We asked you which beauty looks you like best this awards season, and promised to break down how recreate the hair and makeup for your top three styles. Today, we’re so excited to debut your favourite awards season looks, with a little help from our friends at L'Oréal Paris!
Look #1: Bohemian Glamour
One of the major beauty trends from this awards season is equal parts bohemian cool and seventies glamour. The key components of this look are a braid-embellished up-do and fresh-faced makeup.
Hair: Start With Texture
Start this look with dry hair, ideally with some natural texture in it. “This is a great look for second-day hair,” hairstylist Mara Roszak says. It also is an excellent choice if your hair is a little frizzy or dirty. “If you have fine hair, build some body with a beach spray, like L’Oreal Paris’ Advanced Hairstyle TXT IT Tousle Waves Spray ($4.99),” she says.
Hair: Create Three Sections
Begin with a center part, and then section hair into three parts: the front right (from behind the ear, forward), front left (from behind the ear, forward), and the back half of the hair. Twist the back half into a bun and secure with a clip.
Hair: Start Braids
You’ll need to make four equal-sized braids with the two front sections. Starting with the left side, divide the hair evenly and create either a regular braid or French braid with the top section. Secure the braid with a bobby pin or rubber band when you’re done.
Hair: Finish Braids
Next, form the second braid in the front left section, braiding the hair back above the ear. Again, secure the finished braid with a bobby pin or a rubber band. When you’re done, create two braids on the front right side, following the same instructions.
Hair: Form A Ponytail
When all four braids are finished, take the back section of the hair and smooth it into a high ponytail.
Hair: Twist It Into A Bun
Backcomb the ponytail slightly, for additional volume. Twist the ponytail into a full bun, and secure with hairpins or bobby pins.
Hair: Wrap Braids Around Bun
Starting with the top braid from the front left section, wrap the braid loosely around the bun and pin to secure it. Do the same with the second, lower braid, making a double row of braids around the bun. Conceal the ends of the braids by tucking them into the bun, and pinning to secure.
Hair: Secure With Hairspray
Finish with a long-lasting hairspray. Roszak uses L’Oreal Paris’ Elnett Hairspray Extra Strong Hold Volume ($14.99).
Makeup: Apply Shimmery Shadow To Lash Line
To make the eyes pop, brush on a shimmery eye shadow at the lashes, just where you’d put eyeliner, and then blend with a brush to soften the line. Billy B uses the lightest shade in L’Oreal Paris’ Studio Secrets Professional Eyeshadow Quads ($7.15) in Earthscape.
Makeup: Curl Lashes And Add Mascara
Curl lashes, then brush on several coats of mascara on the top lashes, and one coat on the bottom lashes. Billy B uses L’Oreal Paris’ Voluminous Butterfly Mascara ($8.99) in Blackest Black to make eyes really pop.
Makeup: Use A Nude Lip Pencil Allover
Skip the lipstick and use a pencil instead to get a well-defined nude lip. “It’s a bit more special than just a gloss,” Billy B says. “Look for a shade that’s the same colour as your natural lip, or one shade darker.” Line the lips, and blend the pencil toward the middle of the mouth, leaving the center bare to create a “sexy pout.” Billy B uses L’Oreal Paris’ Colour Riche Lip Liner ($8.48) in Eternal Mauve, blended with a lip brush.
Makeup: Highlight Cheeks With Cream Blush
Finish the look with a cream blush that has a little sheen in it, like L’Oreal Paris’ Visible Lift Colour Lift Blush ($12.95) in Nude Lift. Billy B applies it high on the cheekbone, because it reflects light beautifully, then buffs it onto the apples of the cheeks.
The Final Look: Bohemian Glamour
The finished look is effortlessly impactful and glamorous in a very natural way.
Look #2: Smoky Sultriness
The combination of Veronica Lake-like curls and smoky eyes is incredibly alluring, which is why this look is a red carpet mainstay. The key components of this look are soft, polished curls and sooty, sexy eye shadow.
Hair: Boost Volume
“This look is all about great volume and body,” hairstylist Mara Roszak says. Start by spritzing a volumizing spray, such as L’Oreal Paris’ Advanced Hairstyle Boost It High Lift Creation Spray ($4.99), onto damp hair, concentrating on the roots.
Hair: Dry With A Round Brush And Pin Curl
Using a round brush, blow dry medium-sized sections of hair, then wrap each dry section into a pin curl, and secure it with a bobby pin. “You can grab random sections of your hair,” Roszak says. “It doesn’t need to be too precise or detailed.”
Makeup: Apply Foundation Only Where Necessary
While the pin curls are setting, you can start makeup. First, perfect skin with a lightweight foundation, just where you need it, making sure to use a light hand. “A smoky eye is a lot of makeup, so to make it younger and fresher, don’t wear a mask of foundation,” makeup artist Billy B says. He uses L’Oreal Paris' Magic Nude Liquid Powder Bare Skin Perfecting Makeup SPF 18 ($12.95) and a soft foundation brush.
