With her latest lead role, in 'Miss Potter', generating a whole lotta pre-Oscar buzz, it's likely that Renée Zellweger will be gracing only the most exclusive of red carpets this awards season – and it's not just the screen she lights up, Renée's red-carpet look leaves the paparazzi unable to click fast enough, and us feeling more than a little envious.
As reigning queen of the 'undone' updo, Renée knows how a carefree bun or pumped-up pony can make a big impact, and whether she's playing it straight with ironed locks or making waves with curls, her hair is always the perfect example of understated glam and nothing less than gorgeously imperfect. With party season over and the days of us spending yonks teasing our tresses into über-glam, perfect party mode well and truly over (for this month at least!), it's time to take our inspiration from a starlet who's a little more carefree.
With the help of Sean Fordham, Director of London's sexiest Soho salon Fordham White, we show you how to recreate this month's handbag.com hair icon's coolest updos with minimum effort. Renée, we salute you - and your gorgeous locks…
'Renée's daytime look is very much a simple and sleek style that works well with many outfits,' says Sean. 'The hairstyle works very well for Renée – when the hair is pulled back from her face, it accentuates her cheekbones and jawline. The look is easily achieved by blow-drying the hair straight with a paddle brush, then pulling it back into a low, off-centre ponytail and winding into a large bun. Two new products from the L'Oréal Tecni Art range will really help you accomplish this. The Texture Spray (£8.50) is a great aerosol blow-dry spray. Applied to damp hair it greatly enhances the hair's natural volume and bulk without leaving the hair sticky and greasy looking. A final spritz of the Crystal Gloss (£9.50) helps to polish the look with weightless shine.'
Since her brush with the dark side a couple of years ago, Renée has stuck with a gorgeous multi-tonal honey-blonde hue, and has never looked better! 'Renée's natural hair colour is a dark blonde, says Sean. 'Added to this she has chosen to enhance her colour with warm, natural blonde highlights. Darker sections underneath help to create a more honey-enriched colour and adds tones to her textured hairstyle. I'd like to see those roots re-touched, however. The problem with being a huge star like Renée is that people are always messing around with your hair and it gets weak and damaged. She's probably resting her hair to help it repair here.' But before you start ditching the dye, take heed. 'While Renée may get away with such mega-regrowth in Hollywood, I don't think it's advisable as a rule! If you can't see yourself being able to maintain regular visits to the salon to keep re-growth in check, ask for something that's subtler around the top of your head so that your re-growth blends in as the hair grows, without creating a tell-tale line.' To help maintain colour while helping achieve a similar style, hairdressing hotshot Sean suggests, 'Bumble and Bumble 'Hair Powder' (£12, in four shades, 01768 891394) – it's a real trick of the trade for effortlessly styling this type of hair for fashion shoots and catwalk shows. The powder is sprayed in at the roots and diffuses any re-growth that needs to be masked and it simultaneously bulks the hair up to make sure the updo stays up all day.'
And don't panic if your locks aren't quite long enough to fit into a low Renée-style bun: 'any pieces that fall can be tonged and sprayed with a light hairspray to create an elegant and feminine finish,' adds Sean.
'This is a great look for the evening, because it manages to be soft, feminine and sassy all rolled into one. Although this style looks as though it has been thrown together casually, there is actually quite a lot going on with the hairstyle. Any girl that¹s watched 'Bridget Jones's Diary' will know that Renée suffers from fine, limp hair. In this instance, she has cleverly disguised a hairpiece that matches her natural hair colour within the style to add volume and enhance the tousled effect,' points out Sean. If you want to get your manicured mitts on your own A-list style hairpiece, ask your salon for details. Most salons will take notes of the varying shades and texture of your locks, then create your very own, tailor-made hairpiece. Prices vary, but they can cost as little as £35.
Want Renée's gorgeous pony for yourself? Here's how... 'The hair has been washed and blow-dried upside-down to give extra volume,' explains Sean. 'I would recommend Redken Guts (£10.95, 0800 444880) to enhance root-lift. The hairpieces have been pinned to be hidden in the base of the ponytail and then tonged into large sections to create a loose curl. These curls have been gently separated by hand with a lightweight serum. Try an anti-frizz serum, which will also protect from humidity, and then pull the hair back into a low, sweeping ponytail.'
'This de-constructed hairstyle works perfectly with most evening dresses,' Sean says, 'because it creates the illusion of being effortlessly beautiful; less is always more.'
All quotes are from Sean Fordham, Creative Director at FordhamWhite, Soho, London. Appts: 020 7287 8484 www.fordhamwhite.com
