"I wanted to showcase her shoulders, neck, and beautiful earrings," says Fekkai hairstylist Renato Campora about the '60s-inspired pony he crafted for Reese Witherspoon.
Coiffeur Giannandrea, known for teasing Drew Barrymore's strands into voluminous updos, likes the look. "Adding height to the crown can be tricky, but when done in the right proportions, it's very glamorous," he says. "A ponytail with volume on top is always stylish."
When prepping for a red-carpet event, Jessica Biel turns to Fekkai hair guru Adir Abergel. He recommends Biel's dual-texture bun—sleek in the front and messy in the back—when wearing a sparkling dress. "When hair is touchable, approachable, and a little disheveled, there's something supersexy about it," he says.
Guido, Redken's creative consultant and runway mane master, also prefers understated hairstyles: "When you're wearing a beautiful gown, it's more modern to simplify your hair."
Scarlett Johansson proves that adding texture to a short, choppy cut is especially alluring. "Instead of doing the obvious—amplifying her dress with flashy jewelry, a beehive updo, and lots of makeup—we pared it down," says hairstylist Duffy of Johansson's Oscars look. Using a medium-barrel curling iron and sea-salt spray, he whipped the actress's locks into sexy waves, alternating the direction of the curl for each section and leaving ends straight "for an organic, natural appearance."
Beach waves look great on longer locks too: When Rosie Huntington-Whiteley wears a silky slip-dress, Abergel coaxes her hair into this style. "Textured tresses are a great way to offset a sleek gown," he says.
"Adding a jeweled or metallic accessory gives an instant dose of glamour," says red-carpet hairstylist Mara Roszak.
According to Guido, even the slightest shimmer—like Emma Stone's delicate brooch—can make a huge difference. "I always love a soft, textured updo—a twist, pony, or knot—with a shiny pin or clip," he says. "It provides contrast and makes a style statement."
Guido crafted soft waves for Sonia Rykiel's spring 2012 show, and pinned them to the side with a chunky barrette. "It's feminine and pretty—I can see an actress on the red-carpet wearing something like this," says Guido.
One actress who's worn the look is Kirsten Dunst; she chose to accentuate her saffron dress with a gold barrette.
Black headbands, à la Olivia Wilde's, have been taking over Hollywood lately—and Guido welcomes the return to simplicity. "I personally love drugstore headbands because they're normally very basic," he says.
Roszak agrees: "When it comes to headbands, less is more—you don't want them to detract from the hairstyle."
At the Valentino spring 2012 show, Guido wove French braids around models' heads—and it's a hairstyle that Jessica Alba loves (she's chosen the plaited 'do for red-carpet events several times over the past two years).
"You don't have to be good at braiding in order to create this look," says Guido. "A disheveled appearance is more charming. Don't worry if you have to fudge a little or pieces fall out along the way—when the braid is too perfect, it's not as stylish and can resemble a crown."
The ubiquitous side-braid first turned heads on Alexander Wang's runway in 2009, and was Guido's brainchild. Since then, however, he's grown tired of the off-center plait. "Like every successful hairstyle, it's morphed into something that it didn't start out as," he says. "It began as this easy, sexy hairstyle—the braid was almost falling out—but now it tends to be tighter and polished. Braids should be more spontaneous; I like them to be romantically hippie-ish."
To breathe life back into a side-braid, Abergel suggests going Guido's original rough-texture route ("When you're done with the braid, break it up with your fingers to make it seem less done"). He's also a proponent of weaving multiple braids into the side-swept style, as Blake Lively did: "You can choose varying widths and textures, and maybe throw in a fishtail braid."
Roszak, who styles Zoe Saldana's tresses, likes the versatility of a loose chignon. "It's a timeless style that can be worn to both a casual and fancy event," she says, adding that she prefers a center part for a more youthful look. For an unexpected twist, Roszak suggests placing the bun slightly off-center ("I love a low side-chignon").
A modern sheath like Gwyneth Paltrow's Calvin Klein one (shown here) deserves a bold, straight hair part, says Abergel. "Strong parting adds definition and elegance to the style, and plays up the simplicity of the dress" he says.
"I wanted to recall old-Hollywood glamour—soft and feminine," says Roszak about the side-parted updo she crafted for Mila Kunis. After curling sections with a one-inch-barrel curling iron, Roszak used her fingers to separate and pin waves at the nape of the neck.
"A deep side part is very glamorous," says Abergel. "You should always place it above the highest point of the brow—this way, it creates a linear appearance and draws attention to your eyes. If your part isn't lined up this way, it can be distracting."
Another way to rock an old-Hollywood deep side part? Veronica Lake waves, of course! Ashley Greene recently channeled the starlet's famous hairdo and shined—literally. "Shiny hair is great for the holidays, especially when it's styled in smooth, sleek waves," says Roszak.
"Lacquered old-Hollywood curls are polished and gorgeous—they definitely make a statement," says Abergel. The easiest way to achieve the retro 'do, says Abergel, is to do a classic roller set. "When your hair is completely dry, put hot rollers in starting at the top and going all the way to the back, then on the sides going all the way down. Let the rollers cool as you do your makeup, then take them out and use a Mason Pearson brush to smooth the waves in place. Finish with a touchable, sheer-hold hairspray."
To shine in a more low-maintenance way, Guido says to fasten strands into a ponytail or twist. "This way, you can have that great sexy shine for nighttime without the hassle," he says. That doesn't mean you have to give up a glamorous side-part, though—Freida Pinto demonstrates side-parted sleekness perfectly.
