Beauty School: How to master a side sweep with George Northwood

A Story by liker

Recently we've noticed that red carpet hair has changed; it's cooler, chicer and far less formal than yesteryear. And that's thanks to the new school of celebrity stylists, including London-based George Northwood, who is pioneering the laissez-faire look.

So who better to ask about the new side swept hair we've spotted all over the celebrity circuit recently than Northwood, who created the look on Rosie Huntington-Whitely at the Cannes Film Festival recently. He is also the creative hands behind Alexa Chung's trend setting low-key chop, so I went to his new London salon and asked him to recreate the look, on me, the easy way.

Northwood, an ambassador for Pureology, showed us how to master the look in four easy steps: prep, blow-dry, tong and bejewel. The key, says Northwood, is that one side is, "very, very slick and round to the side, and the other side is quite messy and tousled."

Step One: It's all about the prep, so use a cleansing ritual that gives your hair guts and movement (in my case that was using Pureology Strength Cure). On freshly washed hair, part the hair on a deep side. On the side you want the body, add a root-boosting spray for guts - Northwood uses Redken Rootful 96 Root Lifting Spray. On the 'slick' side you want to use a setting lotion says Northwood (try L'Oreal Tecni Art Pli Shaper, which keeps hair flat and sleek).

Image:long bridesmaid dresses

Step Two: The quick blow-dry. "Work by section by section pushing the hair over and drying it and setting it in place in this direction," says Northwood as he gets to work drying lengths, directing hair over with his hands and brush. Finish with a good hairspray, in this case Redken's Pure Force, which holds the 'sweep' side in place. Before you get to work on step three, secure the slick side in place with a hair clip, but pegged over a napkin - a little backstage trick Northwood swears by to prevent any denting.

Step Three: After rough drying the 'gutsy' side, it's time for some tonging with a medium sized barrel, "just to make it a bit sort of rock n' roll," Northwood tells me. But we need more volume, so Northwood reaches for one booster (Redken Quick Tease, "which is like backcombing in a can," he says before spraying over lengths) and one texturiser (Redken's Powder Grip, "which is kind of like a gritty talcum powder that you put on the hair and it really mattifies it," says Northwood - remember this is not about polish and gloss, this is about undone, chic). On the ends use a tiny touch of Redken Diamond Oil, less for shine and more for a healthy movement.

Step Four: If you do want to make the look super glamorous - though Northwood tells me this works just as well with jeans and a t-shirt as it does a red carpet gown - then opt for a dazzling hair accessory. Northwood chooses the gorgeous Chained Comb from his up and coming Kat & George collaboration of hair accessories with designer Kat&Bee.

or Northwood, the new side sweep "is the perfect mix of done, and undone at the same time". For us, it's the new super easy way to update our hair, whatever the occasion.