Photo: Gregg DeGuire / WireImage / Getty Images
We’ve spent enough time backstage at Fashion Week to know any look that seems simple and natural is anything but. That slept-in smokey eye? It took a makeup artist 10 minutes to perfect. And that perfectly undone bedhead? It required an entire can of hairspray. So when we see a celeb hit the red carpet with a messy hair look that seems to scream #WokeUpLikeThis, we’re wise to the fact that ‘do actually required an entire army of glam squaders to create. Despite that fact, we still adore a lived-in look—it gives us hope our own messy locks are actually en Vogue. And thanks to Olivia Wilde‘s purposefully messy braid, we now have faith a completely deconstructed braid is, in fact, the new gold standard.
Wilde hit the red carpet for a charity event last night with a braid so completely disheveled, we began to wonder if was actually remnants of yesterday’s look. But upon further inspection, it’s plain to see this weave is strategically messy and inexcusably lovely. From the gorgeous bends and waves to the full and fat pleats, this messy ‘do is anything but lazy. It’s gorgeous.
Although we don’t have the exact details on the look (and what small village of hairstylists was used to create it), we do have some suggestions to get the look at home. Although it requires a little more effort than just sleeping on your braid, it’s still super easy.
To start, apply a super hydrating and shine-enhancing serum like Dove Regenerative Nourishment Serum ($6, target.com) to help keep this look soft. Next add some natural and romantic bends to your hair. We like the Beachwaver PRO ($199, ulta.com) to quickly add a little texture to strands. Keep waves super loose by combing through them with your fingers. Add a spritz or two of a volumizing, finishing spray like Kenra Professional Volume Spray ($26 for two, ulta.com), which will add volume, grit, and an extra layer of shine. Next create a low three-strand braid to the side, keeping the pleats super loose with plenty of slack. Selectively pull out pieces as you go.
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