How to Do the Perfect Chignon

Messy-chic chignons are often spotted on the red carpet.

Audrey Hepburn's polished, voluminous chignon in the movie "Breakfast at Tiffany's" made this classic hairstyle all the rage in the 1960s. Half a century later, the chignon remains a Hollywood favorite, with stars such as Charlize Theron and Amanda Seyfried displaying elegant chignons on the red carpet. A chignon is an updo in which rolls of hair are pinned into place on the back of the head or at the nape of the neck. For those with long hair who want a formal look, a high chignon with vertical rolls of hair is the perfect choice. If you have medium-length hair or prefer a casual look, a low chignon with side-by-side rolls is easygoing and natural.

Things You'll Need

• Hairspray
• Texturizing spray (optional)
• Hairbrush
• Transparent hair elastics or ponytail holders
• Bobby pins
• Handheld mirror
• Fancy hair clips, bows, pins or flowers (optional)

Instructions

Formal Chignon

1. Mist your hair lightly with texturizing spray or hairspray, and smooth it with a hairbrush. Pull your hair into a ponytail on the middle of the back of your head or higher. With a transparent elastic band, secure the ponytail in place.

2. Separate the ponytail into two equal sections of hair, one above the other. Roll the top section up and over, as if rolling it around a bottle. Pin the loop of hair into place with bobby pins placed on the inside of the loop, just above the ponytail. Use as many pins as you need to keep the hair in place. Repeat with the lower section of hair, this time rolling the hair under.

3. Gently stretch and pull the loops of hair to the sides, expanding them until they touch the sides of your head. Pin them into place with bobby pins. For a glitzy look, use jeweled or beaded hairpins inserted at regular intervals. If you have loose pieces of hair, loop them and pin them into place.

4. Spray the chignon lightly with hairspray. For a glitzy look, insert jeweled or beaded hairpins around the edges of the chignon.

Casual Chignon

1. Mist your hair with texturizing spray or hairspray, and gently run your fingers through your strands to incorporate the product. Smooth your hair with a hairbrush, if it is unruly.

2. Gather your hair into a low ponytail at the nape of your neck, and secure it with transparent hair elastic. Separate the ponytail into two sections, one on each side. If your hair is straight, lightly tease the sections. This will create extra texture and help keep the hair in place.

3. Roll one section of hair under, as if rolling it around a bottle. Pin the loop of hair into place with a bobby pin. If you have thick hair, use additional bobby pins as needed. Repeat with the second section of hair.

4. Adjust the loops of hair by gently spreading them to the sides, enlarging and softening them. Pin any loose pieces of hair under the chignon. When you like how the chignon looks, lightly spray it in place.

5. Hide the hair elastic with a pretty hair clip, bow or flower, if desired.

Tips & Warnings

• For extra hold, pin one bobby pin over another, creating an "X" shape.

• To create a chic messy chignon, pull out pieces of hair from the chignon, twist them slightly and stick them back into place with bobby pins. Allow some locks of hair to escape from the chignon, and lightly tease to add texture.

• For a more complex chignon, use more than two sections of hair. If you have very long or thick hair, this may make the style easier to execute. The look will be less smooth but will have interesting dimensions. For even more layers of texture, twist sections of hair before looping them under.

References

• The Early Show: The ABCs of the Chignon
• Glamour: 7 Ways To Wear A Chignon
• Cozy's Complete Guide to Girls' Hair; Cozy Friedman
• Bournemouth Echo: Audrey Hepburn Is Head and Shoulders Above the Rest