Hair today, gone tomorrow.
Taylor Swift sparked a frenzy among fans when she arrived at the red carpet premiere of her “Eras Tour” movie rocking a brand-new bob.
Some Swifties assumed she’d chopped off her locks — and before long, “DID SHE CUT HER HAIR” was even trending on Twitter.
“where did all her hair go,” one fan asked, while another joked, “the heart attack i had when i woke up and saw the short hair.”
As it turns out, Swift didn’t need scissors to achieve the style; her softly curled faux bob was actually achieved with the help of a clever flip and plenty of bobby pins, lending the superstar a “1989”-style shoulder-length look that was totally temporary.
“Given the nature of the style, Taylor was definitely embodying old Hollywood glam with a modern execution,” Andrew Fitzsimons, an LA-based celebrity hairstylist who has worked with the Kardashians, Jennifer Lopez, Megan Fox and Martha Stewart told Page Six Style.
“The tousled and voluminous waves in a bit of a rolled-up style really emphasize that time period.”
Slightly mussing up her locks rather than styling them in perfect curls lent the look an “approachable” sense of “ease and effortlessness,” adds Olivia Thompson, another mane maestro who’s worked with Paris Hilton and Nick Jonas, in addition to styling hair behind the scenes at New York Fashion Week.
“The key to achieving a convincing faux bob is to carefully secure and tuck your hair under, using pins to keep it in place,” Thompson tells us. “Don’t forget to leave some loose strands for that relaxed and tousled effect. Hairspray will help maintain the style throughout the day.”
Below, learn how to re-create Swift’s look step by step, according to the pros who know the art of styling hair, ahem, all too well.
You will need:
- Texturizing spray: This will add grip and texture to your hair, giving your faux bob volume and that messy, lived-in look.
- Hairpins: You’ll definitely need hairpins or bobby pins to secure your style. Use ones that match your hair color for a more discreet hold.
- Hair elastic: You might want to use a hair elastic to create a low ponytail, which will serve as the foundation of your faux bob.
- Hairspray: A flexible hold hairspray is useful to set your style and keep it in place.
- Comb or brush: You’ll need one or the other to smooth and shape your locks.
- Hair donut or hair padding (optional): Depending on the thickness and length of your hair, you might consider using a hair donut or padding to help create the illusion of a bob by wrapping your hair around it.
How to create the faux bob:
Step 1: “To really put emphasis on the texture of the hair, start off by prepping your hair with leave-in conditioner, then curl with a 1-inch iron,” Fitzsimons advises.
No iron? No problem. “With damp hair, divide the hair down the back of your head then part it as desired,” Fitzsimons instructs. “Apply wave spray to the locks and continuously scrunch the hair or diffuse with a blow dryer on low setting until you get the desired texture.”
According to Michael Dueñas, a Hollywood hairstylist and groomer who has worked with Padma Lakshmi and Rachel Brosnahan, the right products can give you that textural boost: “Your best friend will be a dirty spray, or a texturizing spray plus a smoothing cream,” he tells us.
Though we don’t have confirmation on the exact hair products Swift used on her premiere day, Page Six Style recommends the Living Proof No Frizz Smooth Styling Cream ($42).
Living Proof No Frizz Smooth Styling Cream
Step 2: Once your hair is curled to your liking, spray it with some texture spray for a touchable hold. We like the Moroccanoil Dry Texture Spray ($30) and IGK Beach Club Volume Texture Spray ($34).
Step 3: Divide your hair into two ponytails — making sure both are loose — and secure them with clear elastic bands.
Step 4: Loop the length of one ponytail up and under, and secure the ends with pins on each side of the ponytail.
Step 5: Repeat Step 4 on the other side, then use bobby pins to close any gaps between the fold to create the illusion of a full faux bob.
Step 6: Once your hair is up, finish it off with a spray that will make it look glossy all night long. Page Six Style is all about a good hairspray; our favorites include Bumble and Bumble Spray de Mode Flexible Hold Hairspray ($36) and Drybar Money Maker Flexible Hold Hairspray ($28).
Bumble and Bumble Spray de Mode Flexible Hold Hairspray