When we hear "sexy hair," many of us think of the Bardot beehive, the beach waves on the Victoria's Secret runway, or perhaps the Jessica Rabbit side-swoop. And while, yes, these are all sexy, they're also pretty predictable — not to mention, exclusive to a single hair type.
Luckily, there are some Hollywood hairstylists taking a fresh approach to sexy hair. One who is leading the charge? Jennifer Yepez, whose client list includes Gigi Hadid, Chanel Iman, Jourdan Dunn, Kim Kardashian, and Jessica Alba (who made Yepez an ambassador for Honest Beauty hair care). Basically, celebs with already enviable hair flock to her because she knows how to mix in elements one might not immediately associate with allure — headbands, '40s sets, half-up styles — and make them sexy (not twee) through texture, volume, and a casual, undone finish.
Naturally, we tapped Yepez for her modern-hair secrets. Her version of sexy hair — and all the tips, tricks, and products to get it — ahead.
Trick: Wrap — don't clamp.
The trick to the romantic style Yepez gave Jourdan Dunn is simple: Prep the hair to add structure and hold, but keep the waves extra soft by brushing them loose. First, she misted Dunn's hair with volume spray. "It's easier to create texture when your hair has some product in it," Yepez says. (For a similar finish, she recommends Honest Beauty's Honestly Uplifted Volumizing Spray.) Then, she wrapped sections of hair away from Dunn's face using a curling iron like a wand (don't use the clamp) to create waves. Once everything cools down, brush through with your fingers.
Photo: Getty Images.
Trick: Bend — don't curl.
The secret to scoring Yepez's signature bedhead? Exercise restraint with the iron. But first: "I spray a thickening spray all over, from roots to ends, and rough-dry the hair," Yepez explains, noting that Hadid has natural waves she blowdries before styling. "After that, I take a 1-inch curling iron and just bend some of the pieces — I don't wrap her hair around the whole iron." She finishes by spraying dry shampoo through the roots for more texture.
Photo: @jennifer_yepez.
Trick: Skip hairspray for a touchable take on '40s hair.
The longevity and softness of a classic, Old Hollywood set relies heavily on the prep, Yepez says. "The most important thing is to prep your hair with enough volumizing spray," she says about this look she created on Chanel Iman. "You want to have a good hold." Layer the products into wet hair before drying, then do a classic set and brush your 'do once it's cool. Skip hairspray to create a softer finish, she says.
Photo: @jennifer_yepez.
Trick: Grit can be good.
Of all the looks she's created over the past year, Yepez cites Hadid's many styles the night of the iHeartRadio Much Music Video Awards as her favorites. "We did so many braided looks that night!" she says. To get the looks to stay, but not feel too gritty, she prepped Hadid's hair with R+Co's Dry Shampoo Paste. "Make sure to rub it in your hands really well, then use your fingertips to massage it onto your scalp," she says. "It gives you amazing texture and grit."
Photo: Getty Images.
Trick: Sleep in a topknot for easy waves.
Scan Yepez's Instagram and you'll find that she doesn't just give smooth, soft waves to her clients — they're her personal signature. To master them, heed her advice: Blowdry the hair straight and then put it into a sleek topknot before bed. In the morning, spray hair with dry shampoo, brush through, and use Honest Beauty's dry conditioning serum for soft waves. Tip: Use an old-school scrunchie, which is gentle on the hair, to secure your knot.
Photo: @jennifer_yepez.
Trick: Style around your accessory.
For most of us, fancy headbands seem like a good idea in theory — but making them feel like they're part of your look, and not just sitting on top, isn't so easy. The fix? Yepez added this Jennifer Behr piece to Hilary Rhoda's hair before pulling it into a chignon, which makes the accessory look more organic.
"You can create a romantic look so effortlessly with a headpiece," she says. "Create some texture in your hair, place the headpiece where you want, and then arrange your hair as you like. Pull out some pieces in the front, intertwine your hair with the headpiece, and simply do a chignon in the back."
Photo: @jennifer_yepez.
Trick: Define dry hair the right way.
Yepez recommends volume and salt sprays for defining damp curls and waves, but there's no need to wet hair to add definition on day two. Instead, Yepez swears by Honest's new Dry Conditioner: "It gives great texture and waves."
Yes, dry conditioner. It's the same idea as dry shampoo, except it gives softness and shine to hair between lathering up. Spray through your lengths and ends, then reach for your favorite dry shampoo for roots (on slide four) if you need oil-absorbing benefits, too.
Photo: @jennifer_yepez.
Trick: Brush out your curls.
For soft and bouncy curls, start with clean, damp hair: "Use a lot of volumizing spray from root to end, then a heat protectant and a leave-in conditioner or serum," Yepez says.
Once the products are worked in, blowdry hair smooth with a medium-sized round brush and use a 1.25-inch iron to set the hair. (Curl 1.25-inch sections and set in pin curls to cool.) Once the hair has cooled, remove the pins and brush through. "I use a Mason Pearson brush and brush out all the curls," Yepez says. "Finally, I like to use dry shampoo at the roots for some extra volume."
Photo: Getty Images.
Trick: Volumize with a touch of heat.
For some, a few spritzes of salt spray (for wavy hair) or smoothing serum (for curly hair) is all it takes to get light hold and beachy texture. For those with fine or limp locks, however, heat is key to the equation.
To get a look similar to the one Yepez gave Alessandra Ambrosio here, Yepez says, "Spray volumizing spray from root to end, get a good medium-sized brush (I like T3), and always lift the roots when blowdrying." For extra volume and movement, she recommends setting your hair as you blowdry.
Photo: @jennifer_yepez.
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