Celebrity hairstylist Kirsten Klontz breaks down the season’s best looks and how to style them with Unilever’s iconic beauty products.
The turn of the season marks the perfect time to debut a new hairstyle. And who better to inspire your next hairdo than Hollywood’s hottest stars?
No matter what look you’re going for, your hairstyle can only turn out as good as the preparation that goes into it—and the products you’re using along the way. Whether you need a stronghold gel, a shine-inducing serum or a frizz-fighting hairspray, brands like Tresemmé, Nexxus, and Shea Moisture offer everything you’ll need to help recreate the trendiest celebrity hair looks this season.
To help you achieve Hollywood-level hair, we’ve tapped celebrity hairstylist Kirsten Klontz, whose star-studded clientele includes famous faces like Lily-Rose Depp and Canada’s Drag Race icon Brooke Lynn Hytes. From Sofia Richie’s signature slicked-back bun to Ashley Graham’s Pamela Anderson-inspired updo, Klontz breaks down six celebrity-approved fall and winter hairstyles and how to recreate them at home.
Sofia Richie’s Slicked-Back Bun
Sofia Richie’s signature slicked-back bun has been one of the most sought-after looks of the year, and it’s showing no signs of going out of style. To recreate Richie’s look, prep the hair for styling with Nexxus’ Keraphix Shampoo, Conditioner and Treatment Mask. This product line, formulated with reparative black rice, will help heal and protect your hair from damage caused by frequent slicked-back styling. Post-shower, blow dry your hair from the roots to the ends to help smooth the cuticle. Next, decide between a middle or side part and gather the hair back into a low, tight ponytail using a soft bristle brush. Klontz’s pro tip for an extra chic look? Split the ponytail into two pieces and form a rope braid by taking the two strands and twisting them in the same direction around each other. As you work down the braid, saturate the hair with a generous amount of the Tressemé Ultra Define Gel and Tresemmé’s Extra Hold Hair Spray, and tie off the end with a small elastic.
“Because it’s got that humidity resistance built into it, this hair spray helps with flyaways, and it dries really quick,” explains Klontz. Since the product is also waterproof, it’ll work on curls without having the hair revert to a curly state. Lastly, you’ll twist your rope braid around the base of the ponytail until you’ve created a bun. Pin with bobby pins to secure, and your slicked-back bun is complete!
Megan Thee Stallion’s Voluminous Natural Texture
To achieve Megan Thee Stallion’s full-of-body afro, start with clean hair that has been treated with a curl enhancer like Nexxus’ Curl Define Leave-in Conditioner. Then, section the hair and follow up with either a curl-enhancing cream or a curl-defining gel. “I lean towards the Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie because it has more of a cream base, which I find is easier to brush out when you want that really big look,” says Klontz.
Once the product has been evenly distributed, finger-coil each strand to help define the curls further and let them air dry—or diffuse them if you’re pressed for time. After drying, take a wide-tooth comb and begin brushing the hair. For the most voluminous result, you’ll want to brush the curls out entirely.
“I think for the holidays and parties coming up, I would definitely say to go big with it and be fearless,” says Klontz. “The beauty of curls is that you can get those kinds of beautiful shapes and textures out of the hair.”
Simone Ashley’s Rapunzel ‘S’ Waves
The secret to Simone Ashley’s Rapunzel ‘S’ waves lies in the technique. Fresh out of the shower, apply a liberal amount of Tresemmé’s One Step 5-in-1 Wave Spray to enhance your hair’s natural waves and protect against heat. Then, from the middle to the ends of the hair, apply the Tresemmé Keratin Smooth Shine Serum before further activating your waves and curls by scrunching towards the scalp.
Once your hair has dried, start sculpting that ‘S’ shape by tapping through the hair with a flat iron. “What you’re going to do is open and close your flat iron on the hair,” explains Klontz. As you move down each section of hair while continuing to clamp the flat iron, you’ll be able to manipulate that ‘S’ shape—instead of doing a complete pass to “straighten” the hair. “My pro tip is that when you’re using the flat iron, you want to mimic the size of your natural waves,” she shares.
The Hailey Bieber Blunt, Jaw-Length Bob
This season, short hair is chic—and a blunt, jaw-length bob like Hailey Bieber’s is one of the best ways to wear it. “I always say that a bob is your best accessory,” Klontz tells us.
To ensure a frizz-free style, wash your hair before styling with the Tresemmé Keratin Smooth Shampoo and Conditioner duo. “What their technology does is it helps to smooth the hair for up to 72 hours—which is a bonus, especially if you’re like me and you like getting multiple days out of your look,” she explains. Then, focusing on the ends of your damp hair, apply the Tresemmé Keratin Smooth Shine Serum to boost softness and shine. Use a paddle brush and blow dryer with a concentrated nozzle to smooth out the hair, and finish up with a flat iron if necessary for your hair type and seal it all in with a spritz of Tresemmé’s Extra Hold Hair Spray.
Shay Mitchell’s ‘Wet’ Look
Shay Mitchell’s “wet” look is a full-on mermaid-core moment. And much to our delight, Klontz tells us it’s a lot easier to achieve than it looks. Starting on wet hair, apply the Tresemmé Ultra Define Gel on the top half of the hair, and then work in the Tresemmé 5-in-1 Sleek Cream from the middle of the hair downwards.
“Once you’ve got the gel on there, you’re going to want to use a long, medium-tooth comb with lots of teeth, and then you’ll give yourself a part,” explains Klontz. “Then, because the gel has so much hold, you can kind of use your hands and the comb to shape the front of it how you want.” When you’ve achieved your desired shape, add flat clips to the hair to hold the style in place as you “blow dry” using a diffuser. To maintain that definition, avoid touching the hair or raking your fingers through it. Once fully dry, remove the clips and your style will be all set.
Ashley Graham’s Pamela Anderson Updo
Is there any style more suited for a festive soirée than a deliberately tousled updo? Ashley Graham’s Pamela Anderson-esque hairstyle will, without a doubt, be pinned to our mood board for the party season.
Recreate Graham’s look by reaching for Tresemmé’s 5-in-1 Wave Spray and spritzing it onto the hair section by section to enhance your hair’s natural texture. To create volume, flip your hair upside down and diffuse to dry. As you begin building the updo, leave out a few face-framing pieces around the hairline to mimic Graham’s look. Klontz, who has styled Graham’s hair herself, says her secret to achieving this messy updo is splitting the hair down the middle and pulling it into two high ponytails right on top of the head about an inch apart.
“Grab one-inch sections of your hair and loop it around your finger, leaving the ends out. Then, you can start pinning it in place,” says Klontz. “I start in the middle so that you don’t see the gap between the two ponytails.” Continue to create these loops all over the head until you’re satisfied, and remember that they don’t have to be perfect. The “messiness” is all part of this look’s appeal. Lastly, lock it in with a final spritz of Tresemmé’s Extra Hold Hair Spray so you can party all night long.
