Lily Allen's hair evolution is a thing to behold. Since stepping onto the scene in the noughties, she has established an experimental, era-blending approach to styling, be it a throwback beehive, a cool girl bob, or a ginger David Bowie-esque mullet. Her triumphant return to music last year with the release of her internet-breaking breakup album West End Girl, has brought with it a series of show stopping hair moments that have helped to solidify her distinctive attitude towards beauty. Look to her latest look as the perfect example.
Stepping out for night one of the Australian leg of her West End Girl world tour, Allen donned a look that can only be described as acutely of the moment. Ruffled and tousled purposefully, the half-up half-down 'do was a collision of all things witchy and whimsy. The look inherently speaks to spooky season while nodding to the rise of thr lived-in textures that we've seen bubbling over on red carpets and our social media feeds.
Her 'fairytale shag' was fashioned by celebrity hairstylist Chad Maxwell, who likens the look to a modern day '60s 'do. 'It’s about having a great silhouette and lots of volume while creating a softness and texture. The look is designed to be care-free and I wanted it to be a cross between '60s pin up and modern cool girl. There is a factor of medieval wench in there, too, which i’m obsessed with,' explains Maxwell.
Hair is undeniably integral to Allen's performance on stage. 'I wanted to change up every look on this run of the tour and keep people guessing. West End Girl is a one woman show not just a concert, and I’m heavily inspired by the drama, the production and the story. I wanted to nod to iconic hairstyles and people, but add that edge and personalisation that Lily has put into every look of hers since she started out. There’s an over-the-topness that I think you can create when someone’s on stage and it reads so well, it’s really freeing creatively as a hairstylist when your client trusts you to just create.'
What Maxwell landed on was plenty of length and texture – just the a day before Allen was sporting a bob for her Brisbane show, so take his warning of keeping people guessing seriously. He opted in for major shaping around her face to lend feathery layers, definition and movement, something which is admittedly new for Allen, he notes.
If you think there is a familiarity to the style, that's because it shares a similar DNA to the kind of period drama hair we've been seeing all year long, from Margot Robbie's whimsy Wuthering Heights lengths to Daisy Edgar Jones’ 'Dashwood Dishevel'. 'It’s very Sense and Sensibility-core, however I wanted a sexiness to it,' says Maxwell. 'Lily’s show is all about power and the crowd is full of strong women all sharing there past experiences when they sing the lyrics out loud – so I wanted this style to be powerful, sexy and playful to show she has the ability to be whoever she wants to be'. A nod to Allen's chameleonic approach to hair, no doubt.
Maxwell created the look by blow drying Allen's hair with Color Wow's Xtra Large Bombshell Volumizer, £18.75, to add as much lift at the roots as possible. He then used ghd's Curve Classic Tong, £189, to create curl and texture throughout, while spraying over with Color Wow's Style on Steroids Performance Enhancing Texture Spray, £28, to add hold and volume. Taking random sections of hair, he began to back comb and pin hair up in places. 'That’s the key to this look, don’t over think it just hold up sections and see what looks good on your face then pin it,' he says. To finish, once you're happy with the placement of hair pinning, mist over with got2b Glued Blasting Freeze Hairspray, £4.80, AKA Maxwell's holy grail.
A word of advice? 'The secret to recreating this look is to not think about it too much, just do what feels right and throw your hair up in sections. Start with day old hair and channel that powerful, sexy, playful character,' adds Maxwell.
Shop: Lily Allen's hair kit
Color Wow Xtra Large Bombshell Volumizer
Lay the foundation of the look with this plumping hair foam. It's featherweight and traceless, all while adding visible fullness, texture and hold.
18.75
ghd Chronos Curve Classic Tong
A fool-proof tong that instantly helps to build smooth, shiny, defined waves, with no extreme heat damage.
189
Color Wow Style on Steroids Performance Enhancing Texture Spray
Spray this finisher on to dry lengths to add instant texture and grit, without any chalky, sticky, or stiff residue. Expect ample volume and touchable hold.
28
got2b Glued Blasting Freeze Hairspray
Key to creating Allen's look, this cult hairspray boasts ultimate hold to lock in and seal styles.
5.95
Sameeha Shaikh is Grazia's beauty writer, working across all categories to bring you insights on the latest trends, industry news and the products you need to know about, viral or not (most probably viral).
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