Holiday parties and photos are on the horizon and elegant half-up, half-down hair with goddess waves fits a whole lot of assignments.
Educator and master stylist Anna Peters shares her techniques for creating a super polished, special-occasion style — including her top three tricks for making the look last all day and all night.
Peters, a Sam Villa ArTeam educator and owner of re:TREAT Color + Hair Design and Studio, gives the step-by-steps below for the go-to style.
But first, the pro tips!
Choose a Smaller Curling Barrel.
For longer hair that struggles to hold waves, drop down a barrel size, and stick to consistent section sizes that match it.
“Long hair is always going to pull down the curls” Peters says, “so give it some extra spring and longevity by using a smaller iron size, knowing it’s going to relax some.”
Clip and Cool.
After curling each section, give the waves staying power by clipping each curl and letting it cool down before releasing. (Peters uses Sam Villa Dry Sectioning Clips.)
Use the Hidden Braid Hack.
Create small hidden braids at the back under the back twist. Pinning the twist to the braids as an anchor prevents slipping and holds up like a champ, even through dancing the night away.
“These three techniques are my go-to secrets for special occasion hair,” Peters says. “They make every style last beautifully.”
STEP BY STEP: HALF-UP STYLE WITH WAVES
- Prep hair with heat protectant spray (Peters uses Redken Thermal Spray) and brush through to distribute evenly,
- Curl entire head in a vertical placement with sections that match the size of the curling barrel, moving away from the face. (Here, Peters uses a 1” Sam Villa Artist Series 2-in-1 Marcel Iron and Wand, taking 1-2” sections.)
- Clip each curl and remove after it’s fully cooled.
- Create two small, horizontal hidden braids at the back of the head to anchor the twists. Gather sections of hair from the front and side, loosely twist, and pin them horizontally into the anchor braids to secure.
- Finish sections with a flat iron for added smoothness, to lock in bends, and to add a glossy shine.
