It’s no secret that Amal Clooney’s long, luscious locks are the number-one source of our hair envy here at GH. At 48, she makes a compelling case for long hair in midlife, and is never seen on a red carpet without her big, bouncy, glossy mane of a blow-dry – until now.
Last night in New York, Amal sported a totally different look as she attended the Chaplin Award Gala, where her husband George was honoured for his contributions to cinema. The Hollywood couple looked incredible, but it was Amal’s new ‘do that really caught our eye. Her signature glossy curls were swept up into a modern, swingy ponytail, masterfully done by A-list hairstylist Dimitris Giannetos.
While her signature blow-dries live in the land of fantasy hair, her pony offered a more realistic but equally elegant style. ‘This ponytail looks great on Amal,’ says Eva Goulding, stylist at the esteemed Nicola Clarke salon. ‘Her sweepy grown-out fringe gives it a glamorous touch without being ‘too done’.’
Amal, of course, can pull off just about any look, but Eva says the ponytail is one of those styles that suits everyone. ‘Ponytails work for most people in my opinion,’ she says. ‘It gives the hair a lot of body, and placing it high on the head is flattering on anyone of any age.’
She explains that thick hair is the ideal for this look, but thanks to clip-in pieces, those with finer hair can easily achieve it as well. ‘Ponytail hair pieces are a great way to get the same look. All you need to do is simply clip it over your pony and grab a piece of your own hair and wrap it around the elastic to cover up the seam and secure with a grip.’
Better yet, it’s a style that doesn’t require a full wash and blow-dry beforehand. ‘The easiest way to achieve this look at home is by either doing it on slightly dirty hair and putting in a little dry shampoo,’ she explains.
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To recreate the ‘undone’ finish, Eva recommends sectioning the hair you want to sit around the face, then tying the rest back.
As for the pony, ‘height placement is important,’ she says. ‘Following the eye line back tends to be the most flattering.’ She explains, ‘Tip your head back and check that the position of the pony is where you want it to sit. Tie it nice and tightly, then slightly pull on the hair in front of the band to loosen it and give it some volume at the roots.’
You’ll notice Amal hasn’t skipped her signature curls. Eva says it’s easier to curl the hair with a tong once it’s tied up, rather than beforehand. She recommends lightly brushing the curls out with your fingers and finishing with a good spritz of texture spray.
Proof that great hair days don’t have to be complicated.
