Adir Abergel has styled the hair of nearly every A-lister for awards shows. His calling card: updos that are sexy, messy, and cool. Here, he creates a knotted
hairstyle in three easy steps.
3 steps for the Perfect Knotted Updo
1. Create textures. (Yes, two of them.) “The duality of a sharp architectural knot and softness everywhere else is what makes them so beautiful,” says Abergel. He starts with a smooth blowout, uses pomade to sculpt the knot and smooth down the sides, and sprays a texturizer everywhere else.
2. Think about where to place your knot. On short
human hair weave, a slick low knot gives length; on thick
Brazilian hair, like Rooney Mara’s (above), a half-up look removes bulk; and on fine
human hair, a topknot can be teased before it’s twisted to give the illusion of fullness.
3. Go for sculptural. Once you’ve nailed down the placement, gather your hair into a ponytail and secure with an elastic. Split the tail into two sections and give them a tug so that the sides tighten and the top stays soft. Then twist your ponytail until it coils on itself and secure it with two pins. There's your knotted updo.