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October 19, 2019 2 min read

Tricks of the Trade:
Nailing the Sleek Chignon

So far in Giant, we’ve seen a variety of looks, and particularly hairstyles. We were windblown in Wildcatter, and super-styled Old Hollywood in Cattlemen. For Riata, we wanted to reflect the Mexican influence the collection embodied, so we went with a sleek chignon to give off that very “matador-esque” vibe. (It also just so happens to make the signature statement earrings pop!)

Any of you longhaired ladies know this look isn’t always easy to perfect! You want the ‘do to be smooth, but the bun to have volume. You want it to look sleek, but not slicked down. And how in the world do you make it stay?! (Did I mention we were shooting in the windy, open plains of South Texas?!)

Breathe easy, gals! We got the insider tricks of the trade from our hair & makeup guru, Lisa Martensen.

Trick 1:
“Tease, tease, tease!”

A little good ol’ fashioned backcombing (or a lot!) will give volume to the style, which not only will lend itself to a fuller-looking bun, but will also prevent it from appearing so slicked down that your head looks like an onion.

Trick 2:
Play it smooth

After you create the volume, you’re going to want to smooth the surface with a boar-bristled brush. “My favorite has been the Mason Pearson mixed nylon boar brush from England,” Lisa says. “It’s the gold standard for the hair and makeup industry, so it will set you back a little. I use it for smoothing and for loose backcombing on my signature deconstructed waves.”

Trick 3:
Pick the perfect pins

“When building a chignon, I always use ONLY Sally Beauty Supply bobby pins,” she said. “They are the only ones I trust to have muscle and styling power.”

Trick 3:
Set it and forget it!

Everyone knows, if you want your style to stay – and if, like most of us, you battle pesky fly-aways – you need a good hairspray. Lisa is currently loving Aquage Finishing Spray.

So there you have it, ladies! Get to stylin’!

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Tricks of the Trade: Nailing the Sleek Chignon

Trick 1:“Tease, tease, tease!”

Trick 2:Play it smooth

Trick 3:Pick the perfect pins

Trick 3:Set it and forget it!