Makeup: Create A Modern, Smoky Eye
Line the upper lash line with a soft, dark eye pencil, like L’Oreal Paris’ Colour Riche Eyeliner ($8.95) in Black, and smudge, then apply a charcoal eyeshadow all over the lid and into the crease, making sure to blend well, so there are no harsh lines. (Try L’Oreal Paris’ Colour Riche Eye Shadow ($7.95) in Cookies Cream, specifically the second darkest shadow.) Instead of putting a shimmery shadow on the brow bone, Billy B suggests using your everyday pressed face powder. Dip your brush into the pressed powder, then apply to the brow bone, and go over the eye shadow too, for additional blending. Line the upper and lower water line with the eye pencil, and apply a thin line of charcoal shadow along the lower lashes.
Makeup: Make An Impact With Mascara
Give upper lashes several coats of mascara and lower lashes one light coat. Billy B uses L’Oreal Paris' Voluminous Butterfly Mascara ($8.99) in Blackest Black.
Makeup: Choose A Natural Blush
Smile and apply a natural-hued cream blush to the apples of the cheeks. Billy B likes L’Oreal Paris’ Visible Lift Colour Lift Blush ($12.95) in Nude Lift.
Makeup: Add Clear Lip Gloss
Finish the makeup look with a clear gloss, like L’Oreal Paris’ Colour Riche Le Gloss ($7.95) in Naturally Nude. “There’s no such thing as being “too old to wear lipgloss,” because it reflects light, making your lips look fuller, and everyone likes that,” Billy B says.
Hair: Brush Out Curls
Once the makeup is complete, undo all of the pin curls and softly brush hair with a wide-tooth comb or a brush with spaced out bristles.
Hair: Set Curls And Add Shine
To ensure the hairstyle stays put and looks sleek all night, spritz on a smoothing spray with hold. Roszak likes L’Oreal Paris’ Advanced Hairstyle SLEEK IT Strand-Smoother Serum Spray ($4.99), which sets the curls and adds shine.
The Final Look: Smoky Sultriness
The finished look is incredibly sultry and ideal for a modern day bombshell.
Look #3: Modern Statement
A bright pop of lipstick is one of the most flattering and fun red carpet trends this awards season, especially when juxtaposed with a simple, modern up-do. The key components to this look are a smooth, low bun and high-impact lip gloss.
Hair: Start With Dry Hair This hairstyle needs to look smooth and sophisticated, so start with a heat-activated styling spray. Roszak uses L’Oreal Paris’ Advanced Hairstyle SLEEK IT Iron Straight Heatspray ($4.99). “It protects the hair when using hot tools, like a flatiron, and really seals in shine,” she says.
Hair: Flatiron It
Flatiron hair, then part it on one side, using the arch of your eyebrow as a guideline.
Hair: Smooth Flyaways
To ensure the look is polished, use a pomade or control paste to smooth down any flyaways at the front and hairline. Roszak uses L’Oreal Paris’ Advanced Hairstyle TXT IT Deconstructing Gum ($4.99).
Hair: Create Three Sections And A Ponytail
“When I do up-dos, I like to start with three sections: one from the front left side (above the ear), one from the front right side (above the ear), and then the back half,” Roszak says. Once the hair is divided, smooth the back section into a low ponytail.
Hair: Divide The Ponytail
To create the bun, split the ponytail into two pieces. Starting with the left side, twist the hair around the center elastic to create a bun, and secure it.
Hair: Form The Bun
Once the left section is wrapped around to form a bun, repeat using the other section of the ponytail.
Hair: Smooth Sides Back
Take the smaller front left section of hair, and smooth it back, winding it around the bun and securing with bobby or hairpins as you go. Repeat on the other side, using the front right section of hair.
Hair: Finish With Hairspray
When all of the hair is incorporated into the low bun, Roszak sprays the finished hairstyle with L’Oreal Paris’ Elnett Hairspray Extra Strong Hold Volume ($14.99).
Makeup: Start With Flawless Skin
Gorgeous skin is a hallmark of any major Hollywood look, so be sure to even out skin tone and conceal any imperfections. Makeup Artist Billy B uses L’Oreal Paris’ Magic Nude Liquid Powder Bare Skin Perfecting Makeup SPF 18 ($12.95) and a soft foundation brush.
Makeup: Line Eyes Twice
Liquid or felt-tip eyeliner pens can be tricky, so Billy B suggests starting with a pencil. “Use the pencil to create the template,” he says. “Starting at the pupil, draw along the lashline, using short strokes.” Once the pencil liner is the right shape, go over it with a black felt-tip liquid liner. Billy B likes L’Oreal Paris’ The Blackbuster by Infallible ($8.99).
Makeup: Make Eyes Pop
Curl lashes and then apply several coats of mascara to the top lashes only. Billy B uses L’Oreal Paris' Voluminous Butterfly Mascara ($8.99) in Blackest Black.
Makeup: Finish With A Bold Lip
The focus of this look is a bright lip, so add a pop of colour with a highly pigmented lip gloss. Billy B uses L’Oreal Paris’ Colour Caresse Wet Shine Stain ($9.99) in Pink Rebellion.
The Final Look: Modern Statement
The finished look is defined and sophisticated, with a touch of playfulness and power, thanks to the bright lip.
