How To Get Big Bougie Waves For The Party Season

When it comes to hair, I have four tried and tested looks.

Number one: straight. This is born of laziness, lack of time, or actual effort if I'm going for a sleek and sophisticated look.

Number two: middle parting with a low bun. This is ~ the ~ ultimate third day hairstyle or back-up for when your hair is not playing fair.

Number three: loose, lived in curls. One of my easy favourites and a regular on the 'gram.

Number four: beachy waves that remind me of my Mum, and that I only pull out for special occasions.

Today, we're talking about the latter. I've been creating different hair looks with Toni & Guy since the start of 2017, and today marks the final instalment in my year-long partnership (*sob*), so it was time to roll out the big guns. Voluminous hair with attitude is the name of the game, and girl, we did not come to play.

This look is super simple to create but one that always brings in the compliments. Like I said, it reminds me of my Mum because her natural texture is quite close to this, so there's always an element of closeness and nostalgia that comes with it. More than anything, though, I've always been a lover of hair that looks naturally voluminous (think Julia Roberts-esque unapologetic curls), and so even if I can't necessarily achieve that level of big, bodacious body, creating these sassy waves always makes me feel special. What more could you want for party season? Keep reading to see how quick and easy it is to pull this look together, as well as to see how I styled up my outfit for those more low-key of occasions this festive season.

This post was sponsored by Toni & Guy.

Start by washing your hair with Toni & Guy Volume Addiction Shampoo and Conditioner. Apply two pumps (depending on hair length) of Toni & Guy Shine Gloss Serum through the mid-lengths to ends, brush and thoroughly dry. Don't just rough dry - the damper the hair is when you take the next steps, the less likely the waves are to hold.

Using straighteners, take medium chunks of hair and wave by turning the styling tool over and under repeatedly down the length of the strand. Leave the ends straight. Repeat for the whole head.

Take a few strands from the front of the face and pull back into a half-up, half-down pony. Pull a few pieces of hair out at the front to frame the face. Use a natural coloured hairband for a more subtle look, or go bougie with a bow or something sparkly for the party season.

Finish with Toni & Guy Body Amplify Creation Hairspray to hold the waves all night long. I usually avoid hairspray because I don’t like the heaviness and crispness that comes with it, but this spray is light enough to maintain the natural texture of your hair, as well as heavy duty enough to keep your look in place for as long as you need it.

I call this the solution to 'jeans and a nice top' dilemma. You know when you ask your girl what she's wearing for the work's party/Christmas meal/annual cocktail outing and she comes back with 'jeans and a nice top', and you're thinking, 'okay, well, I've definitely got jeans, but what the heck is a nice top?' - well, I think this is it.

This is my ideal going-for-drinks outfit, pairing super comfortable, slightly more relaxed Levi Skinny 501s with a square-neck crop cami and subtly sparkly black velvet blazer. This kind of look is something I would feel completely at home in for meetings or a sassy friends lunch, but is easily taken from day time to night time with the addition of some frilled block heels, red Lulu Guiness bag (aaah, those iconic lips!) and, of course, the hair. You could vamp this up further with a red lip, but I usually fake tan the night before a big event so I like to make the most of my newly acquired golden hue and keep things plain and simple.

Dressing for party season often takes me out of my comfort zone, and whilst sometimes I relish the opportunity to try on a new identity, it's also nice to feel at home in what I'm wearing. I've always gravitated towards suits, trousers and jumpsuits as opposed to dresses and skirts, not least because of my grapples with 'femininity' and what that word means, but also for more practical reasons - they're often warmer, more comfortable, and can be repurposed more easily for day-to-day life.

When you can't afford to splash out on something new, however, jeans and a blazer are always a stylish back-up. Black jeans are obviously a little more swish and sophisticated, but if you want to add a little understated colour, blue jeans with a brighter hued bag allow you to tread that line between smart and casual like a well-seasoned pro. I popped on a pair of beautiful antique gold statement earrings to add an extra edge to an otherwise low-key look, but in all honestly, that's how I often prefer to keep it. Skintight dresses and palazzo pants certainly have their place, but when you're a girl that loves nothing more than a greasy portion of cheesey chips at the end of the night, then often the multi-purpose, smart casj look comes up trumps.