The sunshine is showing no signs of relenting, and by now, our inspiration for heatwave-friendly hairstyles is beginning to run dry. That was until Demi Moore stepped out sporting the chicest bun we’ve seen all summer, and better still, it’s also incredibly flattering on mature hair.
Demi was spotted in Paris during Haute Couture Fashion Week, dressed to the nines as she took her place on the FROW at Balenciaga. Thankfully, her hairstylist, Dimitris Giannetos, had the soaring temperatures in mind, sweeping her hair back into a sleek bun while leaving one front section loose, softly curled to frame her face.
It’s a style Dimitris has dubbed the ‘ballerina off-duty bun’. In an Instagram post, he explained that he wanted to create a ballet bun with a slightly edgier feel, perfectly suited to Demi’s style. Dimitris said the inspiration was a ballerina after work, when her hair has become a little undone. En pointe.
‘It looks very put together, but has a more relaxed feel than a tight dancer’s bun,’ says Philipp Haug, top hairstylist and co-founder of Haug London Haus. ‘The waved piece at the front gives it a softness and femininity that’s very flattering.’
Philipp agrees it’s a particularly timely hairstyle, given the hot weather. Not only does it keep hair off the face and neck, but it’s also the perfect opportunity to use a heat protectant and an anti-humidity product, helping to smooth the hair back while protecting it at the same time.
He explains, ‘With the heatwave we’re experiencing, it’s so important to treat the hair as you would skin, as it’ll become parched, damaged and faded if you don’t take care of it.’
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Beyond keeping you cool and helping to protect your lengths, Philipp notes that it’s an especially flattering hairstyle for mature women. ‘It looks groomed without being ‘strong’, softer styles are always much more flattering,’ he says.
‘If you have finer hair, with this style and the face-framing pieces, you can make it look quite voluminous,’ he adds, noting that you can use padding inside the bun to create the appearance of thicker, fuller hair.
While Demi may have an A-list hairstylist on hand, Philipp reassures us that the look is easy to recreate at home. ‘Start with a bit of product,’ he says. Anything from a styling cream to a smoothing serum can work well, as long as it helps to slick the hair neatly back (bonus points if it protects, too).
‘Before smoothing the hair back, take out the pieces you want at the front,’ he explains. ‘Take the rest of your lengths and brush back into a bun, secure with a ponytail elastic and twist the hair around the elastic and pin,’ he says. Simple.
As an extra step, he recommends using a curling tong on the face-framing pieces to add a little movement and interest to the look.
Voilà. A hairstyle that’s ready for the stage or simply a scorching summer’s day.
