Easy Modern Brigitte Bardot Hair Tutorial
I’m always inspired by vintage, history-themed beauty. In this tutorial, I'm going to show you how to recreate an iconic, sexy messy bun with hints of 50s and 60s style.
Follow along to learn how to create an effortless, modern Brigitte Bardot hair updo. Let’s get started!
Tools and materials:
- Curlers
- Curl setting lotion
- Brush
- Comb
- Hair elastic
- Bobby pins
- Wall mirror and hand mirror
- Hair accessories optional
1. Prepare your base
We don’t want to overwork the hair for this messy style, so the key is to start with the right base.
Curl your hair using your go-to method of choice. I sectioned my hair into 4 parts, rolling them into fabric and letting them sit overnight.
Then I applied setting lotion to set the curls and here are the results.
Notice that the curls are concentrated at the bottom of my hair, while the top is straight.
That’s what we’re going for here, before styling the Brigitte Bardot hair.
2. Brush
Quickly brush through the curls to tease them out just a bit. Maintain a center part, as this is typical of Brigitte Bardot’s 50s to early 60s hairstyles.
3. Back-comb
Start by adding volume to your roots.
Begin in the front section of hair and back-comb, gradually adding more hair as you go, straight back from your forehead.
Make sure to back-comb on both sides.
Don’t forget to back-comb the back section at the top of your head.
Don’t be afraid to add a few back strokes to the body of the hair as well, just to add more volume.
Here is what your base should look like after back-combing:
4. Smooth over the top
Gently go over the top of your hair with your comb to smooth it over. The idea is to make the top smooth as opposed to frizzy.
5. Pull your hair into a loose, high ponytail
Now, grab all of your hair loosely and pull it up. It should be swept up from the back and sides but the center part is still visible.
Next, tie the hair into a ponytail, quite high up on your head toward the crown.
Your ponytail should look like this:
6. Adjust the front
Pull out some of the hair from the front/sides of your face. These loose strands are a part of the signature Brigitte Bardot look.
You may want to go back in with a curling iron to add curls to the front.
7. Pull down hair from the back
Do the same thing in the back, pulling down some of the hair above your neck.
8. Assemble the bun
Next, loosely scrunch the hair up, on top of the elastic to create the shape of your bun.
Then take a few bobby pins to secure the bun in place.
Remember, the idea is not to create a perfect bun, so just pin around the hair as you are holding it.
Make sure it stays up but don’t over-pin it, to maintain a light and airy look.
Feel free to check with a second mirror to see what it looks like in the back. You may decide to add or remove bobby pins.
9. Loosen the base
Back in the front, gently tug at the base of the hair, before the bun, to loosen the front of the updo, holding the bun in place as you do so.
This will create some air between your hair and your scalp, which is typical of Brigitte Bardot hairstyles.
10. Perfect your bangs
If you have them, split your bangs down the middle and comb them to either side.
11. Add embellishments
Now you can add a ribbon, a bow, a flower or a headband to add a retro touch to the look.
Personally, I love this Brigitte Bardot hairstyle, natural, without embellishments.
Modern Brigitte Bardot hair
If you loved this modern Brigitte Bardot hair tutorial, let me know in the comments below. I love hearing from you all!
For another retro inspired, glam look, check out my Vintage Hairstyle Tutorial: Get Glam Brushed-out Curls Without Heat.
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