Volumised, tousled waves

Want that effortless goddess look? Read on for the how-to. Want to make a fashionable statement? The pros are loving graphic cornrows.

1If there’s one hairdo that says ‘relaxed’, it’s the styled-but-not-styled bedhead wave. Carlton Hair master stylist Carey Partridge sums it up: “It needs to look as if you’ve spent all day in the sea and just stepped off the sand. So don’t put too much work into it – keep it natural-looking.”

2Shampoo and condition with lightweight products, so your hair isn’t weighed down. It works best on fine- to medium-textured hair with a layered cut.

3Towel-dry your hair so it’s damp rather than dripping, then comb it with a wide-toothed comb to retain its natural movement. Apply two drops of hair serum or three squeezes of hair oil, working it in from root to tip.

4Divide your hair into four sections, and plait each individual section as you would normally, fastening each one in place with an elastic band. Allow hair to dry naturally, or speed up the process by blow-drying it.

5Once your hair is 90% dry, untie the plaits and brush your fingers through. To add more waves, curl a few extra strands with a wide-barrelled curling iron. Choose pieces of hair at random, and hold onto the barrel for eight seconds. Spritz with sea salt spray to enhance the texture.

1Doing your own cornrows can be challenging, says L’oréal hair expert Mimmi Biggar, but give it time and patience, and you can DIY with the best of them. The first thing to know: while professional stylists need only about 2cm of length to braid cornrows, you’ll need 4-5cm to make a good job of it. Does your hair measure up? Good! Then shampoo, condition and dry it thoroughly.

2Using the sharp end of a rat-tail comb, create a section in your hair for the first row. The larger the section, the larger the braid will be. Be careful of applying too much pressure to your hairline, and maintain even spaces between each row.

3 4 5Now divide the section you’ve created into three parts, starting at your hairline. Braid those three parts as you would normally, adding more hair to each of these from the rest of the section as you go.

Continue by adding more hair from the sides. If you’re struggling to get a hold of your strands, spritz on a little water every so often to make it easier to grip.

Once you’ve finished working the cornrows onto your scalp, braid all the way to the end or add extensions for length and secure with an elastic band.

The biggest mistake you can make when taking care of a weave or wig? Using too much aftercare products, says Sonny. Overuse of products can give your hair piece an oily appearance, make it stiff and unnaturallooking. On 100% human hair pieces, shampoo and condition once a week, and always apply a heat protector when heat styling. Sonny’s top tip: add a few drops of serum every second day to keep your locks looking glossy.

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