Summer always brings a fresh new mood in beauty, and Katie Holmes is diving straight into one of our favourite new hair looks. The actress has just debuted a cascade of tumbling mermaid waves, falling halfway down her back and tousled into a perfectly imperfect beachy texture.
Katie showed off the transformation in her latest Instagram post before heading out to celebrate the new season of Poker Face. As well as wearing her toffee-toned hair in loose, softly-dishevelled waves, Katie has added in caramel pieces for an extra sunkissed touch.
The mermaid makeover is the perfect update for summer, and marks a departure from Katie’s signature smoother styles, from neat chignons to straighter blowdries.
Her cream and blue floral trouser suit added to the new season feel but it was the flowing mermaid waves that drew the most attention from style watchers. As one admirer commented: ‘Your hair! Have you had it this long before? It looks so good!’
The hair is the work of celebrity stylist DJ Quintero, and while he’s not yet shared any intel on how he created Katie’s makeover, we’ve found the perfect new way to get the look – and it couldn’t be easier for even novices to use. Ghd has just launched Wave, its first triple waver, which makes beachy waves a (summer) breeze.
While we hesitate to use the word ‘crimper’, that’s essentially the styling technique involved. Just clamp your hair into the shaped tool, and move it in sections down your lengths. However, rather than giving an 80s-style ridged look, à la crinkle-cut oven chips, the triple-barrelled design creates loose, rounded waves for a chic, modern look.
As with all ghd stylers, Wave maintains a steady 185°C, which the brand claims is the sweet spot for all-day style without extreme heat damage. (But do remember to prep your hair with protection spray first.) It also promises to deliver the look while combatting frizzy hair and adding shine.
If you’ve never used a mermaid styler before, celebrity stylist and ghd ambassador Samantha Cusick has shared her tips. ‘Work in small sections and let each wave cool before touching,’ she says. ‘Use smaller sections and keep the waves focused around the mid-lengths to avoid bulk at the root. Wave from eye-level down and leave the ends slightly straighter for a more modern, editorial finish. It keeps the look cool, not costume.’
While Katie’s look showcases her flowing lengths, mermaid texture is something that works beautifully on a bob, too, according to Luke Hersheson, who recently used the mermaid attachment on Hershesons’ The Multi-Tasker on Keira Knightley’s shoulder-skimming cut.
He says: ‘Bobs are still very on trend – and what makes them really pop is when you pair them with a great undone texture, as opposed to making them look and feel too strict. This messy mermaid is basically a flat wave that doesn’t look or feel like it’s been touched with a spaniel-looking tong.’
We couldn’t agree more – you want to look like you’ve stepped out of a salon, not a pet grooming parlour!
