The Conversation with Amanda de Cadenet

03.25.13 Style

A Modern Look at Braids and Ponytails

BY Jen Atkin

This red carpet season, I loved seeing the variations on wearing hair up. I think there are ways to bring the look home, and try it for a more casual look. Braids are a great way to dress hair up a little. Having texture in hair is important, so after washing, I love spraying Charlotte Ronson’s A Perfect Mess Beach Spray in while the hair is damp. After it dries you can try a side braid, fishtail, or pin one off to the side.

I have always loved a chic ponytail, be it sleek or textured. I recently discovered Cyndi Bands to tie hair up and love them! The don’t leave dents on your hair, so your hair looks great when you take it down. Cyndi Bands also don’t put strain on your hair like other hair ties do, which can cause breakage.

I tell my clients to have fun and don’t think about it too much. Texture is key in keeping the style modern, so don’t worry about it being messy!

Known for her unique ability to meld old school beauty with up to the minute trends, Jen has styled hair for some of the most glamorous and trendsetting stars: Penelope Cruz, Emma Stone, Sofia Vergara, Jessica Alba, Nicole Richie, Cindy Crawford, Kate Beckinsale and Christina Hendricks, to name a few. Mentored by some of the top hair artists Andy Lecompte, Guido, Danilo and Renato Campora, Atkin swiftly took her place alongside Beverly Hills' styling superstars at LeCompte's salon. Jen was a part of the hair team on Madonna's 2006 "Confessions" tour. She also worked on numerous fashion runway shows in NYC and Paris including: Louis Vuitton, Miu Miu, Chloe, Alexander McQueen, Lanvin, Marchesa and Christian Dior. She divides her time between LA and NYC working in beauty, print, film, music video, runway and advertising. Her hair artistry is often covered by publications like InStyle, ELLE, Esquire, Nylon and Bullet. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram.