How to: DIY runway hair

Zero Commitment Bob

You’ll need: Hairbrush, bobby pins, hair ties and hairspray

How to

• Use a paddle brush and blow-dry till it falls straight if you want a sleek, glossy bob. But this one works with any hair type – wavy or curly.
• Loosely plait your hair starting at the base of your head. Secure the end with a hair tie.
• Now take the end of the plait and roll it up under itself. Tuck the roll in at the nape of your neck and use pins to hold it in there. Use hairspray to set the style in place. If you have a layered cut and a few strands escape, you can use tongs to curl them for a wispy look.

The Pretend Undercut

You’ll need: Styling gel, curling tongs, bobby pins and a fine comb

How to

• Comb out your hair and create a deep side-part.
• Apply gel on the smaller section – the one where you want to create the undercut – and comb back tightly against the scalp.
• Smooth the combed section to the back of the crown and fasten it with pins. Let some strands fall over the ‘undercut’ so that they hide the pins.
•  If you have short straight hair, use tongs to curl up the loose hair. Muss them up for rock star glamour.
• For mid-length hair, tease to crown for volume – this will create a contrast with the slicked-back side and make it stand out. Divide the loose hair into two-inch sections and curl them. Finger comb through for a sexy bed head look.

The New Beehive

You’ll need: Rat-tail comb, volumising mousse, hairspray and bobby pins

How to

• Brush out your hair, spread volumising mousse through the roots and massage it in.
• Pick up two-inch sections off the front and top of your head and blow-dry the roots to get extra lift.
• Now taking one section at a time, use  a rat-tail comb to backcomb your hair at the crown.
• Once you’re done teasing the entire section, very lightly comb over the backcombed hair to smooth out the top a bit. Be careful not to overdo this or the volume you built will be lost.
• Gather the top section of your hair at the back of your head and push it upwards to the height you desire. Use bobby pins to secure the lift. Use hairspray generously to set the style in place. 

Illustrations by Prachi More

The Faux Hawk

You’ll need: Hairspray, bobby pins, rat-tail comb and hair ties. If you haven’t washed your hair in a day or two, even better.

How to

• Section out a strip of hair from the middle of the crown to the back of your head.
• Clip this out of the way on top of your head while you work on the lower part.Brush back and gather the rest of your hair at the back and tie into a tight, low ponytail.
• Unpin the top section. Take small segments and backcomb to get volume in the crown area. After backcombing each section, spritz hairspray and hold till it dries to set it.
• Once you have the lift you want, gather your hair and smooth over the top a little bit. Secure at the back using pins so that you have a Mohawk-like exaggerated quiff. Tie up the loose hair at the back in a bun to finish.