Party Hair How-To: The Modern French Roll

Oscar de la Renta A/W 2015/16. Photo: Getty Images

As seen at: Oscar de la Renta.

Best for: A black-tie dinner.

Synonymous with elegance, the classic up-do received an update at Oscar de la Renta. "It’s an old-school style, but keeping it textured and mussed up makes it modern," says Sam Overton, creative director at Unilever Haircare.

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Pro tip: “Invest in French pins – they’re bigger, yet less visible and will keep your style secure” – Sam Overton

How-to:

1. Prep damp hair with a mousse or sea-salt spray to give it texture.
2. Blow-dry your strands with a round brush to smooth the cuticle.
3. Brush hair over to one side and, in the centre of your head at the back, create a vertical line with bobby pins in a criss-cross pattern. "This will anchor the hair and hold the roll in place," says Overton.
4. Backcomb lengths around the pins leaving the outer area smooth. Then, roll the hair onto itself to create the roll shape (over the line of criss-crossed pins), before securing in place with French pins.
5. Rough up your ’do with your fingers and finish with shine spray.

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The kit:

1. CHARLES WORTHINGTON Volume & Bounce Body Booster Mousse, $15.99.
2. V05 Smoothly Does It Tame & Shine Spray, $6.99.
3. CLOUD NINE Tail Comb, $22.