Get the look: Bérénice Marlohe's Bond Beauty

Bond girls are the embodiment of sass, style and sophistication. At one point or another, all of us have wished we were one of them right? (Or is that just me?!

Skyfall is the latest addition to the James Bond collection, and marks the 50th anniversary of the famed series. Making her debut as a Bond girl in the new film is Bérénice Marlohe (as Sévérine) - and what an absolute stunner! The Parisian actress is a sultry piece of glamour and pulls off tousled, carefree class in typical Bond fashion. At the Paris premiere of Skyfall, Ms Marlohe sported this glam side-swept ‘do.

With the impending “end of year” events, this is a great style to master. It’s reasonably simple to recreate, and looks romantic and elegant with its loose curls and textured chignon.

• Begin by running a volume-enhancing mousse through towel-dried hair (to create texture)


• Throw your head upside down and give your hair a quick blow-wave so that your hair is about eighty percent dry


• To create voluminous curls, use a hair straightener (read “how to”) or roll and secure sections of your hair in rollers and blow wave your hair complete dry (use a paddle brush to blend the sections)


• Create a deep side parting and form 3 sections – fringe, top and sides/back


• Loosely pin your fringe off to the side and clip your sides/back section out of the way


• Comb the top section straight back and lightly tease it (focus on the crown of your head for additional volume) to create a slight bouffant


• Gather the teased hair together and after smoothing the top layer of hair, sweep the section off to the side (just behind your ear) and secure with hairpins


• Comb the sides/back section to join the “pinned” top section, and hold in a relaxed ponytail just behind your ear, at the nap of your neck


• Fashion a loose chignon by twisting your hair into a coil and securing with hairpins (it’s ok to let a few strands hang loose)


• Set the style with a spritz of hairspray.

Bond-beautiful!

Update your look with a fringe!

If you’re keen on updating your hairstyle, but don’t want to undergo any drastic changes - a fringe is the perfect option. The fringe is currently a big hit on the catwalk and red carpet with stars like Zooey Deschanel, Taylor Swift and Florence Welch championing the diverse look.

Adding bangs is like giving yourself a mini makeover. You can completely change your look, but it’s a low risk option because you can grow them out pretty quickly! Fringes are great for shoulder length hair and work best with hair that is naturally straight or slightly wavy.

Here are a few ways to wear bangs – why don’t you consider making the cut!

Full block Heavy eye or eyebrow skimming fringes like Jessica Biel's are great for drawing attention to your eyes. They’re reasonably low maintenance and can be cheeky, cute, sophisticated and elegant all at the same time! Block fringes are great for long and heart shaped faces, and best worn thick and long (just above the eyes).

Short & sharp This blunt fringe hits well above the eyebrows and is the ultimate statement maker. Inspired by the art-deco jazz age of the 1920s, short blunt bangs are fierce, sharp and sassy. This is a daring look that works perfectly for an oval face-shape like Rooney Mara’s (below), but stay clear of this look if you have a square face-shape.

Side-swept Oh, the romantic and softening look of a side swept fringe! This style frames the face nicely and provides a relaxed and effortless elegance (just like Rose Byrne, below). While side-swept bangs work for all face shapes, this is the best fringe option for round faces, as it will give the illusion of length.

Light & wispy A light choppy fringe like Alexa Chung’s is an easy, carefree option. Taking cue from Brigitte Bardot, wispy textured bangs is a versatile style that looks great straight forward and messy, centre-parted or swept to the side. This is a fitting choice for square faces as it can soften the angles.

Safeguard against split ends

Oh, the never-ending nuisance that is split ends! If we’re being honest, there’s no escaping split ends, however it is possible to minimise and prevent unnecessary damage.

Split ends (Trichoptilosis), is the vertical splitting or fraying of the hair shaft due to stress placed on the hair. Perming, colouring and using heated stylers strips your strands of the nutrients that keep them strong and moisture-rich, which leads to dull brittle hair that is prone to split ends.

Leaving damaged ends can lead to further breakage higher up the hair shaft. This can lead to hair shedding, which will inhibit your ability to maintain the length of your hair. It also makes it difficult to preserve styles such as curls or straightened hair.

Reduce the causes and safeguard against split ends by following these few simple tips…


Regular Trims
The only genuine way to rid yourself of split ends is to chop them off! Also, by removing at least a quarter of an inch off the ends you allow oxygen to reach the ends of your locks, creating a foundation for strong, healthy hair. Regular trims every six to eight weeks are recommended.

A quality clean
To maintain hydrated and nourished locks and prevent your hair from drying out, you need to invest in a quality moisturising shampoo and conditioner.  A leave-in conditioner or regular salon deep-conditioning treatments are also a great way to preserve moisture. For more information on choosing quality haircare, read our “Looking after your locks” article

Gently does it
Your tresses are fragile. Rough, repeated brushing and combing equals damaged hair. Use a hair-friendly tool for smoothing out your locks – a wide-toothed comb is the best option for thicker hair. Be gentle when detangling, start at the ends and work your way up (it’s best to do this when you hair is dry). Try not to brush your hair too much; intensive brushing creates more split ends!

Keep a cool head
Heat draws moisture from your locks, consequently, regular use of hot stylers leads to dry and brittle hair. Try to cut back on your heated-styler usage and when using hairdryers, curling and straightening irons, consider using a heat protectant to help retain your hair’s moisture.