All model images: Liese
Okay, so you’ve taken the plunge and lopped off your locks. With any luck (and no small skill from your stylist), you should be swanning out of the salon with a cool choppy cut … but once the post-snip euphoria settles, what next?
Thankfully, your on-trend bob is maximum fabulousness and minimum fuss. Here are two ways to get it “razor” right, plus one just for the ladies with longer locks:
Look #1. Want a feathery fringe with lots of bounce?
Here’s a tip: If you’re square-jawed, lots of layers around your ears will soften the hard planes of your face.
Happily, nailing the bouncy bangs of this fun, fast ‘do is pretty straightforward: Simply set your blow dryer on the lowest heat possible, then “finger-dry” by ruffling the fringe until it’s dry.
To get that meticulously mussed up look that’s so ubiquitous on all the Korean ulzzangs and Japanese stylistas these days, lift up your fringe and spritz on a “bodybuilding” spray – try Liese’s lovely new Airy Volumizing Hair Spray ($9.90, available at Watsons from May 2015) or L’Oreal Professionnel’s excellent Elnett Satin Spray ($30) – then go right in with your fingers to scrunch up tiny stacks of airy hair.
Do the same for the back, then finish with a final blast all over for tons of texture; just remember to spray from an arm’s length away (about 20cm, if you’re mathematically inclined that way) so the droplets are finely distributed.
Look #2. Want va-va-voom volume on top?
If you’re a round- or oval-faced cherub, consider keeping lots of layers and length on top to add height and elongate your face. To accentuate the illusion of a slimmer visage, hairspray is once again your best friend.
This is a volumising variation on the look above: Simply grab the same spray, lift up swathes of hair from the crown, splosh liberally from root to tip, then rake it in from the sides, starting from the mid-shaft for maximum body.
Look #3. Want silky shine that’ll last through the night?
Try this top trick if your tresses are full-on shoulder length. Twist into a loose ponytail and secure with a scrunchie that matches the hue of your hair.
Stick in a bobby pin or two at the side part behind your ear … and you’re done.
Extra step: If you’re gunning for a plastered Old Hong Kong vibe to go with your contemporary cheongsam for the night, consider dousing your ‘do with Liese’s industrial-strength Super Hard Hair Spray ($9.90) or Tigi Bed Head’s naughtily monickered Hard Head Spray ($32).
There, budge-proof glamour in a jiffy. Have lots of follicular fun!