Lead Hair: Antoinette Beenders, Vice President Global Creative Director for Aveda

The Look:

This is a low, sleek ponytail adorned with a textured bouquet of waves; a play of smooth versus rough.  Hair is sleek and groomed on each side of the head and through the ponytail, with a slightly rough, matte finish on top and elegant, textured waves pinned above the pony.  The finished look is chic and contemporary with a bit of attitude.

Q: What was your inspiration for this look? How did you collaborate with the designer to create the look?

A: “Christian and I worked together to create a hair look that reflects the inspiration behind his collection: waves and the ocean, with shimmering silks, silvers, and blues.  I call this look the “wave” because of the back-combed wave that floats atop the ponytail.  Since Christian is a young designer, the hair look is elegant yet very modern.”

Q: How could a woman achieve this look on her own?

A: “This is an elegant, alternative version of the ponytail—beautiful for evening. Using a fine comb, separate the front/top of hair and part it into a horseshoe shaped section on the top of the head.  Tie the rest of hair into a low ponytail.  Rake the front/top of hair back with Aveda Light Elements™ Texturizing Creme, and curl with a curling rod.  Brush through curls and backcomb slightly, then pin teased hair to the base of the ponytail, creating loose, textured waves. Finish look with Aveda Air Control™ Hair Spray.”   

Get the Look/Step-by-Step:

Step 1: Create a deep side part. Draw a horseshoe-shaped section of hair along the top of the head, from each brow-line. Isolate this section of hair and pin in place with a single-pronged hair clip.

Step 2: Pull the bottom half of hair into a ponytail and secure with a bungee elastic.  Divide ponytail into sections with fingers and spray with Aveda Air Control™ Hair Spray for workable hold. 

Step 3:  Use a flat iron to straighten the ponytail section by section, creating a smooth, sleek finish. 

Step 4:  Unclip the top section of hair and comb it back and over the ponytail.  Sprinkle Aveda Pure Abundance™ Hair Potion and massage into hair to create volume and matte, rough texture.     

Step 5:  Working with the same top section, divide hair into smaller pieces and spray with Aveda Air Control™ Hair Spray. Wrap each piece of hair around a ceramic Curl Rod, creating spirals, until the entire top section of hair has been curled.   

Step 6:  Brush through spirals, loosening curls into soft waves.  Loosely backcomb waves to create fullness, volume and texture, and shorten the length of hair.  

Step 7:  Pin the sides and ends of wavy hair against the head, close to the base of the ponytail. Hair is sculpted into a voluminous, undulating chignon adorning the ponytail.

Step 8:  Work Aveda Light Elements™ Texturizing Creme into palms. Smooth hair along the sides of the head and above the ears to create a sleekness and shine. 

Step 9: Finish the look with Aveda Air Control™ Hair Spray for shine and hold.