READY FOR SPRING CARNIVAL? EASY UP-DO'S TO HELP YOU LOOK FABULOUS

Melbourne’s Spring Racing Carnival kicks off shortly, with race-goers meticulously choosing their outfits in order to finish first in the fashion stakes. From heels, clutches and frocks to the most essential feature, the hat or fascinator, the perfect look is a must. Ensuring that your choice of headwear – the crowning glory of your outfit – is perfectly displayed will help complete your outfit; after all it is what can make or break an outfit. Just ask Princess Beatrice.

Although it may be easier to pick the winner on the track than the perfect fascinator, one aspect that should not be overlooked is the hairstyle worn to fit with your millinery.

Couturing teamed up with stylists from Hair Odyssey in Hawthorn to create easy hairstyles to complement your headwear. With help from our friends at Kevin.Murphy, Mimco and Annie Clifforth Millinery, the four easy styles can be replicated at home using our step-by-step guide.

LOOK ONE – MESSY SIDE BUN

1. Part your hair on your preferred side
2. From the side opposite to your part, take a small section away from the rest of your hair
3. Begin to plait this section towards the base of the opposite side of the head and secure the plait with a hair elastic.
4. Spray hair with Kevin Murphy’s Young.Again (49.95) infused treatment oil to add lustre.
Pull the plait and the rest of the hair into a low side ponytail.

5. Separate a small section of hair from the ponytail and keep aside for later.
6. Take another hair elastic and pull three-quarters of the ponytail length through the elastic, forming a loop shape.
7. Pass the looped ponytail through the hair elastic until secured to form a messy bun.
8. Wrap the section of hair set aside in Step 6 around the base of the bun to hide the hair elastics.

9. Secure the bun with plenty of bobby pins, making sure that the ends of your hair are tucked in
10. Spray hair with Kevin Murphy’s Session.Spray ($34.95) so that the hairstyle will last you all day
11. Carefully place the fascinator on top of your head.

MIMCO Jonquil Palm Springs Racer ($229)

LOOK TWO – STYLISH WAVE

1. Curl hair into soft wavy curls. Hair Odyssey used Cloud Nine’s The Wide Iron, ($270) doing one section of hair one at a time, starting from the bottom and working upwards.

2. Go through curls with a wide-tooth comb to give them more natural and relaxed appearance

3. Spray though Kevin.Murphy Hair.Resort.Spray ($34.95) to add volume and texture to the curls

4. Take a third of the hair from the top of the head and set aside using clips.

5. Take another small section from just on top of your ears and twist your hair tightly towards the back until you reach one third of the back of the head. Secure with bobby pins.

6. Repeat this step on the opposite side of the head. Leave a couple of inches between the end of each twisted section.

7. Release the top section set aside in Step 4 and let it fall naturally, covering the pins and twists.

8. Spray hair using Kevin Murphy’s Anti.Gravity.Spray ($32.95) to add volume and reinforce shine

9. Carefully place the fascinator on top of your head.

MIMCO Harlequin Headpiece ($129)

LOOK THREE – SOPHISTICATED PONYTAIL

1. Take a small section of hair from the top of your head using a thin handle comb and set aside using clips.
2. Brush the rest of your hair in an upwards motion in order to form a high, slick ponytail. Secure with a hair elastic.
3. Unclip the hair set aside in Step 1 and twist it clockwise.

4. Wrap this section of hair anti-clockwise around the base of the ponytail to conceal the hair elastic.

5. Secure the end of the length of hair at the base of the ponytail using hair pins.

5. Spray Kevin.Murphy Texure.Master ($34.95) and Kevin.Murphy Powder.Puff ($35.95) to create a voluminous ponytail without having to tease the hair.

7. Place your fascinator on the top of your head.

MIMCO Marilyn Headband ($149)

LOOK FOUR – ELEGANT MODERN BUN

1. Brush your hair into a smooth high ponytail
2. Wrap the ends of your hair around the base of the ponytail, forming a bun
3. Secure the bun with bobby pins, hiding any loose ends of your hair
4. Comb fingers gently through the bun to keep it loose and unstructured.
5. Spray Kevin Murphy’s Texure.Master ($34.95) through the top of your hair which will allow it to 6. appear voluminous
6. Place fascinator on top of your head.

Annie Clifforth Millinery Tangerine Headpiece