The Hour

As the party season gets into full swing, creating a unique hairstyle can really add the finishing touches to an outfit.

Following on from X Factor trend setters Cheryl Cole and Dannii Minogue, quiffs, plaits and lots of height are the look you want to go for this season.

Creating the look at home is a daunting task for some but can be easily achieved by following a couple of top tips from beauty expert Geraldine Harkins.

First of all, complement a plait with some soft curls using your straighteners: “You are best to use it like your old fashioned tongs, twist it around [the hair] and hold it.”

Once you have your curls in place, these can be pinned back into a side bun to create a softer look and bag the Cheryl Cole look.

“You don’t want it to look too rigid,” Geraldine explains.

If Dannii’s larger than life quiffs are more up your street, then backcombing is the secret to your success.
 
“Your backcombing is really important to create these quiffs and twists, very Dannii Minogue.

“The important thing is to get in and backcomb the root so the rest of the hair, the middle ends and ends, are quite smooth and soft for you to pin in at the back.”

And if that all sounds too much like hard work then you can always let the professionals work their magic.