Looking for a no-fuss hairstyle which feels flattering and modern, while still saving you time? Aren't we all. Well, it looks like Renée Zellweger might just have found the perfect solution, with an 'anti-ageing' ponytail which will let you skip a wash day. The Bridget Jones star looked fresh as she stepped out on the red carpet for an Emmy Awards luncheon with a textured ponytail, featuring plenty of volume at the root.
"A ponytail that holds your hair back more loosely is great as it's a lot softer than scraping all your hair back off your face," says celebrity hairdresser and trend-spotter Tom Smith. "Pulling your hair back into a tight ponytail every day can cause traction alopecia, especially if you always pull it back in the same place, so I would definitely recommend you tie your hair up less tightly, to avoid damaging pressure."
So, not only does the ponytail look good now, but it should help keep your hair looking fuller than tighter styles in the future. Renée's modern pony also felt particularly youthful thanks to the short, lighter strands which she's freed up at the front of the look, which frame her face.
This is a colouring technique dubbed ‘hair blusher’ by Charley Henery, British Colour Technician of the Year and International Artistic Director at Toni&Guy. Charley explains that just adding a few lighter cheek-skimming pieces gives "a beautiful soft sun-kissed effect to create depth and brightness, without harsh contrast."
Adding body at the root in a looser style - as Renée has done - can also make hair appear thicker and (while this can be achieved with specialised texturising and volume sprays) dry shampoo can also get the job done. This means it's ideal for those in-between wash days when you just don't have time for a full blow-dry or style.
During testing by our very own Good Housekeeping Institute, the Monday Haircare Original Dry Shampoo was awarded the best dry shampoo for volume, and is described as the "perfect pick-me-up if you want to give [your hair] some extra bounce."
Another option is best overall dry shampoo is the Living Proof Perfect Hair Day (PhD), which testers found "very effective at removing grease and sebum, while leaving hair with a touch of texture and a long-lasting scent." Both should work great for recreating
Renée's look at home.
