he says. “I associate both with an angelic, glamorous effect, which is what I always like to create—the perfect mix of exquisite, flirty and airy. I think this style is one of the prettiest looks ever created in hairstyling history.”
We asked Giannandrea to reveal his expert tips for how to pull off this must-have look.
What is the best face shape to pull off this style?
Face shape isn’t too much of a problem, but proportions play a big role here. The best way to go about it is to balance the proportions between the side with the deep part that goes behind the ear and the forward-wave side, which we call the ‘peek-a-boo side.’ If your face is wide, it’s best not to put the hair behind the ear, but to keep it close to the jaw line, which will narrow the face on both sides. If you have a long, slim face, add more overall volume and keep the forward-wave side closer to your ear to expose more of your face.
What is the best hair length and color to wear this style?
Shoulder-length to very long hair is ideal, but even a small bob can be very glamorous. As for color, this style was created in the 1940s, so just about any woman from platinum to raven black and every color in between can absolutely work it with marvelous synergy.
What tips can you share for successfully achieving this look?
It is important to take your time with this style so that each section is perfectly equal. Each wave has to look like the one before it. To create waves, not curls, slightly twist the hair while wrapping it around a 1-inch curling iron, and remember to spray each section with a setting mist beforehand.
Watch this video to learn how to get Naomi’s retro waves.
